Queen by Timothy Zahn

Knight is the sequel to Pawn and Pawn is followed by Queen.   I’ve always enjoyed Zahn’s work.   He writes a good story and his characters show moral strength.  Nicole, a Philadelphia street wise alley rat has grown a great deal since Pawn and Knight.   This volume finds her gaining confidence in her role and recognizing that she has something to give to others.

Zahn has done a good job in developing the character of Nicole.   Her growth is accompanied by growing pains.  She has alienated some human friends and gained some alien friends.   The evil overlords, the shipmasters, soon discover that Nicole is what she claims, the Protector of the ship.  They attempt to add allies to their mission of enslavement but that has unexpected results.

This is a saga of personal growth as well as a good space opera.

Zahn creates a great mini world within the Fyrantha, an alien warship/AI struggling to stay alive.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it.  

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Midshipman Henry Gallant In Space by H. Peter Alesso

An alien race has been hidden on Titan for an unknown time.   The United Planet forces battle the Titans.

Henry is a Natural.  In an age of wide spread genetic engineering, Henry is an aberration.    Henry finds himself the subject of discrimination.   Unknown to his peers, Henry is enhanced not by gentech but by natural selection.

Henry proves to be able to do and see things his peers and leaders are unable to do.

  

The book is the first in a series. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Knight by Timothy Zahn

Knight is the sequel to Pawn.   I’ve always enjoyed Zahn’s work.   He writes a good story and his characters show moral strength.  Nicole has grown a great deal since Pawn.  She is becoming the actual protector of the Fyrantha and sees the need to confront the Shipmasters.

Zahn has done a good job in developing the character of Nicole.   She is becoming confident and discovering she does not need to be a pawn.   Humans are prisoners but although they have pacifistically defied the Shipmasters they are increasingly put into the position where pacifism may be impossible.

Zahn creates a great mini world within the Fyrantha, an alien warship/AI struggling to stay alive.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next book in the series. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Pawn by Timothy Zahn

I’ve always enjoyed Zahn’s work.   He writes a good story and his characters show moral strength.  This book deals with a street smart girl who finds herself on a space ship.

Nicole is a street waif from Philadelphia.  Her character is browbeaten and physically beaten by the gang she is associated with.   The story allows her to develop some self esteem and begin to be the person she has hidden inside.

Zahn creates a great mini world within the Fyrantha, an alien warship/AI struggling to stay alive.

I enjoyed the book and look forward to the sequel.  

A few of the Zahn’s I have read:

Pawn's Gambit by Timothy Zahn

Judgement at Proteus by Timothy Zahn

The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn

Odd Girl Out by Timothy Zahn

The Third Lynx by Timothy Zahn

Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn

Cobra Alliance by Timothy Zahn; Book 3 of the Cobra War

Dragonback Bargain by Timothy Zahn

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Crush the King by Jenifer Estep

This is the next book in the Crown of Shards series.   I enjoyed Kill the Queen and Protect the Prince which preceded it.   Evie who has dodged assassination in every book decides to go on the offensive against her enemy King Maximus.

The book is characterized by loyalty and love by Queen Everleigh and fear, hate and loathing by King Maximus and his minions.  Evie will do anything to protect her people and her nation.   

Maximus will do anything to maintain his power and terrify his people including his blood relatives.

Esteps portrayal of Queen Everleigh is not just rose petals and vanilla.  She shows that even good people can be driven to do things they abhor to save things they love.

I enjoyed the book and the series. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

An Interview with Wendy Terrien, Author of The Rampart Guard Series.

An  Interview  with

Wendy Terrien author of  The  Rampart  Guards  series

1.                How  has  your  journey  into  writing  helped  you  grow  as  an  author? 

I’d  considered  myself  to  be  a  good  writer  and  thought  I  was  well  prepared  to  write  a  novel,  but  I was  so  wrong.  I  had  tons  to  learn  and  it  was  fantastic.  My  brain  lit  up  like  a  fireworks  finale.  I could  not  get  enough.  That  has  since  led  to  meeting  incredible  people  and  establishing  myself  as a  member  of  a  writing  tribe  here  in  Colorado  where  I  feel  really  comfortable,  really  at  home.  I’m also  in  a  position  to  give  back  and  help  new  writers,  and  I  enjoy  that  very  much. 

2.                What  do  you  think  will  surprise  readers  most  about  “The  Rampart  Guards”  series? Every  cryptid  that  appears  in  the  book  actually  exists!  At  least  on  the  internet.  There  are numerous  sites  that  follow  and  discuss  the  likelihood  that  certain  creatures  exist,  and  many  share photos,  videos,  historical  stories,  etc.  So  if  a  reader  is  intrigued  by  any  or  all  of  the  cryptids,  they can  Google  that  cryptid  and  make  the  decision  for  themselves  if  that  particular  creature  does  or does  not  exist. 

  

3.                What’s  your  goal  when  you’re  writing  for  your  readers?

I  hope  my  book  lights  up  their  imagination.  I  want  to  write  stories  that  are  fun  to  read  and  give the  reader  a  chance  to  visit  another  world  for  a  while.  It’s  great  to  let  your  imagination  run  free and  see  where  it  takes  you  —  it’s  energizing. 

4.     What  has  been  your  favorite  or  most  exciting  experience  as  an  author  to  date? Have  I  mentioned  I  can't  pick  favorites?  And  regarding  this  question,  that  is  definitely  true.  The entire  experience  has  been  one  thrill  after  another.  The  first  time  I  typed  “the  end”  was  amazing, when  I  found  out  my  story  was  selected  as  a  finalist  in  the  San  Francisco  Writers  contest  I  was giddy,  the  starred  review  from  Kirkus  Reviews  for  “The  Rampart  Guards”  knocked  my  socks  off, the  first  review  from  a  young  reader  made  me  glow  inside  —  and  I  could  go  on.  Bottom  line, being  an  author  makes  me  happy. 

5.     You  write  such  exciting  young  adult  fiction.  What  advice  would  you  impart  to  a young,  aspiring  writer?

When  someone  criticizes  your  work,  and  they  will,  don't  let  that  knock  you  down.  Take feedback,  good  and  bad,  and  use  it  to  your  advantage.  Learn  from  it  and  make  changes.  That  may mean  you  take  classes  or  workshops  to  improve  your  skills,  or  it  may  give  you  more  awareness of  how  your  work  appears  to  others  versus  how  you  see  it,  or  it  could  give  you  insight  into something  else  you  didn't  realize  you  needed.  There  are  a  million  possible  lessons,  but  I  promise none  of  them  are,  "You  should  quit." 

6.     We  know  writing  makes  you  happy.  What  else  brings  delight  to  your  day?

I  love  the  dogs  we  share  our  life  with:  Shea  and  Boon.  They’re  both  rescues.  Shea  is  our  mighty dog.  She  came  to  us  through  the  Boulder  Humane  Society  after  she’d  been  transferred  from Kansas.  Her  mom  was  a  stray  and  was  going  to  be  euthanized  until  they  saw  how  far  along  she was  in  her  pregnancy.  A  kind  soul  fostered  her  and  the  puppies  until  they  could  all  be  moved  to Colorado  where  they  had  a  better  chance  at  adoption.  And  I’m  happy  to  say  they  all  found homes,  mom-dog  included.  And  Boon  is  a  sweetheart  we  adopted  from  a  shelter  in  Arizona where  my  mom  was  living  at  the  time.  He’d  been  there  for  nearly  a  year,  likely  because  he  looks like  he  may  have  some  pit  bull  in  him.  He’s  as  sweet  as  sweet  can  be  and  we’re  lucky  to  have him.  Boon’s  personality  and  the  misinformation  about  the  pit  bull  breed  inspired  me  to  make Finn  —  a  very  cool  canine  character  in  the  Jason  Lex  series  —  a  pit  bull  mix.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Forge of Bonds by Wendy Terrien

International  best-selling  author  Wendy Terrien’s  latest thrilling  addition  to the Rampart Guard Series 

DENVER,  Colorado  –  The  bonds  of  friendship  are  tested in  the  newest  chronicle  of  the  Adventures  of  Jason  Lex. “The  Forge  of  Bonds,” ( Feb.  25,  2020,  Camashea  Press) by  best-selling  author  Wendy  Terrien,  finds Rampart Guard  Jason  and  Yowie  Sadie  Callahan  adjusting  to  the aftermath  of  their  previous  separate  adventures.

Recalling the lives he was forced to take, Jason’s reluctance to  kill  again  doesn’t  go  unnoticed  by  Sadie, who  faces  her  own  struggles  as  she  attempts  to  embrace her  new  powers  and evade  her  nemesis  Garrison  Devine. With loyal  dogs  Shay  and  Finn,  the  two  continue  their quest  to  protect  humankind  from  the  malevolent  cryptids among  them.

The  latest  installment  of Terrien’s  award-winning  YA contemporary  fantasy  is  a  coming-of-age story  where friendships  thrive  despite  adversity  —  and  ultimate  danger. 

 “The  Forge  of  Bonds”  

         (Chronicle  Three  in  the  Adventures  of  Jason  Lex) 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.