Tyche's Ghosts: A Space Opera Adventure Epic

Providence McKinley was studying when she suddenly lost her network connection. When the lights also went out, she knew fixing this would be more complicated. A gentle rumble of the apartment likewise didn’t bode well for getting things working again. Looking out the window, the building across the street was dark, and all the people on the sidewalk were starting toward the East – although she could not see what they was looking at. She was starting to become fearful now. There was a continuous tremor in the floor now. The apartment doors were all locked as they were supposed to do when the power went out, so she grabbed her multitool to disable the locks. She ran down the stairs and bumped into 5 strangers, marines and their Bulwark leader, Daisy, who explained that the Ezeroc were outside and would kill anyone they could get to. So Providence ducked past and ran outside to find her father and warn him. Outside, Providence saw something like an insect centaur. All the people on the sidewalk had disappeared. Dustin popped out the door behind her with a rocket launcher he fired on the creatures. Then he pulled her inside. Daisy told her that her father would be evac’d and she could meet him in orbit, so the six of them left the building. Two of the marines were killed before Providence got the van open and running. Almost at the evac center, an EMP knocked out the van and they had to run while insects swarmed toward them! Daisy tossed Providence in an escape shuttle and engaged autopilot as she stayed behind to give her life to save the child. Grace Gushiken and Nathan Chevell travel to Mercury at the heart of Sol, but it looks like conditions there are no better. They are looking for the hub of AI civilization on a planet torn apart and in ruins. Grace and Nate find the “mind” of the machine-world missing with the Ezeroc in control of the AI. There is only one thing left for them to try. Though the Ezeroc home-world still smolders, the last hope for the Empire – the AI control mind -- is there. It all depends on Grace and Nate to get it back or the insects will own the universe. With the author’s signature style, a reader will quickly notice, aside from the well-written story, there is non-stop action and emotional impact that keep the reader reeling from a barrage of events Nate and Grace appear to deal with effortlessly! The detailed description of the world around them and overwhelming events bring the story to life – and yes, you may sometimes choose to close your eyes! The twists and turns are almost too fast to follow! The tension never lets up!

Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. It's pretty tough to get five stars out of me. This series isn't quite what I usually look for in a book, which is the only reason it's 4 instead of 5 stars. That being said, it continues to be an incredible payoff series. The characters remain true to themselves (vitally crucial to me). Each individual continues to explore what it means to be human, with all of the attendant flaws and triumphs. It reads very similarly to how I imagine Firefly would be written. In a similar fashion, it's written as space opera; the focus is more on the relationships than the action. Which is not to say that there is not action; there is a bundle! But as is appropriate, it's all driven by the needs and wants of the central characters. I recommend you start at the beginning of this series, and read all the way through!