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The Waystations Trilogy #0.4
The Exodus Betrayal
The cybernetics in her head could save a planet. But when the man who put them there turns them against her in a deadly battle of wills, she’ll have to find a way to save herself.
Alvera Renata considers herself the best bounty hunter on New Pallas and with good reason – her cybernetics give her an edge nobody else can match.
So when she’s tasked with investigating the ancient space station that has been silently watching the planet for centuries, there’s not a doubt in her mind that she’s the best woman for the job. As for the risks? Well, they only make things more interesting
But what Alvera doesn’t realise is by unravelling the station’s secrets, she’ll be forced to confront some of her own. When the same technology that once set her apart threatens to destroy her mind, what starts as a mission for credits and glory soon becomes a fight for survival – not just her own, but that of New Pallas itself.
- GenresScience Fiction
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2021
9 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
N.C. Scrimgeour
8 books134 followersN. C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
She lives in Scotland, where the weather often provides the perfect excuse to sit in front of a computer and work on her next book (while occasionally getting sidetracked by video games).
When she's not writing, she enjoys reading as much fantasy and science fiction as she can get her hands on and cheering on Edinburgh Rugby.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
She lives in Scotland, where the weather often provides the perfect excuse to sit in front of a computer and work on her next book (while occasionally getting sidetracked by video games).
When she's not writing, she enjoys reading as much fantasy and science fiction as she can get her hands on and cheering on Edinburgh Rugby.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2025
The Waystations Trilogy 00 The Exodus Betrayal: Origin Story by N.C. Scrimgeour
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
Oh, I wish that I had read this book BEFORE The Waystations Trilogy 01 Those Left Behind. Ugh.
I now know why Alvera is the way she is, in the first book. For some reason, I just didn't connect to her...and now knowing what I know, I can go forward with The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten. Powerful story...moving forward.
In this book...you have gaslighting (higher than in our universe), mental and emotional abuse, misogony, prejudice between races of people. So much.
Alvera is the main character. At the beginning, you do not realize (nor does she) her past. You and her, think one thing, but something entirely else is actually happening. Oof.
The reason I think this is a priority to read before ANY other book in this trilogy, is that it sets up the dynamic between the New Pallas races. That is the most important story...that needs to be conveyed, for it makes the trilogy stronger.
I am placing this as The Waystations Trilogy 00 The Exodus Betrayal.
I truly HATE a certain character in this story. I don't usually get THAT wrapped up, but this person needs to die a prolonged and torturous death. Ugh. Even that seems too kind in my book.
I am now "armed" for The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...and plow through. Yeah, that's the plan.
challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
3.75 Stars
Oh, I wish that I had read this book BEFORE The Waystations Trilogy 01 Those Left Behind. Ugh.
I now know why Alvera is the way she is, in the first book. For some reason, I just didn't connect to her...and now knowing what I know, I can go forward with The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten. Powerful story...moving forward.
In this book...you have gaslighting (higher than in our universe), mental and emotional abuse, misogony, prejudice between races of people. So much.
Alvera is the main character. At the beginning, you do not realize (nor does she) her past. You and her, think one thing, but something entirely else is actually happening. Oof.
The reason I think this is a priority to read before ANY other book in this trilogy, is that it sets up the dynamic between the New Pallas races. That is the most important story...that needs to be conveyed, for it makes the trilogy stronger.
I am placing this as The Waystations Trilogy 00 The Exodus Betrayal.
I truly HATE a certain character in this story. I don't usually get THAT wrapped up, but this person needs to die a prolonged and torturous death. Ugh. Even that seems too kind in my book.
I am now "armed" for The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...and plow through. Yeah, that's the plan.
May 2, 2026
This prequel to the Waystations series is the early days of Alvera Renata.
I loved reading how she ended up with the AI Chase in her head and when she started using the phrase "All of us go, or none of us go".
I loved reading how she ended up with the AI Chase in her head and when she started using the phrase "All of us go, or none of us go".
August 4, 2021
I received an advance review copy free; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Exodus Betrayal is a sci-fi thriller/cyber punk novel that is well written, exciting, and difficult to put down. I especially enjoyed the strong female principal character, Alvera Renata. The story is told from her first-person perspective revealed with the first line of the book, "Welcome to my head." What follows is a fast-moving story of betrayal and intrigue. The story is not overly long and there is no filler. There are lots of unexpected twists and turns to add to the suspense contained within. I just think it is a splendid book, and it is well worth looking at.
Warrant Hunter (bounty hunter) Alvera Renata lives on the planet New Pallas. It is a dismal place where corporations pay low wages to do very dangerous jobs. The "sletes" (short for Obsoletes) work in mines extracting various materials for the corporations on an upper level of the planet called the Spire. The sletes slave away without adequate food and no access to medicine, they have no other choice. Over everything is a mysterious space station orbiting above the planet. No one really knows what it is doing there, or who occupies it because anytime someone tried to travel to it, they are killed before they can even get close.
Alvera doesn't care for the way the common folk of the planet are treated and feels an urge to make changes. But she is only one person. It's going to be an arduous task, if not impossible.
As is mentioned in the book's prologue, Alvera wishes she had a mind of her own. She has cybernetic implants that enhance her abilities, but she is also monitored and receives messages through her tech. The sad thing about Alvera is she really doesn't have an identity she can call her own, and even worse, she doesn't know it. She is tough and determined and has made a few enemies during her time on the job. Even though she is tough, she also has compassion. She cares about the people on the planet's surface wand believes everyone should have an equal opportunity to reach their potential. Unfortunately, her ambitions are controlled by a man who is the embodiment of evil. His name is Ryce.
Ryce has no redeeming qualities. He is controlling, manipulative, and knows just how to make Alvera do things he wants her to do, and things she doesn't want to. He sees no value in the lives of the sletes. Ryce is the ultimate user and doesn't care who is hurt. He is a brilliantly written villain, and I disliked him from the first time he was introduced in the story.
My favorite point of the plot is how Alvera grows as she learns more about herself. She is secure in who she is until she learns a key point about her past. It throws her into a lot of self-doubt, but she copes with it. With the story told in the first-person point of view, we get a lot of insight into her putting pieces together, but she never loses sight of her goal. A victim of deception and betrayal are only obstacles for her to remove.
My major takeaway from Betrayal is the good versus evil trope in this book. Ryce is the epitome of evil in this story, while Alvera is the good. The only problem is, sometimes even good must revert to evil tactics to be successful. Alvera is not beyond stooping as low as Ryce to advance her cause, the only difference is Alvera frequently has regrets for what she is forced to do.
The blurb from the back cover mentions a comparison with Blade Runner. AI read I had that noir kind of feeling all the way through. It just seems like Alvera had way too many things against her to succeed. Other things I appreciated was the world building the author presented. She does a great job of showing a story that unfolds like a film in one's mind with visuals and descriptions that are vivid, but not overstated.
I recommend The Exodus Betrayal as a finely crafted Sci-Fi story with a strong female lead to rival any I have seen so far.
The Exodus Betrayal is a sci-fi thriller/cyber punk novel that is well written, exciting, and difficult to put down. I especially enjoyed the strong female principal character, Alvera Renata. The story is told from her first-person perspective revealed with the first line of the book, "Welcome to my head." What follows is a fast-moving story of betrayal and intrigue. The story is not overly long and there is no filler. There are lots of unexpected twists and turns to add to the suspense contained within. I just think it is a splendid book, and it is well worth looking at.
Warrant Hunter (bounty hunter) Alvera Renata lives on the planet New Pallas. It is a dismal place where corporations pay low wages to do very dangerous jobs. The "sletes" (short for Obsoletes) work in mines extracting various materials for the corporations on an upper level of the planet called the Spire. The sletes slave away without adequate food and no access to medicine, they have no other choice. Over everything is a mysterious space station orbiting above the planet. No one really knows what it is doing there, or who occupies it because anytime someone tried to travel to it, they are killed before they can even get close.
Alvera doesn't care for the way the common folk of the planet are treated and feels an urge to make changes. But she is only one person. It's going to be an arduous task, if not impossible.
As is mentioned in the book's prologue, Alvera wishes she had a mind of her own. She has cybernetic implants that enhance her abilities, but she is also monitored and receives messages through her tech. The sad thing about Alvera is she really doesn't have an identity she can call her own, and even worse, she doesn't know it. She is tough and determined and has made a few enemies during her time on the job. Even though she is tough, she also has compassion. She cares about the people on the planet's surface wand believes everyone should have an equal opportunity to reach their potential. Unfortunately, her ambitions are controlled by a man who is the embodiment of evil. His name is Ryce.
Ryce has no redeeming qualities. He is controlling, manipulative, and knows just how to make Alvera do things he wants her to do, and things she doesn't want to. He sees no value in the lives of the sletes. Ryce is the ultimate user and doesn't care who is hurt. He is a brilliantly written villain, and I disliked him from the first time he was introduced in the story.
My favorite point of the plot is how Alvera grows as she learns more about herself. She is secure in who she is until she learns a key point about her past. It throws her into a lot of self-doubt, but she copes with it. With the story told in the first-person point of view, we get a lot of insight into her putting pieces together, but she never loses sight of her goal. A victim of deception and betrayal are only obstacles for her to remove.
My major takeaway from Betrayal is the good versus evil trope in this book. Ryce is the epitome of evil in this story, while Alvera is the good. The only problem is, sometimes even good must revert to evil tactics to be successful. Alvera is not beyond stooping as low as Ryce to advance her cause, the only difference is Alvera frequently has regrets for what she is forced to do.
The blurb from the back cover mentions a comparison with Blade Runner. AI read I had that noir kind of feeling all the way through. It just seems like Alvera had way too many things against her to succeed. Other things I appreciated was the world building the author presented. She does a great job of showing a story that unfolds like a film in one's mind with visuals and descriptions that are vivid, but not overstated.
I recommend The Exodus Betrayal as a finely crafted Sci-Fi story with a strong female lead to rival any I have seen so far.
June 3, 2021
I highly recommend reading this author’s debut novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story was well thought out and exciting to read. The main character, Alvera, was immediately likeable and this encouraged me to be interested in her adventures and keep turning the pages. I felt like I was in a movie because the descriptions of the scenes were so vivid. Sometimes, I got so caught up in the story though I forgot to read the text slowly enough to truly enjoy how beautifully it was written.
I think there is a promising future ahead for N.C. Scrimgeour and I look forward to reading more of her work.
I think there is a promising future ahead for N.C. Scrimgeour and I look forward to reading more of her work.
May 8, 2021
The Exodus Betrayal can only be described as, mysterious, intense, intriguing, well crafted highly entertaining novel.
I was hooked from the first page. The seemingly hostile relationship between Chase and Alavera develops into the best partnership to save the planet from the selfish, greedy and cruel Exodan council.
I love how at the end justice is served.
This is a book you should read, I highly recommend it.
Brilliantly written and well imagined.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was hooked from the first page. The seemingly hostile relationship between Chase and Alavera develops into the best partnership to save the planet from the selfish, greedy and cruel Exodan council.
I love how at the end justice is served.
This is a book you should read, I highly recommend it.
Brilliantly written and well imagined.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 24, 2022
THE EXODUS BETRAYAL is the prequel to the Waystations trilogy, set about 20 years earlier, and is effectively Alvera's origin story, how she ends up in control with the promise "all of us go, or none of us go."
While the main trilogy definitely has space opera vibes, this book is more of the cyberpunk thriller end of sci-fi. Think MINDWALKER, but less pink (and also adult rather than YA!) There's advanced technology in heads, shady corporations who are even dodgier once you look beneath the surface, and none-too-legal research.
It's a fast-paced rider about control as the villain is the very definition of manipulative and gaslighting, trying to convince Alvera that it's all her fault she's being controlled by him. That it's "for her own good" and that he's trying to help. Villains like that are so awful because they're so real, and the "romantic" aspect only made him more insidious.
I read this after reading the first two books in the trilogy. That meant there were somethings that happened that I knew would happen. Rather than certain elements being a surprise they were more of a "ah, that's how it happened," because I was wondering how certain things were going to end up happening. I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with reading this before or after the series, it just depends on whether you'd rather be surprised by events or reading to work out how certain events will happen.
While the main trilogy definitely has space opera vibes, this book is more of the cyberpunk thriller end of sci-fi. Think MINDWALKER, but less pink (and also adult rather than YA!) There's advanced technology in heads, shady corporations who are even dodgier once you look beneath the surface, and none-too-legal research.
It's a fast-paced rider about control as the villain is the very definition of manipulative and gaslighting, trying to convince Alvera that it's all her fault she's being controlled by him. That it's "for her own good" and that he's trying to help. Villains like that are so awful because they're so real, and the "romantic" aspect only made him more insidious.
I read this after reading the first two books in the trilogy. That meant there were somethings that happened that I knew would happen. Rather than certain elements being a surprise they were more of a "ah, that's how it happened," because I was wondering how certain things were going to end up happening. I wouldn't say there's anything wrong with reading this before or after the series, it just depends on whether you'd rather be surprised by events or reading to work out how certain events will happen.
