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Imperium Descent #3
Imperium Descent: Volume III
Hale's plan to save the Haven's excreants is on.
But the woman he has fallen for is an enemy spy.
Will he find out before she kills them all?
After returning from the Soothmin planet of Ershyahnee Five, Pelegrin Hale puts the final pieces of his plan in motion to move refugees off Kaletto. Little do the Haven's leaders know that Tribunus Qweelin Mink has been working against them. But they're not her only targets; she's also attempting to undermine her commanding officer, Legatus Sedarious Kull.
Back at the palace, Pend'Orelia and her family have made plans of their own. Publicly, they are days away from hosting a feast in honor of the Supreme. Privately, however, they have devised a rouse to ensure that imprisoned excreants and their entire household escape Rhi'Yhone the Fifth's clutches.
With time running out and thousands of lives at stake, will Hale discover his betrayer before it's too late? Or will Rhi'Yhone succeed in destroying the Haven and slaughtering High Family Pendaline?
From the mind of bestselling and award-winning author Christopher Hopper comes the next installment of the space opera fans are calling “Simply incredible!” Escape to the far off worlds of Imperium Descent and immerse yourself Volume 3 today!
★★★★★
“Imperium Descent is a modern sci-fi space opera that will find its fame among the best. Simply incredible!”
—Eric Haegele
Audible Listener
But the woman he has fallen for is an enemy spy.
Will he find out before she kills them all?
After returning from the Soothmin planet of Ershyahnee Five, Pelegrin Hale puts the final pieces of his plan in motion to move refugees off Kaletto. Little do the Haven's leaders know that Tribunus Qweelin Mink has been working against them. But they're not her only targets; she's also attempting to undermine her commanding officer, Legatus Sedarious Kull.
Back at the palace, Pend'Orelia and her family have made plans of their own. Publicly, they are days away from hosting a feast in honor of the Supreme. Privately, however, they have devised a rouse to ensure that imprisoned excreants and their entire household escape Rhi'Yhone the Fifth's clutches.
With time running out and thousands of lives at stake, will Hale discover his betrayer before it's too late? Or will Rhi'Yhone succeed in destroying the Haven and slaughtering High Family Pendaline?
From the mind of bestselling and award-winning author Christopher Hopper comes the next installment of the space opera fans are calling “Simply incredible!” Escape to the far off worlds of Imperium Descent and immerse yourself Volume 3 today!
★★★★★
“Imperium Descent is a modern sci-fi space opera that will find its fame among the best. Simply incredible!”
—Eric Haegele
Audible Listener
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2023
2 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Hopper
46 books230 followersChristopher Hopper is an American novelist, creator and co-author of the best-selling mil-scifi series Ruins of the Galaxy with J.N. Chaney.
His other series include Resonant Sun, The Sky Riders, The White Lion Chronicles, and The Berinfell Prophecies.
Christopher lives with his wife and four children in the 1000 Islands of northern New York. He loves flying FPV race wings and RC planes, performing music with his wife, and traveling to distant lands—physical and fictional.
He's had breakfast with Winnie Mandella, canoed with dolphins in Southern California, kite-surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived on 19th-century shipwrecks in the 1000 Islands, sailed a yacht in St. Martin, posed with white rhinos in the wilds of South Africa, spoken on national television in Mexico City, performed a concert on a Dutch beach, and climbed the Great Wall of China.
For more on Christopher, visit his blog at christopherhopper.com.
His other series include Resonant Sun, The Sky Riders, The White Lion Chronicles, and The Berinfell Prophecies.
Christopher lives with his wife and four children in the 1000 Islands of northern New York. He loves flying FPV race wings and RC planes, performing music with his wife, and traveling to distant lands—physical and fictional.
He's had breakfast with Winnie Mandella, canoed with dolphins in Southern California, kite-surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived on 19th-century shipwrecks in the 1000 Islands, sailed a yacht in St. Martin, posed with white rhinos in the wilds of South Africa, spoken on national television in Mexico City, performed a concert on a Dutch beach, and climbed the Great Wall of China.
For more on Christopher, visit his blog at christopherhopper.com.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 30, 2023
In this epic third installment of the Imperium Descent Saga, we find Hale preparing to try and evacuate the Excreants from the Haven aboard the Sorvanna before the First Stratus arrives with Kull to publicly execute them all. Meanwhile, Orelia and her parents have been trying to organise a celebration for the Supreme to appease him, but at the same time, they have been planning to escape Kaletto, and trying to work out how to take as many people with them, knowing that the Supreme will most likely kill anyone left behind.
At the start of this book, we find Hale en route to Haven aboard a Soothmin starship, having secured their assistance in evacuating the Excreants from the Sorvanna. He and Dell, along with the leadership of the Haven have been planning an elaborate plan to not only get all of the people out, but to also defend the Sorvanna against an attack from the First Stratus. What they don’t realise is that Qweelin Mink, who has been posing as Cora Pairon, is a Stratus spy, and has fed a lot of information back to Sedarious Kull. However, Mink is not completely working as a double agent, as she wants Kull to fall, so she has withheld information, hoping that it will foil his plans, and help the Excreants in their escape.
It makes for some fascinating interplay between the main characters in this part of the story, as there is intense political intrigue between multiple different main characters, as each of them has their own personal agenda. Kull wants to unseat the Supreme, Mink, wants to unseat Kull, whereas Hale and those of the Haven just want to escape. Meanwhile, the Supreme is plotting their public annihilation. Whilst there are multiple people seeking to undermine and overthrow each other, Hale and the Leadership of the Haven (Elda Maeva, Kersesk, even Dell), are just trying to free their people.
Meanwhile, Orelia is working with her parents to set up an elaborate feast to honour the Supreme and make up for her previous transgressions. Whilst doing this though, she has been seeking assistance from other senators in her aim to change the laws surrounding Excreants, to try and alter the overarching principles of the Imperium as a whole, rather than just freeing a few souls. But wherever she turns, she seems to find stories of betrayal, of secret agents (The Nexum who work for the Supreme), and an underlying feeling that no matter what she does, there is no way that the Imperium will accept a change in the Excreant laws.
As this book unfolds, we see the “Siege of the Sorvanna” unfold, with the entire First Stratus, nearly 3000 armour clad soldiers with battleclear unleashed on a disabled civilian population of women and children to slaughter them.
However, they get more than they bargained for, with the Linthepions – the Guardians of the Haven – as well as the residents of the Haven, having prepared a major defensive against the assault. This is what can only be described as an epic battle that once you start reading it, you will not be able to stop, as it is just utterly captivating and engaging. You HAVE to know what comes next, it is powerfully compelling, brutal, intensely realistic and at times graphic (without going over the top), and this is one of those series that is not afraid to kill any of the major characters.
At the same time, the storyline that follows Orelia, her Family, and the feast as it unfolds around the Supreme and his followers, is just as intense, but in an a cruel way, as the Supreme is a very callous, ruthless creature hellbent on making the Pendaline family suffer. This aspect of the story is extraordinary, frantic in its pace, gritty and powerful in the desperation of the emotional feelings of the characters. I don’t want to give anything away, but again, once you start this part of the story, you can’t put it down, as you just have to know what happens, the writing is too good, the story too enthralling, the characters situation just too precarious to leave – you HAVE to know!!
This is a story that follows two major characters Hale and Orelia, but underlying that, there are multiple sub-plots, Kull, Mink, Dell, the dozens of Haven characters, then there are all of the Pendaline Family, Thatticus and those of the Forge, I have to give a shout out to two of my favourites – Gramps just makes you laugh, he is brilliant, but provides some humour at times you need it. The other is the return of Velm’tin the Gelpelli from the first book – who is just brilliant.
