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Festering Abyss: An Epic Cyberpunk Series
As empires continue to crumble, Leonard Kilbane’s brave but seemingly outmatched resistance fighters come under increasing assaults by malevolent forces determined to crush them.
The team becomes the target of a massive military force that drives them further into the deadly outlands. There, they encounter an evil presence hidden beneath the sands that causes even their pursuers to hesitate.
Back in civilization, John Hughes and Frank Coletti are on the run after uncovering shadowy alliances that place their very lives in grave danger. A mysterious woman, Iva, helps them evade their enemies as they attempt to navigate the treacherous underworld of 2083 Los Angeles. Hughes’ nemesis LACDF Sergeant Erik Pike leads a merciless manhunt for them.
Meanwhile, Desmond Highmore and his fellow elites plot to further their already dominant positions over society in their twisted game of life and death. What are their ultimate motives?
Festering Abyss is the second book in the Fading Empires universe, an epic, multi-part tech noir saga.
The team becomes the target of a massive military force that drives them further into the deadly outlands. There, they encounter an evil presence hidden beneath the sands that causes even their pursuers to hesitate.
Back in civilization, John Hughes and Frank Coletti are on the run after uncovering shadowy alliances that place their very lives in grave danger. A mysterious woman, Iva, helps them evade their enemies as they attempt to navigate the treacherous underworld of 2083 Los Angeles. Hughes’ nemesis LACDF Sergeant Erik Pike leads a merciless manhunt for them.
Meanwhile, Desmond Highmore and his fellow elites plot to further their already dominant positions over society in their twisted game of life and death. What are their ultimate motives?
Festering Abyss is the second book in the Fading Empires universe, an epic, multi-part tech noir saga.
473 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2022
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Ian Kane
11 books39 followersIan Kane is a U.S. Army Veteran, author, and filmmaker. He is dedicated to the development and production of innovative, thought-provoking, and often inspirational character-driven films and books of the highest quality.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 19, 2022
Festering Abyss
Another great action-packed story that was hard to put down. I enjoyed the fast pace and the interesting twists along the way.
Another great action-packed story that was hard to put down. I enjoyed the fast pace and the interesting twists along the way.
September 19, 2022
Kilbane and the men are back and trying to keep the resistance alive but at every turn they are fighting foes that are really trying to crush them at every turn. When the military force forces them deeper into the badlands the team encounters an evil presence that may be the end of them if they can't get out. While they are fighting in the badlands back in civilization Hughes and Coletti are running for their lives after uncovering a shadowy alliance that has put them in grave danger. With the help of Iva a mysterious woman who helps them evade Sergeant Pike and his manhunt for them. The elites are also planning their future and their dominance over society. What will their ultimate end game be .
Oh there are so many characters in this book, Kilbane and the team are back and better than ever. Kilbane is feeling the heat as they try and survive this latest adventure they are on. He is a true military veteran who knows how to fight. He has an unwavering respect for the military and an unwavering sense of pride when it comes to military traditions. Blood wolf is also returned, and I truly like this character he is a walk softly and carry a big stick kind of character. He is trained in tracking. making trap and various other military training. He doesn't really show that much emotion, but you really get to feel his emotion when he actually shows them. These are just a couple of the strong characters in this book. You will love them and hate them at the same time. Each character is crafted with special skills and traits that you will love or hate,
This is a book that when you sit down to read you will probably not move for a good two to three hours. The storyline sucks you in and you will be on the edge of your seat most of the way through it. There is more of the steam punk aspect in this book. We get to see some very strange animals and people throughout this story. The characters are well written and complex you will like them and hate them at the same time. There is a lot that goes on throughout the book with multiple povs throughout, but you really don't get lost you really get to understand at what can be going on. This is one of those books that you should read on a rainy weekend curled up under a cozy blanket and get lost in a world the author has made and keeps expanding. I would read book one first and then dive right into this one I promise you will not be disappointed.
