Book Review #66: The Demeter Code By Russell Brooks

Title: The Demeter Code

Author: Russell Brooks

Publishers: Self Published

ISBN: 978-0-9867513-6-3

Genre: Thriller Fiction

Pages: 366 (Epub Version)

Source: Review copy

The United States of America is under an attack. But, this time it is not the straight fight by terrorists. Rather, it is a bio-weapon attack. The entire nation was shocked to the core and the government and other intelligence agencies are trying their best to crack this case. There is CIA, NSA, FBI, etc… etc… that are too involved in the investigation of this. Sounds interesting? That’s the plot of this novel.

When I was offered to review this book by the author, being a thriller fan, I admit that I’ve made the right choice. The level of research that the author has put in through for this book is visible in the story. This is a big novel. And, there are many plots, subplots that happen across the world covering many countries from Europe, Asia and Middle East.

Ridley Fox, a former Joint Task Force 2 Warrant Officer (JTF2) has joined back up with Dr. Nita Parris on a mission that is imagined brilliantly. What is seems like a terror attack in the initial few pages, turns out to be a bigger bio-weapon attack on the whole country. The formula of the bio-weapon is what that the author is trying to break in this novel, “The Demeter Code”

As the novel picks up from its initial stage of all the introductory scenes, it gets serious as the sole purpose of Ridley Fox and Nita Parris and their hacker friend Dewan who assists them in hacking the suspected places surroundings to help them in connecting the dots. They soon will discover many things that are beyond the comprehension level. They will detain a woman called Katy Sparks from whom they get necessary information that could help them to go to the next level in their operation. In all these stages, the author has never left a clue on what leads to next. He has maintained that suspense in every page and for sure readers will be guessing what will happen next as they read through the novel.

The dynamics between Ridley, Parris and the Hacker genius Dewan was so well written that you actually feel like you are part of their conversation. One may feel like, Ridley and Parris are the main protagonists that have to be praised for their entire courageous feat. My favorite would be this Hacker Dewan, with his unflinching demeanor and timely hacking of the surrounding that actually help the protagonists carry out their operation with so much ease and comfort. Certainly, Dewan is the unsung hero of this novel. I felt, Katy Sparks’ character would’ve been extended little further.

What will happen next? Will Nita Parris and Ridley Fox able to crack down the case? Which terrorist organization is involved in declaring the bio-weapon attack on the US soil? Well, these kinds of questions will pop up in our mind as we read through. The balance between the good guys and the bad guys is maintained well. However, there are too many details for each operation that would make us wanting to skip a few pages. Certainly, the entire novel could’ve been cut short by few pages at least.

Overall a well-researched project and well executed too. The novel takes in all the facts from around the world. Author’s brilliant imagination has added life to the novel which comes as a running picture before our eyes as we read through. A brilliant novel to read and I recommend this novel to all.

Note: I received this book by the author in exchange of an honest review.

My Rating:
4.5/5

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