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Sentenced to War #12
Nexus of Chaos
When humanity joins the cause, the war with the Naxli begins to tilt in the favor of the allied races.
The Naxli have other ideas, though, and they launch a full-out blitz against the upstart humans. If they succeed, humanity’s very existence is at stake.
Gunnery Sergeant Reverent Pelletier and the First Human Expeditionary Brigade not only have to survived the onslaught but figure out a way to end the war, once and for all.
Join Rev, Tomiko, Randigold, and the rest as they fight not only the Naxli, but a growing distrust of the IBHU Marines and other hyperaugments.
Experience the exciting 12th entry in the Sentenced to War series with Nexus of Chaos, written by two-time Dragon Award nominees J.N. Chaney and Jonathan P. Brazee. If you like gritty combat, well developed heroes, and a galaxy that feels lived in and developed, this is the series for you.
The Naxli have other ideas, though, and they launch a full-out blitz against the upstart humans. If they succeed, humanity’s very existence is at stake.
Gunnery Sergeant Reverent Pelletier and the First Human Expeditionary Brigade not only have to survived the onslaught but figure out a way to end the war, once and for all.
Join Rev, Tomiko, Randigold, and the rest as they fight not only the Naxli, but a growing distrust of the IBHU Marines and other hyperaugments.
Experience the exciting 12th entry in the Sentenced to War series with Nexus of Chaos, written by two-time Dragon Award nominees J.N. Chaney and Jonathan P. Brazee. If you like gritty combat, well developed heroes, and a galaxy that feels lived in and developed, this is the series for you.
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2023
499 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
J.N. Chaney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 31, 2023
Fun book very much in line with the other offerings in this series… but with a big caveat. (I’ve given each title a solid four stars until this one.)
For me, the deus ex machina was a little questionable (but still okay) but the ending of the book ruined it for me. .
Obviously we have to suspend belief to be able to enjoy epic military sci-fi stories anyway, especially when we’re ex-military. But for me, the ridiculous and corny ending of this installment was just too much and ruined the book for me.
Two stars, but I’ll keep reading the rest up through #15.
For me, the deus ex machina was a little questionable (but still okay) but the ending of the book ruined it for me. .
Obviously we have to suspend belief to be able to enjoy epic military sci-fi stories anyway, especially when we’re ex-military. But for me, the ridiculous and corny ending of this installment was just too much and ruined the book for me.
Two stars, but I’ll keep reading the rest up through #15.
May 27, 2023
A pretty good read but excessive detail.Ct
It's A pretty good read but excessive detail on things , people, etc take away from the main plot and make much of the book boring.
The last with pages are the Authors basically pull out every wishful thought to make the book have the type of ending that will keep the mail characters relevant to this and future books in the series though the patience of the reader will be sorely tested! However on to next in the series it will probably be better!!!
It's A pretty good read but excessive detail on things , people, etc take away from the main plot and make much of the book boring.
The last with pages are the Authors basically pull out every wishful thought to make the book have the type of ending that will keep the mail characters relevant to this and future books in the series though the patience of the reader will be sorely tested! However on to next in the series it will probably be better!!!
April 22, 2023
Outstanding book written by two of my most favorite authors. Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Reverent Pelletier is back along with Gunnery Sergeant Tomiko Reiser. If that combination does get your mind to whirling then nothing will. When those to around, the action is bound to be happening which means bullets will be flying and aliens enemies will be dying!
Right now though, they're in a kind of a lull in ops tempo getting the battalion back to strength and manned up. They had lost a lot of people in their last action and replacements were slowly coming in. GySgt Pelletier's company or platoon wasn't up to his high standards of training and he was out to fix that, but command had just thrown him a curve. He was now assigned to work with a company/platoon of Breel. These were tree like aliens that were good fighters, in Rev's opinion based on having fought with them before. Still, they were a trifle arrogant and sometimes didn't come across very well to other Marines. But, train with them they would and he hoped both would gain a lot from the experience.
As you should have noted, Tomiko is now the same rank as Rev. She's the second platoon Gunnery Sergeant so she has to put up with the same stuff that Rev is doing now. Their training as a unit with the Breel is slowly coming along. The Breel seem to want to act on their own a little too much and don't have a solid grasp of small unit tactics, but they can fight. And as Rev and Tomiko have experienced in the past, they don't get to decide when they have to go back to war. The call has just came and they are going soon.
The Naxli are still the enemy and they have just invaded the home system. This means they are in the Solar System apparently heading for various planets before going directly to Earth. The battalion along with the Breel company are now on alert status for deployment. When that deployment will take place is the big question. As it turns out, the First Human Expeditionary Battalion and the Breel Dagger Company are made ready, but they don't deploy any where. It seems the Naxli have their eye on Safe Harbor as a center of the humans military power. So, a Naxli invasion of Safe Harbor is happening now. Unfortunately, almost all the Marines and other troops usually on Safe Harbor have already deployed. Rev's and Tomiko's battalion is all that is left and that's not nearly enough to defend an entire planet.
So, this is the first mission you'll read about. The number of Naxli deploying to Safe Harbor is vastly larger than the two-thousand or so Marines left on the planet. The fighting is going to be very rough and mostly the battalion is going to try and stay alive until the deployed troops get the chance to come back if they ever happens. Rev has his own problems when he gets separated from his unit and has to defend a small position with a bunch of stragglers he found. Things get very tight with him and about ten or twelve of his men/women facing about thirty-thousand Naxli.
But, as usual, things move on. You next find that the humans and it's alien allies have had enough of the Naxli attacks on the home system. While it was repelled, a lone scout had managed to find the Naxli's home planet and now a super highly classified mission was set to take the war to the Naxli home system. Rev and Tomiko are going to be in the middle of everything exciting that happens on this mission. It doesn't end in any way you would expect. The Sia, an alien floating gas bag, have been around observing almost every encounter between the humans and the Naxli, but they've never intervened nor have the ever communicated with anyone, friend or for, as far as the humans know.
Back home after the Naxli invasion, there's a disturbing trend in the civilian population that we need to stop all this fighting and especially using altered and enhanced humans like Rev. Some are still afraid of any kind of genetic alterations to humans because of the genetic wars fought in the past. It seems a large group of humans in the past did a lot of genetic engineering on themselves and then considered them to be superior humans. A terrible war was fought between normal humans and the "Genesians". The normal humans won, and that resulted in laws to forbid future genetic alterations of human-kind. While the IBHUs weren't genetically modified like the Genesians, they did have modifications to their body that allowed the adaption of the weapon prosthesis. Since the IBHUs were proud of their ability to overcome what would have been a serious blow to their military careers, they took to wearing very visible weapon systems or even a very shiny metallic arm prosthesis when not fighting. In other words, they stood out.
This is going to cause some major, major problems for the future of all IBHUs or any kind of modified Marine or soldier. It seems kind of ridiculous that it goes to the extreme that it does in this book, but as usual a small, but very vocal minority, can cause a lot of smart people to make stupid decisions. And that's what happens at the end of this book. I'm not sure where it's going to lead, but it does open the story-line to a whole new world of potential stories. Oh, one more thing, even Tomiko isn't beyond making stupid mistakes, but her and Reverent Pelletier are going to be together no matter what!
Yes, there is going to be a 13th book, "Exiled to Perdition", already on my reading list. A 14th book, "Into the Void", shows as available on/about 14 June 2023. I'll be reading that one too.
Right now though, they're in a kind of a lull in ops tempo getting the battalion back to strength and manned up. They had lost a lot of people in their last action and replacements were slowly coming in. GySgt Pelletier's company or platoon wasn't up to his high standards of training and he was out to fix that, but command had just thrown him a curve. He was now assigned to work with a company/platoon of Breel. These were tree like aliens that were good fighters, in Rev's opinion based on having fought with them before. Still, they were a trifle arrogant and sometimes didn't come across very well to other Marines. But, train with them they would and he hoped both would gain a lot from the experience.
As you should have noted, Tomiko is now the same rank as Rev. She's the second platoon Gunnery Sergeant so she has to put up with the same stuff that Rev is doing now. Their training as a unit with the Breel is slowly coming along. The Breel seem to want to act on their own a little too much and don't have a solid grasp of small unit tactics, but they can fight. And as Rev and Tomiko have experienced in the past, they don't get to decide when they have to go back to war. The call has just came and they are going soon.
The Naxli are still the enemy and they have just invaded the home system. This means they are in the Solar System apparently heading for various planets before going directly to Earth. The battalion along with the Breel company are now on alert status for deployment. When that deployment will take place is the big question. As it turns out, the First Human Expeditionary Battalion and the Breel Dagger Company are made ready, but they don't deploy any where. It seems the Naxli have their eye on Safe Harbor as a center of the humans military power. So, a Naxli invasion of Safe Harbor is happening now. Unfortunately, almost all the Marines and other troops usually on Safe Harbor have already deployed. Rev's and Tomiko's battalion is all that is left and that's not nearly enough to defend an entire planet.
So, this is the first mission you'll read about. The number of Naxli deploying to Safe Harbor is vastly larger than the two-thousand or so Marines left on the planet. The fighting is going to be very rough and mostly the battalion is going to try and stay alive until the deployed troops get the chance to come back if they ever happens. Rev has his own problems when he gets separated from his unit and has to defend a small position with a bunch of stragglers he found. Things get very tight with him and about ten or twelve of his men/women facing about thirty-thousand Naxli.
But, as usual, things move on. You next find that the humans and it's alien allies have had enough of the Naxli attacks on the home system. While it was repelled, a lone scout had managed to find the Naxli's home planet and now a super highly classified mission was set to take the war to the Naxli home system. Rev and Tomiko are going to be in the middle of everything exciting that happens on this mission. It doesn't end in any way you would expect. The Sia, an alien floating gas bag, have been around observing almost every encounter between the humans and the Naxli, but they've never intervened nor have the ever communicated with anyone, friend or for, as far as the humans know.
Back home after the Naxli invasion, there's a disturbing trend in the civilian population that we need to stop all this fighting and especially using altered and enhanced humans like Rev. Some are still afraid of any kind of genetic alterations to humans because of the genetic wars fought in the past. It seems a large group of humans in the past did a lot of genetic engineering on themselves and then considered them to be superior humans. A terrible war was fought between normal humans and the "Genesians". The normal humans won, and that resulted in laws to forbid future genetic alterations of human-kind. While the IBHUs weren't genetically modified like the Genesians, they did have modifications to their body that allowed the adaption of the weapon prosthesis. Since the IBHUs were proud of their ability to overcome what would have been a serious blow to their military careers, they took to wearing very visible weapon systems or even a very shiny metallic arm prosthesis when not fighting. In other words, they stood out.
This is going to cause some major, major problems for the future of all IBHUs or any kind of modified Marine or soldier. It seems kind of ridiculous that it goes to the extreme that it does in this book, but as usual a small, but very vocal minority, can cause a lot of smart people to make stupid decisions. And that's what happens at the end of this book. I'm not sure where it's going to lead, but it does open the story-line to a whole new world of potential stories. Oh, one more thing, even Tomiko isn't beyond making stupid mistakes, but her and Reverent Pelletier are going to be together no matter what!
Yes, there is going to be a 13th book, "Exiled to Perdition", already on my reading list. A 14th book, "Into the Void", shows as available on/about 14 June 2023. I'll be reading that one too.
February 9, 2023
All the sentenced to war books have been working to a conclusion and this was not worthy of the rest of the series. There are many holes in the plot. Like what of Rev telling the geniesians thanks because there brothers in arms. He's getting ready to do it at the end of the chapter and then nothing. What happened to stand down Rev and friends with Tomiko. What about them pressing charges. I get it he loves Tomiko but to threaten civilians in a hospital with his IBHU and he gets escorted by MPs off back to base where he's free and clear except for getting yelled at. The civilian police would press the Marines to show that justice was being served. They would not just take a not my problem approach. The Sia could of launched there attack at any time but choose to when the humans are on there way to invade the Naxli home system. I don't see the COH of humanity backing down about the loss of life directly caused by the Sia's actions. But no COH acts intimidated and scared of the Sia's. Maybe some of the holes get more background and straightened out when I read the next book. Im just dissappointed with how rushed everything felt in this book. Also im not even going to get into Tomiko intentionally crashing her vehicle in way that rips off her arm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
I thought it was a good book, and frankly, I like most of the books in the series. With everything that has happened, I get the impression that the MC is just a stud. I think in some ways it's good that he gets promoted fast. There is a war going on, and the casualties are pretty high, so I have to acknowledge it, even though I disagree with how fast he's getting promoted. But it's not my story, and the only real major nitpick of the book, even though it's still good. I finally read and remembered what IBHU means for the story, Integrated Bionic Hopopological Unit, so yeah, I think it's getting a bit rushed at the end, though, and that, with the rank stuff, knocks it down to a four-star. Don't get me wrong, it's just personal beef with the book, but as such I'll still move on to #13 and review it later.
