The Stormlight Archive Review

Part 2

Regular readers of my blog will remember the reviews I completed on Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series, a high-fantasy adventure spanning more than 300 years of history set within the fictional world of Scadrial, where the exploits of Allomancers are detailed.
If you recall, Allomancers are individuals endowed with the capacity to gain enhanced speed, strength, and other abilities after ingesting certain metals. Powers they can access, thanks to the safeguards set in place by the two opposing gods of that world, Preservation and Ruin, who strive to counter each other in a never-ending struggle for dominance.

As I mentioned before, that series also reveals Preservation and Ruin are, in fact, 2 of 16 opposing creational forces or intents – Shards – which came into existence with the shattering of Adonalsium, the original Supreme Being. Those Shards are bound in pairs, and though they bear an aspect of Adonalsium’s original nature, each pair stands divorced from their opposite number while vying for control within the greater Cosmere.
Having enjoyed how that universal model was addressed in the Mistborn Series, my last article began to explore how Sanderson expanded on his concept when I delved into the first three of ten proposed books – The Way of Kings; Words of Radiance, and a short novella, Edgedancer – in what has become the Stormlight Archive. A series that introduced us to the world of Roshar, along with another pair of opposing Shards: Odium and Honor.

To briefly recap, Roshar is divided by religious and political unrest, and the various kingdoms of that world all vie for control, many of them employing a magic system – based on Stormlight trapped in gems that are replenished during each highstorm – to try and get one over on their opponents. Their best warriors also use shardblades and shardplate, (mystically enhanced armor and weapons), to maintain their dominance, while ignoring the ethereal spirits of the higher and lower planes – spren – who seem drawn to the emotions given off by people as they contend with the ups and downs of their daily lives.

The first three novels follow the lives of several main players: Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar, Adolin, and Lift, as their talents emerge amid the onset of change in this politically and religiously charged drama, while hinting that the reclusive tribespeople who have live for millennia in the shattered hills, the Parshendi, might have a deeper, more ominous history than was first imagined.
As events moved forward, certain individuals began regaining abilities of old, while, in tandem, the Parshendi dabbled with the potential for Armageddon by accessing the realm of the spren – Shadesmar – to trigger the Everstorm. An act that paved the way for them to reacquire the most powerful of their long-forgotten forms. That of the voidbringer, minions of the dark and hateful Shard, Odium.

It was as our main protagonists responded to those revelations that another blast from the past was rediscovered. Urithiru, the fabled city of the Heralds and Radiants, who also exercised uncanny abilities thousands of years ago in order to fight off Odium and those very same voidbringers. And just as well, because when the Everstorm struck, it brought ancient spren along with it, creatures who transform the Parshendi into beings of incredible power.

A point to remember is that as the story-arc unfolded, we were given hints of the existence of another set of players. The Ghostbloods. A secret society that has been keeping an eye on Roshar and its citizens for a very, very long time. Buuut, just who they are and where they’re from wasn’t revealed.

That recap brings us very nicely to the next two books in the series: Oathbringer and Rhythm of War.

Oathbringer.

This book helps us uncover much more about the ancient Heralds and Radiants, along with their involvement in the ending of the last age, (termed, the Recreance). The world of the spren – Shadesmar – also gets examined in much more detail, as does the society of the spren themselves. In particular, it focuses on the results of the Parshendi’s decision to welcome the return of the ancestral spren, and the repeated battles that follow. (Don’t forget, the spren of Shadesmar are thousands of years old, experienced in battle, and harbor a deep animosity toward anyone who opposes them.)

It is as we start to understand the relationship between spren and those they bond with – human and Parshendi alike – that we also begin to comprehend the pitfalls of their magic system. How the spren actually manifest within the ‘real’ world, for example, is an absolute doozy.
We also get to see just how many types of spren there are and how that creates a clear distinction between the two camps. For example, the spren who decide to bond with humans often study their prospective partners for many years. Decades, even. While a certain faction of those who bond with the Parshendi are much more mercenary, especially if they’re of the primeval faction who fought against the Heralds and Radiants before. They become ‘Fused’ and lose all vestiges of their identity, their minds being overwritten by the persona of the immortal spren, many of whom teeter on the edge of insanity.
This also highlights the fact that each enhanced individual – Radiant or Fused – is endowed with their own particular blend of ethereal energy (surges): Stormlight or Voidlight. And get this. The two don’t mix. (Think of matter/antimatter and you’ll be on the right track).

