Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 105 - Star Cluster Seven by Alex Random, Beyond Reason by Kat Martin, Injection Burn by Jason M. Hough

Star Cluster Seven by Alex Random
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a re-release of a book originally written back in the 70's. It holds up well as far as plot. There is a slight Star Trek flavor in the backstory. Primarily this is a mystery. Rex Alston a Star Fleet Command officer was convicted of smuggling but he was framed. The entire story revolves around how and who did the framing. There is a side love story for added interest. I found the dialog a little stilted and the love story less than believable. An OK read with some tension and an ending that solved the mystery.


Beyond Reason by Kat Martin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beyond Reason is the first book in Martin's new Texas Trilogy. I found this to have a little different flavor from her previous books. The two main characters are both in business. Cain is very successful while Carly is trying to rescue her grandfather's trucking firm. She needs help and Cain has promised her grandfather he will look after her. The business aspect is what gives this a unique flavor. There is an element of danger. Someone is trying to us Carly's trucking firm to run contraband. One person has been killed and there is the threat of more deaths. I loved the interaction between Carly and Cain. I found the danger believable and the action spot on. A really good start to a new series. Here's looking forward to the next book featuring Cain's partner.


Injection Burn by Jason M. Hough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Injection Burn starts with the three man crew of a space ship from Earth trying to run a blockade and find a missing ship. Then it leaves that crew and goes over to a ship that left Earth thousands of years ago. That is when I realized that this was a spin off from the Dire Earth Cycle and this crew was one I knew from that trilogy. As the action heats up and the two crews come the tension increases. Don't look for a solution to the problems facing both crews. This is like one book divided into two parts. Injection Burn ends with everything up in the air. I enjoyed meeting the characters both new and old and am looking forward to finding out how they solve the problems they are facing. Turns out Earth's survival may depend on their actions.

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Stacking the Shelves - March 18, 2017

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

For Review:

Stolen by the Space Pirate by Nina Croft

Rescued by the Space Pirate by Nina Croft

Injection Burn by Jason M. Hough

Marry in Haste by Anne Gracie

The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough

Science Fiction

What Goodreads says:

"After discovering the first key in the wreckage of a crashed Builder ship, Skyler Luiken and his crew follow the migrating aura towers in search of the four remaining relics. But time is running out: the team learn that the next Builder event will be the last, and one of the objects has already fallen into dangerous hands...Will the survivors finally reveal the Builders' plan?"

That is a very short paragraph describing the action in The Plague Forge, book three in the Dire Earth Cycle and yet it says it all.  There was not that much substance in the third book.

The book followed various characters from the previous books as they retrieved the keys for the Builder’s ships.  While each team faced unique challenges after awhile each one sounded a lot alike.  This is worth reading if you have followed the first two books but otherwise you can skip The Plague Forge.  The ending was not what I expected.  They did find out what the Builder’s wanted and it may set up a new series but for me it was a bit of a disappointment. 

Del Rey published The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough in 2013.

I received an ARC of The Plague Forge from Netgalley.

The Exodus Towers (Dire Earth Cycle #2) by Jason M. Hough

Science Fiction

From Goodreads:

"The Exodus Towers features all the high-octane action and richly imagined characters of The Darwin Elevator—but the stakes have never been higher.
 
The sudden appearance of a second space elevator in Brazil only deepens the mystery about the aliens who provided it: the Builders. Scavenger crew captain Skyler Luiken and brilliant scientist Dr. Tania Sharma have formed a colony around the new Elevator’s base, utilizing mobile towers to protect humans from the Builders’ plague. But they are soon under attack from a roving band of plague-immune soldiers. Cut off from the colony, Skyler must wage a one-man war against the new threat as well as murderous subhumans and thugs from Darwin—all while trying to solve the puzzle of the Builders’ master plan . . . before it’s too late for the last vestiges of humanity."

Important:  Before you read The Exodus Towers you need to read The Darwin Elevator. 

World Building:  Much of this was done in The Darwin Elevator.  Additional facts are added in The Exodus Towers but much of the story assumes that you know all about the world this is set in. 

Backstory:  Again most of that was developed in The Darwin Elevator and while there are hints about relationships and past actions they are just that hints.  You could be very lost if you read this first.

Plot:  There are several different plot lines in The Exodus Towers.  The book moves to three different places.  Darwin, Brazil and Space all have their own cast of characters and their actions.  They are intertwined in some ways and separate in others.  Those are the human parts of the plot.  The Builders are a separate entity and while they drive much of the plot we really do not know what they want or who they are.  This middle book moves the action and sets the stage for book three. 

Characters:  The main characters are already well developed.   They still play a major role in the story.  There is some additional characters development.  I did find that they stayed true to form here and they moved in a way that aided the plot.  Some new and important characters are added and each is important to the story line.  There are a number of interesting and important side characters that keep appearing.  They are not just thrown into the story but are also well developed.

Tension:  Most of the tension is still from the arrival of the builders and the need to survive.  There is some added internal tension between some of the characters but that is secondary to the story.   Look for additional danger as the different human elements in the story continue to clash. 

Writing:  Even through the story jumped between the different groups it was smoothly done.  The writing kept the tension up.  I could feel the action and the danger.  Everything moved in a manner that kept me reading. 

Look for a cliff hanger ending. 

Del Ray published The Exodus Towers by Jason M. Hough in 2013.

I received an ARC of The Exodus Towers from Netgalley.