February 4, 2023
An even faster pace....
Reverent Pelletier has been called the "Nexus of Chaos" but he hated the name. Yet, he was always in the center of the action, being part of the Tip of the Spear. That made him the Hero on many occasions.
Now that the War with the Naxli is winding down, he & Tomiko can get married. They'd been best friends since they were conscripted. A life of War makes you many things, but never in his wildest dreams could get have imagined this outcome.
Come along on the journey with Gunny Pelletier & the others; you won't regret it. And likely, you won't be able to put it down. I sure didn't!
Reverent Pelletier has been called the "Nexus of Chaos" but he hated the name. Yet, he was always in the center of the action, being part of the Tip of the Spear. That made him the Hero on many occasions.
Now that the War with the Naxli is winding down, he & Tomiko can get married. They'd been best friends since they were conscripted. A life of War makes you many things, but never in his wildest dreams could get have imagined this outcome.
Come along on the journey with Gunny Pelletier & the others; you won't regret it. And likely, you won't be able to put it down. I sure didn't!
March 28, 2023
Good Read
I actually wasn’t a huge fan when I started. I knew there were books that were like this starting not slow but not grabbing you in. It took about half the book and I was sold I have enjoyed each of the books and am excited to start book 13. Give it a try is well worth the read. Who knows if we humans are smart enough to not destroy the earth before we meet Interstellar visitors we might be fighting like this.
I actually wasn’t a huge fan when I started. I knew there were books that were like this starting not slow but not grabbing you in. It took about half the book and I was sold I have enjoyed each of the books and am excited to start book 13. Give it a try is well worth the read. Who knows if we humans are smart enough to not destroy the earth before we meet Interstellar visitors we might be fighting like this.
January 17, 2023
Excellent
The series of books is really engaging. The characters have grown on me since the beginning and they keep becoming more real and more real I'm really enjoying this and hope that I don't have to stop reading about the characters their quests, their pains, and their victories Thanks for the book
The series of books is really engaging. The characters have grown on me since the beginning and they keep becoming more real and more real I'm really enjoying this and hope that I don't have to stop reading about the characters their quests, their pains, and their victories Thanks for the book
February 5, 2023
Nexus of Chaos ends wonderfully!
Reverent exceeds expectations and earns something very special, even through great loss, in this arc ending story. It’s not what you might think and yet more than you might expect. Certainly I was emotionally and mentally stretched by this book in the series. Highly recommended! ❤️🔥
Reverent exceeds expectations and earns something very special, even through great loss, in this arc ending story. It’s not what you might think and yet more than you might expect. Certainly I was emotionally and mentally stretched by this book in the series. Highly recommended! ❤️🔥
September 2, 2023
Getting a tad predictable
After 12 books things are getting a tad samey
No real surprises, the main storyline surprise you could see a mile away and the end surprise, whilst a twist,really isn't that earth shattering
This far into the series, it's hard to just give up on it, but it needs to improve somewhat or I may have to
After 12 books things are getting a tad samey
No real surprises, the main storyline surprise you could see a mile away and the end surprise, whilst a twist,really isn't that earth shattering
This far into the series, it's hard to just give up on it, but it needs to improve somewhat or I may have to
November 21, 2023
Civilians can't shoot them, can't live with them.
Absolutely brilliant military sci-fi action.
Civilians always seem to forget those who fought for them to be free. But are quick to blame the warriors when their freedom is curtailed.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I forward to the next one.
Absolutely brilliant military sci-fi action.
Civilians always seem to forget those who fought for them to be free. But are quick to blame the warriors when their freedom is curtailed.
Great characters with realistic situations and lots of action.
I forward to the next one.
January 20, 2023
Another Great Read
I don't want to include spoilers which would be easy to do. There are more twists and turns than usual. Lots of action and lots of surprises. An excellent read.
I don't want to include spoilers which would be easy to do. There are more twists and turns than usual. Lots of action and lots of surprises. An excellent read.
January 22, 2023
Five Stars
If you are looking for a series this is it the ups and downs and of course the what it's I do not feel you will be disappointed I know I was not . . . Looking forward for the next book
If you are looking for a series this is it the ups and downs and of course the what it's I do not feel you will be disappointed I know I was not . . . Looking forward for the next book
January 25, 2023
Great Read
This series just keeps getting better and better. Exciting with a realistic feel to how the military machine works and how politics can override common sense. I was caught off guard when I got to the final few chapters! Didn’t see that coming!
This series just keeps getting better and better. Exciting with a realistic feel to how the military machine works and how politics can override common sense. I was caught off guard when I got to the final few chapters! Didn’t see that coming!
January 27, 2023
Excellent
Rev and Tomiko's story continues with lot's of unpredictable action. I love the way that the authors tell the story. Throughout the series character building continues. The twists and turns are top rated. This is one of my top three series to date.
Rev and Tomiko's story continues with lot's of unpredictable action. I love the way that the authors tell the story. Throughout the series character building continues. The twists and turns are top rated. This is one of my top three series to date.
January 29, 2023
All a Five
You can't rate the last book in the series on its own merits. The whole thing is a 10. I'm going to miss Rev, Miko and the rest. Even if another book comes along, I think I'll skip it. I like where this left off. Good yarn. Great time.
You can't rate the last book in the series on its own merits. The whole thing is a 10. I'm going to miss Rev, Miko and the rest. Even if another book comes along, I think I'll skip it. I like where this left off. Good yarn. Great time.
April 3, 2023
Nexus of chaos
Chaney and Brazee Continue there spell binding table In the sentence to war series Once again development Well ridden and well balanced And this particular 1 has a happy ending Here we go
Chaney and Brazee Continue there spell binding table In the sentence to war series Once again development Well ridden and well balanced And this particular 1 has a happy ending Here we go
April 6, 2023
Wow Daddy Rev
Well another storyline with plenty of blood and guts. What a ending to a great series of books. Looking forward to next episode which hopefully will lead into a great new series
Well another storyline with plenty of blood and guts. What a ending to a great series of books. Looking forward to next episode which hopefully will lead into a great new series
Read
June 4, 2023Earlier books in this series had the protagonist fighting wars with support from home. In this book the human planets aren't happy with the enhanced soldiers, blaming them for the wars.
The next book in the series is named Exiled to Perdition.
The next book in the series is named Exiled to Perdition.
March 12, 2025
great series
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
I'm amazed that this author can write so many fantastic novels, I hope that he never stops writing. His books are some of the best Entertainment I have read and worth the time to read them. Thank you for a very fun entertaining read.
January 17, 2023
…fffffff
I just wanna shake my fist at my phone. Loved the development of the story. Not sure how many books are left or how long till the next one, but I can’t wait.
I just wanna shake my fist at my phone. Loved the development of the story. Not sure how many books are left or how long till the next one, but I can’t wait.
January 17, 2023
unexpected in a good way
One of my favorite series that leaves you hanging at the end. And now have to wait until the next one comes out (inpatiently)
One of my favorite series that leaves you hanging at the end. And now have to wait until the next one comes out (inpatiently)
January 23, 2023
Wow!
Good twists and turns. Great character development. Missing them already and looking forward to the next book in the series!
Good twists and turns. Great character development. Missing them already and looking forward to the next book in the series!
June 3, 2023
Excellent book, and I almost gave it 5 stars. However, what happened near the end of the book to Tomiko was ludicrous. There would be no way the military would tolerate what Tomiko and Rev did.
June 13, 2023
This one was extra good. I loved the suprises at the end!
January 16, 2024
A bit weird but a needed book in the greater story line.
April 4, 2024
Another dam good read
Another dam good read that you can't put down. A few surprises and some of the same but you won't be disappointed. Read and enjoy
Another dam good read that you can't put down. A few surprises and some of the same but you won't be disappointed. Read and enjoy
April 20, 2025
Not bad in the series
The firstb3 quarters were fine. The last quarter not so much will have to see how this changes the plot line.
The firstb3 quarters were fine. The last quarter not so much will have to see how this changes the plot line.
July 2, 2025
Twist of fate.
A great story With a Awkward twist at the end. Humanity is a fickle mistress in this story. What a great read!
A great story With a Awkward twist at the end. Humanity is a fickle mistress in this story. What a great read!
December 22, 2023
If I wanted to read a story with a political ending and heroes treated badly, I would just open any newspaper. I could read about bad border policies and corruption every day. I prefer to read books that have great endings and ones that do not remind me of the mess we are in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews