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Guild Wars #1
Storm Clouds
The Omega War ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper. The Peacemaker-enforced ceasefire brought an end to the hostilities, but not a resolution, and now it’s up to the Four Horsemen to forge a lasting peace. Alexis Cromwell, despite her pregnancy, heads off to Capital with Nigel Shirazi to obtain justice from the enigmatic Mercenary Guild Council, but when they arrive, they’re quickly embroiled in galactic politics, and find out the situation is far, far worse than they could possibly have imagined. On Earth, Jim Cartwright has been given the task of ‘fixing’ the world government, which was complicit in General Peepo and the Merc Guild’s invasion. He has some good ideas, but so do Peepo’s agents who have stayed behind to foment rebellion. Sansar Enkh has her formidable intelligence service to watch his back…but will it be enough? Additionally, a new force is emerging on Earth, and it is raising far more questions than it is answering. What is the enigmatic Section 51, and what are their ultimate goals? As the Horsemen work for peace, the clouds of war are on the horizon. A greater war is looming as the other guilds, sensing weakness in the Mercenary Guild, begin their fight for supremacy. Who will be left when the storm clouds clear?
- GenresScience FictionAction
418 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2019
287 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Chris Kennedy
138 books163 followersA Webster Award winner and three-time Dragon Award finalist, Chris Kennedy is a Science Fiction/Fantasy author, speaker, and small-press publisher who has written over 50 books and published more than 400 others. Get his free book, “Shattered Crucible,” at his website, https://chriskennedypublishing.com.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
Called “fantastic” and “a great speaker,” he has coached hundreds of beginning authors and budding novelists on how to self-publish their stories at a variety of conferences, conventions, and writing guild presentations. He is the author of the award-winning #1 bestseller, “Self-Publishing for Profit: How to Get Your Book Out of Your Head and Into the Stores.”
Chris lives in Coinjock, North Carolina, with his wife. Follow Chris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ckpublishing/.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 1, 2019
Ok, fair warning, if you consider reading this book and you didn't know the 4 Horsemen Universe before, you shall feel the need to check the other works in that universe and it will play havoc with your sleep, social life and productivity!
Reading Storm clouds was a bit of an experiment for me, as I didn't real the whole series of short stories and novels in the 4HU beforehand. So of course, if you do the same as I do, you will know what happened before and it will take some of the suspense and thrill away. That being said, I would suggest reading the first 4 books of the Revelations cycle to understand the basics of the 4HU before digging into Storm Clouds.
Fair warning: there are some spoilers inside...
The book is fast-paced, with lots of action but also quite a few revelations giving a hint about why the Veetanho fraction led by Peepo tried to bring humanity to heel. The book is quite rich as it develops the story line in parallel on 2 / 3 fronts: what happens on Earth, what happens on the Capital Planet and what happens at a mysterious location where warships are refitted to go fight an ancient menace somehow locked out of the whole Galaxy...
The familiar figures we used to cherish are back in the game, namely the commanders of the 4 Horsemen and they split themselves efficiently between the situation on Earth and the situation at Capital planet.
The book is clearly a setup for more things to come as we only get a hint at bigger things, hidden enemies and a power shift in the Galaxy.
I really enjoyed the book and can't wait for the next installment!
I can only repeat my warning from the beginning: you are going to lose sleep digging into the 4 Horsemen Universe... but it will totally be worth it!
Reading Storm clouds was a bit of an experiment for me, as I didn't real the whole series of short stories and novels in the 4HU beforehand. So of course, if you do the same as I do, you will know what happened before and it will take some of the suspense and thrill away. That being said, I would suggest reading the first 4 books of the Revelations cycle to understand the basics of the 4HU before digging into Storm Clouds.
Fair warning: there are some spoilers inside...
The book is fast-paced, with lots of action but also quite a few revelations giving a hint about why the Veetanho fraction led by Peepo tried to bring humanity to heel. The book is quite rich as it develops the story line in parallel on 2 / 3 fronts: what happens on Earth, what happens on the Capital Planet and what happens at a mysterious location where warships are refitted to go fight an ancient menace somehow locked out of the whole Galaxy...
The familiar figures we used to cherish are back in the game, namely the commanders of the 4 Horsemen and they split themselves efficiently between the situation on Earth and the situation at Capital planet.
The book is clearly a setup for more things to come as we only get a hint at bigger things, hidden enemies and a power shift in the Galaxy.
I really enjoyed the book and can't wait for the next installment!
I can only repeat my warning from the beginning: you are going to lose sleep digging into the 4 Horsemen Universe... but it will totally be worth it!
November 5, 2019
If the stuff in the book blurb is Greek to you, don't worry. This is the start of a new story arc, and you don't need to have read the previous books in the Four Horsemen Universe (hereafter "4HU" to read this. The Four Horsemen are the top four Earth mercenary units, and they, along with other mercenary units and a couple of alien races, just kicked the alien invaders off of Earth - But it turns out that their problems are just beginning.
