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War Horses #1
Chevalier
Life as a tank mechanic won’t make you famous, but at least no one shoots at you.
That’s what veteran maintainer Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle of the Chevaliers Private Calvary thought. Until, during a routine maintenance patrol, he found himself fighting for his life inside the company‘s oldest upright tank.
Bruised, battered, and barely standing, Vandal soon returns to the cockpit to bolster the ranks of a desperate defense force. As he and his fellow Chevaliers attempt to hold back the flood of turncoats, spearheaded by a legendary cadre of off-world mercenaries, Vandal must learn to master the fickle and deadly upright tanks if he wants to live to see the next contract.
That’s what veteran maintainer Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle of the Chevaliers Private Calvary thought. Until, during a routine maintenance patrol, he found himself fighting for his life inside the company‘s oldest upright tank.
Bruised, battered, and barely standing, Vandal soon returns to the cockpit to bolster the ranks of a desperate defense force. As he and his fellow Chevaliers attempt to hold back the flood of turncoats, spearheaded by a legendary cadre of off-world mercenaries, Vandal must learn to master the fickle and deadly upright tanks if he wants to live to see the next contract.
- GenresScience Fiction
270 pages, ebook
Published September 15, 2022
176 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 2, 2022
A brand-new entry into the strangely sparse mecha category of science fiction? Not only yes, but oh hell yes!
I've been a sucker for giant humanoid robots beating the ever-loving tar out of each other since 1985, when the Robotech anime debuted on U.S. shores. Unlike American cartoons at the time, Robotech pulled absolutely no punches; there was a huge overarching plot, mature situations and concepts were the norm, and main characters straight up DIED. Compared to the saccharine Saturday morning offerings I was accustomed to, Robotech was like a cattle-prod straight the cerebellum and a knee straight to the groin…at the same time.
And though I have grown older and (dubiously) wiser, I still derive a sense of childlike glee when I see a heavily-armed mech, a plucky pilot, and a danger that needs crushing. Between video games, books, models, and movies, my love for mecha is like an itch that refuses to go away. Therefore, it is with great satisfaction that I can assert the following: War Horses: Chevalier absolutely scratches that itch.
This is my third NetGalley ARC review, and the first to deviate from my beloved horror genre. I picked this title based on the cover alone, completely unaware of the fact that author Scott Warren has quite the established repertoire; eight other books to be exact. Though none of the others appear to focus on the aforementioned tar-beating robots, I will still be adding them to my TBR. And, I'm not gonna lie.I wanna co-author a mech book with this dude. Or, barring that, spend a little time jump-roping in his playground, coming up with my own little entry into his burgeoning universe.
As with all my reviews, I will attempt to keep spoilers to a minimum. My reasoning for this is two-fold; first, I firmly believe that books of any and all genres are simply more enjoyable when the reader goes in blind, stripped of all preconceived notions and expectations; and second, out of respect for the author, who spent countless hours crafting their tale. Robbing stories of their intended impact, in my opinion, is a considerable disservice to the people who penned them. As such, if it's not mentioned in the official synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here.
First up, the official stuff: War Horses: Chevalier will be officially released on September 15th. It is a single-POV affair, told in first-person past tense, and clocks in around 65,000 words. Though it is military sci-fi, technical jargon isn't overly intrusive, avoiding the Clancy and Weber methods of relentlessly over-explaining a book's technology. That said, the technology isn't completely glossed over, either. This isn't the hardest of hard science-fiction, but it skirts the edge a few times.
Truth be told, I knew I was in good hands based on Scott's "a word from the author" section at the beginning of the book. Here, he provides his reasoning for writing War Horses, which include being influenced by many of the same games and movies as myself. That he acknowledges both the genre's failings, and his own attempt to right that ship (in a gloriously self-effacing manner, might I add), endeared him to me immediately. This was a book I WANTED to like.
Fortunately, War Horses did not let me down in the slightest.
As mentioned earlier, this is a single-POV affair. I generally like my science-fiction stories to have multiple protagonists, if only to help flesh out these new worlds and concepts that are being introduced. But with War Horses, the lone POV actually works well. This is a relatively self-contained tale, and the pacing is brisk, with very little jumping around. As such, Vandal is able to carry the weight of it himself.
As a main character, Rande "Vandal" VanDelle is just about everything I could want him to be. Stubborn, loyal, and frequently imperfect, he makes for an engaging lead. He's not one of those characters who is naturally good at everything; he works hard in order to be up to snuff in nearly every category. All work and no play…all that jazz. He's got snark, no great game with the ladies, and a self-effacing and sarcastic side that I found most welcoming. The story works as well as it does due to his relatability. When he triumphs, we as the readers are elated. When he fails, we feel his pain, since we've all been in similar situations (without big stompy mechs, naturally). He just felt...real. And I appreciated that.
The supporting cast are pretty much par for the course. There's the grizzled veterans, the newbies with something to prove, and a host of ancillary characters filling their niche roles and popping in when needed. Despite being a dumpster fire of a human being, J.K. Rowling did at least one thing right; she showed that a main character did not have to be "the best" in order for fans to root for them. Vandal is spectacularly mediocre when it comes to piloting his MBU (main battle upright, aka mech), and is surrounded by people who have been doing it longer, and ergo better. Without them, he'd have been dead many times over. And though the rest of the cast do not get a lot of page time, they each have something to offer the story, and intersect with Vandal in realistic and meaningful ways.
Speaking of the MBU's, that's where the money is for me. War Horses is, at its core, a type of coming-of-age story...not literally, but figuratively. Through happenstance and luck, Vandal finds his true calling as a mech jockey, and then must learn to navigate those new (and highly dangerous) waters. Fortunately for us readers, the MBU's are well thought out. Mr. Warren wasn't joking in his forward about wanting to break the genre free from the quagmire it was stuck in. The technology that drives these behemoths, their size/weight classifications, and their offensive & defensive armaments are all well-designed and plausible. Vroom, stomp, kaboom…I'm such a sucker for these types of stories.
The battles, when they happen, and chaotic and hard-hitting. More skirmishes than long and drawn out affairs, when the action heats up in War Horses, it brought a smile to my face. I simply wish there were more of them. Of course, "all fighting all the time" would wear thin, and I understand the need for the quieter interludes between combat scenarios. I even agree with said interludes. But I still wanted more battles.
Like Kylo Ren said; "More! MORE!"
Where some authors fail is in describing large battle tactics. Fortunately, the combat here is on a smaller scale, and hews (in my mind, at least) close to believable tactics. Weapons behave like they should, and don't have the infinite ammo that some authors seem to revel in. There are no science-fiction shields to contend with, just specialized deployable armor which, like in real life, is not impervious. These developments, and others, keep combat grounded, where technically "anything" can happen. Which exactly how real life warfare plays out. Kudos to Mr. Warren for this.
Inclusiveness is broad for the supporting cast, as it should be. People of color, various heritages, beliefs, and sexual orientations are simply “there”, organic and natural.
What blew my mind, honestly, was that War Horses feels longer than 65k words. Credit where credit is due; Mr. Warren did a great job in building a cohesive and comprehensive start of a new series. There's very little plot contrivance to be found. Hardly any instances of "oh, as luck would have it." moments. Every victory, every step forward, every ounce of respect gained…it all feels earned.
And as someone living that weapon-system maintainer lifestyle, I have mad respect for any author who gives that aspect of military operations a spot in the limelight.
Nitpicks are few and far between. Only a few technical gaffes caught my attention, and there was some word repetition that made a few passages a little rocky. But, outside of that, this is a well-written and well-edited
offering. I enjoyed having a completely clean break from our "current" era, unlike Cartwright's Cavaliers, which couldn't help but dip its toe in the Ernest Cline pool, which was both distracting and highly unnecessary.
I have to say it; War Horses is the railgun shot in the arm that the sci-fi military mecha genre needed! I will absolutely be returning this sector of the universe for more vroom/stomp/kaboom action!
Viser Juste Chevalier!
Four out of five heavily armored stars.
I've been a sucker for giant humanoid robots beating the ever-loving tar out of each other since 1985, when the Robotech anime debuted on U.S. shores. Unlike American cartoons at the time, Robotech pulled absolutely no punches; there was a huge overarching plot, mature situations and concepts were the norm, and main characters straight up DIED. Compared to the saccharine Saturday morning offerings I was accustomed to, Robotech was like a cattle-prod straight the cerebellum and a knee straight to the groin…at the same time.
And though I have grown older and (dubiously) wiser, I still derive a sense of childlike glee when I see a heavily-armed mech, a plucky pilot, and a danger that needs crushing. Between video games, books, models, and movies, my love for mecha is like an itch that refuses to go away. Therefore, it is with great satisfaction that I can assert the following: War Horses: Chevalier absolutely scratches that itch.
This is my third NetGalley ARC review, and the first to deviate from my beloved horror genre. I picked this title based on the cover alone, completely unaware of the fact that author Scott Warren has quite the established repertoire; eight other books to be exact. Though none of the others appear to focus on the aforementioned tar-beating robots, I will still be adding them to my TBR. And, I'm not gonna lie.I wanna co-author a mech book with this dude. Or, barring that, spend a little time jump-roping in his playground, coming up with my own little entry into his burgeoning universe.
As with all my reviews, I will attempt to keep spoilers to a minimum. My reasoning for this is two-fold; first, I firmly believe that books of any and all genres are simply more enjoyable when the reader goes in blind, stripped of all preconceived notions and expectations; and second, out of respect for the author, who spent countless hours crafting their tale. Robbing stories of their intended impact, in my opinion, is a considerable disservice to the people who penned them. As such, if it's not mentioned in the official synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here.
First up, the official stuff: War Horses: Chevalier will be officially released on September 15th. It is a single-POV affair, told in first-person past tense, and clocks in around 65,000 words. Though it is military sci-fi, technical jargon isn't overly intrusive, avoiding the Clancy and Weber methods of relentlessly over-explaining a book's technology. That said, the technology isn't completely glossed over, either. This isn't the hardest of hard science-fiction, but it skirts the edge a few times.
Truth be told, I knew I was in good hands based on Scott's "a word from the author" section at the beginning of the book. Here, he provides his reasoning for writing War Horses, which include being influenced by many of the same games and movies as myself. That he acknowledges both the genre's failings, and his own attempt to right that ship (in a gloriously self-effacing manner, might I add), endeared him to me immediately. This was a book I WANTED to like.
Fortunately, War Horses did not let me down in the slightest.
As mentioned earlier, this is a single-POV affair. I generally like my science-fiction stories to have multiple protagonists, if only to help flesh out these new worlds and concepts that are being introduced. But with War Horses, the lone POV actually works well. This is a relatively self-contained tale, and the pacing is brisk, with very little jumping around. As such, Vandal is able to carry the weight of it himself.
As a main character, Rande "Vandal" VanDelle is just about everything I could want him to be. Stubborn, loyal, and frequently imperfect, he makes for an engaging lead. He's not one of those characters who is naturally good at everything; he works hard in order to be up to snuff in nearly every category. All work and no play…all that jazz. He's got snark, no great game with the ladies, and a self-effacing and sarcastic side that I found most welcoming. The story works as well as it does due to his relatability. When he triumphs, we as the readers are elated. When he fails, we feel his pain, since we've all been in similar situations (without big stompy mechs, naturally). He just felt...real. And I appreciated that.
The supporting cast are pretty much par for the course. There's the grizzled veterans, the newbies with something to prove, and a host of ancillary characters filling their niche roles and popping in when needed. Despite being a dumpster fire of a human being, J.K. Rowling did at least one thing right; she showed that a main character did not have to be "the best" in order for fans to root for them. Vandal is spectacularly mediocre when it comes to piloting his MBU (main battle upright, aka mech), and is surrounded by people who have been doing it longer, and ergo better. Without them, he'd have been dead many times over. And though the rest of the cast do not get a lot of page time, they each have something to offer the story, and intersect with Vandal in realistic and meaningful ways.
Speaking of the MBU's, that's where the money is for me. War Horses is, at its core, a type of coming-of-age story...not literally, but figuratively. Through happenstance and luck, Vandal finds his true calling as a mech jockey, and then must learn to navigate those new (and highly dangerous) waters. Fortunately for us readers, the MBU's are well thought out. Mr. Warren wasn't joking in his forward about wanting to break the genre free from the quagmire it was stuck in. The technology that drives these behemoths, their size/weight classifications, and their offensive & defensive armaments are all well-designed and plausible. Vroom, stomp, kaboom…I'm such a sucker for these types of stories.
The battles, when they happen, and chaotic and hard-hitting. More skirmishes than long and drawn out affairs, when the action heats up in War Horses, it brought a smile to my face. I simply wish there were more of them. Of course, "all fighting all the time" would wear thin, and I understand the need for the quieter interludes between combat scenarios. I even agree with said interludes. But I still wanted more battles.
Like Kylo Ren said; "More! MORE!"
Where some authors fail is in describing large battle tactics. Fortunately, the combat here is on a smaller scale, and hews (in my mind, at least) close to believable tactics. Weapons behave like they should, and don't have the infinite ammo that some authors seem to revel in. There are no science-fiction shields to contend with, just specialized deployable armor which, like in real life, is not impervious. These developments, and others, keep combat grounded, where technically "anything" can happen. Which exactly how real life warfare plays out. Kudos to Mr. Warren for this.
Inclusiveness is broad for the supporting cast, as it should be. People of color, various heritages, beliefs, and sexual orientations are simply “there”, organic and natural.
What blew my mind, honestly, was that War Horses feels longer than 65k words. Credit where credit is due; Mr. Warren did a great job in building a cohesive and comprehensive start of a new series. There's very little plot contrivance to be found. Hardly any instances of "oh, as luck would have it." moments. Every victory, every step forward, every ounce of respect gained…it all feels earned.
And as someone living that weapon-system maintainer lifestyle, I have mad respect for any author who gives that aspect of military operations a spot in the limelight.
Nitpicks are few and far between. Only a few technical gaffes caught my attention, and there was some word repetition that made a few passages a little rocky. But, outside of that, this is a well-written and well-edited
offering. I enjoyed having a completely clean break from our "current" era, unlike Cartwright's Cavaliers, which couldn't help but dip its toe in the Ernest Cline pool, which was both distracting and highly unnecessary.
I have to say it; War Horses is the railgun shot in the arm that the sci-fi military mecha genre needed! I will absolutely be returning this sector of the universe for more vroom/stomp/kaboom action!
Viser Juste Chevalier!
Four out of five heavily armored stars.
April 2, 2024
Mechs. Check.
Pilots. Check.
Terminology. Check.
This book has it all for mech fans, what it doesn't have is a cohesive story. Plot points felt shattered together to make a great idea fall flat, like pieces were there, but just glued together so that the puzzle could be finished.
The fact that most writers who use the Mech genre to tell a political story also didn't help, though I did appreciate the twist ending that made the whole thing feel like it was for naught, but that was the point.
Kind of like this review it's a great mech story that helps to fill the itch, but really just doesn't have a good foundation to make it an enjoyable read. There are moments of triumph and where you'll find yourself feeling what the main character feels, but it's far and few between.
I recommend reading it for die-hard mech fans, for everyone else? There are other options within the same sci-fi realm that I'd recommend first.
Pilots. Check.
Terminology. Check.
This book has it all for mech fans, what it doesn't have is a cohesive story. Plot points felt shattered together to make a great idea fall flat, like pieces were there, but just glued together so that the puzzle could be finished.
The fact that most writers who use the Mech genre to tell a political story also didn't help, though I did appreciate the twist ending that made the whole thing feel like it was for naught, but that was the point.
Kind of like this review it's a great mech story that helps to fill the itch, but really just doesn't have a good foundation to make it an enjoyable read. There are moments of triumph and where you'll find yourself feeling what the main character feels, but it's far and few between.
I recommend reading it for die-hard mech fans, for everyone else? There are other options within the same sci-fi realm that I'd recommend first.
January 3, 2025
First off, I am the audience for this kind of stuff. Have I read a lot of mech novels? No. But I do love the genre and enjoy Battletech, Robotech, and I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion. That being said, Warren creates something interesting here that I finished. To begin, let's get the critiques out of the way first then I'll tell you what I liked.
Mech stories often place themselves in a war-ridden universe. Is that here? Yes. But it very much feels a copy-and-paste formula built off of the back of what Battletech has already created. The world- building is a mixing pot of interesting concepts and confusing let-downs. The first thing that really annoyed me as a reader was the glossary of factions at that were at war with each other. Warren simply couldn't just show me this in his writing, he decided to lore dump at the very beginning of his book which annoyed me greatly. You better memorize those names, because they will be brought up and you are going to wonder who in the world is attacking our main character right now and why.
Warren doesn't believe in his world building. Because if he did, it would be shown to me in rewarding experiences instead of just dumping a placemat to put his battlebots in. He creates a medieval styled mech-themed universe where thematic factions are based on historical/religious kingdoms such as old Christianity and Islam. It's weird at times, and sometimes I'm curious and am wanting more. But that's the thing, Warren doesn't give the reader world-building it needs and deserves.
This ties perfectly with another issue I have with the book which is bland characterization. Vandal is the main character and isn't a huge problem for me. I've read reviews where readers have called him a Mary-Stu but I felt that his changing from tech to mech jockey made for a fun reading experience. Was it a bit unrealistic, yeah, but I found it fun nonetheless. The real issue is with any characters Vandal works with, talks with, or has relationships with. Warren again struggles with show don't tell (unless it's mech stuff but don't worry we'll get into that later). There were so many characters that deserved more time. Deaths that didn't matter because I honestly didn't know them enough. Stag and Rocco were the only characters I felt the reader knew decently well. Rocco more than Stag. Still, both of these characters had more to be desired. Huge things happened in this story and at times I'm thinking, "He/she should care more about this." Warren needs more time with these characters to make them shine.
Alright, let's talk about the mechanical talk in this book, because wow, there is a lot of it! Again, I LOVE the mech genre. But this doesn't mean that I need to know how every single thing works and operates. I think Warren felt he needed to have this stuff included due to the main character being a mechanic, but it at times was waaaaaay too much for me personally. If Warren would've taken half of his mech details of his Uprights, spent some more time on his characters, this would've been a better book. I do have to have to compliment him here though, because his mech writing in this regard is very good. I do feel like I am "in" the mech. But the writing was overdone for me.
As I stated earlier, Warren does create something interesting here so let's talk about what worked. I loved the battles. The combat was very well-written in my taste and I really enjoyed it. I liked the main protagonist, Vandal, and was rooting for him to succeed. I also liked a lot of the other characters and am frustrated we didn't get more time with them.
Something I have mixed feelings about were the themes of war. Brought up from the beginning to the end these mercenary mech jockeys state that despite them fighting a war to not take it personal. It's just work in the end. This theme leaves an ending that you are either going to love, or hate. I'm in the middle which is why I find this book so interesting. If you leave me thinking at the end, it did something right. All of these guys are just here to collect a paycheck. But when your friends die in front of you, how are you supposed to not take it personal? Without spoiling anything, characters take this "hey, no hard feelings." ideology to point where it feels unhuman. They touch on this in the book and I feel that this is the most interesting writing that Warren creates. This isn't a straight up military sci-fi novel where one army fights another "bad guy" army. You have two Mercenary factions hired to kill one another and results at first feel like nothing amounted to anything. Vandal's motivations are all about protecting the only family he's ever had, The Chevaliers, so when friends he's close with are killed he definitely feels something but can't act on his feelings due to contracts and capitalistic/political jargon that gets in the way. Vandal is but a cog in the system, and you feel that. He motivations are minimal against the grand overcomplicated schemes of war that surround him and I feel that this makes him a good character. I do have hopes that humanity will take precedence over his "job" and "duty."
I finished this book from beginning to end. Were there issues in it? Yes. I also found some things I enjoyed despite these glaring issues. This book feels like a modern-pulp read which is exactly the type of writing that I enjoy. I do hope Warren's writing improves as he does showcase some interesting world and story development.
Should you read it? If you love mech and have a kindle unlimited plan go for it. But I wouldn't "seek" this out. It does have some interesting world building, but again, its underdeveloped and Warren doesn't re-shape the wheel of what's been done before.
That's all that can be said about this one. I hope I was able to give you some valuable info. Happy reading!
Mech stories often place themselves in a war-ridden universe. Is that here? Yes. But it very much feels a copy-and-paste formula built off of the back of what Battletech has already created. The world- building is a mixing pot of interesting concepts and confusing let-downs. The first thing that really annoyed me as a reader was the glossary of factions at that were at war with each other. Warren simply couldn't just show me this in his writing, he decided to lore dump at the very beginning of his book which annoyed me greatly. You better memorize those names, because they will be brought up and you are going to wonder who in the world is attacking our main character right now and why.
Warren doesn't believe in his world building. Because if he did, it would be shown to me in rewarding experiences instead of just dumping a placemat to put his battlebots in. He creates a medieval styled mech-themed universe where thematic factions are based on historical/religious kingdoms such as old Christianity and Islam. It's weird at times, and sometimes I'm curious and am wanting more. But that's the thing, Warren doesn't give the reader world-building it needs and deserves.
This ties perfectly with another issue I have with the book which is bland characterization. Vandal is the main character and isn't a huge problem for me. I've read reviews where readers have called him a Mary-Stu but I felt that his changing from tech to mech jockey made for a fun reading experience. Was it a bit unrealistic, yeah, but I found it fun nonetheless. The real issue is with any characters Vandal works with, talks with, or has relationships with. Warren again struggles with show don't tell (unless it's mech stuff but don't worry we'll get into that later). There were so many characters that deserved more time. Deaths that didn't matter because I honestly didn't know them enough. Stag and Rocco were the only characters I felt the reader knew decently well. Rocco more than Stag. Still, both of these characters had more to be desired. Huge things happened in this story and at times I'm thinking, "He/she should care more about this." Warren needs more time with these characters to make them shine.
Alright, let's talk about the mechanical talk in this book, because wow, there is a lot of it! Again, I LOVE the mech genre. But this doesn't mean that I need to know how every single thing works and operates. I think Warren felt he needed to have this stuff included due to the main character being a mechanic, but it at times was waaaaaay too much for me personally. If Warren would've taken half of his mech details of his Uprights, spent some more time on his characters, this would've been a better book. I do have to have to compliment him here though, because his mech writing in this regard is very good. I do feel like I am "in" the mech. But the writing was overdone for me.
As I stated earlier, Warren does create something interesting here so let's talk about what worked. I loved the battles. The combat was very well-written in my taste and I really enjoyed it. I liked the main protagonist, Vandal, and was rooting for him to succeed. I also liked a lot of the other characters and am frustrated we didn't get more time with them.
Something I have mixed feelings about were the themes of war. Brought up from the beginning to the end these mercenary mech jockeys state that despite them fighting a war to not take it personal. It's just work in the end. This theme leaves an ending that you are either going to love, or hate. I'm in the middle which is why I find this book so interesting. If you leave me thinking at the end, it did something right. All of these guys are just here to collect a paycheck. But when your friends die in front of you, how are you supposed to not take it personal? Without spoiling anything, characters take this "hey, no hard feelings." ideology to point where it feels unhuman. They touch on this in the book and I feel that this is the most interesting writing that Warren creates. This isn't a straight up military sci-fi novel where one army fights another "bad guy" army. You have two Mercenary factions hired to kill one another and results at first feel like nothing amounted to anything. Vandal's motivations are all about protecting the only family he's ever had, The Chevaliers, so when friends he's close with are killed he definitely feels something but can't act on his feelings due to contracts and capitalistic/political jargon that gets in the way. Vandal is but a cog in the system, and you feel that. He motivations are minimal against the grand overcomplicated schemes of war that surround him and I feel that this makes him a good character. I do have hopes that humanity will take precedence over his "job" and "duty."
I finished this book from beginning to end. Were there issues in it? Yes. I also found some things I enjoyed despite these glaring issues. This book feels like a modern-pulp read which is exactly the type of writing that I enjoy. I do hope Warren's writing improves as he does showcase some interesting world and story development.
Should you read it? If you love mech and have a kindle unlimited plan go for it. But I wouldn't "seek" this out. It does have some interesting world building, but again, its underdeveloped and Warren doesn't re-shape the wheel of what's been done before.
That's all that can be said about this one. I hope I was able to give you some valuable info. Happy reading!
October 3, 2022
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Like the author, I have a great love of the mecha genre and welcome more fiction in that theme. But this book felt more like a Marty Stu fanfiction than a fully fleshed out and maturely plotted tale. The characters were clichés, there was far too much emphasis on the machinery, and it was hard not to roll my eyes at how the main character is Mr. "stick it, boss!" rule breaker, Mr. "I'm the most skilled pilot but only want to repair the mechas aw shucks fellas" humble, and Mr. "that chick is hot" machismo. There was nothing new here despite being such a lightly tread topic.Story: Rande "Vandal" VanDelle skirts the rules, fixes the mechas of his mercenary unit, and skates by under the radar. Until the day a surprise attack causes a simple repair run to become a full blown battle - one he isn't prepared to wage. Though he survives, he catches the notice of his superiors who find themselves in need of extra pilots. Now thrust into a new squadron, Vandal will have to prove himself.
So, we have the typical Marty Stu where the guy is a unique snowflake that can make mechas do things other pilots can't do - while impressing the hard hitting female squadmates, natch. He constantly gives the finger to 'the man' and stages his own little rebellions. He'll have the usual anime 'power up' where he turns potential into won battles. And he gets his petty revenge on the supervisors who didn't believe in him.
The story is bog standard - sci fi planet battles with some politics thrown in. I had a hard time staying invested in the machismo and Marty Stuness; the lack of an interesting plot didn't help. But what really overwhelmed were the seemingly endless detailed descriptions of the mecha and their operations. Some is always a good thing but too much focus on the tech has long been the hallmark of sci fi fiction hell. It's ok to love mecha without needing to go into mind numbing detail over every single aspect of the technology. After all, how many good anime spend whole episodes discussing the specs of the weapons or mechas? Those are best left separately to geek out over afterwards in a separate addendum or endnotes.
I would label this a very over-romanticized Western interpretation of a mecha anime. With the focus on tech and with an overidealized hero, the story ultimately lacks the pathos, surprise, and nuance of the really good mecha shows from Japan. The heart of the story should always be the very flawed people and not the objects. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
October 16, 2022
Rande VanDelle or “Vandal” as he is more commonly known is a mechanic for the upright tanks in the Chevaliers Private Cavalry and has been for eight years and because of this, he is one of the sought out veteran mechanics there is. He manages to keep the old girls running despite the best efforts of the enemy fire they see off, but like every mechanic, he always has a favourite.
One night, after finishing routine maintenance on one of the oldest uprights in the section, Vandal asks to take it out on a routine patrol a bit earlier than planned as he really wants to test it out, after much humming and hawing, they eventually let him. He puts the machine through its paces in a way that not many other mechanics can and manages to go a bit further than planned, but he then picks up a threat message on his sensors.
Not sure what to do, he reports in, but when he hears nothing back, he starts to go in the offensive so that he can try and make his way back to the barracks and help. He is not combat or pilot trained in the slightest, but he still manages to fight his way out of a life threatening situation and just about keeps his head attached in the process, albeit with some sensory overload when the call comes in to evacuate, he is helped into the transport taking them away from the battlefield.
It is when he is called upon by his superior that he thinks it is the end of his career, but instead he is given a choice, he can continue with the maintenance team and love on until his superiors grace runs out, or he can train to be a pilot and hone his skills, which he showed during the confrontation. The problem is he never really wanted to be a pilot, but he agrees to the promotion and trains hard until he is called up.
Will Vandal be able to control his designated upright tank after only a short training period against an enemy who as well as turncoats and rebels, is harbouring an elite fighting force in support of them? This is a sci-fi set in a world which could be the future of our own where old technology is pitted against new in a war of attrition with a reluctant hero at the centre of it all, in this story which will leave you on tenterhooks throughout, as military teams engage in deadly confrontations, as civilians hide away.
One night, after finishing routine maintenance on one of the oldest uprights in the section, Vandal asks to take it out on a routine patrol a bit earlier than planned as he really wants to test it out, after much humming and hawing, they eventually let him. He puts the machine through its paces in a way that not many other mechanics can and manages to go a bit further than planned, but he then picks up a threat message on his sensors.
Not sure what to do, he reports in, but when he hears nothing back, he starts to go in the offensive so that he can try and make his way back to the barracks and help. He is not combat or pilot trained in the slightest, but he still manages to fight his way out of a life threatening situation and just about keeps his head attached in the process, albeit with some sensory overload when the call comes in to evacuate, he is helped into the transport taking them away from the battlefield.
It is when he is called upon by his superior that he thinks it is the end of his career, but instead he is given a choice, he can continue with the maintenance team and love on until his superiors grace runs out, or he can train to be a pilot and hone his skills, which he showed during the confrontation. The problem is he never really wanted to be a pilot, but he agrees to the promotion and trains hard until he is called up.
Will Vandal be able to control his designated upright tank after only a short training period against an enemy who as well as turncoats and rebels, is harbouring an elite fighting force in support of them? This is a sci-fi set in a world which could be the future of our own where old technology is pitted against new in a war of attrition with a reluctant hero at the centre of it all, in this story which will leave you on tenterhooks throughout, as military teams engage in deadly confrontations, as civilians hide away.
