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Tank: A Metal Bones Story
In an alien vs. alien world, there isn’t room for weakness. Only survival.
All of his life, Tank has trained with his father to become the ultimate killing machine. He hopes to compete in The Ceremony, a fight to the death between others in his village who are of age and willing to participate.
In contrast, his friend Naf is too small and weak for anyone to take him seriously enough to train. Even with Tank’s help, Naf struggles to pick up basic combat moves, much less defend himself against the local bully, Roaz, who is determined to see both Tank and Naf fail.
Right now, Naf’s a liability, and the last thing Tank needs is dead weight. Tank doesn’t know if Naf will learn to fight back before the next attack comes. When it does, he’ll have to decide if saving his friend is worth sacrificing his future.
Read the prequel to Metal Bones!
All of his life, Tank has trained with his father to become the ultimate killing machine. He hopes to compete in The Ceremony, a fight to the death between others in his village who are of age and willing to participate.
In contrast, his friend Naf is too small and weak for anyone to take him seriously enough to train. Even with Tank’s help, Naf struggles to pick up basic combat moves, much less defend himself against the local bully, Roaz, who is determined to see both Tank and Naf fail.
Right now, Naf’s a liability, and the last thing Tank needs is dead weight. Tank doesn’t know if Naf will learn to fight back before the next attack comes. When it does, he’ll have to decide if saving his friend is worth sacrificing his future.
Read the prequel to Metal Bones!
52 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2021
About the author
Kathleen Contine
5 books24 followersKathleen Contine is an award-winning author who has always loved stories about aliens and far off galaxies. She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelors in English with a concentration in professional writing.
When she isn't writing her newest sci fi book, she's watching Star Wars, playing video games, and reading other thrilling space operas. Metal Bones is her debut novel.
To keep up with Kathleen, visit her website at KathleenContine.com
When she isn't writing her newest sci fi book, she's watching Star Wars, playing video games, and reading other thrilling space operas. Metal Bones is her debut novel.
To keep up with Kathleen, visit her website at KathleenContine.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 23, 2023
Tank is a Sovich, a scaled, tailed alien that lives in a forested planet. Despite having some high tech equipment such as blasters and helibikes, Sovich society is primitive. They rely on hunting giant beasts for food, and only warriors who are successful at the mysterious ceremony are able to leave the village and seek their fortune elsewhere.
I liked Tank. It was easy to cheer for him as he worked hard to live up to his father’s expectations and become a good enough fighter to enter the Ceremony.
I absolutely loved Tank’s friend, Naf. His unusual orange colour, short statue, aptitude to being bullied, and his plucky attitude endeared me to him. I liked his relationship with Tank. They reminded me of Chuck and Morgan from the tv show Chuck.
I would love to learn more about the Sovich society, why they value brute force yet have a zero tolerance policy for bullying, how females fit into their society, how they have advanced tech, what their beliefs are, etc. I hope these will be covered in Metal Bones, which I look forward to reading.
While I liked how aspects of the Sovich appearance were slipped into the story, I would love some more detailed description to get a really good picture of what they looked like. I also wonder why Tank’s mother was never named. Perhaps females in Sovich society don’t warrant names?
Looking forward to diving into Metal Bones!
I liked Tank. It was easy to cheer for him as he worked hard to live up to his father’s expectations and become a good enough fighter to enter the Ceremony.
I absolutely loved Tank’s friend, Naf. His unusual orange colour, short statue, aptitude to being bullied, and his plucky attitude endeared me to him. I liked his relationship with Tank. They reminded me of Chuck and Morgan from the tv show Chuck.
I would love to learn more about the Sovich society, why they value brute force yet have a zero tolerance policy for bullying, how females fit into their society, how they have advanced tech, what their beliefs are, etc. I hope these will be covered in Metal Bones, which I look forward to reading.
While I liked how aspects of the Sovich appearance were slipped into the story, I would love some more detailed description to get a really good picture of what they looked like. I also wonder why Tank’s mother was never named. Perhaps females in Sovich society don’t warrant names?
Looking forward to diving into Metal Bones!
January 27, 2024
Tank
Sci-Fi
Kathleen Contine
⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ᴀʟɪᴇɴꜱ • ᴄᴇʀᴇᴍᴏɴɪᴇꜱ • ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ •
This book was a little disappointing. After reading the synopsis, I was expecting more intense fighting.
The pacing was good, and it never dragged or slowed down. I think the world building could be developed a lot more. I had no real impression of what Tank and his "people" were actually like, only that they had long snouts and tails. I didn't get to know anything about where they lived, the ceremony, or about their lives other than training.
I liked how Tank stood up for Naf against his bully, but I have to agree with Mork and the others that Naf needed to stand up for himself rather than relying on Tank all of the time. It became quite tedious.
I'd like to explore the land more. I found the most interesting part of this book was the hunt just because it introduced a few more characters (but only briefly) and an animal, but again, there wasn't much detail.
I found the characters ok, but they weren't developed much. Tank and Naf came across as very young and immature.
This was an ok read, but I don't think I'll be reading any other books in this series.
Sci-Fi
Kathleen Contine
⭐️⭐️⭐️
• ᴀʟɪᴇɴꜱ • ᴄᴇʀᴇᴍᴏɴɪᴇꜱ • ꜰɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ •
This book was a little disappointing. After reading the synopsis, I was expecting more intense fighting.
The pacing was good, and it never dragged or slowed down. I think the world building could be developed a lot more. I had no real impression of what Tank and his "people" were actually like, only that they had long snouts and tails. I didn't get to know anything about where they lived, the ceremony, or about their lives other than training.
I liked how Tank stood up for Naf against his bully, but I have to agree with Mork and the others that Naf needed to stand up for himself rather than relying on Tank all of the time. It became quite tedious.
I'd like to explore the land more. I found the most interesting part of this book was the hunt just because it introduced a few more characters (but only briefly) and an animal, but again, there wasn't much detail.
I found the characters ok, but they weren't developed much. Tank and Naf came across as very young and immature.
This was an ok read, but I don't think I'll be reading any other books in this series.
January 22, 2025
☠️🤗Entertaining and captivating.
Rating 3.5/5.
Tank was trying to climb as high as possible in the tree.
He looked down, his tail clung to the cracking wood...
********
A short science fiction story that is quite entertaining and captivating to read.
I would have loved to have a drawing that represents the species of the main character.
It intrigued me a lot, I admit.
I recommend.
Rating 3.5/5.
Tank was trying to climb as high as possible in the tree.
He looked down, his tail clung to the cracking wood...
********
A short science fiction story that is quite entertaining and captivating to read.
I would have loved to have a drawing that represents the species of the main character.
It intrigued me a lot, I admit.
I recommend.
April 2, 2022
Great read👍
Great little story. Loved the way things built up. Author did a great job of strapping you in till the very end. really enjoyed the character tank. His frustrations and obstacles made for a great read Looking forward to the next book and the continuation of his journey.
Great little story. Loved the way things built up. Author did a great job of strapping you in till the very end. really enjoyed the character tank. His frustrations and obstacles made for a great read Looking forward to the next book and the continuation of his journey.
January 22, 2023
I good story
I highly enjoyed reading this fun story. I liked all the realistic characters. I look forward to the other books associated with this.
I highly enjoyed reading this fun story. I liked all the realistic characters. I look forward to the other books associated with this.
February 14, 2023
Read it twice too make sure my first impression. Really nice written, nice boog, good structure.
March 9, 2023
An interesting and fast paced novella!
July 10, 2023
It is great that Tank is such a great friend. I think this book, being so short, could have been a prequel to Metal Bones.
July 21, 2023
I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews