Book Review #61: Shadow of the Wraith (NEXUS) By Ross Harrison

Title: Shadow of the Wraith

Author: Ross Harrison

Publishers: Self Published

Genre: Science Fiction/Space Opera

Pages: 404+ pages (EPUB version)

Source: Review Copy from Author

First things first

This is a fantastic story. I have enjoyed thoroughly. The story keeps you hooked till the end and I am not exaggerating to say that, this is the best book I've read it recently under the genre space fiction. Ross Harrison is a brilliant author. He blended space science with every possible substance that includes aliens, humanoids, humans and robots (androids). With a touch of humor, Harrison has managed to write this book fluently.

Review

The entire novel is set in the future, in which the normal human beings has mastered the space travel and learnt possible ways of mending the space ships and making themselves alliances between other space dwellers, bots and humanoids. I must remind the readers here that, though you get reminded of the stories from STAR WARS, STAR TREK and MATRIX on regular intervals, it is in no way a copy of those things. It resembles few scenes here and there, but, that’s ok. It has a great story to the readers and this is the first book in the series of NEXUS as author says.

The protagonist of the novel is Travis Archer, a freelance bounty hunter. He accepts an official assignment of destroying an unmanned ship “The Star Wraith”. This Star Wraith is a powerful ship that appears out of blue and destroys the other space ships. The intentions of it were not known to him and he builds his team with some unusual members to go on an epic journey to hunt and destroy this ship. His team consists of his buddy Miller, Jay, Zak Kirroc, and another freelance bounty hunter from the Kraathan’s Juni Lien. Juni Lien character is the most unusual to say the least. She was actually appointed to kill Travis Archer for a bounty, but, she ended up teaming along with Travis Archer in search of Star Wraith. The detailed introduction of the characters and their origin can be read from the book. It is highly interesting to read about various alliances, groups and their crazy description.

The description about the entire space atmosphere is a marvelous job. You have to be a science fiction lover to slip into the alternate world that Harrison creates in this novel. The detailed explanation of each and every machinery, space ships, plasma guns, armor suits, VI console, etc… is very fascinating.

As the story further progresses further, Travis and his team were able to finally locate and get inside the Star Wraith. There is a slight twist in the tale here, as they were prepared to destroy this ship initially, they were taken by surprise by witnessing some of the relevant man intervention in this ship. So, Travis and his team decide to take control of the ship and succeed in it. So they maneuver this ship to find out the exact intention behind its creation. Travis and his team try to get all possible details regarding its creation. They will discover that, the people from who they got this bounty contract were somehow related to this ship’s creation. Travis decides to get to the bottom of this. He and along with few team members were able to connect the dots slowly and steadily. The more fascinating of this story reveals the shadow of a villain called “Boarshraak” whose goals and intentions remained shrouded in mystery.

Other notable points—although the story starts on a small scale, it eventually escalates from Travis’s dangerous assignment to a potentially devastating interstellar conflict. Race relations between alien civilizations are touched upon—at one point, an official notes that one of Travis’ alien crew members cannot be paid like a human would. It is quite interesting to note that, they get paid in Credits! Also, there is an android called Arkuun-Marl (Became my favorite!!) with the obnoxious tendency to make lame jokes about everything. Though he is a bot (android), he prefers people calling him “HE” instead of “IT”! Arkuun-Marl has an important role in this novel. His character seems like a life saver at most of the times and also a comic relief in a serious space juggernaut.

There is also one important character that must be mentioned without fail. This character is called “Rialen” that appears as a path shower from the second half of the novel. This particular character reminds me the movie MATRIX, where NEO gets his advises every now and then.

There is also a special mention about fireflies and dragons that has a very minimum part in the novel and still plays as a part of the expedition. There is also a part where the true identity of Travis Archer has been revealed that makes him immortal!!?

The entire story runs like a movie. It has no boring aspects. The climax part of the novel is where the astounding information has been kept. Who is “Boarshraak” after all? Was he the main responsible for all these conflicts and wars? Were Travis and his team able to come out with flying colors? The answer lies in the book and I recommend the readers to read this book. This book definitely takes you to an alternate world and leaves you there to savor the moment. The entire story keeps ringing in your mind even after you finished reading it.

The book is organized pretty well. The chapters are divided according to the places that the story takes place. The violence scenes description has been taken care of really well. The grammar is perfect and the reading experience is quite lucid and engaging.

Note: I received this book from the author as a review copy in exchange of an honest review.

My Rating:

5/5

Book Review #22: Bankerupt By Ravi Subramanian

Thrillers, Thrillers and more thrillers. Yes, I love reading books on this genre. I find it really enthralling to read such books, which leaves me with a big sense of satisfaction of achieving or witnessing something in front of my eyes.

I should've read this much before, anyways, now I did. It didn't disappointed me. Ravi Subramanian has again mastered at his creativity by making this book "BANKERUPT" as one of the best thrillers that I have read.

As there is a saying by famous short story writer Henry Van Dyke , “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”  Every characters of this book seems like racing against the time. It holds the readers with a firm grip that, one would not really wish to put this book for a second day reading. Expectedly, I finished this book reading in 2 sessions. You always feel that, what would happen next, who is the culprit, who is the hero, who is plotting for a coup, etc.. etc.. That's the Crux of this novel. 

This novel has everything in it. As the caption of this novel goes, "DESIRE. GREED. MURDER". The story tactfully captures all these essence and leaves the readers with much awe. 

The book has 3 tracks of story. First protagonist of the novel, Aditya Raisinghania, an investment banker at Greater Boston Global Bank (Shortly called as GB2), who has dreams to make it to league of big-wigs and believes in achieving something in any means, by hook or crook.

Another Protagonist of the story, is Cirisha Narayanan, a tenure assistant professor and a research student in social psychology at Massachusetts University of Boston (MIT), who is known for her integrity, honesty and living the life in a right way. 

The Third track of the novel is about the Gun lobbying in USA, by some hard core groups that influences many universities in doing a research programs.

Intertwined with all these stories at the right time and in right place, author has left his readers with no time to think. The plot introduces us to the various incidents of the protagonists with their ups and downs in their respective lives. Aditya's crooked plan for selling a shoe company that was under nominal profit, for a higher valuation price, by tweaking the records of that company, that showed it as running in higher profit. What he thought was a small mistake led to a bigger scam which he never expected, this incident reminds me of the famous corporate scandal that happened in India, Satyam Scandal. What can be achieved by manipulating the accounts, will certainly leads into a bigger mess later. Later incidents in the story that leads Aditya to get terminated by his company.

In another track, Cirisha Narayanan wife of Aditya, was stuck between her much anticipated academic life and her personal marriage life. The incidents at MIT, and fight between two high positioned professors who was fighting to get the highest chair of MIT, is an awesome read from the book. 

Meanwhile, the Gun lobbying in USA is an altogether different story in the book. Certain lobbyists influences and sponsors few people at MIT to get a research report on why banning Guns is not a good idea. This section of the novel feels like it is for real after witnessing several shooting incidents in past few years. 

Overall, a must read book for thriller lovers. Somehow, I was bit disappointed at some of the incidents in the novel, regular murders of someone or the other in the novel, the gay relationship of professors at MIT, the role of police is kept bare minimum, no rigorous investigation chronicles by police which was expected out of every thriller novels, etc... I felt this section of the book would've been narrated in a different way. Anyways, as a 3 books older of  Ravi Subramanian and considering myself a fan of him. I give full points to the author for bringing such a speed and engrossing novel.

My Rating: 5/5