Andrew P. Weston

 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.