A Son of the Shadows: The Earthborn Saga Vol. I by Steven Bissett Book Review

My Review: 

I enjoyed this story and the creativity of everything involved. Aliens, living planets, and super powers? Yes, please.

This book is an amazing blend of fantasy, scifi, and political intrigue. There's some [super sweet] romance, and interesting delves into the psyche early on in the book. It's intellectually stimulating and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the history, albeit a bit hard to chew sometimes.

The world building is astounding and well thought-out, and I love the interactions between the characters. Gromyko at first was a bit too big-headed at first, but he grew on me SO fast. Wellesley was my first favorite though, the snarky AI created by aliens. It was an uphill battle to get Lily and Hunt to meet, but when it finally happened, I fell in love with their relationship.

My complaints: There's too much talking and planning and not enough doing and describing. Something would happen that had me like, "Oh, no that's going to be a problem!" But in the next chapter or page, that thing is easily taken care of. I wish there was more buildup to Hunt's father, and I wish they didn't have that revelation until they actually saw him toward the end. I was really wanting the dramatic irony to build until the bubble went pop, but there was no buildup, so the delivery fell flat. I was tired of everything just working out, and I wanted SOMETHING to cling for more than a chapter.

Also, the chapters were SUPER long, and some of the dialogue was stiff. Oh, and I wish there was more of a thought process to some of the deaths/encounters.

All in all, this book is a solid read. I just wish the chapters were tighter and maybe half the length they are. The journey this book takes you on is on I won't soon forget, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead in the next books.
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Summary: 

On the ice-clad prison world of Delta-13, where minds teeter on the edge of madness, mankind's future dangles by a thread.

Living under the shadow of an imperial conspiracy, Rex Hunt discovers a psychic gift that will upset the balance of power in the entire galaxy.



As Rex grapples with his newfound power, prison psychiatrist, Dr. Lily Tselitel, delves into the chilling surge of madness among the inmates, pulling her closer to a secret as old as the galaxy itself.

Their paths converge as they uncover an imperial plot to build a weapon that threatens to suffocate the flickering spirit of rebellion in the galaxy's fringe colonies.

Unbeknownst to the rebels, as they fight against the empire's sinister plan, an ancient shadow looms over the galaxy, threatening to consume humanity's vast colonies, and even Earth itself!

Discover the first book in an epic space opera where hope survives in secret taverns, and the line between life and death is blurred in the snowy expanse of Delta-13.

You're just one click away from learning mankind's fate.
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