The world building, and story are exceptional in this book, but the thing that makes this series something truly special, is the character work. Hopper has again provided another Masterclass in Sci-Fi Space Opera Characters, with each of his characters having so much depth and detail. Hale and Orelia are just remarkable in their portrayal of both the former Stratusaire, who has seen the error of his ways, and his now on the path of redemption by trying to save the lives of those he once tried to end. Orelia as the Princess attempting to change the course of an Empire that has been in place for hundreds of years, even if it costs her own life, is just inspired. These two are just stunning, but it is the major characters with them, such as Gramps, Mink, Dell, Kull, Thatticus those of the Pendaline Family, the Haven, the Forge, and so many others, that really bring this story to life. Hopper puts so much life and emotion into each of these characters, each of them has so much background, you know them, such as Rim Fellows, who is just brilliant, as the rogue pilot who you are never quite sure of his loyalties as he is always for sale. But even Fellows has a heart!! The character work is Masterful, and this is easily some of Hopper’s best work. It makes this series something special to read.
This is a series that is a thrilling Sci-Fi Space Opera, with some epic battles that put Star Wars to shame, but with political intrigue and infighting that would rival Game of Thrones.
With characters that you can’t help but love (or hate in some cases – but you still like them for how evil they are), an outstanding story, and world-building that is just breathtaking, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the last year. This is one of those series that is an absolute must read!! Don’t Miss Out!!
At the start of this book, we find Hale en route to Haven aboard a Soothmin starship, having secured their assistance in evacuating the Excreants from the Sorvanna. He and Dell, along with the leadership of the Haven have been planning an elaborate plan to not only get all of the people out, but to also defend the Sorvanna against an attack from the First Stratus. What they don’t realise is that Qweelin Mink, who has been posing as Cora Pairon, is a Stratus spy, and has fed a lot of information back to Sedarious Kull. However, Mink is not completely working as a double agent, as she wants Kull to fall, so she has withheld information, hoping that it will foil his plans, and help the Excreants in their escape.
It makes for some fascinating interplay between the main characters in this part of the story, as there is intense political intrigue between multiple different main characters, as each of them has their own personal agenda. Kull wants to unseat the Supreme, Mink, wants to unseat Kull, whereas Hale and those of the Haven just want to escape. Meanwhile, the Supreme is plotting their public annihilation. Whilst there are multiple people seeking to undermine and overthrow each other, Hale and the Leadership of the Haven (Elda Maeva, Kersesk, even Dell), are just trying to free their people.
Meanwhile, Orelia is working with her parents to set up an elaborate feast to honour the Supreme and make up for her previous transgressions. Whilst doing this though, she has been seeking assistance from other senators in her aim to change the laws surrounding Excreants, to try and alter the overarching principles of the Imperium as a whole, rather than just freeing a few souls. But wherever she turns, she seems to find stories of betrayal, of secret agents (The Nexum who work for the Supreme), and an underlying feeling that no matter what she does, there is no way that the Imperium will accept a change in the Excreant laws.
As this book unfolds, we see the “Siege of the Sorvanna” unfold, with the entire First Stratus, nearly 3000 armour clad soldiers with battleclear unleashed on a disabled civilian population of women and children to slaughter them.
However, they get more than they bargained for, with the Linthepions – the Guardians of the Haven – as well as the residents of the Haven, having prepared a major defensive against the assault. This is what can only be described as an epic battle that once you start reading it, you will not be able to stop, as it is just utterly captivating and engaging. You HAVE to know what comes next, it is powerfully compelling, brutal, intensely realistic and at times graphic (without going over the top), and this is one of those series that is not afraid to kill any of the major characters.
At the same time, the storyline that follows Orelia, her Family, and the feast as it unfolds around the Supreme and his followers, is just as intense, but in an a cruel way, as the Supreme is a very callous, ruthless creature hellbent on making the Pendaline family suffer. This aspect of the story is extraordinary, frantic in its pace, gritty and powerful in the desperation of the emotional feelings of the characters. I don’t want to give anything away, but again, once you start this part of the story, you can’t put it down, as you just have to know what happens, the writing is too good, the story too enthralling, the characters situation just too precarious to leave – you HAVE to know!!
This is a story that follows two major characters Hale and Orelia, but underlying that, there are multiple sub-plots, Kull, Mink, Dell, the dozens of Haven characters, then there are all of the Pendaline Family, Thatticus and those of the Forge, I have to give a shout out to two of my favourites – Gramps just makes you laugh, he is brilliant, but provides some humour at times you need it. The other is the return of Velm’tin the Gelpelli from the first book – who is just brilliant.
The world building, and story are exceptional in this book, but the thing that makes this series something truly special, is the character work. Hopper has again provided another Masterclass in Sci-Fi Space Opera Characters, with each of his characters having so much depth and detail. Hale and Orelia are just remarkable in their portrayal of both the former Stratusaire, who has seen the error of his ways, and his now on the path of redemption by trying to save the lives of those he once tried to end. Orelia as the Princess attempting to change the course of an Empire that has been in place for hundreds of years, even if it costs her own life, is just inspired. These two are just stunning, but it is the major characters with them, such as Gramps, Mink, Dell, Kull, Thatticus those of the Pendaline Family, the Haven, the Forge, and so many others, that really bring this story to life. Hopper puts so much life and emotion into each of these characters, each of them has so much background, you know them, such as Rim Fellows, who is just brilliant, as the rogue pilot who you are never quite sure of his loyalties as he is always for sale. But even Fellows has a heart!! The character work is Masterful, and this is easily some of Hopper’s best work. It makes this series something special to read.
This is a series that is a thrilling Sci-Fi Space Opera, with some epic battles that put Star Wars to shame, but with political intrigue and infighting that would rival Game of Thrones.
With characters that you can’t help but love (or hate in some cases – but you still like them for how evil they are), an outstanding story, and world-building that is just breathtaking, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the last year. This is one of those series that is an absolute must read!! Don’t Miss Out!!
March 1, 2023
In this epic third installment of the Imperium Descent Saga, we find Hale preparing to try and evacuate the Excreants from the Haven aboard the Sorvanna before the First Stratus arrives with Kull to publicly execute them all. Meanwhile, Orelia and her parents have been trying to organise a celebration for the Supreme to appease him, but at the same time, they have been planning to escape Kaletto, and trying to work out how to take as many people with them, knowing that the Supreme will most likely kill anyone left behind.
At the start of this book, we find Hale en route to Haven aboard a Soothmin starship, having secured their assistance in evacuating the Excreants from the Sorvanna. He and Dell, along with the leadership of the Haven have been planning an elaborate plan to not only get all of the people out, but to also defend the Sorvanna against an attack from the First Stratus. What they don’t realise is that Qweelin Mink, who has been posing as Cora Pairon, is a Stratus spy, and has fed a lot of information back to Sedarious Kull. However, Mink is not completely working as a double agent, as she wants Kull to fall, so she has withheld information, hoping that it will foil his plans, and help the Excreants in their escape.
It makes for some fascinating interplay between the main characters in this part of the story, as there is intense political intrigue between multiple different main characters, as each of them has their own personal agenda. Kull wants to unseat the Supreme, Mink, wants to unseat Kull, whereas Hale and those of the Haven just want to escape. Meanwhile, the Supreme is plotting their public annihilation. Whilst there are multiple people seeking to undermine and overthrow each other, Hale and the Leadership of the Haven (Elda Maeva, Kersesk, even Dell), are just trying to free their people.
Meanwhile, Orelia is working with her parents to set up an elaborate feast to honour the Supreme and make up for her previous transgressions. Whilst doing this though, she has been seeking assistance from other senators in her aim to change the laws surrounding Excreants, to try and alter the overarching principles of the Imperium as a whole, rather than just freeing a few souls. But wherever she turns, she seems to find stories of betrayal, of secret agents (The Nexum who work for the Supreme), and an underlying feeling that no matter what she does, there is no way that the Imperium will accept a change in the Excreant laws.
