Heart of Granit - James Barclay

The world has become a battleground in a war which no side is winning. But for those determined to retain power, the prolonged stalemate cannot be tolerated so desperate measures must be taken.

Max Halloran has no idea. He's living the brief and glorious life of a hunter-killer pilot. He's an ace in the air, on his way up through the ranks, in love, and with his family's every need provided for in thanks for his service, Max has everything . . .

. . . right up until he hears something he shouldn't have, and refuses to let it go. Suddenly he's risking his life and the lives of all those he cares about for a secret which could expose corruption at the highest levels, and change the course of the war.

One man, one brief conversation . . . a whole world of trouble . . . 

My thoughts:

It's sci-fi, but at the same time, there is not a lot of sci-fi, but at the same time it's everywhere. Because when it's on it's on! It's Top Gun with dragons, but to be fair I can not remember a single thing from that movie so maybe it's wrong to compare those two. Let us begin.

There are dragons, but see they are not really dragons. It's alien DNA spliced with other to create these things that you can fly in. Live in (oh that was freaking insane). And they need to to fight for control of earth. Because as we can see today we are using too much of our resources, and in this future it's a constant war to get more to feed your inhabitants. 

A lot of the book is aerial battles, it's very heavy military sc-fi, it always take me some time to get into because I tend to get into that easier by watching than reading. Lots going on at the same time, and what a cool movie that would make.

But there is more than aerial battles. Holloran, a pilot, learns something he should not learn. Conspiracy alert. A pilot's life is also really short since that whole sitting in your dragon, hearing it's mind will make you crack.

I would have liked to learn more about the alien DNA. Since there are no aliens here, but the whole aliens has been here thing that hits you and explains one thing was fascinating.

Conclusion:
Battles in the sky, a country using their own as fodder for war. Insane pilots, and one that just wont let it go. It was innovative and cool

But I did have a hard time this time with the whole military thing.  Mostly cos of the many battles.

Paperback, 416 pages
Expected publication: August 18th 2016 by Gollancz
Sci.fi
In exchange for an honest review

Ancillary justice - Ann Leckie

On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest. Once, she was the Justice of Toren - a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy. Now, an act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with one fragile human body, unanswered questions, and a burning desire for vengeance. 

My thoughts:

I am gonna be totally honest here. I was lost for like the first 100 pages. My brain was one big ? I had no idea what I was reading. And when I finished I was still a bit ?!?!?.But the book was still so good, so even though I was lost in a cloud of confusion I could still not put it down. Weird...so weird.

I am just gonna simplify the shit out of things so my brain can keep track even years after so I know wtf I am talking about.

Ok, we have a spaceship. We have lots of bodies, I forgot, all dead or not? Anyway The AI in the ship is in all of them. So like zombie army walking around all linked to the ship. All doing their own thing, all being everywhere. Oh, like the Borg? Let's say that brain. 

And that is why the book is so bloody confusing. First we have the wtf are these things? Then there is the whole aspect of one zombie drone talking to someone, while another one is talking far away to someone else. Not to mention that the ship thinks of everyone as She. So I feel like the entire universe is female. Good for us, but yes I see someone as female, later see they are male, but still talked about as female.

But then I got the hang of things..sort of. We see "Breq" 20 years before and now when she has saved someone frozen for 1000 years. And Breq is what is left of the ship.

And then there is some kind of "evil" ruler who also has lots of bodies, whaaat? Nooo, more confusion..you will see.

Conclusion:

But damn the book was good, if I hadn't been so confused it would have been a 4. But even in my confusion I never wanted to put it down.

cover

meh

Paperback, 386 pages
Published October 1st 2013 by Orbit
Imperial Radch #1
Sci.fi
Library

An Ancient Peace - Tanya Huff

The first book of a thrilling new military science fiction spin-off of Tanya Huff's Confederation series.

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. But when she learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting, she left the military for good. But Torin couldn’t walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, she drew together an elite corps of friends and allies to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not—or would not—officially touch. 

Ancient H’san grave goods are showing up on the black market—grave goods from just before the formation of the Confederation, when the H’san gave up war and buried their planet-destroying weapons. Someone is searching for these weapons and they’re very close to finding them. 

Fortunately, only the Corps Intelligence Service has this information. Unfortunately, they can do nothing about it. Though Torin Kerr and her team are no longer a part of the military, the six of them tackling the H’san defenses  are the only chance the Confederation has. The only chance to avoid millions more dead. 

My thoughts:

So yes this is the start of a new series, but be warned, it's also book 6 of her adventures. But new series and all. In that way, yes it could work as a standalone. But you would miss how she fought in their wars, had her adventures, found a conspiracy, and ended up with Craig. But, sure it works like it is.

Torin is ex-marine. She is tough nails and she was so very military. But the previous series threw some punches and now she is out. But when you are out, they pull you back in! She has her crew, they get a job and they take it.

The world may be at peace, but those others are still out there. Some humans are making noise about humans first. Other alien races not touched by the war is all murderers, idiots! When you have Elder races, telling younger races to fight their wars, while middle races sit it out, oh will this confederation really last? And now someone is trying to steal big bad weapons. Peace in space, not an easy thing to have.

This is military scifi. There will be fights, tech, weapons and lots and lots of danger. Those H'San sure knew how to invent stuff. But it's not non stop action all the way. Torin still has time to worry about a teammate, who really needs someone of his own kind (long story, but they really really need others). She is a good woman.

Conclusion

I do wonder where this new business will take them. Lots of space still to explore.

Cover

Cool

Paperback, 400 pages
Published October 6th 2015 by Titan Books
Peacekeeper, #1, Confederation #6
Sci.fi
For revew

Truth of Valour - Tanya Huff

Disillusioned with the manipulative Confederation, a so-called “peaceful” alliance of alien species, Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr retires from the Marines to start a new life with Salvage Operator Craig Ryder. 

But when their salvage ship Promise is attacked by pirates, civilian life becomes a lot rougher than Torin had expected. After Craig is kidnapped during a brutal ambush, Torin enlists the help of a few old friends to mount a rescue. Along the way she discovers why the salvagers are being targeted, and her mission suddenly has the potential to change the balance of power throughout known space…"

My thoughts:

Right so in the last book we learned that plastic aliens are behind everything, and I mean everything. There is no real war in a sense, just a bunch of plastic aliens watching and monitoring. So no wonder that Torin quits her job and becomes a civilian.

Most of this is a space book or a space station book, and I must confess that I do prefer when she is on land to to say. More things seem to happen then, like the prison planet and the escape from it. Anyway Torin and Craig is a team, salvaging stuff in space. But like she could keep away from trouble, as if. She seeks trouble and enemies like it's her destiny in life, but then she is a soldier.

Pirates are attacking salvaging operators. And soon they will be in the middle of it. She can take down anything and everything. The hunt for wicked pirates begin.

And the end, ha, yes, I guess we will see more of...that. I can't spoil it.

Conclusion:

The war is not over and what will she do next? I do wonder how this series will end

Paperback, 400 pages
Published June 6th 2014 by Titan Books (first published August 19th 2010)
Confederation #5
Military sci-fi
For review

Valour's trial - Tanya Huff

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is a Confederation Marines marine. She's survived more deadly encounters and kept more of her officers and enlistees alive than anyone in the Corps. Unexpectedly pulled from battle, Torin finds herself in an underground POW camp that shouldn't exist, where her fellow marine prisoners seem to have lost all will to escape. Now, Torin must fight her way not only out of the prison but also past the growing compulsion to sit down and give up not realizing that her escape could mean the end of the war.

My thoughts:

I have been waiting for this book ever since I read book 1 (yes I read the blurbs for the rest of the books, I am too curious). Anyway, great premise so I waited.

It's starts with Torin getting ready for battle and then bam! (it takes a while for the bam but bear with me). So bam! Torin wakes up in a tunnel, she is now a POW. All while Craig refuses to believe she died in battle and tries to find her.

That was the premise I was interesting in. Torin in a POW camp, and not any POW camp. A weird underground jail where they do not know who put them there in the first place. And Torin wants out, and nothing stops Torin cos she is a kick-ass marine who never gives up.

I was also curious about the war thing as I started to wonder about things (just like Torin), like why they are even fighting. No one knows. And we do learn a few things about the whole war.

Conclusion:

This book does not have as much action as previous book, it's more of an adventure of sorts and I liked it. Still fast and furious.

Cover

They are all the same

Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 17th 2014 by Titan Books Ltd (first published May 27th 2008)
Confederation #4
Military sci-fi
For review