Oh there are so many characters in this book, Kilbane and the team are back and better than ever. Kilbane is feeling the heat as they try and survive this latest adventure they are on. He is a true military veteran who knows how to fight. He has an unwavering respect for the military and an unwavering sense of pride when it comes to military traditions. Blood wolf is also returned, and I truly like this character he is a walk softly and carry a big stick kind of character. He is trained in tracking. making trap and various other military training. He doesn't really show that much emotion, but you really get to feel his emotion when he actually shows them. These are just a couple of the strong characters in this book. You will love them and hate them at the same time. Each character is crafted with special skills and traits that you will love or hate,
This is a book that when you sit down to read you will probably not move for a good two to three hours. The storyline sucks you in and you will be on the edge of your seat most of the way through it. There is more of the steam punk aspect in this book. We get to see some very strange animals and people throughout this story. The characters are well written and complex you will like them and hate them at the same time. There is a lot that goes on throughout the book with multiple povs throughout, but you really don't get lost you really get to understand at what can be going on. This is one of those books that you should read on a rainy weekend curled up under a cozy blanket and get lost in a world the author has made and keeps expanding. I would read book one first and then dive right into this one I promise you will not be disappointed.
October 20, 2022
Amazing and Fantastic Cross Genre, Sci-Fi!
Are you a science fiction & cyber futuristic warfare reader who enjoys action-packed gripping reads? Then you must read this new book of the "Fading Empires" series, titled 'Festering Abyss' by author Ian Kane. It may be read as part of the series or a stand-alone and not feel lost.
Sci-Fi is not my first choice of reading; however, I could not put this one down once I began reading and dug into 'Abyss.' Even though it is a longer book, it is very well written, even with all the action, plots, and subplots happening, and the vibrant characters within the book bring it all to life.
And how about Blood Wolf? A character who could have a whole new story and a new book around him! Have no clue how the author cleverly created such nasty villains and unique heroes while writing this story with dashes of humor and satire. The book is nicely formatted and laid out, making it easy to read.
When you finish reading, your feel that somehow the author, Ian Kane, may have a crystal ball into what our future earth and new places hidden and found could look like with such Tierney and Chaos in our society today. Oh, wait? I almost forgot; this is a book and all imagination!
I highly recommend Festering Abyss, especially for those readers who are true die-hard Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Junkies! This one is a real page-turner.
Reviewed By Catherine Lyon
Founder of Lyon Literary Services & PR Media Marketing
January 11, 2023
After reading Ian Kane’s first book in the series, I was eager to read the second installment in the Cyberpunk subgenre. The Festering Abyss story continues with a dystopian future that is dominated by megafirms, showing us a world with a completely different paradigm. In an exploitative and hard-boiled society, civilians are facing extinction and this gruesome world is only getting worse as time goes on. Kane emphasizes very real and deep implications about a potentially undesirable future if things don’t change with the status quo.
The book spins together a crossing of storylines and strong satire. Kilbane and his resistance fighters are battling sinister forces, while simultaneously being chased into the deadly outlands. This is where they run into a mysterious presence that makes both sides fearful of getting close. The other characters in civilization, Hughes and Coletti, are framed as rogue LACDF ex-troopers who are now fugitives running from justice. They were trying to uncover the corruption within the LACDF, and their investigation takes a deadly turn. As they run for their lives, more truths begin to surface, and the plot thickens.
I was fascinated by these genetically engineered creatures, which I believe is the author’s way of contextualizing the vile nature of genetic experimentation. Kane shows the reader a sense of depth and he also brings issues to light, such as corporate power dynamics. Aside from the strong undertones about the duality of man, Kane disperses humorous references throughout the story.
The characters are inspiring and unique, making it difficult for the reader not to fall in love with them. Blood Wolf stood out the most for me. He is very complex, strong, wise, and holds true to his values. His heritage is the beating heart of who he is. At times he struggles with his dark past, but this opposition is his driving force. Kane knows how to keep the reader intrigued and I really didn’t want to put the book down. It's one of those books that completely drags you in and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every compelling, nail-biting moment of it. I look forward to reading the next installment of this series. I commend Ian Kane for writing another extraordinary novel and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading futuristic fantasy science fiction.
The book spins together a crossing of storylines and strong satire. Kilbane and his resistance fighters are battling sinister forces, while simultaneously being chased into the deadly outlands. This is where they run into a mysterious presence that makes both sides fearful of getting close. The other characters in civilization, Hughes and Coletti, are framed as rogue LACDF ex-troopers who are now fugitives running from justice. They were trying to uncover the corruption within the LACDF, and their investigation takes a deadly turn. As they run for their lives, more truths begin to surface, and the plot thickens.
I was fascinated by these genetically engineered creatures, which I believe is the author’s way of contextualizing the vile nature of genetic experimentation. Kane shows the reader a sense of depth and he also brings issues to light, such as corporate power dynamics. Aside from the strong undertones about the duality of man, Kane disperses humorous references throughout the story.
The characters are inspiring and unique, making it difficult for the reader not to fall in love with them. Blood Wolf stood out the most for me. He is very complex, strong, wise, and holds true to his values. His heritage is the beating heart of who he is. At times he struggles with his dark past, but this opposition is his driving force. Kane knows how to keep the reader intrigued and I really didn’t want to put the book down. It's one of those books that completely drags you in and demands that you sit on the edge of your seat for every compelling, nail-biting moment of it. I look forward to reading the next installment of this series. I commend Ian Kane for writing another extraordinary novel and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading futuristic fantasy science fiction.
September 26, 2022
What an amazing read!
There is so much I can say about this book, but what resonates with me is the way Kane has portrayed a story that could possibly parallel our future in real time. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great fantasy, but fragments of this story make one wonder about the possibilities of mega companies taking over the government and taking control of everyday life. Citizens scrambling to survive extinction because they are standing their ground and fighting back to preserve the principle and foundation their country was built on. Think about that!
The characters are resounding and will linger long after you have finished reading this book. On a personal level, I connected with Blood Wolf completely. His heritage, struggles, and life experiences have made him the most interesting character in this story. He’s very complex, intelligent, and resilient, but also allows us to see a softer side on rare occasion.
The world building is phenomenal. The action sequences are descriptive and precise even for those that do not have a military background. You’ll understand exactly what Kane is wanting you to see.
Lastly, but not least, is the subtle humor that is sprinkled throughout these pages. Laughing out loud is not something that I expected reading a cyberpunk futuristic story! But it’s there and it really shows the different sides of this Author’s personality.
In conclusion, this is an amazing series that I hope the Author continues to expand. I highly recommend it!
There is so much I can say about this book, but what resonates with me is the way Kane has portrayed a story that could possibly parallel our future in real time. Don’t get me wrong, I love a great fantasy, but fragments of this story make one wonder about the possibilities of mega companies taking over the government and taking control of everyday life. Citizens scrambling to survive extinction because they are standing their ground and fighting back to preserve the principle and foundation their country was built on. Think about that!
The characters are resounding and will linger long after you have finished reading this book. On a personal level, I connected with Blood Wolf completely. His heritage, struggles, and life experiences have made him the most interesting character in this story. He’s very complex, intelligent, and resilient, but also allows us to see a softer side on rare occasion.
The world building is phenomenal. The action sequences are descriptive and precise even for those that do not have a military background. You’ll understand exactly what Kane is wanting you to see.
Lastly, but not least, is the subtle humor that is sprinkled throughout these pages. Laughing out loud is not something that I expected reading a cyberpunk futuristic story! But it’s there and it really shows the different sides of this Author’s personality.
In conclusion, this is an amazing series that I hope the Author continues to expand. I highly recommend it!
September 20, 2022
After reading the first book in this series I was really anxious to dive back into this world and figure out the fate of everyone.
John Hughes and Frank Coletti are determined to find proof of corruption within the LACDF and try to discover just how far it goes. However, neither one of the former detectives could've guessed that they'd soon find themselves the center of a manhunt led by Sergeant Erik Pike, their main suspect in the majority of corruption.
In another are of California, Killbane and his rag-tag team find themselves fighting from so many different angles, I'm quite honestly surprised they survived!
I still just really want to know about these horse/human dark creatures. But I do have to say I'm excited to see if everyone finally comes together in their mission to destroy those willing to sell their soul to the corrupted wealthy that now runs their world.
I did have quite a few issues while reading this book. Compared to the first one, this one contained A LOT of grammatical errors, sentences that needed punctuation to help with comprehension better and many times names were mixed up. With so many characters I can understand mixing up names, but it's hard to get over the mixing up of names when that character has absolutely nothing to do with the part of the story that they're mentioned in.
John Hughes and Frank Coletti are determined to find proof of corruption within the LACDF and try to discover just how far it goes. However, neither one of the former detectives could've guessed that they'd soon find themselves the center of a manhunt led by Sergeant Erik Pike, their main suspect in the majority of corruption.
In another are of California, Killbane and his rag-tag team find themselves fighting from so many different angles, I'm quite honestly surprised they survived!
I still just really want to know about these horse/human dark creatures. But I do have to say I'm excited to see if everyone finally comes together in their mission to destroy those willing to sell their soul to the corrupted wealthy that now runs their world.
I did have quite a few issues while reading this book. Compared to the first one, this one contained A LOT of grammatical errors, sentences that needed punctuation to help with comprehension better and many times names were mixed up. With so many characters I can understand mixing up names, but it's hard to get over the mixing up of names when that character has absolutely nothing to do with the part of the story that they're mentioned in.
February 9, 2023
This second instalment of Ian Kane's epic Fading Empires saga is packed with as much action, tension, and atmosphere as the first. Festering Abyss is wider in scope than the first story as Kane builds upon what he has already established and brings in a broader world, themes, and characters.
Kilbane remains consistent to his character in the first book, but now he now bears the scars of the first story, being both a fugitive and deeply involved in the resistance movement. Of the other characters, Blood Wolf stuck out for me as he was a strong and stoic secondary character, a type that suits the role well. I enjoy the multiple perspectives of this book and felt that each section was paced well - we never spend too long away from a character that we forget where we last saw them.
This book is epic is scope and there is a lot packed into these pages. The concluding chapters promise more to come, and with the stroy ending how it did I look forward to the next one.
Kilbane remains consistent to his character in the first book, but now he now bears the scars of the first story, being both a fugitive and deeply involved in the resistance movement. Of the other characters, Blood Wolf stuck out for me as he was a strong and stoic secondary character, a type that suits the role well. I enjoy the multiple perspectives of this book and felt that each section was paced well - we never spend too long away from a character that we forget where we last saw them.
This book is epic is scope and there is a lot packed into these pages. The concluding chapters promise more to come, and with the stroy ending how it did I look forward to the next one.
November 21, 2022
Awesome book 2. I really like this series because it could totally happen. Big corporations taking over and us humans caught in the middle. I kinda wonder if this could be said as Government vs. Americans. We all know they want us dependant on them for everything so we say yes to whatever they want without asking questions. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. It's definitely a possible scenario. I do think they'd have a rude awakening because I think big wigs underestimate people's survival. IF this ever happened. I just can't help not thinking about that. World building was amazing. I wasn't disappointed at all.
November 24, 2022
“This story is far from my comfort zone and it excites me to embrace this second part. The author have created a scary world, that’s for sure! Can you imagine big companies/corporation ruling the world? Yeah, me too. Hence, scary right? Just as the previous one it was complex to read but it has action, plot and more lets say mystery going on you will be hook up. Don’t forget it’s a very long book. Aside from that, enjoy the ride!”
September 20, 2022
My advice for this one is get comfy and ready to settle in for a while you won't want to put it down. Lots of colorful characters. Kilbane is ready for sgt Pike and his manhunt. There are a lot of POV and I was confused a few times. Be that as it may I really wanted to read to the end.
October 16, 2022
Questions
So some of the pieces are starting to come together but there's still some questions left hanging. The overall story sec is starting to get interesting so I look forward to seeing how the other threads are brought together. There is a lot of action.
So some of the pieces are starting to come together but there's still some questions left hanging. The overall story sec is starting to get interesting so I look forward to seeing how the other threads are brought together. There is a lot of action.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews