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.

Say What?

Campbell/Hemry comes out with another fantastic story from the Lost Fleet Universe. However I have to ask, who wrote the last chapter? Did he have writer's block and decide to get his inspiration by watching daytime TV? I mean really are we reading a space opera or a space soap opera? This book was going along great and had me buying in big time until the end. This was a five star book that tanked to a "jump the shark" moment in the last chapter. The only reason I didn't give the story a worse review than I did was because there is a chance to salvage this. I have to say that if Campbell/'Hemry continues down this rabbit hole, I'm done with this series. I realize that much of the political parts of his books he finds in our own history, but even so the ones that attempted this one always failed miserably and rarely made for good stories. In fact just the opposite, most of them are bloody sagas that we try to push under the proverbial historical rug and forget about. This needs a quick resolution in the next book to keep me interested.

Marc Vietor does a great job in his second outing in the Lost Fleet Universe. This is a much better performance than his first book and I hope that it continues with the rest of the series.

Not what I expected...

Thought it would be more of Black Jack...less about the free Syndate remainders. Too bad, I hope the next one pulls it all together.

excellent Series of books

this Series of books is exactly what Science fiction should be and the narrator Marc Vietor really pulls it together

Another Sleepless Night...

I just can't say enough good about the skill of the Writer, or the Narrator... What a team! I waited for this book for a long time, and it was absolutely worth the wait! Even WAY above my expectations! Jack Campbell seems to LEAP forward with his writing skill with each new book! VERY Well Crafted from Start to Finish! Another "Couldn't Stop Listening Book" that left me sleepless last night!

Be sure to read the first book in the series, Mr Campbell doesn't spend much effort on "Catching up a new reader on past events", which I think is the way it should be!

Outstanding from beginning to end

LOL! I'm writing this immediately after completing the last chapter in this audiobook. What a GREAT ending that promises to create some very compellingly juicy subplots in future episodes. Outstanding!

Wonderful look at the other side of the story!

I loved the continuing story of the Midway Star System. This story line is even more heavily based on Arthurian myth than The Lost Fleet series is, but the original characters make it entirely interesting!

twistee

book has a number of great twist to it. I was surprised continually by the actions that were brought forward by the author. it did not disappoint in any way.

Excellent read

great storyline and deep character development. I'm addicted to the series because the story draws you in leaving you wanting more. the only con is how many times the author repeats some parts of the main story plot throughout the book.

Powerful

In order to appreciate the storytelling, you need to have read the two series written from the perspective of 'Blackjack'. If you've done that, this novel will be very powerful in understanding both humanity and folly...

Great expansion series

An expansion of the lost fleet series, this time from the Syndicate side, interesting viewpoint, very good characters in a unique universe. A hidden gem in the military science fiction universe