The Defiant

Star Legend #6

by J.J. Green

Forced to face an unknown fate

When Taylan Ellis found her kids, she thought her life of adventure was over. She looked forward to raising her children on a new, peaceful Earth, where the scientific revelations of friendly aliens are changing the world for the better.

The Britannic Alliance has other plans for her. Skein mappers, who chart the newly discovered connections between all things, say Taylan still has a role to play.

The Alliance asks her to travel with her children aboard their latest starship, the Defiant, to challenge the hostile entities who threaten the planet with their deadly games.

If she agrees, her kids’ lives will be in danger. If she refuses, human civilization will be at risk.

The Defiant is the sixth and final book in the epic space fantasy series, Star Legend.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2022

About the author

J.J. Green is a British-Australian science fiction author with a lifelong love of distant landscapes, intriguing cultures and fascinating places. She was born within the sound of the bells of Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside, London, making her a bona fide Cockney, and she lived in Australia, Laos and Taiwan before returning to the UK to settle down in Cambridge.

Green’s novels weave science-based speculation with richly personal stories. Her works explore themes of environmental degradation, political conflict, mythical resonance, human resilience, and the ethics of technology and expansion. Her characters—often strong women—navigate future worlds grounded in both scientific plausibility and mythic imagination.

Sign up to J.J. Green's reader group at jjgreenauthor.com

Reviews

[Philip Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

A military Contingent goes to the stars to oust Merlin and Morgan with King Arthur's help - 4.5 stars

Traveling faster than light means that the people back on earth will age quickly when they are away and other crises will develop. The trials of living in a closed environment hurtling through space were described well. All the while, the military team passes through several universes en route to the homeworld of Merlin and Morgan le Fay.

This tale is tightly linked to the King Arthur mythology yet it is set in the future where faster than light travel is well established. There are sections contrasting what is happening on earth while the team of Taylin, Wright, Patrin, and Kayla fight the mystics in the home universe of the mystics.

Switching between advanced space technology and having a medieval joust is a highlight of the story.

It is easy to hate the Dyer and her son, not to speak of Morgan le Fay and Merlin who have been playing with the humans. I was glad to see the story conclude with mortals rather than mystics.

[Gail Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author.

This is the sixth book in the Star Legend series.

Just when Taylan has found her children and thinks that life can get back to normal the Britannic Alliance give her a difficult decision to make. One last journey into space to save the Earth that she has fought so long and hard for, leaving her children behind once again or take them with her and put them in mortal danger. Saying no to the Britannic Alliance is not an option.

I have become somewhat attached to Taylan Ellis and TJ Wright so when I discovered that it was to be the last in the series I was saddened. However this book did not disappoint as Taylan and Wright feature prominently in it.

This is a series that I would heartily recommend to all readers of science fiction. Also, strange as it may seem, if you enjoy Arthurian legend this might appeal to you as Arthur, Merlin and Morgan, along with the Knights of the round table also make an appearance.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC/Patreon epub on kobo

Final showdown in the series (with a jump-off for a new series following the colony ships of the Antarctic project featured in earlier volumes).

The answer to Arthur's survival is now known - but the long 'game' between Merlin and Morgan is far from over. A ship using the new technologies brought back by The Dauntless is sent to a distant system to parley with aliens and most of the crew will be familiar from earlier books.

I was intrigued to see how this would all work out - the Arthurian references are there, albeit not overtly, so the players have rôles to play - but the actual outcome, although dressed in trappings more familiar to Mallory than any 'historical' Arthur, is not quite as legend has it. And of course, the series is set far enough ahead (in our future) so the legend is even older...

[Mark P. Downey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed with this book. The main storyline was not very engaging. What the protagonists had to engage in with the antagonists was rather straightforward (as well as brief and unsatisfying) but not very original. In addition, it was choppily written and seemed very truncated.

The parallel storyline had NO relation whatsoever to the main story, and also ended abruptly. There was no engagement with those characters, the mystery behind the orchestrating character was never revealed, and why the female protagonist disappeared at the end was never explained.

Lastly, when the epilogue showed up, I was further frustrated. It seemed premature, it left out a huge block of time, and it really wrapped nothing up.

I enjoyed the series until this book.

[Anne Kavcic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series has a 5-star rating from me for its good writing and imaginative way of including King Arthur of legend in the plot. Most of the characters we have met in the previous books have roles to play as a picked team goes to challenge the aliens in their home quadrant of the universe. Needless to say, things don't go quite according to plan. What is the fate of humans vs. these strange entities? The story is wrapped up in this final book, but there's a peek into other activities on Earth which will be continued, it seems. - I received a review copy and freely leave this honest review.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is at an end with this book but you will keep thinking about it long after you read that last page. How someone writes these books I enjoy so much is something I could never do myself. Like this idea of space flight along side of Merlin and Arthur of old legend! Wow, that blew me away with that imagination. I am glad I read this series!

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great conclusion to a series I've fallen in love with. The various characters are like friends... even the bad ones. I kind of envy those new to the series who'll be able to read from the start, without having to wait for the next book to be released.
I'm really unsure what else to say without dropping any hints.
I received an ARC of this book but my opinions are mine alone

[Dennis Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is at an end with this book but you will keep thinking about it long after you read that last page. How someone writes these books I enjoy so much is something I could never do myself. Like this idea of space flight along side of Merlin and Arthur of old legend! Wow, that blew me away with that imagination. I am glad I read this series!

[Kay Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This final book in the series was perfection. All the answers were there. The much loved or hated characters? All there, and so very real. The plot takes you on an incredible journey, humanity fighting back against immortal aliens. I am sorry to reach the end.

[Catherine Corcoran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in this Star Legend series was a treat. I enjoyed getting to see Taylan’s kids show their stength in this story which mirrored some of the Arthurian legends but set in space. What’s not to love about that.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the end of this series. Taylan and Wright (and others) head out to find the home planet of Merlin and Morgan to try to stop them interfering with Earth and the humans.

The characters have been fun and the stories have gone in an unexpected direction.

Definitely read the set.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read EVERYTHING green has written. This series is outstanding. Great sci-fi with very well done characters. They all come alive. I became invested in this the last in the series.

[Gerard E. Trigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, very interesting.

[Laura Willyard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Read in the continuing Star Legend Series.

[Jayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

That did not end how I thought it might. It was much better. It was full of angst and action.