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Backyard Starship #8
Blackest Ocean
Van is a veteran now, and the lessons are getting tougher.
But so is he.
When a ghost ship arrives in port, filled with the victims of a crime beyond imagination, Van and his crew will be drawn into a chase that goes beyond any star system the Peacemakers know.
Beyond Guild borders, the Torus is a gateway to crime and profit beyond imagination. It’ a wild, lawless place with few connections to the civilized stars, but Van and Torina discover a thread that connects the past, the future, and the present in a web of violence that can only be purged by fighting fire with fire.
Unfortunately for the enemy, Van has a torch, and he’s willing to use it. From the reaches of space where a secretive race ply their illegal trade, to the halls of Anvil Dark, Van will face his greatest step, and answer his most challenging question.
After the Peacemakers, what comes next? And can Van survive it?
But so is he.
When a ghost ship arrives in port, filled with the victims of a crime beyond imagination, Van and his crew will be drawn into a chase that goes beyond any star system the Peacemakers know.
Beyond Guild borders, the Torus is a gateway to crime and profit beyond imagination. It’ a wild, lawless place with few connections to the civilized stars, but Van and Torina discover a thread that connects the past, the future, and the present in a web of violence that can only be purged by fighting fire with fire.
Unfortunately for the enemy, Van has a torch, and he’s willing to use it. From the reaches of space where a secretive race ply their illegal trade, to the halls of Anvil Dark, Van will face his greatest step, and answer his most challenging question.
After the Peacemakers, what comes next? And can Van survive it?
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2022
1454 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
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J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 27, 2023
Another enjoyable entry into the Backyard Starship series. More fighting against criminal conspiracies, Galactic Knight revelations, and oddball aliens. Not really anything new to the series but as enjoyable as always.
July 21, 2022
This series is altering between three and four stars, mostly four stars so far, and this is another four star one.
As usual it is a light science fiction adventure with a mixture of police, detective and military elements. There is a distinct but not overdone comedy element, especially when it comes to the dialogue, to the story as well.
The book continues the thread from the previous books and the deeper Van & Co’s investigations leads them into the murky waters of the criminals they are hunting the higher the stakes become and more dangerous does their lifes become.
As usual Van and his merry band is cool, funny, likable and, luckily for them, very, very kick-ass. Their investigations leads them into more than one ambush, assassination attempts and a small interstellar war. The bantering between Van and the members of his team is going from cool to funny to outright hilarious. Perry is his usual snarky combat AI and bloodthirsty Icky is hilarious most of the time whether she is just opening her mouth or knocking the heads off the bad guys, literally.
As the story develops we learn more and more about Van’s family history as well as the GKU who are becoming more and more involved. I quite like how everything develops. Once again Van returns back to Earth for parts of the story and that is another part I like with these books.
Overall, this is another good instalment in the series. It as a light, action filled, sometimes hilarious space adventure. A fun and enjoyable read plain and simple.
As usual it is a light science fiction adventure with a mixture of police, detective and military elements. There is a distinct but not overdone comedy element, especially when it comes to the dialogue, to the story as well.
The book continues the thread from the previous books and the deeper Van & Co’s investigations leads them into the murky waters of the criminals they are hunting the higher the stakes become and more dangerous does their lifes become.
As usual Van and his merry band is cool, funny, likable and, luckily for them, very, very kick-ass. Their investigations leads them into more than one ambush, assassination attempts and a small interstellar war. The bantering between Van and the members of his team is going from cool to funny to outright hilarious. Perry is his usual snarky combat AI and bloodthirsty Icky is hilarious most of the time whether she is just opening her mouth or knocking the heads off the bad guys, literally.
As the story develops we learn more and more about Van’s family history as well as the GKU who are becoming more and more involved. I quite like how everything develops. Once again Van returns back to Earth for parts of the story and that is another part I like with these books.
Overall, this is another good instalment in the series. It as a light, action filled, sometimes hilarious space adventure. A fun and enjoyable read plain and simple.
April 23, 2025
WARNING: Cliffhanger ending‼️
I couldn’t resist saying that…
Van, Torina, Icky and many others are busy running from one fire to another, from Anvil Dark to Earth 🌍 either investigating the increasingly twisted links between the known & hidden agents trying to keep them from finding out who’s behind the scenes or what they plan.
