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Deadmen's War #5
Titans
The entire planet wants to kill them.
In a galaxy where survival is an uphill battle, Shaw and the Deadmen have braved the worst of it. After narrowly escaping the violent takeover of a New World Republic colony planet, they are now en route to Arbornides—the key to unlocking the secrets behind the devastating Scourge.
However, Arbornides is no ordinary planet. Its design was meant to expel invaders, and the Deadmen fight tooth and nail to keep themselves and their science teams alive. Along the way, they must also lead a brand-new platoon of Sentinel operators, who will prove crucial in the days to come.
Because time is running out.
The Principality's conquest of the NWR draws near, and the Scourge continues to spread. While Shaw and the Deadmen are determined to stop them, the stakes have never been higher. Failure means certain doom for the entire human race. But with new feral Sentinels and ancient weapons around every corner, the cost of success may be higher than they ever imagined.
Titans, the fifth book in the Deadmen's War series, is a riveting fusion of Pacific Rim and Starship Troopers that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
In a galaxy where survival is an uphill battle, Shaw and the Deadmen have braved the worst of it. After narrowly escaping the violent takeover of a New World Republic colony planet, they are now en route to Arbornides—the key to unlocking the secrets behind the devastating Scourge.
However, Arbornides is no ordinary planet. Its design was meant to expel invaders, and the Deadmen fight tooth and nail to keep themselves and their science teams alive. Along the way, they must also lead a brand-new platoon of Sentinel operators, who will prove crucial in the days to come.
Because time is running out.
The Principality's conquest of the NWR draws near, and the Scourge continues to spread. While Shaw and the Deadmen are determined to stop them, the stakes have never been higher. Failure means certain doom for the entire human race. But with new feral Sentinels and ancient weapons around every corner, the cost of success may be higher than they ever imagined.
Titans, the fifth book in the Deadmen's War series, is a riveting fusion of Pacific Rim and Starship Troopers that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2023
38 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Anthony J. Melchiorri
108 books363 followersAnthony J Melchiorri is a scientist with a PhD in bioengineering. Originally from the Midwest, he now lives in Texas. By day, he develops cellular therapies and 3D-printable artificial organs. By night, he writes apocalyptic, medical, and science-fiction thrillers that blend real-world research with other-worldly possibility. When he isn't in the lab or at the keyboard, he spends his time running, reading, hiking, and traveling in search of new story ideas.
Read more at http://anthonyjmelchiorri.com and sign up for his mailing list at http://bit.ly/ajmlist to hear about his latest releases and news.
Read more at http://anthonyjmelchiorri.com and sign up for his mailing list at http://bit.ly/ajmlist to hear about his latest releases and news.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 29, 2023
The best installment of the series so far
This is an amazing addition to the Deadmans War series. Near constant action mixed with mystery and discovery. AJM did a great job of expanding the world building while keeping the action high and the story interesting.
There were a few grammatical errors, but nothing profound that hindered my ability to enjoy the book.
I believe book 6 is the conclusion of the series, so I'm gonna go read that now, and you should too
***Spoilers from here on***
The only part I had an issue with in this book was when shaw wakes up from his injuries and asks if Lena is okay, his friends respond "should I tell him or should you" then the chapter ends and the next one opens with shaw looking at headstones. So this obviously makes it seem like Lena died, but she didn't. she appears in the next paragraph. That's just super annoying, I hate fake death scares like that. And it just seems super fake, like who would respond to someone asking if their love interest is okay by saying, "Should you tell him or should I?" That's messed up. It didn't affect the quality of the book for me, but it is its biggest negative.
This is an amazing addition to the Deadmans War series. Near constant action mixed with mystery and discovery. AJM did a great job of expanding the world building while keeping the action high and the story interesting.
There were a few grammatical errors, but nothing profound that hindered my ability to enjoy the book.
I believe book 6 is the conclusion of the series, so I'm gonna go read that now, and you should too
***Spoilers from here on***
The only part I had an issue with in this book was when shaw wakes up from his injuries and asks if Lena is okay, his friends respond "should I tell him or should you" then the chapter ends and the next one opens with shaw looking at headstones. So this obviously makes it seem like Lena died, but she didn't. she appears in the next paragraph. That's just super annoying, I hate fake death scares like that. And it just seems super fake, like who would respond to someone asking if their love interest is okay by saying, "Should you tell him or should I?" That's messed up. It didn't affect the quality of the book for me, but it is its biggest negative.
March 20, 2025
4.5 stars
This is such a good series... The way that is has developed over the 5 books so far is just fantastic. The first book was a little intense with the level of action, but as the series progressed so did the depth of the story.
