Monday, April 13, 2015

Dragons of the Stars review


Blurb:
The ship of legends…

The future is set for Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, son of a Hyrathian Duke. He’s poised to secure his own command and marriage to the queen’s daughter. He’ll stop at nothing to achieve his goals.


But when the Alliance denies Hyrath’s claim on the planet of Kavil and declares war on their world, Aden finds his plans in disarray. Entrenched in battle and told he won’t make captain, Aden’s world begins to collapse. How will he salvage his career and future during Hyrath’s darkest hour?


One chance remains–the Dragon. Lost many years prior, the legendary ship’s unique weapon is Hyrath’s only hope. Can Aden find the Dragon, save his people, and prove he’s capable of commanding his own ship?

My review:
For Lt. Commander Aden Pendar, every step of his future has been planned. He'll become a captain, marry the queen's daughter, and then eventually take over his father's business. Determined and confident, he will not be deterred until the Alliance declares war on his world. Only one thing can save his home: the Dragon. It is the most powerful ship ever created, but lost amongst the stars. Aden must find the Dragon to save his people, but will this dangerous mission be his last?

An incredible tale of determination, loyalty, and sacrifice. We begin with Aden adeptly navigating through the tangled societal and political environment. It in itself is intense even before Hyrath goes to war with the Alliance. It was easy to get caught up in Aden's fierce determination in everything he does. I was hooked on the story from page one.

Hyrath and the Alliance go to war over a planet with highly valuable resources. Ships from all races face off in space. The scenes are fast, fiery, and vivid. What's even more is how clever and daring Aden is in dealing with various situations. It isn't all about who has the biggest weapons, but tactical maneuvering and calculated risks.

The characterization is phenomenal. Aden can be a bit hard edged, but I became immensely invested in him as the layers were peeled back. I liked even more the moral struggle about the Dragon and its secret. Two of my favorites were Tamsin Pavott and Shadvey. Pavott's unwavering loyalty to Aden was awe-inspiring, and I loved the little peeks we got of her as a person outside of her position on the ship.

I was already a fan of Alex J. Cavanaugh before I read this book, but DRAGON OF THE STARS is by far my favorite of his work. It is space opera at its finest.


Buy the book here:
 
About the author: Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design, graphics, and technical editing. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.

15 comments:

  1. Hi Christine - brilliant review - and so so good to read .. I must settle down and read it. I'm so pleased for Alex - but expected nothing less ..

    Excellent post - thanks .. Hilary

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  2. Loved your review and so agree with you. I don't usually read adult stories but loved Alex's story. And could not believe all the challenges he made his characters face.

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  3. Christine, thank you! That just made my morning.

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  4. I'm looking forward to reading it too!

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  5. Hilary, thank you. Alex has outdone himself with this story!

    Natalie, it was a fantastic story!

    Alex, you're welcome. :)

    Jay, hope you get a chance soon.

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  6. Awesome review! Alex's book is of course on my TBR list. :)

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  7. It's very exciting to see Alex's book everywhere. Your review is excellent, Christine.

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  8. Excellent review, Christine! I couldn't have said it better - that's why I haven't written a review yet. I struggle with putting reviews together -even when I love a book.

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  9. Great review and so happy for Alex!

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  10. I'm pretty sure this book is a must read. Is that what you're hinting at? *snicker*

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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  11. A great early review, Christine. Good job.

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  12. Awesome review! I too enjoyed Dragon of the Stars. :)

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  13. Great review! Glad you enjoyed the book!

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  14. Thanks for the review, Christine. I've already started reading it.

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