As things kick off, the Parshendi/Fused open their campaign by targeting Kholinar, the capital of the strongest army on Roshar, and home to the royal family. A canny move, as Kholinar falls, and King Elhohar along with it as he tries desperately to rescue his family, leaving Dalinar the de facto regent in a time of escalating crisis. No easy task, for he has to navigate the stormy seas of politics while trying to unite the besieged nations of Roshar to fight against a common enemy. The strategic location of Urithiru and the Oathgates seem to help in this regard, though not as much as he would have liked.

Yet hope remains. Something about the abilities of the emerging Radiants worries Odium, forcing him to intervene, personally, in an attempt to derail both Dalinar and Kaladin.

In an even bigger twist, we discover Roshar was actually the ancestral home of the Parshendi, not humans . . . so WHO are the real voidbringers?
(A factor that just might have influenced the Radiants of old into abandoning the fight and walking away).
What this means, long-term, I’m intrigued to discover, for some among the Parshendi are willing to share and live in peace, while many of the Fused want to get rid of anybody who isn’t like them. Human and normal Parshendi – who they now refer to as Singers – alike.

There are a few other nifty twists and turns along the way, which I won’t divulge here. Nonetheless, what you get is an intriguing, action-packed extravaganza that sweeps you through more than 1300 pages in much less time than you might imagine, and sets you up, ready to go with. . .

Rhythm of War 

In my opinion, this was one of the most revealing chapters of the Stormlight Saga so far, with a number of stratifying threads.

For one thing, we find the story arc focuses much more on the Parshendi, particularly Eshonai and Venli’s family, through a series of flashbacks.
Those recaps help us appreciate just how devious the ancient spren – especially the servants of Odium – are, and how adroitly they maneuvered the human and Parshendi pieces of the chessboard into place. Only once the board was set was the Everstorm triggered, helping explain why the Fused were so successful in dividing Dalinar’s forces; how they were able to sack Kholinar; and – through the use of anti-Stormlight weapons – how they were able to overcome the newly returned Radiants in their siege against Urithiru . . . which they take with surprising ease, despite an alarmingly high casualty rate.

In tandem with this unfolding drama, the story arc also focus on Shallan and Adolin, who travel into Shadesmar with the hope of persuading the honorspren to join the war; on Kaladin’s personal dilemma, having been left behind in Urithiru while Dalinar and the bulk of their army leave to support the war effort in Emul; and especially do we see the emergence of Navani as an intellect and true scholar as she tries to get to grips with the qualities of the different forms of light that empower both Radiants and Fused.
(More about that in the extended review in Amazing Stories) - see side bar

What I found particularly interesting is the fact that though humankind are the interlopers, it is possible for them to learn the rhythms of Roshar. True, not as well as the Parshendi, but sufficient to prove that, after many, many generations, they are ‘of’ Roshar, and capable of living in harmony with her natural children. . .

A fact demonstrated by Venli, who bonds to a ‘good’ spren, and becomes a Radiant, choosing to side with the humans and those singers who wish to live in peace.

But how does all this mix together in the actual book?
Ah, you’ll have to find out for yourselves. But rest assured, yet another meaty tome of more than 1300 pages will soon fly by. It really is that absorbing. And little wonder, because along with some of the threads I’ve already revealed, here are a few other fascinating little snippets to keep you engrossed:

It is confirmed that the Ghostbloods aren’t from Roshar.

Heralds – along with other beings of power from different worlds – have been hiding right under our noses all along. Some in plain sight, others in much more elusive guises. Not the godsend you might think, though. As has happened to many of the ancient Fused, most of the Heralds are unbalanced. Psychotic, by anyone’s standards, making them just as dangerous as Odium is.

We learn where humankind came from: A planet called Ashyn, and just who it was that first led them between worlds . . . though the reason is not yet revealed.