Roughly 2,500 pages in so far and I feel like I'm personal friends with every character, but how can you not when spending that much time with them! I have enjoyed every part of getting to know them all and damnit did Melchiorri have me worried at the end of this... I thought my favorite relationship in the series was over! He still made that outcome of that particular situation emotional even after the bait and switch lol.
The plot is great and it feels fresh in every book. What I think is going to happen ends up being different every time but it feels very organic and well thought out. I have not been out off by any plot direction thus far and have been pleasantly surprised with the way the story has changed and flowed to get to this point.
World building as always... Immaculate! The descriptions of the planets and now the in depth explanations of the ancient ruins and prog tech puts you right beside the team. I feel like I have seen these planets and ruins for myself and it just adds to the overall vibe of this series.
Great plot. Tons of action. Likeable characters. Good sci-fi ideas. What more can you ask for in the genre. Read this series!
This is such a good series... The way that is has developed over the 5 books so far is just fantastic. The first book was a little intense with the level of action, but as the series progressed so did the depth of the story.
Roughly 2,500 pages in so far and I feel like I'm personal friends with every character, but how can you not when spending that much time with them! I have enjoyed every part of getting to know them all and damnit did Melchiorri have me worried at the end of this... I thought my favorite relationship in the series was over! He still made that outcome of that particular situation emotional even after the bait and switch lol.
The plot is great and it feels fresh in every book. What I think is going to happen ends up being different every time but it feels very organic and well thought out. I have not been out off by any plot direction thus far and have been pleasantly surprised with the way the story has changed and flowed to get to this point.
World building as always... Immaculate! The descriptions of the planets and now the in depth explanations of the ancient ruins and prog tech puts you right beside the team. I feel like I have seen these planets and ruins for myself and it just adds to the overall vibe of this series.
Great plot. Tons of action. Likeable characters. Good sci-fi ideas. What more can you ask for in the genre. Read this series!
March 14, 2023
The gods of war don’t care about human suffering.
Anthony Melchiorri has once again added a fantastic chapter to his extremely original and action-packed "Deadmen" series with this latest episode! Trust me: if you think an insane mix of scifi opera 'standards' combined with the twisted Kaiju-mechs piloted by humans netting up in beasts of all sizes and abilities sounds exciting, well, you're in the right place! And the on-going thrill that comes from not only witnessing the battles against untold numbers of Seussian, nightmarish constructs of beast, plants and mechanical elements is second-to-none! Plus, we have to worry about other galactic empires that want nothing more than to rule the universe with an iron fist! And that's not even the concluding battle scenes which seem more like an amalgam of every possible Godzilla or related movie all rolled into one! When you're fighting a creature that is legitimately named "World-Killer", well, just get ready for the destruction that follows!
There was something humbling about netting up into a huge monstrous alien creature. You found out really quickly just how small and unimportant you are as a human being.
This time I found that in particular "Titans" offered a good balance of flashbacks and reminders mixed in with some newer, ever more shocking developments. For example, having our protagonist Shaw recall "lessons learned" from his earlier days as one of the Deadmen not only helped bring this story forwards - especially with his new and significantly expanded responsibilities - but also helped recap much of what went on before, even from several books ago. If you're like me, a few supporting reminders are always appreciated, especially when a book series is not yet complete and leaves we rabid fans waiting impatiently for the next release as soon as that last page goes by!
The nanite technology of the Prog was barely understood. I imagined it felt like the first humans trying to harness electricity from lightning.
The Deadmen team once again has to not only fight in various scenarios and on different battle fronts, but we see first-hand how their Scourge "infections" could potentially kill them without notice. Yes, literally standing there one second seemingly fine then boom, they could be dead. So if you're curious whether Melchiorri continues to beat the crap out of his characters? Well, the answer is a resounding yes and then some! Bleeding from every imaginable orifice, suffering strokes, hallucinations and more, they go through the whole chop 'em up and spit 'em out process again and again. And this time, they're not alone in their battles as this battalion has grown! Heck, just the hospital bills alone for our team of "good Sentinels" should put the Allegiance into bankruptcy!
I never ceased to be amazed by the ingenuity of the Prog. How had they dreamed up such nightmares and made them flesh?