As this book unfolds, we see the “Siege of the Sorvanna” unfold, with the entire First Stratus, nearly 3000 armour clad soldiers with battleclear unleashed on a disabled civilian population of women and children to slaughter them.
However, they get more than they bargained for, with the Linthepions – the Guardians of the Haven – as well as the residents of the Haven, having prepared a major defensive against the assault. This is what can only be described as an epic battle that once you start reading it, you will not be able to stop, as it is just utterly captivating and engaging. You HAVE to know what comes next, it is powerfully compelling, brutal, intensely realistic and at times graphic (without going over the top), and this is one of those series that is not afraid to kill any of the major characters.
At the same time, the storyline that follows Orelia, her Family, and the feast as it unfolds around the Supreme and his followers, is just as intense, but in an a cruel way, as the Supreme is a very callous, ruthless creature hellbent on making the Pendaline family suffer. This aspect of the story is extraordinary, frantic in its pace, gritty and powerful in the desperation of the emotional feelings of the characters. I don’t want to give anything away, but again, once you start this part of the story, you can’t put it down, as you just have to know what happens, the writing is too good, the story too enthralling, the characters situation just too precarious to leave – you HAVE to know!!
This is a story that follows two major characters Hale and Orelia, but underlying that, there are multiple sub-plots, Kull, Mink, Dell, the dozens of Haven characters, then there are all of the Pendaline Family, Thatticus and those of the Forge, I have to give a shout out to two of my favourites – Gramps just makes you laugh, he is brilliant, but provides some humour at times you need it. The other is the return of Velm’tin the Gelpelli from the first book – who is just brilliant.
The world building, and story are exceptional in this book, but the thing that makes this series something truly special, is the character work. Hopper has again provided another Masterclass in Sci-Fi Space Opera Characters, with each of his characters having so much depth and detail. Hale and Orelia are just remarkable in their portrayal of both the former Stratusaire, who has seen the error of his ways, and his now on the path of redemption by trying to save the lives of those he once tried to end. Orelia as the Princess attempting to change the course of an Empire that has been in place for hundreds of years, even if it costs her own life, is just inspired. These two are just stunning, but it is the major characters with them, such as Gramps, Mink, Dell, Kull, Thatticus those of the Pendaline Family, the Haven, the Forge, and so many others, that really bring this story to life. Hopper puts so much life and emotion into each of these characters, each of them has so much background, you know them, such as Rim Fellows, who is just brilliant, as the rogue pilot who you are never quite sure of his loyalties as he is always for sale. But even Fellows has a heart!! The character work is Masterful, and this is easily some of Hopper’s best work. It makes this series something special to read.
This is a series that is a thrilling Sci-Fi Space Opera, with some epic battles that put Star Wars to shame, but with political intrigue and infighting that would rival Game of Thrones.
With characters that you can’t help but love (or hate in some cases – but you still like them for how evil they are), an outstanding story, and world-building that is just breathtaking, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the last year. This is one of those series that is an absolute must read!! Don’t Miss Out!!
At the start of this book, we find Hale en route to Haven aboard a Soothmin starship, having secured their assistance in evacuating the Excreants from the Sorvanna. He and Dell, along with the leadership of the Haven have been planning an elaborate plan to not only get all of the people out, but to also defend the Sorvanna against an attack from the First Stratus. What they don’t realise is that Qweelin Mink, who has been posing as Cora Pairon, is a Stratus spy, and has fed a lot of information back to Sedarious Kull. However, Mink is not completely working as a double agent, as she wants Kull to fall, so she has withheld information, hoping that it will foil his plans, and help the Excreants in their escape.
It makes for some fascinating interplay between the main characters in this part of the story, as there is intense political intrigue between multiple different main characters, as each of them has their own personal agenda. Kull wants to unseat the Supreme, Mink, wants to unseat Kull, whereas Hale and those of the Haven just want to escape. Meanwhile, the Supreme is plotting their public annihilation. Whilst there are multiple people seeking to undermine and overthrow each other, Hale and the Leadership of the Haven (Elda Maeva, Kersesk, even Dell), are just trying to free their people.