And the last thing that I really didn’t anticipate was what happened to Taravangian!

That’s all I’ll say. But . . . Ouch!
I can’t wait to see how things develop in the fifth book and beyond. And neither should you. Treat yourselves to the beginnings of this truly epic series. (And of course, a much more detailed and extended review in Amazing Stories) - Click the link in the sidebar.
I promise you, you won’t be disappointed.

Until the next time, happy reading.

 The Stormlight Archive Review

(Part 1)

Regular readers of this blog will no doubt remember the reviews I completed on Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Series, a thoroughly absorbing adventure stretching over 300 years detailing the exploits of Allomancers on the world of Scadrial.
Allomancers are people with the ability to ingest certain metals, from which they gain enhanced speed, strength, and other powers. Those powers exist, thanks to the existence of two opposing gods, Preservation and Ruin, who strive to counter each other in a never-ending struggle for dominance.
That series also reveals Preservation and Ruin are, in fact, only 2 of 16 opposing creational forces or intents – Shards – which came into existence with the shattering of Adonalsium, the original Supreme Being. Those shards are bound in pairs, and though they bear an aspect of Adonalsium’s original nature, each pair stands divorced from their opposite number while vying for control within the greater Cosmere.

Basically, each fantasy series Sanderson has created is not only an adventure within itself, but, it also forms part of a much greater whole, each facet of which is waiting to be explored.
Consequently, I thought I’d dip my toe into the Stormlight Archive, and the opposing Shards contesting for domination of the world of Roshar: Odium and Honor.

So far, I’ve only delved into the first three of ten proposed books: The Way of Kings; Words of Radiance, and the novella – Edgedancer). As you know, I always do my best NOT to reveal anything important, as each respective author has gone to a great deal of effort to create a story that will keep us enthralled. And where Brandon Sanderson is involved, that creation is truly majestic in scope. So, what I’m going to do is present the blurb from each book and a basic summary of what I thought.
If you want a more detailed exposé of the books themselves, stay tuned for my next item for Amazing Stories, where I’ll delve into each story in much more detail.
Here we go.

The Way of Kings
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Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter.

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them.

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable.

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity.

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making.

Speak again the ancient oaths:

Life before death.
Strength before weakness.
Journey before Destination.

and return to men the Shards they once bore.

The Knights Radiant must stand again.

Words of Radiance
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Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.

The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.

Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.

Edgedancer
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Three years ago, Lift asked a goddess to stop her from growing older--a wish she believed was granted. Now, in Edgedancer, the barely teenage nascent Knight Radiant finds that time stands still for no one. Although the young Azish emperor granted her safe haven from an executioner she knows only as Darkness, court life is suffocating the free-spirited Lift, who can't help heading to Yeddaw when she hears the relentless Darkness is there hunting people like her with budding powers. The downtrodden in Yeddaw have no champion, and Lift knows she must seize this awesome responsibility.

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The only word of caution I would add, is that you should read the postscript to Edgedancer first – before you actually get into the story. Doing so will allow you to understand Sanderson’s thinking in giving the two main characters of that novella their own special ‘prequel’ as it were. They’re going to be major players at a later stage in a monumental story arc, and will be notable enough that you need to understand their origins.
(And I saw how this worked, firsthand, when I started delving into the third main novel, Oathbringer, as I could relate to their sudden appearance instantly and understood how they would influence the developing story).

So, there you go.
Basically, the opening three books of the Stormlight Archive are epic in every sense of the word. Ambitious, too, with a world full of bizarre plants and animals that have adapted to endure the freakish weather that makes Roshar such a compelling place to try and conjure in your mind. Swords and sorcery. Spirits and demons. A thoroughly believable magic system. Forgotten histories that hold the key to surviving the future. Smokescreens and red-herrings to keep you guessing. It has them all, and serves as an excellent example of what high fantasy is all about.

And don’t forget – stay tuned to the blog’s sidebar for when my in-depth review of these books goes live.

