The Ascendancy War

The Art of War Trilogy #2

by Richard Swan

The Ascendancy War has raged for six months.

After two enormous fleet actions at New Port Louis and the Pillars of Cain, the seemingly unstoppable provari advance into UN space has finally been forced to a grinding halt.

In the respite of stalemate, the UN gears up for its biggest counter-offensive of the war: Operation Talisman, a do-or-die effort to open up the coreward flank of the Ascendancy. Succeed, and the UN will seize the upper hand; fail, and defeat is inevitable.

Andrea Constance, President of the UN and an anxious coalition of Tier Three allies, must prepare for either outcome as D-Day draws closer. But she knows that every human lost and every provar killed means two fewer soldiers to fight the Kaygryn Empire…

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Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Unknown Binding

First published February 18, 2016

About the author

Richard Swan is a critically acclaimed British genre writer. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Empire of the Wolf and Great Silence trilogies, as well as fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine. His work has been translated into ten languages.

Richard is a qualified lawyer, and before writing full time spent ten years litigating multimillion pound commercial disputes in London. He currently lives in Sydney with his wife and three young sons.


For updates follow him at stonetemplelibrary.com.

Reviews

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize now I didn't review this when i finished it, just plowed straight on into book 3, which in itself is the review. It was good and exciting though. Much fun

[Talya Stek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just when I thought there couldn’t be new characters.. there’s practically an entire new set. I like the examination of the tragedy of war and the battle scenes are well written, the grotesque nature of survival and war is well examined and thoughtful.

[C Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less politics, and far more war, than Book 1. It was almost a complete POV change as well, which worked better than I thought it would.

Given the high-level focus of most of the POVs in the first book I felt the far narrower focus of most of the POVs in this book was a change I didn't need - the first book sold itself to me on the overview of politics and war, the constant battlefield focus was less interesting (for me).

And Christ, the UN needs to get itself a better class of President. That is the second in a row that behaves in an utterly insane manner

[Jeffrey Greek · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know those scenes in Tom Clancy novels where a battle is happening, people are yelling about what's happening, and a whole lot of acronyms and abbreviations are being tossed around? Imagine that, but with most of the acronyms and abbreviations being for things that don't actually exist and you'll have a pretty good idea of how the climactic event of this book is depicted. It gets to be a bit eye-glazing after a while.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was really pointless. We are at the exact same point as of the end of book 1. Why this book exists is beyond me. The schoolgirl arc was ridiculous, the gladiator arc was pointless.
Could have been a novella, not a main entry.
Every other chapter the other goes on for 2 pages not telling us who he is writing about? Only referencing the person as he or she, which is so fucking annoying when it happens so often.
I hope book 3 will be as good as book 1

[Christian Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining sci-fi war mixed with interstellar intrigue. My only critique being that it wraps up all a little too fast toward the end to make way for the 3rd book

[Roland Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Cannot wait for the next book! Gripping read seamlessly interweaving multiple story lines under an overarching plot. 2017 couldn't come any sooner for the next installment.