Meanwhile, Orelia is working with her parents to set up an elaborate feast to honour the Supreme and make up for her previous transgressions. Whilst doing this though, she has been seeking assistance from other senators in her aim to change the laws surrounding Excreants, to try and alter the overarching principles of the Imperium as a whole, rather than just freeing a few souls. But wherever she turns, she seems to find stories of betrayal, of secret agents (The Nexum who work for the Supreme), and an underlying feeling that no matter what she does, there is no way that the Imperium will accept a change in the Excreant laws.
As this book unfolds, we see the “Siege of the Sorvanna” unfold, with the entire First Stratus, nearly 3000 armour clad soldiers with battleclear unleashed on a disabled civilian population of women and children to slaughter them.
However, they get more than they bargained for, with the Linthepions – the Guardians of the Haven – as well as the residents of the Haven, having prepared a major defensive against the assault. This is what can only be described as an epic battle that once you start reading it, you will not be able to stop, as it is just utterly captivating and engaging. You HAVE to know what comes next, it is powerfully compelling, brutal, intensely realistic and at times graphic (without going over the top), and this is one of those series that is not afraid to kill any of the major characters.
At the same time, the storyline that follows Orelia, her Family, and the feast as it unfolds around the Supreme and his followers, is just as intense, but in an a cruel way, as the Supreme is a very callous, ruthless creature hellbent on making the Pendaline family suffer. This aspect of the story is extraordinary, frantic in its pace, gritty and powerful in the desperation of the emotional feelings of the characters. I don’t want to give anything away, but again, once you start this part of the story, you can’t put it down, as you just have to know what happens, the writing is too good, the story too enthralling, the characters situation just too precarious to leave – you HAVE to know!!
This is a story that follows two major characters Hale and Orelia, but underlying that, there are multiple sub-plots, Kull, Mink, Dell, the dozens of Haven characters, then there are all of the Pendaline Family, Thatticus and those of the Forge, I have to give a shout out to two of my favourites – Gramps just makes you laugh, he is brilliant, but provides some humour at times you need it. The other is the return of Velm’tin the Gelpelli from the first book – who is just brilliant.
The world building, and story are exceptional in this book, but the thing that makes this series something truly special, is the character work. Hopper has again provided another Masterclass in Sci-Fi Space Opera Characters, with each of his characters having so much depth and detail. Hale and Orelia are just remarkable in their portrayal of both the former Stratusaire, who has seen the error of his ways, and his now on the path of redemption by trying to save the lives of those he once tried to end. Orelia as the Princess attempting to change the course of an Empire that has been in place for hundreds of years, even if it costs her own life, is just inspired. These two are just stunning, but it is the major characters with them, such as Gramps, Mink, Dell, Kull, Thatticus those of the Pendaline Family, the Haven, the Forge, and so many others, that really bring this story to life. Hopper puts so much life and emotion into each of these characters, each of them has so much background, you know them, such as Rim Fellows, who is just brilliant, as the rogue pilot who you are never quite sure of his loyalties as he is always for sale. But even Fellows has a heart!! The character work is Masterful, and this is easily some of Hopper’s best work. It makes this series something special to read.
This is a series that is a thrilling Sci-Fi Space Opera, with some epic battles that put Star Wars to shame, but with political intrigue and infighting that would rival Game of Thrones.
With characters that you can’t help but love (or hate in some cases – but you still like them for how evil they are), an outstanding story, and world-building that is just breathtaking, this is easily one of the best books I have read in the last year. This is one of those series that is an absolute must read!! Don’t Miss Out!!
February 20, 2023
I is just an amazing tale that you need to read and understand!
I can’t recommend this book strongly enough! It. Is full of great stories and wonderful ideas
How can we not embrace the ideas presented here in!
I can’t recommend this book strongly enough! It. Is full of great stories and wonderful ideas
How can we not embrace the ideas presented here in!
October 27, 2023
A series of cliffhanger books -- very frustrating.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews