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Seasons of War on Abira #1
Midwinter at Bhisho
Providing aid becomes a fight for survival.
When Imara lands on Abira with the rest of her company, things don’t feel right. And it’s not just the constant, falling snow. Bhisho’s townsfolk are nervous. This makes the Hospitallers wary.
Then, thieves come in the night.
But the thieves aren’t just thieves, they’re citizens of Grabouw, the other town in the valley. The Hospitallers learn that the people of Grabouw are starving, too. Imara and her team are charged with escorting supplies, through the snow, to the other town.
The welcome here is even more chilling.
Imara is certain more is going on than just a shortage of food supplies. A passed note confirms her suspicions. Now, Imara not only has to get her team safely back to Bhisho, but she also needs to report the truth, even if it costs her teams’ lives.
Midwinter on Bhisho is the first story in the Seasons of War on Abira series. Follow Sgt Imara Fermo as she not only deals with her own demons but also struggles to understand the layers of deceptions that drive the civil war on Abira.
When Imara lands on Abira with the rest of her company, things don’t feel right. And it’s not just the constant, falling snow. Bhisho’s townsfolk are nervous. This makes the Hospitallers wary.
Then, thieves come in the night.
But the thieves aren’t just thieves, they’re citizens of Grabouw, the other town in the valley. The Hospitallers learn that the people of Grabouw are starving, too. Imara and her team are charged with escorting supplies, through the snow, to the other town.
The welcome here is even more chilling.
Imara is certain more is going on than just a shortage of food supplies. A passed note confirms her suspicions. Now, Imara not only has to get her team safely back to Bhisho, but she also needs to report the truth, even if it costs her teams’ lives.
Midwinter on Bhisho is the first story in the Seasons of War on Abira series. Follow Sgt Imara Fermo as she not only deals with her own demons but also struggles to understand the layers of deceptions that drive the civil war on Abira.
- GenresScience FictionAmazon
170 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 23, 2021
55 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 4, 2022
War is hell
This book did not disappoint me one darned bit. Action packed and well paced, with excellent characterization, it should pull most foks in. Can't wait to start the next book.
This book did not disappoint me one darned bit. Action packed and well paced, with excellent characterization, it should pull most foks in. Can't wait to start the next book.
September 27, 2021
Excellent sci fi adventure
The world building is great, the concept of the Hospitallers is awesome, but it's the characters that make Roske's books wonderful. The body counts are often, sadly, high on both sides of the conflicts. The main character and their supporting cast are always believable, likeable, and unique. I really like Imara and her special talent. I highly recommend these books.
The world building is great, the concept of the Hospitallers is awesome, but it's the characters that make Roske's books wonderful. The body counts are often, sadly, high on both sides of the conflicts. The main character and their supporting cast are always believable, likeable, and unique. I really like Imara and her special talent. I highly recommend these books.
May 12, 2023
Midwinter at Bhisho is the first instalment of the Seasons of War on Abira series. Right off the top, I need to confess that I’m not the biggest fan of military science fiction. I’ll try to justify my observations as best as I can. Excuse me if some of them may be part of the canon of the genre.
I learned little about the main character, Sgt Imara Fermo. I know that she has a keen sense of direction, and that she cares deeply for her team. Beyond this, all she seems to do are generic leader things. There are hints about her past. My other gripe is that all the characters are addressed by rank and last name. I don’t know if this is military protocol, but it kept me away from gaining interest in the side characters.
A quick word about the Hospitallers. My understanding is that they are a military organization, something like a combination of the United Nations peacekeepers and the way the United States armed forces (and most other countries, for that matter) likes to advertise themselves. They are also made up totally of orphans. I guess I would have liked their mandate and history spelled out better.
I thought that the overall story idea was good. However, the villain character has no history or motivation. I thought that some of the larger story questions went unanswered. There are ethnic issues that the story doesn’t really address. It makes the stakes seem lightweight.
The actions worked well. The idea of a blinding snowstorm makes for an interesting backdrop. Playing the orphan card kind of produced a theme to go along with the Hospitallers as an organization. They seemed a little convenient though, and again there could have been a much more interesting backstory.
As I said in the introduction, I’m not big into the military science fiction genre. All the elements for a compelling story are here, they just need more commitment and depth. It was an okay read and I’m giving it a mediocre two out of five on Goodreads.
I learned little about the main character, Sgt Imara Fermo. I know that she has a keen sense of direction, and that she cares deeply for her team. Beyond this, all she seems to do are generic leader things. There are hints about her past. My other gripe is that all the characters are addressed by rank and last name. I don’t know if this is military protocol, but it kept me away from gaining interest in the side characters.
A quick word about the Hospitallers. My understanding is that they are a military organization, something like a combination of the United Nations peacekeepers and the way the United States armed forces (and most other countries, for that matter) likes to advertise themselves. They are also made up totally of orphans. I guess I would have liked their mandate and history spelled out better.
I thought that the overall story idea was good. However, the villain character has no history or motivation. I thought that some of the larger story questions went unanswered. There are ethnic issues that the story doesn’t really address. It makes the stakes seem lightweight.
The actions worked well. The idea of a blinding snowstorm makes for an interesting backdrop. Playing the orphan card kind of produced a theme to go along with the Hospitallers as an organization. They seemed a little convenient though, and again there could have been a much more interesting backstory.
As I said in the introduction, I’m not big into the military science fiction genre. All the elements for a compelling story are here, they just need more commitment and depth. It was an okay read and I’m giving it a mediocre two out of five on Goodreads.
August 22, 2022
This was a pretty good start to a series and definitely compels me to read the next one. I thought that the action scenes could have been a little more detailed and refined. There was a lot of shooting and a lot of “grazed” body parts. It was difficult to tell what the armour would actually stand up to and what would get through. Same for all the injuries. There were a lot of injuries but not much indication of what ones were serious and what ones were just flesh wounds. Everyone continued on per normal for the most part. The Orphan Corps was an interesting premise and I will enjoy reading more.
October 3, 2021
Not your normal fighting unit tale.
This was a surprise, it's funny, tragic, upsetting, thoughtful well thought-out and well written. The characters are all life like and well rounded. I'll be looking out for the next book in the series just to see what happens next.
This was a surprise, it's funny, tragic, upsetting, thoughtful well thought-out and well written. The characters are all life like and well rounded. I'll be looking out for the next book in the series just to see what happens next.
November 7, 2021
Awesome story
This is a great story. Full of action and suspense throughout the story. I wondered several times if they would survive. They were faced with a difficult weather situation and out numbered by the enemy. A must read!
This is a great story. Full of action and suspense throughout the story. I wondered several times if they would survive. They were faced with a difficult weather situation and out numbered by the enemy. A must read!
November 25, 2021
Awesome book
I love that the relief group not only brought relief but also enforced the ceasefire in the war. Also loved the unique makeup of the Hospitalers and how they were all orphans.
I love that the relief group not only brought relief but also enforced the ceasefire in the war. Also loved the unique makeup of the Hospitalers and how they were all orphans.
December 5, 2024
While the organization is primarily a humanitarian agency, they also defend themselves and others in need. It's quite an adventure to provide aid when they hadn't expected the civil war activity in the area they were working.
October 17, 2021
Better than its start! Straight combat on a very wintered planet. Good action.
October 20, 2021
Good story
Fun adventure. I could feel the cold. Earl T. Roske is a great storyteller. I love this is in a series. Highly recommended.
Fun adventure. I could feel the cold. Earl T. Roske is a great storyteller. I love this is in a series. Highly recommended.
July 27, 2022
I really liked this book and I'm interested in reading the rest of the series.
April 13, 2023
Military conflict in harsh conditions, it just keeps snowing and snowing and snowing. Purchased this item on October 12, 2021, from Amazon for free.
January 6, 2024
I liked it.
October 4, 2025
The prequel to this work is Repercussions on Uoke which apparently is not on Amazon. Having just read it (26 Sep 2025) I found it provided back story to what Sgt Imara was going through before landing on Abira which may have influenced her actions at Bhisho. The planet they are assisting has had major economic catastrophes but also have a secret they are not telling the Corps. Having read Midwinter before this book I had an inkling of what was going to happen. It teared me up anyways.
Taking food supplies to a planet whose population might not have prepared for a twice in a century harsh winter Hospitallers find themselves in the midst of a Civil war instigated by n off planet group. Though delivering supplies to help a Rhone community Sgt Farmeo's team is essentially attcked. In their 'flight' from danger they discover orphans. Their mission becomes two fold, save the orphans and warn the rest of the hospitallers of the danger they face.
Taking food supplies to a planet whose population might not have prepared for a twice in a century harsh winter Hospitallers find themselves in the midst of a Civil war instigated by n off planet group. Though delivering supplies to help a Rhone community Sgt Farmeo's team is essentially attcked. In their 'flight' from danger they discover orphans. Their mission becomes two fold, save the orphans and warn the rest of the hospitallers of the danger they face.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews