DARK REDEMPTION

by R. Peter Ubtrent

The F'gat Ynos have decimated planet after planet, leaving behind nothing but the dead. Ailanthus, Tethys, Xylella and Rohini now must bring what remains of the Noble Houses and humanity together, to begin the final battle that will decide whether humanity will survive or fall under the callous extermination of the Ynos. Cebrenia's plans to marry the emperor and bring her revenge against Nerodia are nearing completion, but her possession of a Thrumbo Worm will soon be discovered and her life will take a turn she had not expected. Nerodia and Mishi continue to move their rebellion forward, oblivious to the fact that there isn't much of humanity left to rule. Book five of the series begins the end of humanity's hegemony over the galaxy and brings to a crisis the very foundations of St. Aurum Gossomer and The Church of the Blessed Prophets, leaving disaster and chaos in its wake.

414 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2008

Reviews

[Readers Choice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the fifth installment, the novel assumes a reader already immersed in Ubtrent’s mythos, yet it stands firmly on its own through its immersive world-building.
Set in a future where humanity exists under the spiritual and political dominance of alien powers, Dark Redemption interrogates the cost of imposed belief systems. The tension between obedience and rebellion drives the narrative, giving the novel a moral seriousness that elevates it beyond conventional space opera.

Ubtrent has painted alien worlds with cinematic clarity while grounding them in human emotion. The opening sections are vivid. The frequent use of invented terminology adds authenticity to the universe.

Characters are shaped by trauma, and survival instincts, making their choices feel painfully believable. Dialogue often serves as ideological confrontation, reinforcing the novel’s central questions: What is freedom worth? When does belief become tyranny? And can redemption exist without sacrifice?

Readers who are willing to engage deeply, the payoff is substantial. Ubtrent trusts his audience to grapple with complexity, and that confidence is refreshing. This is a great installment in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Susan Uttendorfsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the political segments in the galaxy, religious or military, are dissolving rapidly in this fifth book of the Dark Pilgrim Series, wrecked almost beyond recognition by the vindictive Ynos and a mysterious virus that only attacks humans. Multiple persons claim leadership roles without knowledge of each other. The most cataclysmic weapon in the galaxy could save humanity and all the other species living with them. But will the unenthusiastic Emperor figure out how to deploy it in time to thwart the Ynos in their quest for complete eradication? While some splinter groups of his original clique unknowingly work in concert with his scheme, others have his premature demise as their objective. Which band will accomplish their plan first? This six-book series begins to coalesce into a grand finale, but I’m sure there’s plenty more action and twists to come!

Susan Uttendorfsky
Owner, Adirondack Editing