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First Command
More than anything astronaut cadet Cassi Requin wants to earn a position in the Alliance Expeditionary Fleet. And she’s almost made it.
But during an interstellar training flight Cassi investigates a distress call, directly disobeying the orders of her instructors. In doing so she leads her crew into a pirate trap, a battle, and a disaster of a crash on the surface of an alien world.
With the only qualified astronauts on board locked in survival stasis, Cassi is promoted into her first command—rank, authority, and responsibility.
Food and water are in short supply. Their spacecraft hull is compromised. Rescue is light years away.
With bloodthirsty pirates in pursuit, Cassi must lead her crew across hostile ground seething with predators to seek the safety of a remote survey outpost that might be their only chance to return home.
What Amazon reviewers are saying…
“I just finished this amazing book and I loved every chapter.”
“… a fun adventure that keeps you reading right to the end.”
“Every chapter left me hanging…”
But during an interstellar training flight Cassi investigates a distress call, directly disobeying the orders of her instructors. In doing so she leads her crew into a pirate trap, a battle, and a disaster of a crash on the surface of an alien world.
With the only qualified astronauts on board locked in survival stasis, Cassi is promoted into her first command—rank, authority, and responsibility.
Food and water are in short supply. Their spacecraft hull is compromised. Rescue is light years away.
With bloodthirsty pirates in pursuit, Cassi must lead her crew across hostile ground seething with predators to seek the safety of a remote survey outpost that might be their only chance to return home.
What Amazon reviewers are saying…
“I just finished this amazing book and I loved every chapter.”
“… a fun adventure that keeps you reading right to the end.”
“Every chapter left me hanging…”
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2021
6 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 22, 2022
First Command was an enjoyable read. Cassi was a likable protagonist and the most fleshed-out character. I enjoyed the action sequences, especially the initial crash onto the alien planet. I was curious about each crew member and anxious to learn more about their lives and backstories.
As the story progressed, I expected some breaks from the action sequences to learn more about the characters. We got Cassi's backstory, but I wanted to know more about the other characters. (Maybe a sequel is in the works?) I would be interested in a spin-off focusing on Quinton's character, who suffered the most. He was my favorite character next to Cassi.
I also appreciated the question of morality regarding space exploration and colonization. I thought Cassi handled the matter with courage and maturity, even when her mother tried to turn her astray.
Overall, I'm pleased and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction stories - this would be perfect for you!
As the story progressed, I expected some breaks from the action sequences to learn more about the characters. We got Cassi's backstory, but I wanted to know more about the other characters. (Maybe a sequel is in the works?) I would be interested in a spin-off focusing on Quinton's character, who suffered the most. He was my favorite character next to Cassi.
I also appreciated the question of morality regarding space exploration and colonization. I thought Cassi handled the matter with courage and maturity, even when her mother tried to turn her astray.
Overall, I'm pleased and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction stories - this would be perfect for you!
January 21, 2022
First Command by Charles K. James is an accessible and entertaining science fiction novel. Imagine a cast of characters who would be going through Starfleet Academy in the Trek universe—but younger—who have to complete a training mission to qualify as official astronauts. Keeping Star Trek in mind, if you’ve seen Star Trek Discovery season 4, episode 4 “All Is Possible” and like that, First Command somewhat matches that vibe with its journey of cadets in the Alliance Expeditionary Fleet, and dives into the mission and its aftermath, but deeper.
First Command features an ensemble cast, but it’s easy to follow the protagonist Cassi Requin. She’s likable, intelligent, has clear motives, fears, and takes action. Cassi has a solid camaraderie with her bestie, Emica, and I found their moments regarding chocolate endearing, especially with the ordeal that their crew of cadets had to endure.
After the inciting incident, First Command feels like a survival story. There is action in the novel, but the book takes its time to develop its characters and their relationships with each other. How Cassi is given command (nice touch on that), how she deals with it, and how some of her crew react to her leadership status is an interesting dynamic that produces its share of tension and consequences.
The second half of the book takes off and has cool moments, some that feel like a sci-fi version of a Resident Evil boss fight.
While the characters and plot click, craft elements are what could be improved. At times, there’s an overuse of simile and metaphor. Even if the book is geared for the YA audience, let the prose speak for itself and allow the imagination of the reader to visualize what’s happening without the (sometimes weaker) inclusion of figurative language. Use them sparingly, and in key moments.
The segue from the end of dialogue to descriptive follow-ups could use more polish because characters don’t say their actions. Those are two separate things.
Flashbacks in First Command have relevance to later parts of the narrative, but they stall the momentum. Instead of cutting from the present, a more effective way is to have the flashback more active. Build on the character thinking and reflecting, or being triggered into the memory, then return to the present to conclude the scene for a stronger effect.
This is volume 1, but even if the reader treats it as a stand-alone, there’s a satisfying end to the journey in this book. James impresses with his use of action and consequences. Lessons are learned, seeds of potential plots for future installments are introduced, and not everything is perfect by the final page. Life reflected in fiction. If readers can overlook some flaws in the technicality of the writing, First Command is a sci-fi adventure worth checking out.
First Command features an ensemble cast, but it’s easy to follow the protagonist Cassi Requin. She’s likable, intelligent, has clear motives, fears, and takes action. Cassi has a solid camaraderie with her bestie, Emica, and I found their moments regarding chocolate endearing, especially with the ordeal that their crew of cadets had to endure.
After the inciting incident, First Command feels like a survival story. There is action in the novel, but the book takes its time to develop its characters and their relationships with each other. How Cassi is given command (nice touch on that), how she deals with it, and how some of her crew react to her leadership status is an interesting dynamic that produces its share of tension and consequences.
The second half of the book takes off and has cool moments, some that feel like a sci-fi version of a Resident Evil boss fight.
While the characters and plot click, craft elements are what could be improved. At times, there’s an overuse of simile and metaphor. Even if the book is geared for the YA audience, let the prose speak for itself and allow the imagination of the reader to visualize what’s happening without the (sometimes weaker) inclusion of figurative language. Use them sparingly, and in key moments.
The segue from the end of dialogue to descriptive follow-ups could use more polish because characters don’t say their actions. Those are two separate things.
Flashbacks in First Command have relevance to later parts of the narrative, but they stall the momentum. Instead of cutting from the present, a more effective way is to have the flashback more active. Build on the character thinking and reflecting, or being triggered into the memory, then return to the present to conclude the scene for a stronger effect.
This is volume 1, but even if the reader treats it as a stand-alone, there’s a satisfying end to the journey in this book. James impresses with his use of action and consequences. Lessons are learned, seeds of potential plots for future installments are introduced, and not everything is perfect by the final page. Life reflected in fiction. If readers can overlook some flaws in the technicality of the writing, First Command is a sci-fi adventure worth checking out.
May 19, 2023
This was a good little read about a space cadet exam that turns into a fight for survival. The world-building is grounded, the characters who get explored are enjoyable to read even if they aren’t always likeable, and the plot never stops.
When the cadets are stranded on an uncharted planet, the book invites you to want to engage with this unknown world right alongside the characters, and by engage, I mean, pack a flamethrower and burn the monstrosity down. The plant and wildlife supply about half the tension, particularly the scene with the vines, which is simultaneously fascinating and horrifying, and what I personally think to be the best part of the whole book.
When it comes to the characters, my heart goes out to Quinton. Sure, Cassi is a plucky leader with a strong moral compass that develops her decisive energy, but Quinton’s the one who soars out of the muck to touch the sky. What I was sure would be another stereotype delightfully surprised with a sacrifice I would not have expected based on who he is in the opening.
Between the planet, the marauders, and the cadets themselves, there’s a healthy helping of plot to go around…perhaps too much. The flashbacks are intriguing, and I wish we got more of them, but I think that’s because the plot is in a constant forward rush, only letting up with those moments from the past. Thankfully, though, they’re well-placed, because they seemed to appear right as I would start to feel overwhelmed from the action.
I found there were times when I would have to stop and go back to make sure I understood what was happening, and some action was hard to follow, but it was nothing major.
Something that absolutely doubled down my investment in the story was that Charles James isn’t afraid to commit to consequences. When the group takes a hit and limbs are lost, I was so shocked, I went back to make sure I read correctly. And the hush bribe that comes from this just drips with juicy conspiracy.
We never find out what happened with the ship’s AI, which is disappointing, because a lot of attention is given to it only for it to drop off by the last third. I also wish more time had been spent exploring what was really going on with the water. It was such a great twist discovery to the inciting incident that I thought it would get expanded upon as a cliffhanger after the final climax, but from how the book does end, I’m guessing if we’re given any answers, it will be in book two or later. I’ve already bought the second book, so I’ll find out soon enough!
When the cadets are stranded on an uncharted planet, the book invites you to want to engage with this unknown world right alongside the characters, and by engage, I mean, pack a flamethrower and burn the monstrosity down. The plant and wildlife supply about half the tension, particularly the scene with the vines, which is simultaneously fascinating and horrifying, and what I personally think to be the best part of the whole book.
When it comes to the characters, my heart goes out to Quinton. Sure, Cassi is a plucky leader with a strong moral compass that develops her decisive energy, but Quinton’s the one who soars out of the muck to touch the sky. What I was sure would be another stereotype delightfully surprised with a sacrifice I would not have expected based on who he is in the opening.
Between the planet, the marauders, and the cadets themselves, there’s a healthy helping of plot to go around…perhaps too much. The flashbacks are intriguing, and I wish we got more of them, but I think that’s because the plot is in a constant forward rush, only letting up with those moments from the past. Thankfully, though, they’re well-placed, because they seemed to appear right as I would start to feel overwhelmed from the action.
I found there were times when I would have to stop and go back to make sure I understood what was happening, and some action was hard to follow, but it was nothing major.
Something that absolutely doubled down my investment in the story was that Charles James isn’t afraid to commit to consequences. When the group takes a hit and limbs are lost, I was so shocked, I went back to make sure I read correctly. And the hush bribe that comes from this just drips with juicy conspiracy.
We never find out what happened with the ship’s AI, which is disappointing, because a lot of attention is given to it only for it to drop off by the last third. I also wish more time had been spent exploring what was really going on with the water. It was such a great twist discovery to the inciting incident that I thought it would get expanded upon as a cliffhanger after the final climax, but from how the book does end, I’m guessing if we’re given any answers, it will be in book two or later. I’ve already bought the second book, so I’ll find out soon enough!
May 23, 2024
Cassie and her crew have to survive a crash lining on a strange planet, hunted by alien creatures and seeking resources to survive! This novel was a great escape read, with all the elements you would enjoy in a sci-fi
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews