Revolt

Captured Earth #3

by T.J. Nichols

Australia is split in half, humans on the east and aliens on the west, and Josh and Xavier are on the wrong side of the line. They need to make it from alien territory back home. But with aliens hunting them and survivors to protect, all their plans start to unravel.

To survive, they’ll have to fight.

They have discovered the aliens are not invincible, and they have weaknesses. Armed with new knowledge, Josh and Xavier are determined to stop the aliens so no one else ends up imprisoned on the base. But going back to the base means risking their lives and the future they have promised each other.

Book three in the Captured Earth trilogy. For readers who like action, explosions, and don’t mind a little gore with their gay romance.

Genres: M M Romance, Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Romance, Aliens, Urban Fantasy

Unknown Binding

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

TJ Nichols (they/them) is the author of the Studies in Demonology and Familiar Mates series. They write mostly gay fantasy and paranormal romance, but sometimes gay action/horror as Toby J. Nichols.

After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Free gay shifter novella when you join TJ's newsletter: http://tjnichols-author.com/lp/

You can find TJ on
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Reviews

[Ay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story ends in this one, so there's that.

As the story began I was failing to make sense of where and when things were happening, so kind of already ejected from the story. There is action and fights and stuff, which is done well.

Only read this series if it is cheap or free. Do not spend USD $7 on it.

If you read lots of SF/military SF, this series will probably annoy you.

Under the spoiler tag, I discuss the ending of the series. Be ye warned.



So that was all a big ol' disappointment. And a missed opportunity.

Nichols writes very well. The action stuff is intense and absorbing. The voice is convincing.

The world building was crapoidal. Perhaps it would have worked if WA was the size of ?New South Wales? Or happened 'way 'way north of Geraldton? It was also unclear when the story was happening, and over what time frame. So the reader is floating a bit in time and space.

I would have loved this to be good military SF with two soldiers who happen to be in love with each other, or are sorting their stuff out in the background while shepherding some people to safety through desert/jungle/aliens hunting them down etc. Sadly, this is not that book.

While the story is told from Josh's point of view, we don't really get a sense of him or of Xavier. They are likeable and good at their jobs. Yay.

Then at the end, we are told that "the news says we have fought (the aliens) off". So either that's so they can write more books about the alien invasion if this does well enough? Or they think they need this for a satisfactory ending? Or they think that is a satisfactory ending? That being able to fight the aliens on the ground is going to work for an interstellar civilisation? Why not leave this as a story with a happy ending within a larger war? That these questions arose in my mind as I was reading the ending (and went back and checked the ending) was not a good sign of a satisfying resolution.

In addition, while the author may have done much thinking about the aliens, what makes them tick, their level of tech etc, none of that is conveyed in the story.

In summary:
Positive: An action packed story
Negatives: poor world building, pale romance arc, little sense of any of the characters, poor plotting, and a general failure to think through whether this book should be an adventure serial or a novel, instead of either we a left with a lame hybrid.

I have it two stars because the action was good, and I didn't mind the characters.

All in all, worth a look if you are trapped in an airplane or a hospital bed and don't have to pay full price for it.

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come but I just binge read an entire trilogy of books in a row because I was too invested and had to know what happened mext, so I would say this was a success for me.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

so this is the last book in this series and it concludes this story arc. maybe we get another book in this world, which I would really like

This review is for all three books:
this series is situated in Australia, somewhere in the near future. it is not stated when exactly, which is not really of consequence as the actions are sci-fi-based.
in this world, specific parts of the world were conquered by aliens, which resemble geckos and are better euqiped and technical far more advanced than humans.
Josh and his team is sent out to get intel on the base, which is based in the middle of Australia.

Josh and his lover Xavier are dragged through hell and back in this series till the end. the pacing in this series is very well done.
the first book is more action and setting up the world and the base for the actions in the future books.
the second book has more relationship development but a real lot of action as well. not all actions of Josh are perfect and not all are squickie clean but they are understandable.
the third book is the conclusion, with a lot of action and I felt for Josh and Xavier for all they had to endure. I was not entirely happy about some developments regarding the relationship as I viewed them as too much as there is already so much going on.

the story is written in Josh POV and I would have loved to see a bit of Xaviers POV. but it is a small complaint

all in all, I really enjoyed this series. it was a very well-written military sci-fi action story with very convincing two main charactdrs.




