With the Surial gone, Colton Beck has a chance to rebuild the Rusa race. Colton embarks on a dangerous journey to find answers, bringing his closest allies along for the ride. Each objective is a step toward to repopulating Nulit, but the ultimate price might be higher than they’re willing to offer.
Now that the truth about the Angor has been realized, the Unity Accord will never be the same. Colton is determined to ensure his peoples’ position over the fabled Ocean, even if it tears the Unity apart.
When someone from Desmond’s past returns to haunt him, history threatens to repeat itself.
Third Party is the latest installment of the hit series, The River Saga, from the Best-Selling author of The Event, and Lost Contact.
Complex family history turns new chapter after thousands of years - 3.5 stars
The story of Indie Hart and Colton Beck before, during, and after Desmond Locke (aka Enza) gets them adopted in the United States is reviewed in detail. Krissa - the Third Dynast of Nulit - is introduced as a contrasting life interest for Colton. Aliens chasing each other and involving many other races in attempts to help and destroy each other complete with high technology, shape-shifting, and fighting provide a rich mixture of interactions for many ages. It is helpful to start in the first book of the River Saga in which Indie and Colton's baseball game is interrupted.
Third Party is an imaginative tale of brothers, sisters, despots, and saintly leaders who have shaped the universe. A river allowing fast transfer between distant planets was a terrific way to transport over large distances. A robot (Newton) enables translations of code and automation.
There are multiple alien races who have agreed to help with a Unity to assist each other but mostly to help explain quarrels that have continued for centuries over several widely dispersed planets. Aggressive cultures subjugated one race (the Rusa) which was nearly destroyed.
I thought that the details of the Rusa race were done with the precision that a historian might review the history of its founders.
The relationships between the major characters were interesting but a bit too extensive for my taste.
A confusing mash of characters of many different backgrounds and races facing off in a grand battle royale to discover access to the Ocean. Discovering themselves is first on their list as each of the main players in this production find that they aren't who they thought they were and finding that most everyone else isn't who they thought. Once they get all that figured out . . . I'm kidding, they never do! To the end, the storyline continues to find actors finding themselves or their friends to be more or less who they thought. The Ocean - thousands of bright shining portals opening to the Rivers, flowing to new and amazing locales, and races. Our characters seek to learn more about the Rivers and where they led, others to control the Ocean and subjugate the dwellers of distant worlds, while another seeks to destroy the Ocean, preventing anyone from using the Rivers. The ancient race of Rusa have the power to travel the Rivers, controlling the portals, watching over the Ocean. Their strength and speed made them great warriors, while their tremendous mental skills were required to control the Rivers and build portals to allies. Amazing characters, a great storyline and awesome action make this a great read!
Nulit was found and recovered from the sea. Now is the time for the Risa to gather and rice again as a galactic force. But unbenown to everyone and escapee from a prison, Drunal, happens to be arch enemy one of the Risa and having been freed, is well on his way to destroy the Risa and their world. However, first the calling stone needs to be found. And another eventful third book, The third Party, is set again to raise your pulse and race your heart as author Nathan Hystad raises the stakes and surprises once more. Enjoy!
I've really enjoyed this entire series. Quite a ride. All three books so far have been great.
This edition wraps up a lot of the threads, ready for the finale.
Overall, it's a fairly complex set of storylines with multiple threads running simultaneously. Lots of characters and alien species to enjoy, with the use of timeline shift backstories helping to develop the characters that adds a lot of depth.
The storylines are all interconnected and quite fun to follow.
I enjoyed this book, which read almost like YA sci-fi to me. The 3rd book, Third Party, was very confusing to me. I had trouble keeping the characters/nations/planets straight. The 2nd half of the book got better though. Fun details thrown in- clones, time travel, warring peoples, space jumps, abandoned planets, prejudice against humans and former allies—all made for a good story!
I love The River Saga series! The characters are realistic, relatable and highly entertaining. The worlds are well described but it’s the engaging storyline that makes me want to read ‘just one more chapter’. This group of characters live action packed lives and I just have to complete a book asap to discover what happens next. I highly recommend it!
Colton is back and so is all the fun in this series. Lots of craziness, new characters, old characters, and a problem or two. Now get to see what Colton has to face and overcome this time. What will he find on his little mission was worth the read. So entertaining and fun and full of secrets from the past and surprises today. Kept me guessing. Loved it.
An excellent series. Very creative, never boring. It is amazing how the story has progressed since the initial ball game - oh you don't know about the ball game. Buckle up and start reading First Life, Book One. Another great Audible performance by Christopher Ryan Grant!
Very much suffering from the law of diminishing returns with this book. Constantly repeating itself, referring back to earlier sections in a clumsy way which also implies it does not trust its readers who, at this stage, are three books in and have invested much time in the series. I appreciated the additional context but moving from flashback to segments in the "current" time talking again about the badics of the fictional universe just gets tiresome.
There also seem to be more typos in this book, and this, combined with the sheer number of one-note characters and cardboard cut out alien races, makes segments of the book very confusing. I would suggest the book needs fewer words devoted to recapping already known events from two novels ago and more time spent on the world and story of this novel.
I enjoy all the twists and turns that the author takes us on. We get to go to new worlds and meet new people. The only complaint (haha) is that I have to wait until October for the next book.
This story Connie with Colton, Krissa, Indie and all their friends and allies flying to find he Calling Stone to bring all the Fuss home while trying to overpower Drunal and thwart is evil plans.
While enjoying this series, you can tell that it’s coming to a conclusion. Excellent narration and compelling story. Looking forward to finishing it off
Now, I must admit, I am not a lover using "I" vice he/she, not of time jumping and going back and forth, but once I got used to all of that, I found I settled in to the story and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nathan Hystad has another hit on his hands as far as I'm concerned. There are so many different races whole all belong to the Unity and who answered to the Sacred Call. Desmond's shape-shifting was interesting. I keep picturing this book being made into a movie and wondering how it would look to see these movements. I was very surprised to see that there will be a 4th book in the series, so this gives me something to look forward to. Thank you Nathan for a great book to read.