September 22, 2022
I absolutely love this book. I am big fan of military science fiction, starting years ago when I read Starship Troopers and through reading the Andrew Grayson series by Marko Kloos. What I love about their books is their dedication to a gritty reality and making something set in the future feel accessible, and this narrative falls solidly into that category. It strikes a good tone and balance between the characters, and the pacing is perfect.
The character growth for Vandal was also natural and didn't feel forced at all, and its easy to see his faults and their impact on the overall story.
My primary issues with it are mostly nit picking the grammar and the formatting, and the story probably could have been longer, but these are mostly my personal preferences, not really negatives that require fixing. Overall not particularly complex, since Vandal seems to handle his issues in the moment as they arise. The overall issue of him struggling to come to grips with his actions in certain scenes, such as killing for the first time and throughout, is fleeting and doesn't seem to affect him for long.
But I have also been in a combat zone and I know that, in that area, such issues are pushed to the back burner to be dealt with later.
I also thought the real time consequences of his actions and faults, like hesitating or being distracted, added more realism and stakes for the character.
But I have also been in a combat zone and I know that, in that area, such issues are pushed to the back burner to be dealt with later.
Overall an absolutely enjoyable book and I look forward to picking up an actual copy when it's released.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The character growth for Vandal was also natural and didn't feel forced at all, and its easy to see his faults and their impact on the overall story.
My primary issues with it are mostly nit picking the grammar and the formatting, and the story probably could have been longer, but these are mostly my personal preferences, not really negatives that require fixing. Overall not particularly complex, since Vandal seems to handle his issues in the moment as they arise. The overall issue of him struggling to come to grips with his actions in certain scenes, such as killing for the first time and throughout, is fleeting and doesn't seem to affect him for long.
But I have also been in a combat zone and I know that, in that area, such issues are pushed to the back burner to be dealt with later.
I also thought the real time consequences of his actions and faults, like hesitating or being distracted, added more realism and stakes for the character.
But I have also been in a combat zone and I know that, in that area, such issues are pushed to the back burner to be dealt with later.
Overall an absolutely enjoyable book and I look forward to picking up an actual copy when it's released.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 14, 2022
Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle of the Chevaliers Private Calvary has helped maintain Main Battle Upright Tanks, or MBUs, long enough to become known as one of the fleets best maintainers. One night he decides to take one of the oldest MBUs out on a maintenance run. Halfway back he notes an enemy on the horizon. Completely taken back by the sudden attack, he scrambles just to stay alive to get back to base. He's never used the weapons systems, just maintained them. Thankfully, as a result of his quick thinking, he is able to put his knowledge to use and in doing so, ends up surviving and saving many others' lives as well. Unfortunately, the other MBU jockeys did not fare well after the attack. As the base finds themselves short jockeys, Vandal is recruited to fast track to become a jockey. The attacks don't slow down though, and the stakes become even higher. As it all escalates, can he find the balance between cranking wrenches and running an MBU? Can he survive until the next contract?
This is my first time reading this author. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail in the writing of the MBUs, the battles that took place, and the world building. I felt like I could see everything playing out in my mind. The characters were well written, and I loved how their relationships were portrayed as more of a family than just friends. The book was quick paced, and I didn't want to put it down! Definitely, looking forward to reading the next installment.
This is my first time reading this author. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail in the writing of the MBUs, the battles that took place, and the world building. I felt like I could see everything playing out in my mind. The characters were well written, and I loved how their relationships were portrayed as more of a family than just friends. The book was quick paced, and I didn't want to put it down! Definitely, looking forward to reading the next installment.
September 14, 2022
Chevalier is an enjoyable read with lots of action and humor that makes you want to keep reading to the end. It tells the story of an “Upright” tech who’s perfectly content to wrench on and repair these massive mobile weapons platforms, but ends up piloting one for real.
The characters are funny, often using a blend of sophisticated and crude humor in their interactions and making for fun, fast-paced dialogue. There’s also an undercurrent of weariness, with constant fighting, killing, and losing comrades who have become a second family. Each member of the Chevaliers is devoted to the cause (namely, keeping each other alive and earning coin), but they are keenly aware that they inflict violence and death and don’t take it lightly.
If I had one issue with the book, it’s the story backdrop. The story takes place on a war-torn world caught in the middle of a conflict between, two interstellar powers, but those powers seemed more like a rough sketch than really brought to life in the story. It felt more like connective tissue to bring the battle scenes together, so I would love to learn more about this universe in subsequent novels. Despite this, I really enjoyed Chevalier and look forward to future installments!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters are funny, often using a blend of sophisticated and crude humor in their interactions and making for fun, fast-paced dialogue. There’s also an undercurrent of weariness, with constant fighting, killing, and losing comrades who have become a second family. Each member of the Chevaliers is devoted to the cause (namely, keeping each other alive and earning coin), but they are keenly aware that they inflict violence and death and don’t take it lightly.
If I had one issue with the book, it’s the story backdrop. The story takes place on a war-torn world caught in the middle of a conflict between, two interstellar powers, but those powers seemed more like a rough sketch than really brought to life in the story. It felt more like connective tissue to bring the battle scenes together, so I would love to learn more about this universe in subsequent novels. Despite this, I really enjoyed Chevalier and look forward to future installments!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2023
Enjoyable read, classic Sci Fi adventure
I first fell in love with Sci Fi in the 70’s after being introduced to stories like Robert A. Heinlein’s “Have Spacesuit, Will Travel”. So I found it wonderfully fun to read to this first book in the War Horses series by Scott Warren. The similar tropes of a plucky young hero, surviving gritty and grim realities with a good bit of luck and determination, were both enjoyable and nostalgic. I almost never leave reviews, but I wanted to make sure anyone, who hasn’t read any of this author’s other works, didn’t overlook this one. The storyline is simple and straightforward, with enough drama to keep it exciting without being overwrought. The mechanical and scientific jargon is just explanatory enough for narrative progression without bogging down the flow of action, which I truly appreciate. It’s a pet peeve of mine to have to wade through extraneous technical and battle details that do not advance plot development. Because of my personal hesitancy, I might not have given “Chevalier” a chance if I hadn’t already thoroughly enjoyed the “Vic’s Vultures” series and “The Dragon’s Banker” stand-alone by this same writer. As it is, I look forward with anticipation to reading the next book to see what future adventures await this protagonist and his comrades.
I first fell in love with Sci Fi in the 70’s after being introduced to stories like Robert A. Heinlein’s “Have Spacesuit, Will Travel”. So I found it wonderfully fun to read to this first book in the War Horses series by Scott Warren. The similar tropes of a plucky young hero, surviving gritty and grim realities with a good bit of luck and determination, were both enjoyable and nostalgic. I almost never leave reviews, but I wanted to make sure anyone, who hasn’t read any of this author’s other works, didn’t overlook this one. The storyline is simple and straightforward, with enough drama to keep it exciting without being overwrought. The mechanical and scientific jargon is just explanatory enough for narrative progression without bogging down the flow of action, which I truly appreciate. It’s a pet peeve of mine to have to wade through extraneous technical and battle details that do not advance plot development. Because of my personal hesitancy, I might not have given “Chevalier” a chance if I hadn’t already thoroughly enjoyed the “Vic’s Vultures” series and “The Dragon’s Banker” stand-alone by this same writer. As it is, I look forward with anticipation to reading the next book to see what future adventures await this protagonist and his comrades.
October 2, 2022
4 Stars
Chevalier is the first book in the War Horses series by Scott Warren. This is the first book that I have read by Mr. Warren, so I really didn’t know what to expect going into the story. I was intrigued by the title, the interesting cover, and the blurb’s promise of a captivating plot. So I took a chance and immediately plunged in to explore.
I am so glad that I took a chance on this book, because it proved to be a fantastic Mecha military sci-fi story with an action-packed storyline, war, combat, adventure, tension, danger, dramatic developments, fantastic world-creation, and even a little humour just to keep things from getting too heavy.
What happens when a tank mechanic finds himself thrust from behind the lines right into the face of war? Vandal and the rest of the Chevalier’s will need to rise to the challenge to face off against seemingly overwhelming odds if they are to stand a chance of surviving. Vandal has the extra challenge of trying to learn on the fly, to competently control and operate the upright tank, something he was never trained to do before. What happens makes for an engrossing story.
Looking forward to Book #2, and exploring more of Mr. Warren’s work.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Scott Warren!
Chevalier is the first book in the War Horses series by Scott Warren. This is the first book that I have read by Mr. Warren, so I really didn’t know what to expect going into the story. I was intrigued by the title, the interesting cover, and the blurb’s promise of a captivating plot. So I took a chance and immediately plunged in to explore.
I am so glad that I took a chance on this book, because it proved to be a fantastic Mecha military sci-fi story with an action-packed storyline, war, combat, adventure, tension, danger, dramatic developments, fantastic world-creation, and even a little humour just to keep things from getting too heavy.
What happens when a tank mechanic finds himself thrust from behind the lines right into the face of war? Vandal and the rest of the Chevalier’s will need to rise to the challenge to face off against seemingly overwhelming odds if they are to stand a chance of surviving. Vandal has the extra challenge of trying to learn on the fly, to competently control and operate the upright tank, something he was never trained to do before. What happens makes for an engrossing story.
Looking forward to Book #2, and exploring more of Mr. Warren’s work.
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Scott Warren!
October 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I would find it interesting as I haven't read anything like it before so wasn't sure what to expect but the author didn't disappoint.
The author took time to explain certain elements and terminology which really helped me as someone new to this genre.
I loved the Sci fi side of it and the thought of these giant upright tanks was definately an image to imagine. The author's attention to detail is what really made them come alive and feel as if they could really exist.
This story is action packed as you would imagine for a military story but I also love the fact that the story is mainly around Rande (Vandel). How he goes from a guy that works behind the scenes fixing up these huge machines to being thrown into the front line actually controlling one of the machines he loving cares for. Its a story of courage, feelings of uncertainty and facing fears you never expected to have to face.
The story is full of intrigue and Suspense and it definately keeps the reader gripped wanting to know what will happen next.
I really enjoyed my first taste of this genre and I can't wait to see what the author produces next.
The author took time to explain certain elements and terminology which really helped me as someone new to this genre.
I loved the Sci fi side of it and the thought of these giant upright tanks was definately an image to imagine. The author's attention to detail is what really made them come alive and feel as if they could really exist.
This story is action packed as you would imagine for a military story but I also love the fact that the story is mainly around Rande (Vandel). How he goes from a guy that works behind the scenes fixing up these huge machines to being thrown into the front line actually controlling one of the machines he loving cares for. Its a story of courage, feelings of uncertainty and facing fears you never expected to have to face.
The story is full of intrigue and Suspense and it definately keeps the reader gripped wanting to know what will happen next.
I really enjoyed my first taste of this genre and I can't wait to see what the author produces next.
September 25, 2022
Chill-Inducing and Amazing !! . . .
For me, the most exciting thing about this book was the feeling it evoked for my love of all things mech and robot-like. This was a unique, enjoyable read that pulled me in without effort, despite the technical jargon which had me thinking I could build one of these things myself perhaps with the detail being provided by the author? It was a fun concept to see the tank mechanic, Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle, who keeps these units in repair, step up and pilot one – and be so successful at it! That’s an entirely different skillset, and I loved watching him master it.
This can be a bit techie in parts, but overall it tells a really intriguing story that is worthwhile reading. Just the cover on the book had me jumping up and down in excitement. (Dragons make that happen too, but I have many interests to divert me, such as this series.) Grab your copy and let the author build the scene for you. Then be ready to ride along into the battle in a way you have never experienced one before.
For me, the most exciting thing about this book was the feeling it evoked for my love of all things mech and robot-like. This was a unique, enjoyable read that pulled me in without effort, despite the technical jargon which had me thinking I could build one of these things myself perhaps with the detail being provided by the author? It was a fun concept to see the tank mechanic, Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle, who keeps these units in repair, step up and pilot one – and be so successful at it! That’s an entirely different skillset, and I loved watching him master it.
This can be a bit techie in parts, but overall it tells a really intriguing story that is worthwhile reading. Just the cover on the book had me jumping up and down in excitement. (Dragons make that happen too, but I have many interests to divert me, such as this series.) Grab your copy and let the author build the scene for you. Then be ready to ride along into the battle in a way you have never experienced one before.
October 14, 2022
This authors style of writing is not only thorough, but really gets the reader's mind into the frame it needs to be in to be engulfed by the nature of this adventure. I absolutely love how the author also included a glossary of terms at the beginning that one can return to if there is any confusion as to what the terms mean. This is by no means my normal cup of tea, however, I felt like the main character specifically was very vulnerable in the way he was portrayed and I absolutely loved that, especially given that it is a male character.
The titles of the chapters, the way that they are broken up into different segments and the descriptiveness are what really held my attention whilst reading this first installment of what will end up being a very different, wonderful, and eye-opening literary adventure. If you're at all debating whether or not to read this, you can stop the debate and purchase it before the next comes out, so you aren't huddled in your bed scurrying to devour this series. Well worth your money, time, and mental capacity. Looking forward to Ymir being released!
The titles of the chapters, the way that they are broken up into different segments and the descriptiveness are what really held my attention whilst reading this first installment of what will end up being a very different, wonderful, and eye-opening literary adventure. If you're at all debating whether or not to read this, you can stop the debate and purchase it before the next comes out, so you aren't huddled in your bed scurrying to devour this series. Well worth your money, time, and mental capacity. Looking forward to Ymir being released!
February 15, 2024
Chevalier the first in the War Horses series was the first book I read by Scott Warren.
To be honest I don’t know what to think of this book.
It read very easy, was easy to understand, the fighting was described nicely there was some humor some death and even more.
The mechas were also described fairly well and I have no complaint’s about the writing style of Scott Warren.
Even with all these positives the story felt like it was missing something. I have no clue what it’s missing but that is my feeling after reading this book. Like when you watch a movie and think it’s an awesome story you like the entire movie but back in your mind but its missing just that something…
When Scott Warren can fix that for his next book in this series I can probably say they will all get an 5 star review of me. For now this one also gets a 5 star (but a mines for me, cause its better then 4 but not up to 5)
To conclude this review if you have time and like mecha's and fighting this is a must read for you.
To be honest I don’t know what to think of this book.
It read very easy, was easy to understand, the fighting was described nicely there was some humor some death and even more.
The mechas were also described fairly well and I have no complaint’s about the writing style of Scott Warren.
Even with all these positives the story felt like it was missing something. I have no clue what it’s missing but that is my feeling after reading this book. Like when you watch a movie and think it’s an awesome story you like the entire movie but back in your mind but its missing just that something…
When Scott Warren can fix that for his next book in this series I can probably say they will all get an 5 star review of me. For now this one also gets a 5 star (but a mines for me, cause its better then 4 but not up to 5)
To conclude this review if you have time and like mecha's and fighting this is a must read for you.
May 12, 2025
Pretty good initialization of a series
I’m almost as big a sucker for mech stories as I am for time travel ones, so when I spotted this series by an author with whom I was unfamiliar, I had to give it a try. I enjoyed this inaugural entry in the War Horses set. It had enough tech to keep that part of my brain happy without falling into the Battletech/Mechwarrior trap of TOO much detail (e.g. the Ionsmasher 5000 PPC from Mechmelter Industries on Imaplanet Prime in the Davion central systems had always had a problem with heat seizures faulting the particle charging chamber (OK, I haven’t hit a real Battletech novel in a while and I can’t remember ALL of the cliches)). The story was good, and the combat was interesting enough. There were not too many characters to keep track of, and the author was not afraid to kill off the occasional one that you might have thought was going to be a regular (the ever popular “plot armor”). All in all, definitely worth the read, and as soon as I work through a bit of my backlog I’ll be picking up the next one.
I’m almost as big a sucker for mech stories as I am for time travel ones, so when I spotted this series by an author with whom I was unfamiliar, I had to give it a try. I enjoyed this inaugural entry in the War Horses set. It had enough tech to keep that part of my brain happy without falling into the Battletech/Mechwarrior trap of TOO much detail (e.g. the Ionsmasher 5000 PPC from Mechmelter Industries on Imaplanet Prime in the Davion central systems had always had a problem with heat seizures faulting the particle charging chamber (OK, I haven’t hit a real Battletech novel in a while and I can’t remember ALL of the cliches)). The story was good, and the combat was interesting enough. There were not too many characters to keep track of, and the author was not afraid to kill off the occasional one that you might have thought was going to be a regular (the ever popular “plot armor”). All in all, definitely worth the read, and as soon as I work through a bit of my backlog I’ll be picking up the next one.
October 16, 2022
Scott Warren won a loyal reader in me from this book! I thought from a glance at the cover that I would enjoy it, but I never expected that I would have loved it so much. This Sci-Fi read is full of action in every chapter and the world building is remarkable!
Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle is our main character, and he is in for more than he bargained for. He works as a veteran tank mechanic until he’s attacked while he works on a tank. There is nothing scarier than a literal trial by fire as he must learn how to operate and fight these tanks to save his life. Will he be able to pick up enough to scrape by, or will Vandal be overthrown?
The story felt so real with the author’s incredibly detailed depiction of each scene. I am eagerly awaiting the second book in this series as well as picking up others by this author. I highly recommend you pick this up, you won’t be disappointed!
Rande ‘Vandal’ VanDelle is our main character, and he is in for more than he bargained for. He works as a veteran tank mechanic until he’s attacked while he works on a tank. There is nothing scarier than a literal trial by fire as he must learn how to operate and fight these tanks to save his life. Will he be able to pick up enough to scrape by, or will Vandal be overthrown?
The story felt so real with the author’s incredibly detailed depiction of each scene. I am eagerly awaiting the second book in this series as well as picking up others by this author. I highly recommend you pick this up, you won’t be disappointed!
October 29, 2022
5 Stars
Chevalier (War Horses Book 1) by Scott Warren
Chevalier is the first book in the War Horses Series and is a action packed Sci-Fi Adventure that I truly enjoyed reading. This is my first book I’ve read by this author and I’m fairly new to Mecha genre. The title and the cover totally fascinated me so I had to see what this was all about and Wow not what I expecting but better than I ever imagined. Get ready to be pulled into one fascinating story that will keep you turning the pages till the end. This is a Military Sci-Fi with Mecha soldiers that is packed with action, adventure, drama and so much more. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. Its definitely one of the most entertaining I’ve read in a while. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
Chevalier (War Horses Book 1) by Scott Warren
Chevalier is the first book in the War Horses Series and is a action packed Sci-Fi Adventure that I truly enjoyed reading. This is my first book I’ve read by this author and I’m fairly new to Mecha genre. The title and the cover totally fascinated me so I had to see what this was all about and Wow not what I expecting but better than I ever imagined. Get ready to be pulled into one fascinating story that will keep you turning the pages till the end. This is a Military Sci-Fi with Mecha soldiers that is packed with action, adventure, drama and so much more. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. Its definitely one of the most entertaining I’ve read in a while. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
January 12, 2023
War Horses : Chevalier (War Horses) by Scott Warren
This is reminiscent of the Mech Warriors game I played decades ago. The story is focused on Vandal and the Upright “tank” that he jockeys. The Chevaliers are a mercenary outfit that is contracted to protect a government dealing with a rebellion.
Vandal is a wrench turner who takes pride in seeing his Uprights run flawlessly. Of course, lack of parts and money means that he does the best he can with what he can get.
Vandal finds himself faced with decisions that he did not plan on needing to make. Pulled from a slum and given a place, Vandal feels that the Chevaliers are his family and that they deserve his best. Loyalty, camaraderie and fragility are aptly displayed by the author.
I enjoyed the book, can’t wait for the next one.
This is reminiscent of the Mech Warriors game I played decades ago. The story is focused on Vandal and the Upright “tank” that he jockeys. The Chevaliers are a mercenary outfit that is contracted to protect a government dealing with a rebellion.
Vandal is a wrench turner who takes pride in seeing his Uprights run flawlessly. Of course, lack of parts and money means that he does the best he can with what he can get.
Vandal finds himself faced with decisions that he did not plan on needing to make. Pulled from a slum and given a place, Vandal feels that the Chevaliers are his family and that they deserve his best. Loyalty, camaraderie and fragility are aptly displayed by the author.
I enjoyed the book, can’t wait for the next one.
July 16, 2024
For Fans of Pacific Rim
This book is awesome. It’s better than the Pacific Rim movie novelization.
The main character is just a mechanic, but somehow gets stuck piloting a mech, also called an “upright”, or MBU. The main character is an underdog that defies odds and becomes a hero of sorts in this story. He displays bravery in the face of his enemies, and even when he barely wins fights, wins, or loses, it doesn’t seem like the author is writing the story. It feels like I’m in the upright piloting it, taking enemy fire on my metal skin, etc.
In one scene the main character isn’t in an upright. As an upright fires above him, the author does a great job making you feel like you’re right there. You can feel and see the giant mech as if you’re right there.
I bought book 2. Can’t wait for whatever will come next!
This book is awesome. It’s better than the Pacific Rim movie novelization.
The main character is just a mechanic, but somehow gets stuck piloting a mech, also called an “upright”, or MBU. The main character is an underdog that defies odds and becomes a hero of sorts in this story. He displays bravery in the face of his enemies, and even when he barely wins fights, wins, or loses, it doesn’t seem like the author is writing the story. It feels like I’m in the upright piloting it, taking enemy fire on my metal skin, etc.
In one scene the main character isn’t in an upright. As an upright fires above him, the author does a great job making you feel like you’re right there. You can feel and see the giant mech as if you’re right there.
I bought book 2. Can’t wait for whatever will come next!
October 2, 2022
Such a good and thrilling read. I was very much captivated as I read. The story kept your mind very interested, and wanting more, the characters were very well written as well!
The book really had everything. I always had interested in military machinery, and its concepts. This book really expanded and amazed my mind! The book was more than just machines, it was full of intrigue, suspense, and characters that were raw as ones can get. I could not put this one down! Great read, I was very much invested, and I am so glad I got to read this, look forward to reading more by this author!
Fantastic read! I can not say enough good amazing things about this book or author! The book had everything and then some. I highly recommend this must read book!
The book really had everything. I always had interested in military machinery, and its concepts. This book really expanded and amazed my mind! The book was more than just machines, it was full of intrigue, suspense, and characters that were raw as ones can get. I could not put this one down! Great read, I was very much invested, and I am so glad I got to read this, look forward to reading more by this author!
Fantastic read! I can not say enough good amazing things about this book or author! The book had everything and then some. I highly recommend this must read book!
October 10, 2022
Very interesting read. This is not my typical go to genre, but I was easily sucked into the story. Vandal is a tech turned Chevalier, and I won’t lie, I had to look up what the word Chevalier meant, and I think Vandal turned out to live up to the name. He didn’t really want this for his life, he would rather stay and repair and work on the tanks, but it seems he has a skill of going fast and being able to control it. His friendship with Rocco is great and I really like to see Rocco always having his back. Colonel Swift on the other hand, irritated me, and I was happy to see in the end, basically Vandal and the way he handled himself in the fight, rubbed it in her face that he is not the worthless tech she thought him to be. Very imaginative and creative!
October 11, 2022
Scott Warren’s Chevalier is the first unique book in the War Horses series which promises to be an enjoyable series. It is a military sci fi tale with Mecha soldiers, which I pictured as the ones from movies like Pacific Rim and anime.
It is my first time reading anything by Scott and certainly reading anything in the Mecha genre. Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised. I always like to go in blind not reading any blurbs, covers etc as I like to discover tales all on their own and make my own thoughts and this certainly helped with this book.
With intrigue and suspense, action and humour, some politics and war, violence and death, battles and upright giant humanoid robots it will delight those who like a gritty military sci fi and Mecha soldiers.
It is my first time reading anything by Scott and certainly reading anything in the Mecha genre. Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised. I always like to go in blind not reading any blurbs, covers etc as I like to discover tales all on their own and make my own thoughts and this certainly helped with this book.
With intrigue and suspense, action and humour, some politics and war, violence and death, battles and upright giant humanoid robots it will delight those who like a gritty military sci fi and Mecha soldiers.
October 31, 2022
This was a really interesting book to read, it’s so out of my comfort zone but I was looking for something a little different to read and the synopsis grabbed my attention so I thought I would give it a go. I think the first thing I have to say how well the book was written, the author had great attention to detail and I actually imagined what I was reading more than I thought I would – this was a pleasant surprise. I’ve read very few science fiction books so I read this a little slower than my usual books and I was very grateful for the glossary with some of the different terms used in the story – that was really helpful for me as a reader and definitely aided my enjoyment a little more.
I think this book would be a huge hit with sci-fi readers – I would definitely recommend it.
I think this book would be a huge hit with sci-fi readers – I would definitely recommend it.
October 31, 2022
4 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was a nice, pleasant surprise and out of my normal comfort zone in my reading, but I was totally intrigued by the cover so I decided to dive right in.
This military sci-fi we get to know Rande "Vandal" VanDelle and he is part of the Chevaliers and works on the MBUs or large tanks. When Vandal decides to take an MBU out and about on patrol....he comes under attack. Battling back and trying to stay alive Vandal has choices to be made.......will Vandal join the continuing fight?
Choices, action, danger and intrigue all wrapped up in this really good story!
Can I add I love the fact the author added a glossary of terms that helped me as well with some of the terminology and that is a plus for me.
This book was a nice, pleasant surprise and out of my normal comfort zone in my reading, but I was totally intrigued by the cover so I decided to dive right in.
This military sci-fi we get to know Rande "Vandal" VanDelle and he is part of the Chevaliers and works on the MBUs or large tanks. When Vandal decides to take an MBU out and about on patrol....he comes under attack. Battling back and trying to stay alive Vandal has choices to be made.......will Vandal join the continuing fight?
Choices, action, danger and intrigue all wrapped up in this really good story!
Can I add I love the fact the author added a glossary of terms that helped me as well with some of the terminology and that is a plus for me.
dnf
September 9, 2022DNF @ 24%
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of Chevalier in exchange for an honest review. I know that 3 stars for a DNF is odd, so please let me explain. From what I read, I liked the characters and the story. The only reason why I DNF’d was due to the technicality of the writing. The uprights were explained in such meticulous detail and while that is a good thing that shows how much effort was put into this book, it confused me. I do not have any experience with machinery and just couldn’t get past those technical parts, which there was a lot of. This book is not for me at this moment, but I would consider coming back to it in the future!
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of Chevalier in exchange for an honest review. I know that 3 stars for a DNF is odd, so please let me explain. From what I read, I liked the characters and the story. The only reason why I DNF’d was due to the technicality of the writing. The uprights were explained in such meticulous detail and while that is a good thing that shows how much effort was put into this book, it confused me. I do not have any experience with machinery and just couldn’t get past those technical parts, which there was a lot of. This book is not for me at this moment, but I would consider coming back to it in the future!
October 14, 2022
This is an action packed sci-fi adventure that is unlike any other I have read. As the first in a new series I definitely starts with a bang. I loved Vandal. I thought he was such an interesting and engaging character. He kept me entertained from start to finish and for me carried the story.
I thought the premise of this book was such an interesting one, and not one that I had read anything similar to before. The way it was developed intrigued me and I easily found myself connecting with it. The author created a great pace to the book that fit perfectly with what was happening. After reading this book I am looking forward to see what comes next.
I thought the premise of this book was such an interesting one, and not one that I had read anything similar to before. The way it was developed intrigued me and I easily found myself connecting with it. The author created a great pace to the book that fit perfectly with what was happening. After reading this book I am looking forward to see what comes next.
October 15, 2022
Vandal is a tank mechanic with the Chevaliers Private Calvary who finds himself fighting for his own life inside the company’s oldest upright tank. Battling nausea, while also battered and bruised he finds himself teaming up with his fellow Cavaliers to battle against off-world mercenaries.
This book was intense from the first few pages. With a unique and raw writing style the author sets the tone for the action, suspense and adventure contained throughout. The characters were raw and real, especially Vandal who was relatable as a tank mechanic. It was interesting to read and expanded my mind into the world of military machines. A great read!
This book was intense from the first few pages. With a unique and raw writing style the author sets the tone for the action, suspense and adventure contained throughout. The characters were raw and real, especially Vandal who was relatable as a tank mechanic. It was interesting to read and expanded my mind into the world of military machines. A great read!
December 29, 2025
This is bubblegum reading, as the author himself is keen to explain in the first pages. As long as one goes into it with matching expectations, this and the following books in the series are fun! I read through five over the Christmas break . They're short, with little downtime, and filled with mechs shenanigans from start to finish. The tone is military sci-fi, the focus is split between engineering and actual warfare, the cast of characters definitely does not escape every (most?) clichés. I'm not thinking about it too hard and find myself returning eagerly for the next chapter. Mission accomplished as far as I'm concerned.
September 17, 2022
Interesting world building but a bit depressing. It took some time to really become interested in the characters but once I got involved with Vandal the story really took off. Part of reason for this was navigating the world and the technology which is a bit unique. Only Vandal is really described; the other characters are somewhat one-dimensional. If they were more filled out I would have enjoyed the story more I believe.
This review is of a free version. I am leaving this review voluntarily
This review is of a free version. I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 2, 2022
This is book one in a series and was definitely not what I was expecting. I don’t think I have ever read a sci-fi book with a military theme. It doesn’t take place on Earth. The main character is Rande "Vandal" VanDelle, and he is from a planet called Teutonia. As a contractor working on the tanks, Vandal never intends to see any real action. However, that all changes when he takes a tank out and comes under military fire and has to make life or death decisions. It was a fun book, and even if this isn’t a normal book for you, it might just surprise you.
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