I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Revolt concludes the Captured Earth trilogy and brings us the final showdown for Josh and Xavier. It picks up right where Regroup left off, with the team facing the impending battle with the Geckos. As with the other books, this one has lots of exciting and intense moments as they fight the aliens. I like that the story is nicely scary, with real moments where it feels like anything could happen. Josh and the others are fighting an uphill battle, one with little chance of survival, and we never forget that. Fortunately, we do get a nice resolution here, both on the relationship and military sides, so things come together to tie everything up at the end.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Elaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine

~

Regroup (Captured Earth, 03) by T.J. Nichols
★★★★★

3rd person POV, single character with one scene of alternative POV
Themes: alien invasion, action/adventure, military, capture, gay romance
Triggers: references to off-page slavery/rape, human sacrifice, violence, medical ick
Genre: action/adventure, Urban Fantasy, MM, sci-fi, aliens

World-Building: ★★★★★
Heat: ★★★☆☆
Chemistry: ★★★★☆
Plot: ★★★★★
Romance: ★★★☆☆


Revolt is Book 3 in the Captured Earth trilogy, and it picks up exactly where Book 2 ended. My unanswered question from Book 2 was, as expected, resolved in the first chapter.

The relationship between Josh and Xavier is real and well written. While they love each other, they've had their struggles, and not everything is smooth sailing in this book. They fight, argue and disagree with each other about their plans and military strategy. But, at the end of the day, what really matters is being together and supporting each other's crazy ideas.

Interesting, and logically for the story, there's a switch to Xavier's POV at 89%, which was great. We've steadily seen more of him in the last two books, but it was nice to get his POV. Especially under the circumstances that precipitated the switch.

As for the writing, this is an ARC and I always allow a little leeway for editing issues, since I tend to get ARC's before the final edits anyway. There were a few more issues here than in the previous books, but they're little things that I can see being picked up easily by the editor, before publishing.

Overall, this was a great, cohesive series. It's got action, adventure, a dash of romance and heat, and a great balance between all of it. There was a slow, steady trickle of exploration of the aliens, through experience of them, and the storyline remained solid, consistent and well paced throughout all the books.

I'm not sure it's a series that I'd re-read, but only because it's so unique that there's no way I could forget the important details. But, if I was in a mood for an alien read, I'd definitely turn to this one. It's so totally beyond anything I've read before that I'll never forget it.

As for the ending, it was pretty much what I'd hoped for and expected. While not wrapped up in a perfect bow, it's clean, clever and perfect for the characters. Unlike some books, the heroes – our two MC's – aren't the only ones who miraculously survived. They did their job, took care of business, and made sure that both military and civilian survivors had a chance to get home to safety.

FAVOURITE QUOTE

“He'd spent the last decade knowing that death was a possibility, and now that it had come knocking, he wanted to tell it to f*ck off. He wasn't ready.”

[AshPenny37 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this is the last book in the Captured Earth trilogy. By this point, we know what needs to be done - Josh, Xavier and the other survivors need to put the intel they've gathered to good use and get back to Australian territory and share what they know. To do that they need to get through a final fight against the aliens. The metaphorical road back to the border isn't exactly smooth. There are questions of morality to answer, injuries to contend with and anticipating how the aliens will engage them. On a personal level, Josh is in danger of unraveling and questioning his own leadership, as well as being unsure if he and Xavier will make it home in one piece, both physically and as a couple.

As this is the concluding part, it's expected that the tension and action will really ramp up. That's definitely the case here. The pacing and feeling of jeopardy work for me. Again the balance between the romance and action feels about right, and Josh and Xavier make some decisions about their lives moving forward.

Where there's a bit of an imbalance, for me, is in the final 10 percent of the book. I think the penultimate chapter and epilogue could have had more detail/development to explain more about sharing how to defeat the aliens and what happens next for Josh and Xavier.

I guess I've just got one small overall gripe is that the plot is pretty much outlined in the blurb for all three books in the series...I'd have liked there to be a bit more mystery.

I've got to say that, although I think I would have preferred to read this story as one book rather than serialised, I've enjoyed it. I've said it before - it's a good solid sci-fi romp with plucky humans set against the alien invaders. I like Josh and Xavier as MCs and the side characters more or less serve their purpose well (as previously mentioned elsewhere I would have liked more interaction with some of them). It's 4* from me.

An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one heck of a series and one I wasn’t sure where the MCs would actually get an HEA. It was that close of a call. When I said it was fast paced, it is. You never know what twist is coming. You honestly don’t know what’s going to happen until it happens. The author did a great job at keeping things close to the vest so it was hard to guess what would happen next. 

This was what you would call the ‘final countdown’. And yes, that song just flashed in my head. I was biting my nails through this whole book. If it wasn’t Xavier, it was Josh. One was almost dead or the other was. You didn’t know if they’d even make it to safety. Or get past the aliens guarding the way to freedom for them. All you knew was the plan they had and they were running for it. But the problem was the aliens were very angry and they were bringing all they had. And I kept my fingers crossed the whole time, hoping that whatever Josh & Xavier were planning would work. And that maybe they would gag one or two of the survivors they managed to save. Out of all that could have died, I was sad to see the good ones go. But if Xavier or Josh would have….man, that would have been it for me. You know you don’t always get happy endings. Yes, I realize in books you usually do, but sometimes even that has a cost. And this had a big one.

It’s one heck of a series though. I thoroughly enjoyed it and think anyone that loves a good sci-fi book will love this. It’s fast paced, it’s action packed and like I said, you never quite know what’s going to happen until it happens.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. M/M military OFY romance trilogy with a dash of sci-fi horror.
This is a review of all 3 books.
Josh and Xavier are closeted alpha male soldiers in the Australian army.
Their relationship was ill defined despite going on for 3 years when earth was invaded by lizard like aliens.
All 3 volumes are told from Josh’s POV.

In Resist, the focus is on a futile military operation while Josh is drowning in sorrow and regret as he remunerates about their disagreement and harsh last words. When captured by the aliens, he slowly learns of the horrors that are inflicted on the other human captives. It is the relationship with other captives, the gladiator scenes, the farm horrors and the great escape that dominate this plot. There is very little interactions between Josh and Xavier especially since Josh thought Xavier was dead for the majority of the book.
The book ends on a cliffhanger.

In Regroup, with the non stop threat of recapture, Josh and Xavier gain perspective on their relationship and their life. If it wasn’t for the disgusting farm related scenes this book would have been nicer as we see them work together and love hard. It was one scene but they definitely earned it and it was sweeter with the proposal. It also ends on a cliffhanger.

In Revolt, annoyingly the relationship regresses as the exact same argument occurs again! This time putting Josh in mortal danger. I was annoyed at Xavier’s naive approach to the mission and their role in it. Josh was the more pragmatic one and he might have skirted close to the line of what’s acceptable but his focus was on keeping everyone alive.
It didn’t help that the plot was full of holes. There was no explanation for why the aliens destroy one ship but not the other(s)! Or why they know where to ambush in a remote area but need human accomplices in a town! Or why retreat and not have gotten re-enforcements after this minor resistance? And how exactly will Josh heal considering his extensive wounds?
The sense of doom hanged heavy over this plot and not much romance. There was one super rushed scene, light on details. But they were mostly not seeing eye to eye in this plot.

So in summary, I don’t like insect related horror, the plot was full of holes and the relationship development was uneven. Xavier was annoyingly naive and unnecessarily kept risking Josh who just wanted to keep him happy as penance or something at his own personal cost.
The epilogue was super rushed! And considering that they kept making the same relationship mistakes, I have to wonder if their relationship can make it.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third book of the Captured Earth series, Josh and Xavier are still on the wrong side of the line between alien and Australian strong holds. They have found that the alien geckos do have a vulnerability that can be easily used. However, before they can return and report on their findings, they want to make sure no one is left imprisoned on the alien base. Unfortunately, both men are not in the best of shape and going back could mean their lives.

Josh and Xavier remained amazing heroes until the very end. They never gave up and continued to fight even when the odds were against them. They used creativity in eliminating the enemy. At the same time, they realized that life is so uncertain that they should be able to live their life as they see it and declared themselves engaged. The relationship between the two was incredible. They found time for each other but never lost sight of the ultimate goal – defeat of the enemy. This has been an incredible series – filled with action, twists and in between, some loving romance. Don’t miss this series if you love action, some gore and an explosion or two with your romance.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third book in the series, things resume where the second book left off (so if you haven’t read them all ready, start with previous books!) The protagonists have been through a lot; they have more to go through (a small matter of making it back from behind enemy lines with vital information, mid alien invasion). This is an intense read, and as things have been building in previous installments, the tension has had a chance to really stack up. You can see that reflected in not only the task at hand but also the connection between Xavier and Josh. The stakes could not be higher, and while there are some moments where their bond seems to fray around the edges, ultimately they’re each other’s rocks and it’s great to see. They’re easy characters to root for, and the action they’re caught up in is pretty impossible to look away from. I liked the ending, which I felt struck the right note for the story overall. I’ve really enjoyed this series as a whole, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a blend of action, science fiction, and a little romance.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are looking grim as this final book in the trilogy begins, although there is some hope. I thought the alien weaknesses were clever, yet realistic, and I liked the ingenuity of the MCs figuring out a way to start fighting back.

I liked that not everyone fighting is enthused about doing it, and that they’re justifiably scared about what lies ahead. The characters in this story all feel very human, and although at the end of the day they’re heroes, it’s not without personal cost, making mistakes, and more loss of life. The aliens come across as a formidable foe and are not going to be easily taken down.

I also liked the arguments between Josh and Xavier, with them each wanting to approach the situation differently. I loved Xavier’s response to Josh’s fear about their relationship being discovered. The brief time they have together is sweet and shows their strength as a couple. I loved how Xavier doesn’t take any of Josh’s shit, and wants to come of this knowing they’d done what they could.

The ending works perfectly for the series, and I liked that their injuries are addressed and it’s not a we’ve won and there are no consequences situation.

[Tony Farnden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished ‘Revolt’ having had an advance copy to review and I’m suffering withdrawal symptoms already. ‘Revolt’ is the last in the trilogy and brings a conclusion to Josh and Xavier’s nightmare. Like in real life they don’t get all the answers they are looking for but they get enough to be getting on with their lives and possibly save the planet in the process.

‘Resist’ left them and four others in Georgetown plus the traitor, Andrew, with the threat of an alien attack looming. ‘Revolt’ follows their attempts at surviving and maybe striking back. The story is one of retaliation and revenge, both of which could be alternative titles. You can be sure not everyone is going to get out alive but then it was always unlikely anyone would survive, and I’m talking the human race here.

This definitely works, telling the story of those in the frontline just doing the best they can with little info and with no guarantee that they'll get home (and not have to face the consequences of their actions when they do.) I’m not going to say any more. Just read it!

[Linda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finale of three-part M/M thriller of Alien invasion of Earth
Another nail-biter. This whole series had me turning pages because I had to know that our heroes, Sgt Josh Rayne and his lover Xavier Fisher survive to fight another day. So many people are depending on them to make it back to the human side of Australia and possibly kill a few “Geckos” along the way. They have learned so much about the aliens and their technology but will it be enough to save Josh and Xavier in this last skirmish? They have been badly injured by the alien weapons. And don’t forget about the bugs and their larvae. YUK.
This has been an amazing series and I would recommend it to readers who like explicit-lite M/M romance with Aliens, war and gore. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and I give it 4.5 squeamish-inducing stars. Better editing would be recommended.

[Coline Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I have to tell you, I really enjoyed reading this well written fast reading series what an adventure it has been. The story started exactly where the last left off, the 3rd book and last in this Alien Invasion series and it was ever so good. From the first page you were drawn right back in, now wondering how they would return to civilization while still dealing with the alien invaders, also adding in their human companions and their drama could almost be to much for these soldiers to deal with. They have a mission to accomplish, an objective to gain and hopefully a life to live when it was all was said and done, but only with the possiblity of the aliens being defeated and the most important factor, they make it out alive.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fight begins in earnest and there are decisions to make and prices to be paid. The great world building continues as we learn about the aliens' vulnerable spots and our band of humans do some battling with each other and internally with themselves about just how willing they are to fight and die. Josh is still dealing with his uncertainty about how revealing his relationship with Xavier might compromise his ability to lead and Xavier is wonderful in his tough response to Josh's waffling. I continued to get the "V" series vibes all through this series in all the best ways and the Australian setting was perfect.

[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Planned extermination for the alien lizards, Josh is the only one that is willing to go the extreme where Andrew is considered..which he maybe be just tired of all the alien war fair. Xavier is better fighting shape, still planning the future wedding that is if they make it to the other side of the latest scheme to survive. Whew this waa more intense, as it was like survival of the fittest. There is so much riding on them making it that you are tense as the fights take place.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the trilogy. Everything's coming together for our heroes (sort of) in this book. A Lot of the questions are answered in this book. The relationship between Xavier and Josh is resolved. I really enjoyed the ending of this book and felt the resolution was worth it. Like in the past books, there is lots of action. There is also plenty of moments between Xavier and Josh in the book that balance it out. I definitely recommend this series and recommend that you start at the beginning.

[Cat Face Gargoyle Vesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to be shorter than I wanted it to be, but it didn't take away from the satisfaction and relief I felt while reading it.

Hard to talk about events without giving spoilers, but I wish some plot threads had been followed through to a more satisfying conclusion. (Josh's shoulder, a bit more of an extended debrief, and a slightly longer last confrontation with the aliens would have been perfect).

Greatly enjoyed the whole series, a fantastic illustration of just how much action can get packed into 100 pages!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good!! We know by now that Josh and Xavier aren’t giving up and are determined not to die because earth needs the intel they have gathered against these nasty aliens. I am loving all sides of both of these men and I couldn’t help but cheer for the ending. I would have liked a little intel about the defeat of the aliens but the guys get their HEA for what it’s worth and that is perfectly fine by me!

[Anabela.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely an edge-of-the-seat ride. Deep in alien occupied territory, Josh's and his group's game of survival suddenly became also an offensive one, and they put themselves in even more danger. The story was saturated with  tension and fear, sprinkled with sweet moments between Josh and Xavier.

Revolt is the last installment of a series that's had me holding my breath all throughout. The suspense kept building up and up, leading to an amazing and convincing ending. A must read.

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic fast paced conclusion to this suspenseful series. Things get handled swiftly and has a sweet HEA. I enjoyed the story and will definitely be reading other books by this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Gay Romance Reviews for introducing me to this new author.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic conclusion to the series! I loved how Josh and Xavier felt so realistic, their struggles were hard won, and they support one another. Overall this was a fantastic story and series. I’m sad it’s ending. The story was really well written, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Lydia Devlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third and final book in the Captured Earth series ,that must be read in order,and I absolutely loved it!
Plenty of action,ramping up the excitement and tension in this thriller of a story.
I really want to say more,but,I'll be good,and give readers the chance to dive in and enjoy this brilliant story.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.

[Susan Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this trilogy! I wasn't sure of the outcome of this story...it seems as if all is lost. Josh almost appears to lose hope and thats just heartbreaking as he has been the one since the beginning breaking free.

I love that Josh's ideas are kind of crazy. Xavier and Josh are good together. The action is great. I totally enjoyed this series.

[Brooks 59 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this mashup of romance and SF adventure, Josh and Xavier were easy to cheer for, and this book was a great conclusion to their story. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh and Xavier remained amazing heroes until the very end. They never gave up and continued to fight even when the odds were against them. They found time for each other but never lost sight of the ultimate goal to defeat of the enemy. I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great action packed series

Excellent series with non-stop action and even a little romance thrown in. If you like sci-fi and aliens this is the series for you

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See previous reviews of this series

[Gema Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This last installment keeps being as interesting and entertaining like the previous two books and I liked it overall, though the ending was a little disappointing.