The Emperor is dead! Long live the Emperor! That’s where we’re at in the beginning of this book. Emperor and Admiral James Somerville has died in battle defeating the Human Empire’s mortal enemy, the Karacknids. While his death did play a pivotal role in turning the tide of this war, it will be up to those that are left to complete the destruction of all the Human Empires enemies and secure a lasting peace. I say this because the Karacknids are not the only enemy the humans and their allies are still facing.
It’s true that without their Imperator, the Karacknid forces will become disjointed and leaderless until they can resolve to select a new Imperator. In this case, Admiral Scott is not going to let them have the time to make that selection. The Free Karacknids who have joined with the Human Empire and its allies recognize the heir to the Human Empire’s throne which happens to be Vice Admiral Jonathan Somerville. Yet, Jonathan doesn’t believe his place right now is out fighting the Karacknids. No, he’s of the opinion that he and his fleet must go to defeat their other enemy, the Silizzarus.
Because the way the Silizzarus have operated in the shadows for so long, manipulating entire civilization, lots of civilizations do not understand their true threat. Yet, the humans do and know that the Silizzarus must be stopped at all costs. But Jonathan doesn’t actually know what that will cost him in turns of his fleet already reduced through the war with the Karacknids. Still, he will form an armada consisting of all allied forces including the Free Karacknids and proceed to the homeworld of the Silizzarus. His journey will not be easy. We’ll see his forces engaging one civilization after another who have not learned how they have been manipulated to fight for the Silizzarus.
So Jonathan sets off with his brother Edward. They know where they have to go and it is a long way. Will Jonathan have the same skills that his Father has shown in battle after battle. Will he be able to lead a large coalition of humans and allies to form a force capable of defeating the Silizzarus? The Silizzarus are much more advanced than the humans and even more advanced than his most valuable allies. How can they stand up to an enemy that doesn’t seem to fear death, doesn’t seem to have any morals about killing, and who have destroyed entire civilizations just because they want to stay hidden. Will Jonathan have it in him to actually exterminate an entire civilization if it comes to that? Will his allies, some who are very much pacifist, even allow him to consider genocide? Good questions but fortunately, they will all find answers in this book.
Then what kind of luck will Admiral Scott and Wing Commander Georgia have against the now fleeing Karacknids. They are going to fight to keep the Karacknids running after their defeat at New Shanghai. Georgia, daughter of James Somerville, is out for revenge. She’s willing to kill every last Karacknid to avenge her Father’s death. That could easily result in her demise also if she’s not careful and doesn’t keep a steady mind. It will be up to Admiral Scott, who also misses her friend James, to reign in Georgia while using her as an effective and efficient tool of war. Their battles will be many but it appears that the will of the Karacknids has been broken and they are all only looking out for themselves. Now is the time for the Human Empire to strike back and forever end the Karacknids abilities to wage war against them ever again. Yet, their efforts are only a prelude to what will come once Jonathan returns for he too will want to teach the Karacknids a lesson they will never forget.
Lots of battles in this book and lots of accounting for ships and their destruction. These are huge battles covering vast amounts of space. It’s kind of hard to visualize how space battles might be fought since you have to think in four dimensions at once. Still, the author manages to convey what is happening pretty well as he has done throughout this long series.
I have enjoyed reading these books but I have to say there was one thing in this book that bugged me no end. When Becca finally marries Jonathan, as you should already know was going to happen, she becomes General Johnston’s second in command. That’s fine, she’s a Marine and has the experience, I guess, but they now call her a “Sergeant General”! That is one of the most ridiculous rank labels I have ever heard! She could have been a Major General or even a Lieutenant General but never something called a “Sergeant General”, that’s just stupid! Also, there were too many times during the heat of battle that the author has Marines saluting each other while on the battlefield. This is a good way to get your leadership killed. Anyone having military experience should know that. Just a minor irritant in an otherwise excellent book and series.
I look forward to finishing the series in the final book, “Empire Divided”, now available on Amazon.
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==