 VE Day
A Date to Remember

In celebration of VE Day, I thought it appropriate to highlight my WWII Commando Series covering the exploits of 47 (Royal Marines) Commando, who answered Winston Churchill's call for a body of specialist troops to inflict a reign of terror on Hitler's Fortress Europe. The D-Day landings were 47 Commando's first operation, and saw them committed to the liberation of Europe from Nazi domination. Needless to say, they were still there, serving the finest traditions of the Corps on VE Day.

(Written by a former Royal Marine, the series incorporates both fictional and real-life characters, and follows 47's actual route from Gold Beach, through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and on into Germany, before their return to the UK in 1946).

Amazon Link

 New Release

Rough Justice

A Pearl Brothers prequel Western Adventure

The Pearl Brothers are back in an exciting new prequel adventure!

Rough Justice
A Pearl Brothers Prequel Western Adventure

The Kansas Plains were never a safe place to settle—yet for Jacob and Noah Pearl, it’s the only place worth protecting. Elder Grove might be a young town, but it’s built on grit and heart. And the Pearl brothers have done everything they can to keep it standing tall.

That all changes when a gang of outlaws attacks a Cheyenne hunting party and rides off with their horses. The raid sets off a dangerous chain of events that threatens to unravel everything the Pearls have worked so hard to build.

But make no mistake—these brothers don’t back down. When lawless men come knocking, Jacob and Noah bring justice the old-fashioned way. Swift. Relentless. No questions asked.

If a heavy dose of rough justice appeals to you, then by all means. . .

mosey on to the link below and dive straight in.

Amazon Link

 New Release

Operation Infatuate

I'm very pleased to announce the final WWII Commando Adventure involving 47 (Royal Marine) Commando - Operation Infatuate.

Here's the blurb

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47 (Royal Marine) Commando have been at the forefront of No 4 Special Service Brigade’s advance through Normandy since D-Day began. However, Hitler’s response to the Allied invasion gathers apace, with a massive influx of troops and armor throughout France, Belgium, Denmark and eastern Germany itself.

And nowhere are those reinforcements more imposing than at Walcheren Island, sitting at the mouth of the Scheldt Estuary. For the Scheldt leads to the strategic port of Antwerp, and Antwerp is the perfect location for the final push toward Berlin.

Little wonder, then, that Commando Regimental Sergeant Major Richard—Lion— Hart, CGM, MiD, and his men find themselves in the thick of it, for the assault will prove one of the most important, decisive battles of World War II.

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If that sounds like something you'd enjoy reading, then, please, just click the link below and tell your friend. Most of all - enjoy!

Amazon buy Link

Book Review

Targets West

If you like your thrillers filled with transatlantic terrorist plots; damsels in distress; spy-slick shootouts; and psychopathic antagonistic assassins, then “Targets West” by Scott McCrea is most definitely the adrenaline-packed, action-adventure for you.

Here’s the blurb:
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Lucas Wheeler is having a bad day when he leaves his beloved Wyoming for the concrete canyons of New York. But he has no idea how rapidly things will turn for the worse. En route to London, where his ranch hands will be performing at the largest international rodeo in the world, Lucas is contacted by the State Department with an unusual request: to report back all observations and significant data on Sheikh Kashif Rashid Al Marltaum. Lucas will be traveling to Dubai to sell several hundred purebred Arabians to the Sheikh, who he learns is deeply involved in terror cells located throughout the U.S.

Before Lucas can even begin his assignment, he is kidnapped by student radicals, chased while handcuffed through Central Park by on-the-take New York cops and nearly shot in London’s poshest restaurant. It is only when Lucas is lured to Sheikh Kashif’s outlandish Summer Palace hidden in the Dubai desert that he learns of a daring and brazen terrorist plot that will have devastating consequences for the entire Western world.

With a shocking conclusion set in London’s crowded O2 arena, Lucas must overcome incredible odds before a multinational cabal of terrorists can hit…targets west.

Hopping through three continents, filled with memorable and very human characters, and energized by pulse-pounding suspense, Targets West is a thriller for people hungry for stories of American heroism and international intrigue.