Melchiorri also provides an interesting take on how Shaw deals with his internal conflicts of not only deciding between staying with the Legion or joining the Directorate but also his field promotion. I did find that some of it gets a bit… cheesier? too intimate? compared to what I was expecting but maybe my expectations are a bit militant in nature. But heck, even Shaw mentions that folks are getting softer as this story is moving ahead. There was definitely more introspection than I either expected or remembered from earlier chapters, much of which is no doubt a result of the dire situation in which they find themselves. Still, along with the more gooey emotional side, often the tone got a bit too "oorah" for my tastes if that makes sense (or "hooah" or "hooyah" if that's where your allegiances lie) in terms of how the Deadmen have usually operated, at least up to now, particularly when we start talking a few times about personal pride. But it still works for the most part. I think more than anything, it was just a bit of a sudden change of pace compared to the previous book which I remember as being non-stop mayhem. That of course noting that we still get often massive battle scenes to enjoy in this book. And yes, enjoy is definitely the right word!
The Deadmen are never going to leave each other behind. We’ll stick together, no matter where they send us.
There are a few other things as well that… hm, how to phrase this?... it's not that they didn't work for me but they left me feeling that they were ever-so-slightly misplaced. First, despite the continued cacophony of action and the revelations - sometimes stunning - about the Scourge and the Progenitors, I kept wishing things had moved on a bit more decisively. A lot of that may just be the fact that this series is NOT done (vs. for example how I got to read all "The Tide" books in one go, which honestly made for a hell of a couple of weeks worth of reading) and I'm anxious to get to the conclusion. We're getting close to the end obviously but I am getting impatient to find out how this all plays out. Maybe it was an effect of some of the lingering issues that arose once the team enters the Guts and Heart and all kinds of gooey bits of this particular set of Prog ruins.
I hooked my clawed hands into the top of its torso-head and wrapped my tentacles over its limbs. My tails peppered the thing with holes until fluids oozed out of its body.
I also didn't particularly embrace a few of the personal aspects in this story, some of which have been progressing to this point now for a few books. Honestly, the Shaw / Bussert love situation really fell flat for me, though it does remind me of some aspects of the aforementioned "Tide" series. I just feel like it's somewhat out of character for ANY of the Deadmen to be associating with other colleagues outside of their team, at least on an intimate level. To me, it wound up feeling forced, at least to the flirtatious level it's now reached, as if somehow we needed to check off on a romantic act within this larger theater production. For example, their little session where they sat together and essentially "scrolled" through the entire Prog history - needed and useful as it obviously had to be - was just oddly anti-climatic and a bit staid. This empire- / galaxy- / UNIVERSE-spanning series has been so terrifically bombastic since the beginning! Then to have so much revealed while two of the main players are essentially sitting off to the side with an iPad in their hands was just ever so slightly, well, meh.
Like it or not, we’re more Prog than anyone else in the Republic. It’s our blessing and our curse.
But those are all minor points at best. Bottom-line is that this was a legitimate roller-coaster of excitement and sheer adrenaline! I am excited though for the concluding chapter of this series, of that I have no hesitation or doubt at all. But it is definitely time to bring things home. There were some great parts scattered throughout this chapter and I certainly don't think Melchiorri will lose any readers or overall fans at all! He's still in my book - pardon the pun - one of the absolute best scifi action-adventure writers operating today and I can't wait to see what he releases next! Whether that winds up being "Deadmen 6" or a new adventure, count me in!
Not just to stop the Scourge. To defeat the Principality at all costs.
Anthony Melchiorri has once again added a fantastic chapter to his extremely original and action-packed "Deadmen" series with this latest episode! Trust me: if you think an insane mix of scifi opera 'standards' combined with the twisted Kaiju-mechs piloted by humans netting up in beasts of all sizes and abilities sounds exciting, well, you're in the right place! And the on-going thrill that comes from not only witnessing the battles against untold numbers of Seussian, nightmarish constructs of beast, plants and mechanical elements is second-to-none! Plus, we have to worry about other galactic empires that want nothing more than to rule the universe with an iron fist! And that's not even the concluding battle scenes which seem more like an amalgam of every possible Godzilla or related movie all rolled into one! When you're fighting a creature that is legitimately named "World-Killer", well, just get ready for the destruction that follows!
There was something humbling about netting up into a huge monstrous alien creature. You found out really quickly just how small and unimportant you are as a human being.
This time I found that in particular "Titans" offered a good balance of flashbacks and reminders mixed in with some newer, ever more shocking developments. For example, having our protagonist Shaw recall "lessons learned" from his earlier days as one of the Deadmen not only helped bring this story forwards - especially with his new and significantly expanded responsibilities - but also helped recap much of what went on before, even from several books ago. If you're like me, a few supporting reminders are always appreciated, especially when a book series is not yet complete and leaves we rabid fans waiting impatiently for the next release as soon as that last page goes by!
The nanite technology of the Prog was barely understood. I imagined it felt like the first humans trying to harness electricity from lightning.
The Deadmen team once again has to not only fight in various scenarios and on different battle fronts, but we see first-hand how their Scourge "infections" could potentially kill them without notice. Yes, literally standing there one second seemingly fine then boom, they could be dead. So if you're curious whether Melchiorri continues to beat the crap out of his characters? Well, the answer is a resounding yes and then some! Bleeding from every imaginable orifice, suffering strokes, hallucinations and more, they go through the whole chop 'em up and spit 'em out process again and again. And this time, they're not alone in their battles as this battalion has grown! Heck, just the hospital bills alone for our team of "good Sentinels" should put the Allegiance into bankruptcy!
I never ceased to be amazed by the ingenuity of the Prog. How had they dreamed up such nightmares and made them flesh?
Melchiorri also provides an interesting take on how Shaw deals with his internal conflicts of not only deciding between staying with the Legion or joining the Directorate but also his field promotion. I did find that some of it gets a bit… cheesier? too intimate? compared to what I was expecting but maybe my expectations are a bit militant in nature. But heck, even Shaw mentions that folks are getting softer as this story is moving ahead. There was definitely more introspection than I either expected or remembered from earlier chapters, much of which is no doubt a result of the dire situation in which they find themselves. Still, along with the more gooey emotional side, often the tone got a bit too "oorah" for my tastes if that makes sense (or "hooah" or "hooyah" if that's where your allegiances lie) in terms of how the Deadmen have usually operated, at least up to now, particularly when we start talking a few times about personal pride. But it still works for the most part. I think more than anything, it was just a bit of a sudden change of pace compared to the previous book which I remember as being non-stop mayhem. That of course noting that we still get often massive battle scenes to enjoy in this book. And yes, enjoy is definitely the right word!
The Deadmen are never going to leave each other behind. We’ll stick together, no matter where they send us.
There are a few other things as well that… hm, how to phrase this?... it's not that they didn't work for me but they left me feeling that they were ever-so-slightly misplaced. First, despite the continued cacophony of action and the revelations - sometimes stunning - about the Scourge and the Progenitors, I kept wishing things had moved on a bit more decisively. A lot of that may just be the fact that this series is NOT done (vs. for example how I got to read all "The Tide" books in one go, which honestly made for a hell of a couple of weeks worth of reading) and I'm anxious to get to the conclusion. We're getting close to the end obviously but I am getting impatient to find out how this all plays out. Maybe it was an effect of some of the lingering issues that arose once the team enters the Guts and Heart and all kinds of gooey bits of this particular set of Prog ruins.
I hooked my clawed hands into the top of its torso-head and wrapped my tentacles over its limbs. My tails peppered the thing with holes until fluids oozed out of its body.
I also didn't particularly embrace a few of the personal aspects in this story, some of which have been progressing to this point now for a few books. Honestly, the Shaw / Bussert love situation really fell flat for me, though it does remind me of some aspects of the aforementioned "Tide" series. I just feel like it's somewhat out of character for ANY of the Deadmen to be associating with other colleagues outside of their team, at least on an intimate level. To me, it wound up feeling forced, at least to the flirtatious level it's now reached, as if somehow we needed to check off on a romantic act within this larger theater production. For example, their little session where they sat together and essentially "scrolled" through the entire Prog history - needed and useful as it obviously had to be - was just oddly anti-climatic and a bit staid. This empire- / galaxy- / UNIVERSE-spanning series has been so terrifically bombastic since the beginning! Then to have so much revealed while two of the main players are essentially sitting off to the side with an iPad in their hands was just ever so slightly, well, meh.
Like it or not, we’re more Prog than anyone else in the Republic. It’s our blessing and our curse.
But those are all minor points at best. Bottom-line is that this was a legitimate roller-coaster of excitement and sheer adrenaline! I am excited though for the concluding chapter of this series, of that I have no hesitation or doubt at all. But it is definitely time to bring things home. There were some great parts scattered throughout this chapter and I certainly don't think Melchiorri will lose any readers or overall fans at all! He's still in my book - pardon the pun - one of the absolute best scifi action-adventure writers operating today and I can't wait to see what he releases next! Whether that winds up being "Deadmen 6" or a new adventure, count me in!
Not just to stop the Scourge. To defeat the Principality at all costs.