Van is given more experience than he’d like in both space warfare and ground combat. We also learn more about the families of Van plus his crew. Then the authors throw out a big twist during the cliffhanger ending!
I couldn’t resist saying that…
Van, Torina, Icky and many others are busy running from one fire to another, from Anvil Dark to Earth 🌍 either investigating the increasingly twisted links between the known & hidden agents trying to keep them from finding out who’s behind the scenes or what they plan.
Van is given more experience than he’d like in both space warfare and ground combat. We also learn more about the families of Van plus his crew. Then the authors throw out a big twist during the cliffhanger ending!
December 15, 2023
A bit much
The family drama is a little silly. You mean to tell me Van has not one but two members of his family who vanished but turned up in space as important people? Kind of ridiculous.
The family drama is a little silly. You mean to tell me Van has not one but two members of his family who vanished but turned up in space as important people? Kind of ridiculous.
May 23, 2023
You know, quite honestly this series is rivaling Joe and Skippy of The Expeditionary Force. The banter here makes me laugh out loud so much of the time, and the characters are fantastic. It's more of an ensemble where everyone is important, and I like that. Jeffrey Kafer on audio pulls it off brilliantly.
We are gonna get to the bottom of this whole stolen identity problem, hopefully without anyone dying. I can't put this series down.
We are gonna get to the bottom of this whole stolen identity problem, hopefully without anyone dying. I can't put this series down.
December 31, 2022
Five Stars
Blackest Ocean is book 8 of a 12 book series, and the first I've given a five star rating. I've taken the time to review most of them, but I see now that I've been doing it wrong.
I've been trying to review them as individual books, rather than as one single narrative. This was wrong. I need to take a step back from each individual book and consider it as one story. One EPIC story.
The series is full of action. Lots of combat and battle. But it's not repetitive, they don't just grind through, going from one battle to the next. Van and the crew of the Fafnir win battles with creativity and courage rather than with just muscle and brawn.
The series is full of humor. This is what I love the most in a book, clever word play. My favorite books are the ones who make me laugh out loud. And I get that here, over and over again.
The series takes place in alien worlds. Yeah, there are humans everywhere, but they play a minimal role. They're there to help us see that space is big (thanks Perry) but humans have a place in it. Meanwhile we have aliens that are alien. They're not just quaint, oddly shaped humans. Spock, for all his Vulcan heritage, was always, inside, human.
The series is about respect. Deep down that is the message I get. Everyone has individual value which must be respected.
And, finally, the series is one complete story. And because it is so big it takes forever for some details to come out. I used to get frustrated because Van never seemed to ask questions about his family, his past. But why would he? These were things he just accepted. Why would he ask questions he thought he knew the answer to? So now, here in book 8, two thirds of the way through, we start to get the big picture.
And so we need to take yet another step back so we can better see it.
I am so glad that I happened to stumble across the Backyard Spaceship. It has been so much fun.
Blackest Ocean is book 8 of a 12 book series, and the first I've given a five star rating. I've taken the time to review most of them, but I see now that I've been doing it wrong.
I've been trying to review them as individual books, rather than as one single narrative. This was wrong. I need to take a step back from each individual book and consider it as one story. One EPIC story.
The series is full of action. Lots of combat and battle. But it's not repetitive, they don't just grind through, going from one battle to the next. Van and the crew of the Fafnir win battles with creativity and courage rather than with just muscle and brawn.
The series is full of humor. This is what I love the most in a book, clever word play. My favorite books are the ones who make me laugh out loud. And I get that here, over and over again.
The series takes place in alien worlds. Yeah, there are humans everywhere, but they play a minimal role. They're there to help us see that space is big (thanks Perry) but humans have a place in it. Meanwhile we have aliens that are alien. They're not just quaint, oddly shaped humans. Spock, for all his Vulcan heritage, was always, inside, human.
The series is about respect. Deep down that is the message I get. Everyone has individual value which must be respected.
And, finally, the series is one complete story. And because it is so big it takes forever for some details to come out. I used to get frustrated because Van never seemed to ask questions about his family, his past. But why would he? These were things he just accepted. Why would he ask questions he thought he knew the answer to? So now, here in book 8, two thirds of the way through, we start to get the big picture.
And so we need to take yet another step back so we can better see it.
I am so glad that I happened to stumble across the Backyard Spaceship. It has been so much fun.
August 26, 2022
Peacemaker Van Tudor is really making a name for himself out in space. After finding a stealth spaceship in his Grandfather's barn back in Iowa, he's been on one whirlwind of a trip. Now with almost four years of service as a Peacemaker, he's done a lot of good, but he's also made a lot of enemies. It just so happens that his enemies have a habit of trying to attack his ship, the Fafnir, and killing it, him and all his crew! That's exactly the situation they find themselves in when out near Neptune, more specifically orbiting the dwarf planet Orcus. They're repairing and fixing things on the battleship Iowa, which strangely they have never used yet.
Two strange missiles are dead set on hitting the Fafnir while Van Tudor and his crew are dead set on them not doing that. More importantly, they would like to know where these missiles originated from and pay those who launched them back in kind. They manage to shatter one missiles and completely destroy the other, but they do capture a fragment with the intent of trying to tell just who sent them. Zeno studies the plate fragment closely and tells Van that these thing apparently originated outside known space, but she needs to confirm her suspicions with a visit back to her home planet.
So off the Fafnir goes to gather enough information to find some bad guys and take them in. That's what Peacemakers do. But, they run into a slight problem when Perry, the AI bird, and the P'nosk Mother, Tendothir, clearly state they can't tell Van anything since they are under a Seal of Writ, a type of Guild non-disclosure (NDA). But, since that Wit was done so very long ago, Tendothir relents and tells Van about a species that had to be genetically modified to be transplanted to another planet. Those modification didn't go very well and the resulting species became known as the Tenants. To find out more about this entire event in history, Van was told he'd have to contract the Schegith.
So off they go on another trip through space, but this time it will be a pleasant stop since they enjoy the company of the Schegith and can find relative safety when on their planet. Little do they know that this is going to lead to a very dangerous mission which will result in some serious battles between the Guild and the Seven Stars League. As you know, the Seven Stars League has a warrant out for Peacemaker Van Tudor and they appear ready to serve that warrant and arrest him as soon as possible. Why isn't ever given, but then we find out that the Tenants and the people of the Seven Stars League are very closely intermixed. It's not a good relationship at all.
Things are so bad between the Seven Stars League and everybody else that Master Gerhardt has declared them a "Threat to Order" which is an equivalent to "Crimes Against Order" which now means the Guild are now at war with the Seven Stars League. Master Gerhardt also begins implementing Plan Heracles which basically calls for all Guild members and members of the GKU to rally to this cause. So some serious fighting is about to take place.
But, prior to that, Van Tudor and his crew had to stop a Seven Stars League attack on none other than Schegith. These attackers had the intent to either kill or capture the recently born heir to the Schegith crown. Their reasons are explained, but during this battle one of the crew of the Fafnir is fatally wounded. Van Tudor hasn't experienced the loss of one of his closest crew=members so it's not known how he'll react. It's going to be tough for everyone on the Fafnir to come through this event and become engaged in the even larger struggle they will all face.
Pretty exciting reading and it's only going to get better. I have book 9, "Fields of Fire", already on my reading list and can't wait to read it.
Two strange missiles are dead set on hitting the Fafnir while Van Tudor and his crew are dead set on them not doing that. More importantly, they would like to know where these missiles originated from and pay those who launched them back in kind. They manage to shatter one missiles and completely destroy the other, but they do capture a fragment with the intent of trying to tell just who sent them. Zeno studies the plate fragment closely and tells Van that these thing apparently originated outside known space, but she needs to confirm her suspicions with a visit back to her home planet.
So off the Fafnir goes to gather enough information to find some bad guys and take them in. That's what Peacemakers do. But, they run into a slight problem when Perry, the AI bird, and the P'nosk Mother, Tendothir, clearly state they can't tell Van anything since they are under a Seal of Writ, a type of Guild non-disclosure (NDA). But, since that Wit was done so very long ago, Tendothir relents and tells Van about a species that had to be genetically modified to be transplanted to another planet. Those modification didn't go very well and the resulting species became known as the Tenants. To find out more about this entire event in history, Van was told he'd have to contract the Schegith.
So off they go on another trip through space, but this time it will be a pleasant stop since they enjoy the company of the Schegith and can find relative safety when on their planet. Little do they know that this is going to lead to a very dangerous mission which will result in some serious battles between the Guild and the Seven Stars League. As you know, the Seven Stars League has a warrant out for Peacemaker Van Tudor and they appear ready to serve that warrant and arrest him as soon as possible. Why isn't ever given, but then we find out that the Tenants and the people of the Seven Stars League are very closely intermixed. It's not a good relationship at all.
Things are so bad between the Seven Stars League and everybody else that Master Gerhardt has declared them a "Threat to Order" which is an equivalent to "Crimes Against Order" which now means the Guild are now at war with the Seven Stars League. Master Gerhardt also begins implementing Plan Heracles which basically calls for all Guild members and members of the GKU to rally to this cause. So some serious fighting is about to take place.
But, prior to that, Van Tudor and his crew had to stop a Seven Stars League attack on none other than Schegith. These attackers had the intent to either kill or capture the recently born heir to the Schegith crown. Their reasons are explained, but during this battle one of the crew of the Fafnir is fatally wounded. Van Tudor hasn't experienced the loss of one of his closest crew=members so it's not known how he'll react. It's going to be tough for everyone on the Fafnir to come through this event and become engaged in the even larger struggle they will all face.
Pretty exciting reading and it's only going to get better. I have book 9, "Fields of Fire", already on my reading list and can't wait to read it.
July 17, 2022
Space Operas never die...
There seems to always be a loose end leading to a bigger battle than the one before.
Don't get me wrong, a few of my favorite series, reread many times, were space operas. Reminiscent of black and white short movie serials shown mixed in with cartoons before the main feature on kids summer movie days Sci-Fi space opera doesn't always end with a cliffhanger but you still know there is more to come.
The Backyard Starship series is part detective, part frontier Marshall justice, part aliens and spaceships, mixed with low brow humor. All family friendly.
The basic theme of good versus evil is dosed with questions of Artificial Intelligence sentient with rights or not, and so much else reflecting many of the problems humanity faces here on earth.
A fun series to read and to see ourselves without heavy slap to the face commentary often seen in sci-fi dystopian movies and writings.
Enjoy
There seems to always be a loose end leading to a bigger battle than the one before.
Don't get me wrong, a few of my favorite series, reread many times, were space operas. Reminiscent of black and white short movie serials shown mixed in with cartoons before the main feature on kids summer movie days Sci-Fi space opera doesn't always end with a cliffhanger but you still know there is more to come.
The Backyard Starship series is part detective, part frontier Marshall justice, part aliens and spaceships, mixed with low brow humor. All family friendly.
The basic theme of good versus evil is dosed with questions of Artificial Intelligence sentient with rights or not, and so much else reflecting many of the problems humanity faces here on earth.
A fun series to read and to see ourselves without heavy slap to the face commentary often seen in sci-fi dystopian movies and writings.
Enjoy
April 5, 2025
This was another fun read in the Backyard Starship series. Van runs into lot of people from his past and finds out that he is tied into more about the Peacemakers Guild than he could have ever imagined. New threats keep adding to Vans list or ever increasing villains and miscreants, some are older than he could possibly imagine. Even ties from the crews pasts, some ancient, some recent, get drawn into the fight and links to the greater conspiracy they have been trying so hard to unravel.
Over all, as I said, it’s a fun read with stuff constantly happening to the crew and the galaxy around them. If you haven’t tried the series yet and you like space opera with a good dose of comedy, I highly recommend you give it a try.
Over all, as I said, it’s a fun read with stuff constantly happening to the crew and the galaxy around them. If you haven’t tried the series yet and you like space opera with a good dose of comedy, I highly recommend you give it a try.
July 16, 2022
Oh, The Intrigue!
What did I like? Everything! What didn’t I like? Wasn’t anything I didn’t like other than having to wait to see how this mess was going to sort itself out. Would I recommend this book?
Hell, yeah I would! Van and his crew are caught up in an ever-growing mess filled with intrigue and so many secrets that the right hand doesn’t know that there’s a left hand… and they have the job of making sense of it all.
And after an epic space battle, Van learns that the surface hasn’t been scratched and I thought, “The next book can’t come out fast enough to make me happy!” But you’ll have to read it to understand my impatience…
What did I like? Everything! What didn’t I like? Wasn’t anything I didn’t like other than having to wait to see how this mess was going to sort itself out. Would I recommend this book?
Hell, yeah I would! Van and his crew are caught up in an ever-growing mess filled with intrigue and so many secrets that the right hand doesn’t know that there’s a left hand… and they have the job of making sense of it all.
And after an epic space battle, Van learns that the surface hasn’t been scratched and I thought, “The next book can’t come out fast enough to make me happy!” But you’ll have to read it to understand my impatience…
July 19, 2022
The best yet
I wanted to have "Holy sh#t" as the review title but am worried it will get my review rejected.
I constantly mention the relatable humour in the Backyard Starship series and it hits new levels in this book.
I don't care if people around me think I'm odd, laughing audibly in public - not a done thing apparently.
I'm amazed at how the authors manage to continously write stories that do not appear to be repetitive, in as much as a space battle environment can be unique every time.
Congratulations to both authors on this, the best of the series. Assuming it continues in an upward trajectory, then please hurry up with the next five books.....
I wanted to have "Holy sh#t" as the review title but am worried it will get my review rejected.
I constantly mention the relatable humour in the Backyard Starship series and it hits new levels in this book.
I don't care if people around me think I'm odd, laughing audibly in public - not a done thing apparently.
I'm amazed at how the authors manage to continously write stories that do not appear to be repetitive, in as much as a space battle environment can be unique every time.
Congratulations to both authors on this, the best of the series. Assuming it continues in an upward trajectory, then please hurry up with the next five books.....
August 12, 2022
Another Great Space Story by JN Chaney
The twists and turns in the peacemaker series started as backyard Starship doesn't disappoint the readers so have read the series. A grandson , John man ,and PeaceMaker, Van Tudor is quite a man. The *aliens" , humans that is are a small part of the races aboard with Van and his combat AI,named Perry, among the crew of the starship. There is intrigue, some very bad puns, great storytelling and in the end preventing crimes where possible and solving them when needed. The gamut of emotions are woven together to make a great story series.
The twists and turns in the peacemaker series started as backyard Starship doesn't disappoint the readers so have read the series. A grandson , John man ,and PeaceMaker, Van Tudor is quite a man. The *aliens" , humans that is are a small part of the races aboard with Van and his combat AI,named Perry, among the crew of the starship. There is intrigue, some very bad puns, great storytelling and in the end preventing crimes where possible and solving them when needed. The gamut of emotions are woven together to make a great story series.
September 4, 2024
I'm on a break from binge watching stuff on streaming services and J.N. Chaney has helped me along the way. It felt like yesterday, I started on Backyard Starship and now, I've just finished book 8 in the series! The characters that Van has met and run across are amazing. Huge change from when the first book started and he felt alone until now or whenever he takes a minute to step back inside the Fafnir and look at his amazing crew realizing that he has people he trusts and can rely on. The twist (no drive or antimatter included) in this book took me off guard but had me on the edge of my seat wanting more until I can figure it out or its revealed. J.N. has done it again!
August 6, 2022
Finally bring all (most) the pieces together
Much smoother and higher quality writing. Perhaps previous books in series were somewhat negatively effected by all the plot secrets the author was hinting but delaying true unveiling. Perhaps it was a lack of character development even in the author's own mind across a wide supporting cast mak
e for awkward relations. Or both. In any case the too frequent disruptions of good storytelling are gone in this release. No confusion about main cast characters movement from place to place and their action.
Much smoother and higher quality writing. Perhaps previous books in series were somewhat negatively effected by all the plot secrets the author was hinting but delaying true unveiling. Perhaps it was a lack of character development even in the author's own mind across a wide supporting cast mak
e for awkward relations. Or both. In any case the too frequent disruptions of good storytelling are gone in this release. No confusion about main cast characters movement from place to place and their action.
July 16, 2022
WOW! What a story!
Now comes the hard part, how do I give it the critique it deserves without spoilers? That said, The beginning of the story picked up where the last 1 left off. It continued on and up and down, side to side ride of the most exciting rollercoaster ride you can imagine. When I wondered what else
could happen you introduced the perfect "cliffhanger ending". That said, I will join with all your other fans and await the next novel!
Now comes the hard part, how do I give it the critique it deserves without spoilers? That said, The beginning of the story picked up where the last 1 left off. It continued on and up and down, side to side ride of the most exciting rollercoaster ride you can imagine. When I wondered what else
could happen you introduced the perfect "cliffhanger ending". That said, I will join with all your other fans and await the next novel!
August 14, 2022
Very very good!!
Yet another wonderful backyard Starship book! This book definitely has some points where I was laughing out loud and getting weird looks from my wife about why. It also had a few moments where I did not know was going to happen and I thought something terrible and sad was happening and the writers did it again they kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end of the book.
Yet another wonderful backyard Starship book! This book definitely has some points where I was laughing out loud and getting weird looks from my wife about why. It also had a few moments where I did not know was going to happen and I thought something terrible and sad was happening and the writers did it again they kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to the end of the book.
September 14, 2022
Twisting has new meaning
Twist, twisting, twisted...all have a new meaning after Van twists his way to more victories and new revelations. I won't give it all away but there are more twists in this episode than any game of Twister! Truly a cyclone is not descriptive enough. Thanks J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert for a truly twisted story plot and characters that always engage the heart, twisted or not!
Twist, twisting, twisted...all have a new meaning after Van twists his way to more victories and new revelations. I won't give it all away but there are more twists in this episode than any game of Twister! Truly a cyclone is not descriptive enough. Thanks J.N. Chaney and Terry Maggert for a truly twisted story plot and characters that always engage the heart, twisted or not!
August 19, 2023
And the beat goes on
This latest update installation of a space battle opera was fun in a dark, sinister way. I appreciate authors who make the effort to flesh out alien species as some more than sort of human. Did you get a clear picture if Icky? She’s like a gorilla with four arms and her hammer (literally a sledge hammer) is deadly in her hands. As you can see, Van keeps running into family he has never seen before.
This latest update installation of a space battle opera was fun in a dark, sinister way. I appreciate authors who make the effort to flesh out alien species as some more than sort of human. Did you get a clear picture if Icky? She’s like a gorilla with four arms and her hammer (literally a sledge hammer) is deadly in her hands. As you can see, Van keeps running into family he has never seen before.
October 14, 2023
too repetitive
Loved a great deal of the writing with its humor and empathy for responsibilities of leadership to his crew. However, the story line for each novel is so similar , being capped off by a war at the end, the repetition becomes boring enough for me to call it quits and quells my desire to read any further. Thanks for the entertainment. These are two masterful sci-fi writers.
Loved a great deal of the writing with its humor and empathy for responsibilities of leadership to his crew. However, the story line for each novel is so similar , being capped off by a war at the end, the repetition becomes boring enough for me to call it quits and quells my desire to read any further. Thanks for the entertainment. These are two masterful sci-fi writers.
October 15, 2023
Read read read
Read read read you won't be disappointed and can't wait for the next book. I do was enjoying the book and got few surprises along the way and we'll the ending ooppps there I go again giving the story away. Just read and enjoy, I read it on holiday and had to wait 12 days before I could get the next instalment God I hate it when I lost what book I am going to read and when lol. Enjoy I did
Read read read you won't be disappointed and can't wait for the next book. I do was enjoying the book and got few surprises along the way and we'll the ending ooppps there I go again giving the story away. Just read and enjoy, I read it on holiday and had to wait 12 days before I could get the next instalment God I hate it when I lost what book I am going to read and when lol. Enjoy I did
January 1, 2024
An Interesting Installment for the Series
This one took awhile for the story to coalesce and finally draw me in. Lots of battles and conflict, with the unfortunate collateral damages in property and lives. This installment adds some new layers to the overall story arc, brings in a few new characters, and at least one of those is a ringer. Ends on a somewhat hopeful note, but acknowledges the conflict is not yet over.
This one took awhile for the story to coalesce and finally draw me in. Lots of battles and conflict, with the unfortunate collateral damages in property and lives. This installment adds some new layers to the overall story arc, brings in a few new characters, and at least one of those is a ringer. Ends on a somewhat hopeful note, but acknowledges the conflict is not yet over.
August 10, 2025
Well... I suppose it had to happen. It's a war.
And Van is surprised. I suspect the surprise is introduced and then dropped from the story in this book so as to not be a surprise in the next book and thus take up a lot of space with Van getting over the surprise. Makes sense to me from a writer's perspective.
It was an action-packed ending.
And Van is surprised. I suspect the surprise is introduced and then dropped from the story in this book so as to not be a surprise in the next book and thus take up a lot of space with Van getting over the surprise. Makes sense to me from a writer's perspective.
It was an action-packed ending.
July 11, 2022
Full steam ahead
This series cannot be accused of having any dull moments. Even if they're just traveling through space, the conversation among the crew is hilarious. Plus this is the second volume in a row where a bomb gets dropped at the end. Keep it coming, we'll devour them all!
This series cannot be accused of having any dull moments. Even if they're just traveling through space, the conversation among the crew is hilarious. Plus this is the second volume in a row where a bomb gets dropped at the end. Keep it coming, we'll devour them all!
July 15, 2022
Whaaaaaaat?
There are some crazy moments in this book. It was really fun, and things are really coming together nicely. We still haven't finished anything, but every book is a step closer and more secrets and mysteries pop up. Great series and I hope Terry keeps going for a long time.
There are some crazy moments in this book. It was really fun, and things are really coming together nicely. We still haven't finished anything, but every book is a step closer and more secrets and mysteries pop up. Great series and I hope Terry keeps going for a long time.
July 15, 2022
Plot twist even on the last page.
Family involvement here and there... Past and present. No good deed goes unpunished especially when it goes bad. Plenty of snark. The story keeps evolving and there is no let down from start to finish. Vague hints but hopefully nothing to ruin the read if anyone actually reads this.
Family involvement here and there... Past and present. No good deed goes unpunished especially when it goes bad. Plenty of snark. The story keeps evolving and there is no let down from start to finish. Vague hints but hopefully nothing to ruin the read if anyone actually reads this.
July 21, 2022
Another Great BYS Book
Well, Chaney & Maggert cooked up another great book! I've been reading sci-fi since the late 70's and can truly say I enjoy this series more than anything I've read (well, Heinlein and Asimov works excepted). Enjoyed this book as much as the first and can't wait for the next one!
Well, Chaney & Maggert cooked up another great book! I've been reading sci-fi since the late 70's and can truly say I enjoy this series more than anything I've read (well, Heinlein and Asimov works excepted). Enjoyed this book as much as the first and can't wait for the next one!
August 9, 2022
The best !
I love these books, the whole series. This is top notch writing that sucks you in to many many late night reads till dawn. The duo of Chaney and Maggert have created characters that one feels like you know and care about. Do yourself a favor read these books, they reward you with bags under your eyes but a space song in your heart.
I love these books, the whole series. This is top notch writing that sucks you in to many many late night reads till dawn. The duo of Chaney and Maggert have created characters that one feels like you know and care about. Do yourself a favor read these books, they reward you with bags under your eyes but a space song in your heart.
September 17, 2022
Blackest Ocean a Must Read
I absolutely loved the authors ability to place me right in the action as if it was happening right now with me involved!
If you need a great piece of 'reality' fiction, this should be your next read!!! Three thumbs up, five gold stars, and a couple smiley faces!!!!
I absolutely loved the authors ability to place me right in the action as if it was happening right now with me involved!
If you need a great piece of 'reality' fiction, this should be your next read!!! Three thumbs up, five gold stars, and a couple smiley faces!!!!
March 26, 2023
The threads are all starting to come together
Chaney and Margery have done a great job of setting up a dozen disparate threads which are now proving to be related. There’s the requisite growth of characters and ships, but the real magic is the way that the authors have carefully woven these elements to craft a great story with real depth.
Chaney and Margery have done a great job of setting up a dozen disparate threads which are now proving to be related. There’s the requisite growth of characters and ships, but the real magic is the way that the authors have carefully woven these elements to craft a great story with real depth.
July 15, 2024
So now we have another murky extralegal organization to figure out, along with the fact that Van and his crew manage to make new enemies no matter where they go. Luckily, they also have made some very strong friends along the way to balance all this out, and the ship keeps getting upgraded for all the bigger fights to come
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