This is a fast-paced story with lots of action and intrigue and those familiar with the 4HU will enjoy this new entry. But as I indicated above, if you haven't read any of the 4HU books this is a great place to join in the story. You'll get all the background information that you need. But you won't get pages and pages of exposition to fill you in, instead, you're shown what you need. For instance, you don't get a lecture about the giant metal suits (CASPers) that many human mercenaries use. Instead, as part of the process of rebuilding after the previous wars, they recruit and train new human mercenaries, and we get to see them learn how to use the CASPer and the weapon systems on it, and the process also serves to introduce us to new characters while keeping the story moving.
If you like military science fiction at all, even as an occasional change of pace, you should get and read this book.
This is a fast-paced story with lots of action and intrigue and those familiar with the 4HU will enjoy this new entry. But as I indicated above, if you haven't read any of the 4HU books this is a great place to join in the story. You'll get all the background information that you need. But you won't get pages and pages of exposition to fill you in, instead, you're shown what you need. For instance, you don't get a lecture about the giant metal suits (CASPers) that many human mercenaries use. Instead, as part of the process of rebuilding after the previous wars, they recruit and train new human mercenaries, and we get to see them learn how to use the CASPer and the weapon systems on it, and the process also serves to introduce us to new characters while keeping the story moving.
If you like military science fiction at all, even as an occasional change of pace, you should get and read this book.
November 3, 2019
A short respite.
It looks like the the Omega war was nothing more than an aperitif for the conflict to come,Alexis and Nigel are at Capital planet and assisted by Peepos nemesis the depik Tsan are finding that humans have barely dipped their toes in Galactic affairs,entire races are involved in a conflict to contain the Kahraman and they are losing but no-one has any details about the massive conflict,meanwhile Jim and Sansar are trying to bring some order to a bankrupt and destitute earth,the book gives a clearer insite into the murky world of the Galactics and clarifies many issues but ultimately it leaves more questions than answers,are the Goltar trustworthy or do they have their own agenda,who is Cat and what is Section 51,why aren't the Durban (fae) more proactive,how is the silent power struggle between the Guilds going to be resolved,can earth survive long enough to diversify its manufacturer without the income of its mercs and why does Sansar only dream about Nigel and Alexis son when she is expecting twins.
It looks like the the Omega war was nothing more than an aperitif for the conflict to come,Alexis and Nigel are at Capital planet and assisted by Peepos nemesis the depik Tsan are finding that humans have barely dipped their toes in Galactic affairs,entire races are involved in a conflict to contain the Kahraman and they are losing but no-one has any details about the massive conflict,meanwhile Jim and Sansar are trying to bring some order to a bankrupt and destitute earth,the book gives a clearer insite into the murky world of the Galactics and clarifies many issues but ultimately it leaves more questions than answers,are the Goltar trustworthy or do they have their own agenda,who is Cat and what is Section 51,why aren't the Durban (fae) more proactive,how is the silent power struggle between the Guilds going to be resolved,can earth survive long enough to diversify its manufacturer without the income of its mercs and why does Sansar only dream about Nigel and Alexis son when she is expecting twins.
November 3, 2019
Great New Chapter!
Wow - not what I expected.
Lots of previous threads / mysteries answered, and new ones unveiled.
Lots of non stop action, I read the book same day I downloaded it. Excellent character and race development.
You don’t need to have read the previous 4 Horsemen Books prior to this.
I laughed the most during reading this book, of any of the 4HU books. Very enjoyable and a great read.
Wow - not what I expected.
Lots of previous threads / mysteries answered, and new ones unveiled.
Lots of non stop action, I read the book same day I downloaded it. Excellent character and race development.
You don’t need to have read the previous 4 Horsemen Books prior to this.
I laughed the most during reading this book, of any of the 4HU books. Very enjoyable and a great read.
November 15, 2019
Good foundation for a new story arc
A lot of the back story and mystery of the union and the Great War. And a good springboard for new adventures into what really happened in the great war, and what is really going on in the union. This is more of a diplomatic or spy novel than the normal battles, but still a great read and sets a foundation for more complex stories down the line.
A lot of the back story and mystery of the union and the Great War. And a good springboard for new adventures into what really happened in the great war, and what is really going on in the union. This is more of a diplomatic or spy novel than the normal battles, but still a great read and sets a foundation for more complex stories down the line.
March 8, 2020
Excellent Continuation
As Earth dogs out from the aftermath of General Peepos occupation The Four Horseman start the long rebuilding process. Jim and Sands start the rebuilding process while Nigel and Alexa go to the Capital Planet to find out what happened to the Mercenary Guild. Both find treachery and new allies and a situation that is beyond belief. This will Keep you up late into the night turning pages to find out what happens next!
As Earth dogs out from the aftermath of General Peepos occupation The Four Horseman start the long rebuilding process. Jim and Sands start the rebuilding process while Nigel and Alexa go to the Capital Planet to find out what happened to the Mercenary Guild. Both find treachery and new allies and a situation that is beyond belief. This will Keep you up late into the night turning pages to find out what happens next!
February 25, 2020
There are a lot of books in this "universe", but really only the ones following the main conflict and the Four Horsemen hold my attention.
This is a direct continuation from the Omega War series and has all of the usual suspects. Excellent writing and pacing as well as a compelling storyline and characters make this a great read, and I'll be following the rest of The Guild Wars to see where it all goes.
This is a direct continuation from the Omega War series and has all of the usual suspects. Excellent writing and pacing as well as a compelling storyline and characters make this a great read, and I'll be following the rest of The Guild Wars to see where it all goes.
April 14, 2020
Never disappoints!
I have become addicted to this universe and its’ characters. My only problem has been in tracking the next in the series. It would be great if Amazon would not only group the series, but would also show the inter-series relationships and how they mesh with the others in this universe. Just sayin Amazon....
I have become addicted to this universe and its’ characters. My only problem has been in tracking the next in the series. It would be great if Amazon would not only group the series, but would also show the inter-series relationships and how they mesh with the others in this universe. Just sayin Amazon....
November 1, 2019
A new beginning
Like most good books, this latest endeavor from Kennedy and Wandrey answers question from the previous book and create new ones as they slowly peel away the onion of the 4 horsemen universe
Like most good books, this latest endeavor from Kennedy and Wandrey answers question from the previous book and create new ones as they slowly peel away the onion of the 4 horsemen universe
November 6, 2019
A good book
It’s really a good book and I have it five stars because it’s action packed just like all the others books about the four horsemen and the omega wars. I can’t wait for the next one
It’s really a good book and I have it five stars because it’s action packed just like all the others books about the four horsemen and the omega wars. I can’t wait for the next one
November 11, 2019
Just. Read. It.
If you're a 4HU fan, well you HAVE to read this book. It's a quick read, ties up some loose ends but adds a whole more intrigue and mystery, another massive chapter for our heroes awaits.
If you're a 4HU fan, well you HAVE to read this book. It's a quick read, ties up some loose ends but adds a whole more intrigue and mystery, another massive chapter for our heroes awaits.
November 18, 2019
It just gets better
Love this series, Although there are very few battles ( unlike the other books) it was still one if the best books so far, hopefully the next one will be just as good or better
Love this series, Although there are very few battles ( unlike the other books) it was still one if the best books so far, hopefully the next one will be just as good or better
November 23, 2019
Rise of the Fedaration! Do you want to know more?
Like a whirlpool you get sucked in and dragged along for the ride! Superior sci fi that is gripping ad fast paced, more questions turn up with each book. Do you want to know more? Read the next one!
Like a whirlpool you get sucked in and dragged along for the ride! Superior sci fi that is gripping ad fast paced, more questions turn up with each book. Do you want to know more? Read the next one!
August 15, 2020
More of a stepping stone book, but worth reading.
A good read but not the best. I get the feeling that it is setting the stage for books later in the series. Many of the characters you know and love are here, but it doesn’t move the story along.
A good read but not the best. I get the feeling that it is setting the stage for books later in the series. Many of the characters you know and love are here, but it doesn’t move the story along.
May 31, 2023
Character development of antagonist is very shallow. Protagonist seems to be smarter than anyone else in the universe and not sure I can buy into that thought with the way the character is written. I read more than half of this book before calling it. I will not continue this series.
November 4, 2019
Best one yet of a wonderful series.....cannot wait for the next
November 6, 2019
Exciting and surprising
The amazing series goes off in a surprising and exciting new direction sure to spawn off many books as the possibilities seem endless.
The amazing series goes off in a surprising and exciting new direction sure to spawn off many books as the possibilities seem endless.
June 8, 2020
A bit slower than usual (from mach 3 down to mach 2.5), there
are
diplomatic things that have to get done, but still plenty of action.
July 5, 2020
Wow, that book was very cool, had some real hilariously funny parts. I really enjoyed it
August 29, 2020
Great read
Great read as usual with these authors. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Highly recommend this series.
Great read as usual with these authors. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Highly recommend this series.
December 18, 2020
This series grabs you
Another awesome book in this awesome universe! Twist and turns I wasn't expecting but they were good. If you haven't checked the stories out you need to!
Another awesome book in this awesome universe! Twist and turns I wasn't expecting but they were good. If you haven't checked the stories out you need to!
September 2, 2021
Wow! At 25% there were soooo many characters I was totally confused and lost. That's not an enjoyable read/listen to me. Sorry!
June 22, 2022
It’s pretty good. The series begins strong but the follow up series and books are not quite as good. Some interesting reading and engaging story line. Worth reading or listening on a commute.
August 26, 2023
28 I am going to have to read the first books on this world as without knowing the history and background, it was making me feel a little underwhelmed.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews