Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 238 - The Honor of Deceit by Audrey Sharpe and Stars Uncharted by S.K> Dunstall

I could not wait to read the next two books even one will not be out until the Middle of May and the other the Middle of August.

  The Honor of Deceit by Audrey Sharpe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This time Aurora Hawke finds out that often you really do not want to know what people are keeping from you. While trying to find Admiral Schreiber she runs into parts of her past that have always been hidden. Many things come to light and most do not leave Aurora very happy. Book three is more about revealing all the people who kept information from Aurora than getting to a happy conclusion. In fact with all that comes to light the story ends with answers that bring more questions. While there is a conclusion to the series there is also an introduction to the first book in a new trilogy. I was left wondering where Aurora would go and what would happen to her next.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Stars Uncharted by S.K. Dunstall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one opens up an entire new world for S. K. Dunstall to have fun and play with. I loved their Linesman series and could not wait to see what they came up with next. What they did is an entirely new world with characters who have a very different backstory. There are no lines or linesman just an rip roaring adventure filled with tension and danger. Captain Hammond Roystan is older than he looks and more than he seems. Josune Arriola was on a very different mission that has left her out in the cold. Nika Rik Terri is running from an abusive lover and a dangerous client. Together they make up a very unusual group trying to keep ahead of their enemies and stay alive. They are joined by interesting side characters who also help keep the story moving. Just a note; Nika Rik Terri is a body-modification artist, something that adds a interesting twist to all the characters and action. 

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

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Linesman by S.K.Dunstall

Science Fiction

From Goodreads:

First in a brand new thought-provoking science fiction series.

The lines. No ship can traverse the void without them. Only linesmen can work with them. But only Ean Lambert hears their song. And everyone thinks he’s crazy…

Most slum kids never go far, certainly not becoming a level-ten linesman like Ean. Even if he’s part of a small, and unethical, cartel, and the other linesmen disdain his self-taught methods, he’s certified and working.

Then a mysterious alien ship is discovered at the edges of the galaxy. Each of the major galactic powers is desperate to be the first to uncover the ship’s secrets, but all they’ve learned is that it has the familiar lines of energy—and a defense system that, once triggered, annihilates everything in a 200 kilometer radius.

The vessel threatens any linesman who dares to approach it, except Ean. His unique talents may be the key to understanding this alarming new force—and reconfiguring the relationship between humans and the ships that serve them, forever.

Linesman caught me from the very first page.  Ean Lambert is the main character and he is supported by a large cast of interesting secondary characters.  Ean’s background is at the heart of the back story for Linesman.  The plot is structured so that both back story and world building come out as the story progresses.

The plot is fast paced and full of both tension and action.  While the characters are interesting the plot uses the characters to drive the action and there is plenty of action.   I like action driven plots and Linesman manages this without shorting the character development.

The title gives a hint of what is at the heart of the story.  Ships travel the void using lines that must be tuned to work correctly.  There are ten lines until an alien ship shows up with line 11.  Ean becomes a very important linesman when he is the only one who can work with that line.  

While Linesman is the first book in a new series it does tell a complete story while setting the stage for future books.  I will be keeping an eye out for the next book to see how both the story and the characters develop.

ACE published Linesman by S.K. Dunstall in 2015.

I received an ARC of Linesman from Netgalley in return for an honest review.