March 8, 2023
Chasing the source of the Scourge
The Deadmen piloted a stolen dreadnaught through the Runes, the shortcuts through space that allowed travelling these vast distances between stars. Their goal was Arbornides, home of a Progenitor lab they hoped held the cure to the Scourge. Docking the dreadnaught in the Prog ruins would help power exploration of the cavernous interior of the ruined Progenitor equipment and hieroglyphics. Arbornides could answer some of the greatest puzzles about the ancient Progenitor civilization and the Sentinels, the mighty constructs left behind eons ago to guard the machinery left behind. Hidden somewhere in there could be the answers to the source of the deadly disease attacking mankind on planet after planet, the Scourge and how to destroy it!
It would be so cool to drive a Mech - a huge armored mobile construct of weapons of mass destruction and defense, driven by one operator who controls direction, speed and targets the mighty weaponry. Now substitute a giant biological construct in infinitely varied shapes and sizes and fighting abilities and slip in a cockpit from where the operator controls the creature. These mighty Sentinels are nearly characters themselves, but MSGT Shaw and the Deadmen are the plot drivers that keep the storyline hopping! A ton of action accompanies the characters through the investigations and discoveries. This is a great read!
The Deadmen piloted a stolen dreadnaught through the Runes, the shortcuts through space that allowed travelling these vast distances between stars. Their goal was Arbornides, home of a Progenitor lab they hoped held the cure to the Scourge. Docking the dreadnaught in the Prog ruins would help power exploration of the cavernous interior of the ruined Progenitor equipment and hieroglyphics. Arbornides could answer some of the greatest puzzles about the ancient Progenitor civilization and the Sentinels, the mighty constructs left behind eons ago to guard the machinery left behind. Hidden somewhere in there could be the answers to the source of the deadly disease attacking mankind on planet after planet, the Scourge and how to destroy it!
It would be so cool to drive a Mech - a huge armored mobile construct of weapons of mass destruction and defense, driven by one operator who controls direction, speed and targets the mighty weaponry. Now substitute a giant biological construct in infinitely varied shapes and sizes and fighting abilities and slip in a cockpit from where the operator controls the creature. These mighty Sentinels are nearly characters themselves, but MSGT Shaw and the Deadmen are the plot drivers that keep the storyline hopping! A ton of action accompanies the characters through the investigations and discoveries. This is a great read!
August 4, 2023
This is the fifth book in this ongoing military-based space opera series. If this is a genre you enjoy and you haven't read the series, then I recommend reading from the beginning. You will get the team's background and see how they have progressed and the events they have seen.
The Deadmen team has seen and experienced a lot since their formation. However, little, if any, of those experiences and observations prepared them for the unfolding events they faced with their current missions.
The author provided a service to the readers by having Cole Shaw as the first-person narrator. Not only do we see the battles through his eyes, but we also get an insider's perspective of the emotional toll the battles take.
The Deadmen team has seen and experienced a lot since their formation. However, little, if any, of those experiences and observations prepared them for the unfolding events they faced with their current missions.
The author provided a service to the readers by having Cole Shaw as the first-person narrator. Not only do we see the battles through his eyes, but we also get an insider's perspective of the emotional toll the battles take.
July 31, 2024
Now this is what I am talking about, more Sentinels, more story progression, more battles, and finally we are truly going somewhere, actually I would have wanted the storyline to move to a different approach but since the Author himself wrote it like this, well maybe next time....
There are a lot of things I felt would have made this series better in my opinion, I am waiting for the conclusion eagerly!!!
There are a lot of things I felt would have made this series better in my opinion, I am waiting for the conclusion eagerly!!!
March 19, 2025
A fun and exciting book five of the series
I think this isn't excellent series and very well done story, character evolution, science fiction, multiple enemies, etc. I'm only sad that there's only six books in the series. I already have book six and will be jumping into that immediately.
I think this isn't excellent series and very well done story, character evolution, science fiction, multiple enemies, etc. I'm only sad that there's only six books in the series. I already have book six and will be jumping into that immediately.
March 16, 2023
This is a thrilling and gripping story. Mr Melchiorri really knows how to keep you riveted in the NWRs fight to find a cure for the Scourge. Love Shaw and the Deadmen and I became so engrossed in their battles
Can't wait to read the final book in this series.
Can't wait to read the final book in this series.
May 20, 2025
Great read
Great read from the beginning to the end. Action never stops and you don't know for sure what will happen next. Keeps you guessing . I love it. I hope there is a sixth one coming out soon !
Great read from the beginning to the end. Action never stops and you don't know for sure what will happen next. Keeps you guessing . I love it. I hope there is a sixth one coming out soon !
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews