The Verindon Conspiracy

by Lynne Stringer

Misilina has finished her training at the Academy on Verindon and hopes to prove that she’s as good an agent as her father, Keridan. However, her first assignment is guarding Lord Jolan—her childhood tormentor and the son of Overlord Ardon—who is making a planetary visit to Darsair with his bride-to-be, Mandine, to help the Darsairian government improve conditions for the mine workers. But when the miners stage an uprising and attempt to kill Jolan, can Misilina and her fellow agents keep Jolan and Mandine alive?

202 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2022

About the author

Lynne Stringer has been passionate about writing all her life, beginning with short stories in her primary school days. She began writing professionally as a journalist and was the editor of a small newspaper (later magazine) for seven years, before turning her hand to screenplay writing and novels. Lynne currently works as a professional editor and proofreader. She lives in Australia with her family.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynne Stringer's The Verindon Conspiracy is set twenty years after the end of the Verindon Trilogy. Sarah and Keridan's daughter, Misilina, graduates from the Agency training and is pleased to get an off-planet assignment, though she is not so pleased that it's guarding the spoiled elite, Mandine, bride-to-be of her childhood friend, Prince Jolan. Jolan (the youngest child and fifth in line to the throne) and Mandine are on a diplomatic mission which soon goes pear-shaped and Missilina suddenly finds herself responsible not just for Mandine's life, but that of Jolan, in an almost insurmountable circumstances. The pressure is on to get them back to the spaceport and safely off-planet all the while facing mounting danger and betrayal. The mission is not made any easier as Missilina is forced to face her fears and failures of her childhood.

As with many of Stringer's novels, The Verindon Conspiracy combines a steady build-up with high stakes action and suspense with a strong thread of romance with some twists along the way. At one point I did wonder for several chapters why a certain character disappeared in the middle of the crisis, seemingly completely forgotten by others, and I began to suspect that either this person had been forgotten by the author or she had a bigger part to play in the action (I’m glad to say the later was true). The worlds of Verindon and Darsair had some interesting characteristics and technology - including virtual clothing - and the tension kept mounting with new dangers and close escapes, leading to a very satisfying conclusion. Four and half stars.

[Ray Woodrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing on from the trilogy, this story is well written and comes to a satisfactory if logical conclusion. The ending was a little mushy for me. I enjoyed the read, keep up the good writing, Lynne.

[Adele Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verindon Conspiracy is Lynne Stringer’s sequel to the Verindon Trilogy. This action-based romantic adventure follows rookie Verindon Academy graduate, Misilina, who is as determined to prove herself of equal skill to her famed agent parents, as she is hell bent on avoiding her childhood tormentor, Jolan, son of Verindon’s Overlord. When Lord Jolan and his vapid intended, Mandine, are sent to negotiate with a neighbouring planet amidst an uprising of miners, in a move outside protocol, Misilina and some other rookie graduates are sent along to help keep Jolan and Mandine safe. When the situation goes predictably south, there is evidence of internal corruption and even questions about the aristocratic couple themselves, leading Misilina and her friends down a dangerous path where, one-by-one, they are hunted down like seasonal game. Severed communications and danger at every turn force Misilina and her nemesis, Jolan, to team up, including [spoiler alert] a rather steamy moment of distraction that is a little out of character for the intensely focussed rookie agent. As the young team drops like flies, Misilina and Jolan wonder if they’ll ever make it out alive.

ANOTHER SPOILER: Given Misilina’s intrepid and dogged survival skills, I felt it would have given her a little more credit to have the rescue team intervene just after she had triumphed in her last-ditch plan, rather than at the point of certain death. I felt like she was owed that satisfaction after outwitting the enemy so many times already.

[Anne Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Verindon universe just keeps getting better and better. Misilina, daughter of Sarah and Keridan, has just finished her training and won an all-round medal. There are those who shower her with praise and those who suggest that she simply wasn't good enough at anything in particular to win a special commendation. Nonetheless, she's assigned a prized position on an off-world expedition, guarding Mandine, the betrothed and bride-to-be of her childhood companion, Jolan. With her are other newly appointed recruits of the highest calibre as well as various experienced agents.

The diplomatic mission to Dasair is both a prestigious assignment and an easy one. Jolan, as the youngest son of the overlord, is being sent bolster relations between the planetary governments, as well as check out the conditions in the mines that Verindon is helping to improve. Nothing is expected to go wrong. But when an assassin sniper takes out all of Jolan's guard in an attempt to kill him, along with Mandine's guard as they rush to the rescue, only Misilina is left. She has to protect the whining, hysterical Mandine and somehow find a way to get Jolan to safety. So why is it that the sniper seems to be able to anticipate their every move and track them down? Who wants Jolan dead? What purpose would it serve?

Nothing makes sense. But Misilina is determined to get Mandine and Jolan out alive, even if she has to die trying.

[N.R. Eccles-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a twenty-year jump from the original Veridon trilogy, this sequel is, for me, a very welcome return to the Veridon universe! A highly recommended read for those who enjoy fast-paced, danger-driven sci-fi (with a flavour of angst-free romance) spear-headed by a strong and compelling female lead, and a return of beloved characters from the original series. The male lead, Jolan, was also a personal favourite; with a jestful and somewhat skirt-chasing temperament but well-layered revealing of a deeper character.