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As the blurb highlights, Lucas Wheeler is a down-to-earth, principled and practical man – now widowed – who loves nothing more than enjoying the life he’s built for himself on the Bar 11 Ranch in Wyoming.
However, his success is a burden in disguise, for the prize horses and staff of the Bar 11 are invited to the largest international rodeo in the world. An event that will take place at the O2 Arena in London, and a location that Wheeler will use as a stopover point while traveling to Dubai to seal a huge deal: The sale of several hundred purebred Arabian horses to Sheikh Kashif Rashid Al Marltaum.
It’s while he’s on the way to those events that he’s contacted by furtive members of the State Department who ask him to do something that, on the face of it, should be quite straightforward: To report back on his dealings with the Sheikh, and especially on any movement or behavior that might be – out of the ordinary. (For as Wheeler later learns, the Sheikh is anything but a collector of thoroughbred horses).

No spoilers – as that’s something I never do – but what starts out as a simple request turns into a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue; mishap & mayhem; and hair-raising, brutal encounters. You’ll meet corrupt bureaucrats, bent cops, Walter Mitty wannabes, and slimy, sticklers. All of them seemingly intent on making every hurdle Wheeler faces THAT much harder to overcome.

In a nutshell, “Targets West” is a definite page-turner. It’s sharp. It’s slick. It’s vividly detailed and exciting. And it’s the most fun I’ve had reading in a while.
If you like stories with elements of “Have Gun – Will Travel” from the 50s & 60s, mixed in with “Yellowstone” and “Justified”, then this is the book for you.
Hold onto your hats and dive in. You won’t regret it.

(And yes – an Amazon review will follow!)

 

 Review

The Bound Worlds

I have to say, I was relieved to delve into The Bound Worlds – the final installment of the Devoured Worlds trilogy, as I was itching to discover how O’Keefe would round this epic adventure off. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Here's the blurb to pique your interest:

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Naira and Tarquin have found a new home on Seventh Cradle. But the peace they’ve built is short-lived as mysterious assailants ambush the settlement and Naira is haunted by visions of a monstrous future. Catastrophe strikes when Tarquin uncovers a plot to bring about the end of the universe. As humanity races against the clock to prevent their extinction, old secrets come to light and loyalties fracture, and Naira realizes she may be the key to saving the world—or ending it.

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If superb character development and the artful evolution of her plotline wasn’t enough, O'Keefe goes one step further by skillfully exploiting the perils faced by our intrepid heroes and heroines when the ‘printing’ process goes wrong. Yes, there’s only so much the human psyche can withstand before insanity beckons. And if a person is ‘cracked’ by their enemies deliberately? Ah then things get very interesting indeed, and the mayhem that ensues can threaten the very existence of mankind, especially when the universe is literally tearing itself apart at the seams.

A most satisfying, intensely compelling conclusion to a great trilogy, and one that isn’t afraid to explore the ethical dilemmas that ensue when fanatical despots face off against those bolstered by world-moving, all-consuming love.

Amazon Review

(But what new series will O'Keefe release next to keep up the tempo?)

Personally, I can't wait. So, if YOU want to find out more, keep an eye out for my in-depth review of the entire series, hopefully, due out later this month in Amazing Stories.

 Review

Sword of Justice

It’s often said that the recipe of a good western incorporates a ‘salt of the earth’ element.  Something that connects to the reader from the outset by invoking their sense of camaraderie and integrity. And you can appreciate why. Frontier living was hard. It involved conflict and change that often triggered contention between folks from widely different backgrounds. So, those who knew where to draw the line often stood out. They were tough but fair. They did what needed to be done, despite the sacrifices they might have to make.

So, you’ll be glad to know such elements abound in Sword of Justice, a brand new western adventure by Jibril Stevenson. . . As the blurb highlights:

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Syrian immigrant Zulfiqar Jaffery is on a train from his homestead in the remotest corner of North Dakota to New York City, where he’s to marry the girl he’s been dreaming about for decades. His plans are derailed when an Indian uprising occurs and hostiles—or is it bandits?—attack the train and kidnap a young boy. The kid’s mother thinks Zulfiqar is just the man to bring back her son, and after a taste of bounty-hunting in Deadwood the previous year, Zulfiqar thinks she might be right. With money on the table and a young boy’s life at stake, his blushing bride will have to wait. Zulfiqar straps on his Colt and his grandfather’s Ottoman scimitar and sets off in pursuit of the kidnappers, little knowing that the job will take him all over the northern plains and pit him against some of the most dangerous men in the country. The distraught mother is more than she seems, going to the law is not an option, and it’s up to Zulfiqar to wield the Sword of Justice.

*******

I have to say, I rather enjoyed the premise on which Stevenson built his adventure. That of a man on the way to his wedding, who is forced to adjust his travel-plans at the last second to answer a desperate call for justice. What follows is a round-robin of action and reaction; chasing down clues from county to county, state to state and even across the border into Canada; shootouts and brawling. Forget planes, trains and automobiles. In this story you get horses, trains and canoes, until the inevitable showdown where everything comes together in a profoundly satisfying way.
I found the pacing comfortable, the narrative engaging, and the characters relatable. Even better, the sprinkling of certain aspects of Syrian culture into the story arc added a spicy zest to the usual fare presented in many western novels. A most enjoyable read.

 My Latest Review

The Fractured Dark

Having just completed the second book in Megan O'keefe's The Devoured Worlds Series, I was eager to share what I thought. Here's my Amazon review:

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The Fractured Dark is another gripping story by O’Keefe, which once again takes the topics referred to in shows like Altered Carbon and Orphan Black – Echoes, and expanding them to include the dark and sinister peril covered in stories like The Genius Plague by David Walton.
In fact, the tagline to that book – The contagion is in your mind – is expounded wonderfully within the Devoured World series, because the threat mankind is facing really is that insidious.

After all, could you imagine trying to fight an enemy you didn’t realize was there? One that could subliminally influence your very moods and goals into something more akin to its liking? And if that wasn’t disturbing enough, don’t forget the printing technology this series incorporates as its central theme. Technology that villains might abuse in their lust for power?

Oh yes. We get all this and more in a superb sequel that continues the momentum established in the first book, before accelerating away at warp speed.

An excellent read that you won’t want to miss.

************

So, there you go.

Amazon Link

And don't forget. If this deliberately spoiler-free review piques your interest, then keep your eyes peeled for my full spread and very detailed review of the entire series, coming some time next month in Amazing Stories.

 New Release!

Operation Holdfast

A WWII Commando Adventure

Hot on the heels of my first review for The Battle of Port-en-Bessin, I'm very pleased to announce the release of the second WWII Commando Adventure in the series:

Operation Holdfast

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In one of the most decisive battles to take place following the D-Day Landings, 47 (Royal Marine) Commando were successful in ousting the resident German artillery and infantry regiments still dug in at the heavily fortified fishing harbor of Port-en-Bessin, to take control of the region. Having done so, they were expected to hold the ground they’d fought so hard to win.

No easy task, for not only had 47’s strength been drastically reduced during that offensive, but they—like all the other Allied units to arrive in Normandy following the opening stages of Operation Overlord—were introduced to a new style of combat: Boscage warfare.

Averaging out at well over fifteen feet in height and bolstered by a thick girdle of nettles and brambles—torturous to navigate along their base—the hedgerows of France were verdant fortresses, providing both protection and cover for the defenders, and an assault course of thorns and thistles and booby-traps for those trying to attack.

And, as Company Sergeant Major Richard—Lion—Hart, CGM, knew only too well. . .

The longer fighting in such a claustrophobic environment was allowed to continue, then the more his men would bleed. No matter how well trained they were.

****************

If this sounds like something you could lose yourself in, then please

just click the link and enjoy. . .

Amazon Link

 First Review
The Battle of Port-en-Bessin

It's always nice when someone takes the time to read your work and leave a review. And even better, when your work 'hits the spot' in all the right ways. That's why I'm rather chuffed to share this first review for the Battle of Port-en-Bessin, because as you know, this genre is still rather new to me. So, it's nice to know I might be on the right track.

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5.0 out of 5 stars This is by far the best book this author has ever written!

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025

I have had the pleasure of reading many books by Andrew Weston. This is by far the best book he has ever written. That it is the first book of a new series fills me with excitement to see what is to come.

Brilliantly written to the point I personally find this book flawless. For context, I have an M.A. in Military History (WW2) and have been reading war books since I was about six years old. Two of my all-time favorite fictional war series are by Herman Wouk The Winds of War and War and Remembrance and W.E.B. Griffin's 9 novel series The Brotherhood of War. I read all nine of those back-to-back in the course of one week at one time.

The story of Sergeant Hart and the 47 Commando is so accurately presented, you would think you are reading a unit history. That this is fictional disappears within a couple of pages of reading. The story flows in a fashion that makes it hard to stop reading. The battle scenes are so realistic you can smell the cordite and feel the sweat in your eyes.

I read D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose every year around the anniversary of June 6. This book takes the true tales of the 47 Commando and puts a human face to them that you don't often find in history books. This is small unit combat at its finest. These super troops are able to overcome vast obstacles through their own capabilities.

If I am raving about this book, it is because I love this book and cannot wait to read book two. There is a very, very good chance I will be purchasing the entire series in printed book form so I can place them on my Military History bookshelf alongside W.E.B. Griffin's series.

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So there you go - And you can read the verified review here:

Stay tuned for more WWII Commando Adventures.

There will be at least 3, before I revert back to my usual Science Fiction - Fantasy genre.

 Have YOU viewed

The Blighted Stars?

Back in the March of 2023, some of you might remember I completed a review of Velocity Weapon, the first of three books – Velocity Weapon, Catalyst Gate and Chaos Vector – in the Protectorate Series by Megan O’ Keefe, a new writer who made quite an impact with her debut offering. So much so, that I kept an eye out since then, waiting for something fresh.

And here it is. The Blighted Stars - the first book in The Devoured Worlds space opera that’s sure to please.

Here’s the blurb to give you a taster:

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When a spy and her mortal enemy crash-land on a dying planet, she must figure out how to survive long enough to uncover the deadly, galaxy-spanning conspiracy that landed them there. The Blighted Stars is the first book in an epic new space-opera trilogy from the author of the Philip K. Dick-nominated Velocity Weapon.

She's a revolutionary. Humanity is running out of options. Habitable planets are being destroyed as quickly as they're found, and Naira Sharp thinks she knows the reason why. The all-powerful Mercator family has been controlling the exploration of the universe for decades, and exploiting any materials they find along the way under the guise of helping humanity's expansion. But Naira knows the truth, and she plans to bring the whole family down from the inside.

He's the heir to the dynasty. Tarquin Mercator never wanted to run a galaxy-spanning business empire. He just wanted to study geology and read books. But Tarquin's father has tasked him with monitoring the settlement of a new planet, and he doesn't really have a choice in the matter.

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So, what did I think? Here’s a copy of my verified review on Amazon (Because yes – I do buy my own copies of those books I read and review, as I feel it’s important to show authors – everywhere – I support their hard work:

An absolutely thrilling story, taking the concepts found in shows like Altered Carbon and Orphan Black – Echoes, one step further and expanding them into a whole new universe. A place where Earth is dying, and mankind is spreading out into the stars, and where human life – for the elite and their lackeys – is extended by printing. (A facility whereby a person’s personality and consciousness can be downloaded into a matrix and stored against the time of their passing. And when death occurs, they can then be uploaded into a newly-printed replica of their body, thereby continuing their life as before. (A superb concept).

But, as you can imagine, things are not what they seem. An insidious threat emerges from the unlikeliest of sources that not only jeopardizes mankind's ability to extend life, but their very existence too.

I loved it. The story has a steady pace throughout. There's great character development - and then some - and a poignant poke-in-the-eye about what it really means to be human. It's bittersweet too - just the way the best stories should be.

Can't wait for what comes next.

If you like, you can also read the review of Amazon itself

Verified Review

Here.

 

And finally, if you think the story might appeal, then stay tuned for more, as I will be completing an in-depth review of the entire series for Amazing Stories (Once I get through the other two books – The Fractured Dark and The Bound Worlds), sometime over the next month or so.

Until then. . .

Happy reading.