Perilous Shield

The Lost Stars, Book 2

By: Jack Campbell

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

A thrilling spin-off from Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series, The Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight delivered "excellent tales of space battles and struggles against tyrants and aliens". Now the New York Times best-selling author returns with the next chapter in the overthrow of the Syndicate Worlds’ oppression….

Following a successful coup, the leaders of the rebel Midway Star System struggle to forge a government free enough to please its citizens yet strong enough to secure power. But in a world where former rulers have become new foes, an alien threat to humanity may turn old adversaries into uncertain allies.

General Artur Drakon knows three words describe someone who confides in a Syndicate CEO: Stupid. Betrayed. Dead. Despite his misgivings, he partnered with another former CEO to overthrow Syndic forces. Now, with an enigma fleet menacing their hard-earned independence, he can ill afford to trust her - or lose her support.

President Gwen Iceni believes Midway is humanity’s defense against the enigmas. Syndicate training taught her self-preservation in a crisis, yet she’s determined to fight for the star system’s fate…even if it means joining forces with Drakon - and an officer of the hated Alliance.

Their plan places the Midway flotilla at great risk in hopes of greater reward: recruiting the personnel necessary to man warships against the enigmas. But before facing the alien advance, Drakon and Iceni must survive hidden dangers closer to home: all-too-human threats that could jeopardize Midway’s freedom…and their own lives.

©2013 John G. Hemry (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Great story

If you are a fan of Jack Campbell and especially the Lost Fleet series, you will certainly enjoy book #2 in what is a fantastic addition to the Lost Fleet canon.

The Other Side of the Story

I’m guessing most people picking up this book have also read the Lost Fleet books, and so now you get to hear Midway’s version of those encounters. That takes up a little less than half of this book and it is fun seeing the other side of that story. I never thought reading about morally ambiguous characters striving to use their talents for good while trying to not admitting to themselves that is what they are doing would be this much fun. Still, maybe more will turn out to be just as selfish as they think they are . . . guess we will have to keep reading.

Oh, and the revelation at the end of this book is just awesome. If you've become emotionally invested in the characters it will put their relationships in a whole new light. It’s a well placed twist.

Campbell does a wonderful job of making his power politics as interesting as his space battles. While this was done to a lesser degree in the Lost Fleet series, it really takes stage in this series. It gives these books something fresh and distinguish them from the adventures of Admiral “Black Jack” Geary.

As a criticism, things are a little repetitive at times. Things we were told not a few moments before get told to us again, and sometimes even a third time. Additionally, we all know by now the mental struggles of our central characters, and like in the Lost Fleet books, the detailed mental deliberations can get a little long winded. Still, we are on book 11 and if this criticism really bothered you, I doubt you’d be reading this review.

Marc Vietor continues to do a great job with this new series. I loved his readings of both The Black Company and The Nightside. Of course it different hearing his portrayal of Geary and other known voices from the Lost Fleet, but it’s not a huge part of the book and he does well enough that it is not distracting.

The short of this review is, that if you are a fan of the Lost Fleet/Lost Stars series, you should not be disappointed.

Mindboggling

If you could sum up The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, captivating, addictive.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Good question, Captain Bradamont comes close, a kind of Admiral Geary in being. But the book also depicts nameless workers, unruly mobs, sneaky snakes ,and all have their place in the story.

What about Marc Vietor’s performance did you like?

His even voice that still can bring the characters to life and making a difference without overdoing the shifts from falsetto to bass.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Lead well and Survive.

Any additional comments?

When does the next Campbell arrive in the Library?

Excellent story and very compelling.

It is an excellent parallel to the Lost Fleet series. Still bothered by a lack of a clear characteristics to root for but the story is becoming more compelling. Will certainly continue the series

good

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Space Opera Heading for Soap Opera

After enjoying many of Jack Campbell's books, this was a disappointing letdown. The story just drags on and on with no real resolution and very little action. The storyline feels quite fake and I feel like I have wasted way too much time trying to "get into it." I never did. I will definitely drop this series at this point. Perhaps another of his many series will prove interesting, as he is a talented writer.

Same Lost Fleet, Completely New Angle = A

I finished this book in about 2 days, I am a big fan of Jack Campball & his lost fleet series & this is a spin off of the series but from the POV of the other side (Syndicate) side of the series towards around the same time 'Guardian: Lost Fleet Beyond the Frontier' takes place. It is interesting & well written to give the background of how a Syndicate officer is brought up within the rank vs. an Alliance officer (more traditional ways our army work off, still keeping many of the same ranks). The main protagonist's are two people that if not for the rebellion against the Syndicate yolk would probably figuring out ways how to screw each other over. In this book u get the internal thoughts of both of them thinking these ingrained idea's that brought them to their current position but at the same time they are no longer 'Syndicates', they are a free world at the edge of known human space that has struck a deal with a larger than universe character in John 'Blackjack' Geary. It's well written & includes not only ship to ship battles but mobile ground forces as well. It also includes a great deal of uncertainty in who might be double-crossing or triple-crossing whom & how the 'Free Worlds of Midway Star System' views a character we already know so much about from the 'Lost Fleet' series & the 'Beyond the Frontier' series.

IMO this book was much better than the first book of the series 'Tarnished Knight' & believe this POV could develop into a great series to compliment the 'Lost Fleet' Series, I recommend it to anyone who likes military universe building & the overlap of characters. In this particular book it leaves u with a great ending I did not see coming for a type of book I can usually predict the ending. I would not say it was a cliffhanger but a great set-up for another book in the series.

I don't think Marc Vietor did a bad job, in fact he did a much better job with this one than the 'Tarnished Knight' book before this one. I just happen to think Christian Rummell would probably have done an awesome job since he already does the 'Lost Fleet' series. Hearing 'Blackjack' sound like 'John Taylor' or 'Croaker' from his other books or even the Posleen Wars was weird... but he did a great job

great story

love the story i must have thanks for your story, you out follow the main story

MUCH BETTER!!

This second book is nothing like the first. It has LOTS of action and Drama. Written like you wre there. Answersl questions about Black Jack and the Fleet. A Very Good Book!
This is a 4 to 5 star STELLA Book for any Lost Fleet Fan!

may be repetitive but cant stop listening!

every book so far has intrigued me and taken me into a world where every night my dreams are related and i too am apart of the entire story in my own way of course. I need more books i know the end is coming and i hate that feeling...