July 10, 2022
Great origin story!
I read Those Left Behind, book one in The Waystation Trilogy, and then discovered this origin story of Alvera! I loved this!
Learning about Alvera's past is exciting because I know what transpires in Those Left Behind. I enjoyed reading about how Chase and Alvera came together, and their friendship is so fun and catty, but true.
This could be read prior to or after Those Left Behind, but I'm glad I read it second. Such a fun story and world N.C. built. On to book two in the trilogy!
I read Those Left Behind, book one in The Waystation Trilogy, and then discovered this origin story of Alvera! I loved this!
Learning about Alvera's past is exciting because I know what transpires in Those Left Behind. I enjoyed reading about how Chase and Alvera came together, and their friendship is so fun and catty, but true.
This could be read prior to or after Those Left Behind, but I'm glad I read it second. Such a fun story and world N.C. built. On to book two in the trilogy!
March 23, 2025
This was a complete joy.
Getting an insight into Alvera before the Waystations Trilogy was far better than I expected. This story is phenomenal, character driven, with strong themes and a pulsating plot.
Love it.
Getting an insight into Alvera before the Waystations Trilogy was far better than I expected. This story is phenomenal, character driven, with strong themes and a pulsating plot.
Love it.
November 21, 2021
fabulous debut novel
This was so good that i read it in one sitting! Can't wait to read more of this author's work.
This was so good that i read it in one sitting! Can't wait to read more of this author's work.
November 15, 2022
I loved this, couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to start Those Left Behind!
April 11, 2023
awesome!
Great as a standalone or prequel to the Waystations trilogy. Fun characters and tense situations. Awesome for a quick read.
Great as a standalone or prequel to the Waystations trilogy. Fun characters and tense situations. Awesome for a quick read.
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February 8, 2026Well, it’s my book, so you can expect me to be a little biased, but posting this six months after release has hopefully given me enough time to get past the overwhelming mix of emotions that comes with putting your debut novel out into the world!
The Exodus Betrayal is a mash-up of a lot of different things, and even I find it hard to pin down exactly what it is. It’s a book about cybernetics and technology, about those with power and those without it, about friendship and revenge. It’s about finding out who you are, and realising that it doesn’t really matter. It’s about learning who to let in, and who to keep out. Most of all, it’s about taking back control of yourself from someone who never deserved you.
Alvera is stubborn, reckless, and a bit of an asshole. She’s also strong, vulnerable, and never accepts that she’s beaten. Her journey through the book is about building something back up after it’s been torn down, and creating something new out of the pieces. Getting into her head was a joy at times, and deeply uncomfortable at others, but I wouldn’t change a moment of it.
Take the first season of Jessica Jones, mix it with Altered Carbon, add a dash of the Imperial Agent storyline from SWTOR and a reference or two to Greek mythology, and you’ll come pretty close to The Exodus Betrayal. If you like your science fiction fast-paced and tightly-focused, following a single character battling with their demons (on the inside and the outside!) then this might be the book for you.
Give it a shot if you enjoy:
✨ Snarky bounty hunters
👊 Girls getting it done
🌃 Shady corporations and planetwide conspiracies
💀 Revenge served cold
The Exodus Betrayal is a mash-up of a lot of different things, and even I find it hard to pin down exactly what it is. It’s a book about cybernetics and technology, about those with power and those without it, about friendship and revenge. It’s about finding out who you are, and realising that it doesn’t really matter. It’s about learning who to let in, and who to keep out. Most of all, it’s about taking back control of yourself from someone who never deserved you.
Alvera is stubborn, reckless, and a bit of an asshole. She’s also strong, vulnerable, and never accepts that she’s beaten. Her journey through the book is about building something back up after it’s been torn down, and creating something new out of the pieces. Getting into her head was a joy at times, and deeply uncomfortable at others, but I wouldn’t change a moment of it.
Take the first season of Jessica Jones, mix it with Altered Carbon, add a dash of the Imperial Agent storyline from SWTOR and a reference or two to Greek mythology, and you’ll come pretty close to The Exodus Betrayal. If you like your science fiction fast-paced and tightly-focused, following a single character battling with their demons (on the inside and the outside!) then this might be the book for you.
Give it a shot if you enjoy:
✨ Snarky bounty hunters
👊 Girls getting it done
🌃 Shady corporations and planetwide conspiracies
💀 Revenge served cold
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews