Witch Nebula

Starcaster, Book 4

De: J.N. Chaney, Terry Maggert

Narrado por: Tom Taylorson

On a sunny green world, a little girl watches as meteors fall, bringing death and fire from above.

She isn’t alone. Thorn Stellers is there, watching, unsure of his connection and what he can do to save the child from a fate like his parents, all those years ago. Reaching across the lightyears, Thorn sets a chain of events into play that will shift reality as he knows it. For this little girl is no ordinary child, and the meteors are no accident. The Nyctus have targeted her green world for destruction, and the girl along with it.

But they failed. When the Orbital Navy investigates, they find a web of intrigue surrounding the latest Nyctus weapon known as Skins, stolen humans who have been reprogrammed as spies. The Skins walk among humanity, serve in the navy, and plot, report, and sometimes even kill. They are everywhere, always watching, always waiting.

Kira, Thorn, and the brilliant pilot Mol Wyant will be pushed to the edge of loyalty and courage as their officers suspect them of the ultimate betrayal. It’s up to them to fight back, prove their accusers wrong, and find the connection to a shattered world where a young girl lifted her hands and kept the fire away.

©2021 Variant Publications (P)2021 Podium Audio

one of Chaney's best

I listened to all of Chaney's work. This is my new favorite series. I can't waiting for the next book. very good twist at the end.

plot troubles

spoilers ahead






so, you sell the biggest asset you have in the middle of a war?
He sold him into slavery to an obvious enemy... wtf
I stopped listening just as he was getting on board the alien ship. I quit the series, even owning the next two books. I switched, maybe I'll continue when I forget about the horrible plot point but most likely I wont.

Continuity Is Getting Better

The ship, Pool of Stars, raises its head again in this book. The connection is becoming clearer, but not where you might expect it to be, but let's chalk that up to the story flow. I am still disappointed in the clueless nature of both Thorn and Kira. They are both capable of reaching into the minds of others, which might give them some insight into events that are occurring around them. Not that they need to read those minds, but that they would hopefully have expanded their view of how their world operates. For two officers in the ON to not be able to grasp the possible reasons for actions around them is sometimes extremely maddening!!! And this has nothing to do with me knowing things they don't know about the story. For instance, the "jolly green giant", Brtillic (sp). This being appears out of nowhere, isn't able to be sensed by Thorn's magic, and he can do magical things!! You think maybe Morgan created this being?????? And Kira seems to be dumbfounded when she fins out the Nyctus want to keep her and Thorn apart. Seriously?? And doesn't Thorn even give a bit of thought as to why Morgan can fight back so strongly when he is trying to bring her back to life?? Like maybe she isn't dead????? Other than those frustrating views of the heroes, this book is much better than Book 3. Yes, I am going to finish the series. Yes, I have higher hopes for Books 5 & 6. But wow, it's like the authors have not kept any notes on the books they have already written in this series.

One of his better series

Maybe it’s due to Maggert’s influence, but I like Chaney’s Starcaster series way more than most of his other ones. I’ve really enjoyed all the books in this story line so far.

Now the story is getting good

Performance is what sells this story best. Good you have the right to vote for

Worst Book in the Series by Far

I've noticed that this series from book 1 to now is plagued with plot contrivance and induced stupidity. In previous books, they were minor, somewhat unnoticeable, but this book in its entirely is a Major Plot Contrivance with several doses of Characters failing to make logical and rational conclusions or even decisions that any competent individual in their shoes could conclude. The best example is Thorn getting on an unknown alien ship in the middle of a contentious War, a ship and alien somehow null to magic. You Do Not send nor lend your military ace, only starcaster on board your ship to foreign unknown Alien simply for some mysterious tech when you have an enemy race doing unknown things doing active wartime. The sheer odasoty of the authors to write in a rationale behind the decision is mind-boggling. It's clearly stupid that a commanding officer known for brilliance and competence thought it was a good idea. They're more such incidents with Kira, too. The idea that they couldn't logically make the leap in logic that maybe it was the nyctus that gave reparations, not her faction is ridiculous especially when they have prior knowledge of these alien having trade deals with the nyctus, or maybe not realizing they're stalling cause the nyctus told them too. I can go on and on. This book is just bad, enjoyable sure but written very poorly.

The Witch Nebula Slows Down - and Hits Deeper

This was a refreshing shift from the usual, and one of the most grounded, character-driven entries in the Starcaster series so far.

The Witch Nebula trades all-out warfare for something more personal, and it works beautifully. We get a closer look at Thorn Stellar, his daughter, and his relationship with Wixcombe - all of which add real heart to the story. It felt good to slow down and live in the quieter, more emotional moments for a while.

I also have to say, Batilik, the newest addition to the crew, is an absolute standout. Without giving anything away, there's something refreshing about his presence that balances the tone and opens up new dimensions in the story.

And just when I thought the book was coasting into a calm finish… that ending. The final revelation about the enemy’s origins genuinely blew me away. And Tom’s daughter? I’m now fully invested in what she’s going to become, and what she’s going to do next.

It’s thoughtful, emotional, and still full of that underlying tension the series does so well, leaving me excited for where we go from here.

Waste of money

Total bull(/&@ book 4 . It is a waste of time and money. Not one bit of substance, only filler and nonsense. I am so disappointed!

Boring and Over the Top

I had to force myself to listen to the end. Anticlimactic stories in the story with tendency to melodrama. At the same time, over the top character capabilities developments that test the border between creative science fiction and utter nonsense. The book feels like a filler to stretch the series in length, without adding value to the reader.