~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Science Fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Jael
Ked’Korhva hadn’t anticipated becoming the galaxy’s most wanted.
He
hadn’t planned on picking up a strange alien artifact, either, but once it was
clasped around his wrist, Jael was granted extraordinary abilities. His senses
were heightened, his reflexes faster, and he could now regenerate from damage
that would spell the end for others, which was a boon, considering he was just
a derelict scavenger.
That
was until forces from every corner of the stars wanted Jael’s artifact for
themselves, and they’ll stop at nothing to take it back. What initially appears
as a boon swiftly transforms into a weighty charge. Yet, it's a charge Jael
accepts without hesitation, understanding the catastrophic potential should the
relic fall into the wrong hands.
Prodded
onward by visions of an ancient ally and a mysterious enemy, Jael becomes a
pivotal piece in a vast interstellar play of power and dominion.
An
action-packed space opera, perfect for science fiction fans of Sun Eater by
Christopher Ruocchio or The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Silence fell over the derelict ship.
An ominous drone vibrated through the ship’s hull that Jael
could feel beneath his feet and then the cargo hold was violently breached. A
searing streak of plasma sliced through the hull, disintegrating the sturdy
alloy walls as though they were made of paper. An Archon corpse floated by
Jael, their helmet and head nothing more than a smoldering clump of matter
vitrified to their pressure suit.
The other Archons unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Emerging
from the breach, Mortuum biobots slithered into the cargo hold—serpentine
constructs of metal and flesh, each limb a deadly weapon, protecting their
central brain encased in layers of plasticrete casing.
Jael took a deep breath in and steeled himself for combat.
“Shoot the fraxxing things!” Garlial yelled over the comms,
firing wildly at the biobots. His shots were haphazard, more out of fear than
strategy.
A biomechanical tendril whipped over Jael. Garlial dove onto
the floor to avoid it, dropping his rifle in the process. Their gazes locked
and Garlial sneered, scrambling to grab his weapon.
Jael kicked away the rifle just before Garlial got his hands
on it. He pushed off the floor, turning his body as he snapped out another kick
and it connected with Garlial’s helmet. Jael drew his pistol and fired.
Garlial rolled and the beam barely missed him. He lurched
forward, grasping the pistol before Jael could fire again and eject the lens
cartridge.
Pulling free, Jael twisted himself around, positioning
himself on Garlial’s back. He brought the pistol up and slammed it into
Garlial’s helmet. Jael raised it again but leaped off and rolled as a wayward
arc of plasma from a biobot raced toward him.
“Fraxxing scav!” Garlial scrambled to his feet and tipped a
crate towards Jael.
Jael swung his body around and hopped up, avoiding the crate
entirely. Garlial drew a combat knife from a panel on his thigh and slashed at
Jael. With the palm of his hand on Garlial’s wrist, Jael stopped his attack. He
grasped the inside of Garlial’s armored cuff and pulled him in close.
Jael dropped his weight on Garlial’s arm, and he felt the
limb snap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Scott
Killian grew up in California where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror
media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King
and H. P. Lovecraft to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened
and his obsession with the macabre began. Story telling, in any form, is his
greatest passion.
Email: saltnsulfurpublishing@gmail.com
********************
GIVEAWAY
a Rafflecopter giveawayStellar Heir by Scott Killian centers around the
adventures of Jael and his sidekick and best friend, Goni, whose scavenging run
results in the acquisition of an artifact that plunges them into a conflict and
quest that may signal the end of the universe. Enemies and allies come out of
nowhere, and the past and the future are inextricably intertwined.
This young-adult science fiction tale is full of nonstop action
and imaginative scenarios. The story has a comic-book feel, with plenty of
violence and excitement, but I would have liked a bit more depth to the
characters. The requisite quest, quirky sidekick, damsel in distress, noble
hero, and multiple evil villains are all present, with even an unlikely “pet”,
but some of the events strained my incredulity a bit too far. This is the first
book in the series, so there are quite a few dangling threads, and the world
building is a bit basic, but complexity will undoubtedly ensue as stories are
added. Those who like fast-paced adventures with plenty of fight scenes should have
fun with this story.
A copy of this title was provided for review
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