Destroyer

The Void Wraith Trilogy, Book 1

By: Chris Fox

Narrated by: Ryan Kennard Burke

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Mankind's outer colonies are disappearing. Without warning. Without a trace. Fleet command chalks the attacks up to pirates, but Captain Dryker of the UFC Johnston isn't buying it.

Defying command, he leads his misfit crew into hostile territory in search of answers. They encounter a technologically superior foe unlike anything humanity has ever seen, one bent on the destruction of all sentient life. After 26,000 years the mythical Void Wraith have returned to begin the next Eradication.

Humanity cannot stop them. Not without help. Captain Dryker's only hope is to forge an alliance with mankind's greatest enemy, the savage Tigris.

One maverick captain, an unlikely crew, and an aging vessel are all that stand between humanity and the Eradication.

©2016 Chris Fox (P)2016 Chris Fox

I am surprised ea did not stop this book

I am surprised ea did not stop the release of this awesome book as it is like mass effect combined with Halo but it is differential a amazing book and looking forward to hearing the rest

very very good first start to a series

the story was excellent and moved along at a very good pace. the author got his point across and never bogged down with useless "Fluf". I can't wait to hear the next book...

Solid Space Marine Fun

Chris fox did an amazing feat of writing, churning out this book in less than one month for all to see (on YouTube). I think he did a great job and I really enjoyed the book.

Exciting Story

Fun, fast read with enough science to keep it interesting, but it couldn't be called hard scifi. Great characters, Nolan is a relatable guy, and I like the Tigris. In some ways they're like Klingons from Star Trek. Destroyer is action/adventure focused with some good battle scenes. Can't wait to download book 2.

Another Home Run

What did you love best about Destroyer?

Hmm, I'm not sure. It's such an interesting and unique story...I really love the Tigris. They're so fierce and yet they purr...it's great!

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's really hard to pick just one...Fizgig, not a clue if that's spelled right, is great. I also love Annie, Captain Dryker, Sargent Hanan...

What about Ryan Kennard Burke’s performance did you like?

I think he does a great job with less traditional story lines and I love when he does the recap the Chris Fox has at the beginning of his books...he really great at capturing the humor from the writer...

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

Not a clue...I leave that to the boys and girls who make the big bucks...

Any additional comments?

I'm NOT a SciFi fan, but I am REALLY enjoying this series...I definitely recommend it and anything else by this author and the narrator too.

All I can say is...more please...ASAP!!

Enjoyed it

Was a fun story. I like all of Chris Foxes stories I have read so far. This one did not disappoint.

returned

Couldn't buy the physics. Small vessels that ram moving ships to penetrate the hull and disgorge a boarding party that somehow didn't get turned into jelly? Flying through an asteroid field so thick a ship is constantly dodging rocks, in the enormity of space? A kinetic projectile that is used to blast pieces of an asteroid off to create secondary projectiles with which to destroy an enemy ship, instead of being used directly? Had to return it.

Mass Effect Rip-Off

Note: Author provided Audible version for free in exchange for review.

Normally, I don't give One Star reviews. I try to find something nice to say about every book I read since writing a novel takes a lot of time and effort, blood and sweat and tears, and I respect the work an author does even if it isn't the greatest story ever told. All I ask is that the author takes the time to make sure the formatting is good, the spelling and grammar is correct, and the story is coherent. If you get that done, you've at least got a 3 Star review.

So what could be the issue with this book to make it deserve a 1 Star Review?

Destroyer: The Void Wraith is a blatant retelling of the Mass Effect video game series, specifically Mass Effect 1 and 2.

It's understandable some authors are influenced by other works. Some authors pay tribute. Some authors borrow. However, ripping off the overarching plot to one of the most beloved video games franchises in history is downright offensive and borders on the edge of plagiarism.

That's not to say Chris Fox didn't add his own personal touches. If he'd borrowed from common science fiction troupes, it would have been okay. However, in most areas Fox took a little of X and a little of Y, directly from Mass Effect, and created Z.

For example., he took the backstory of the Turian race with their First Contact war against humanity, the size and power of the Krogan race along with their aggressive, strength, respecting nature, and applied it to his own race of giant cat people.

Another example, his primary antagonists, The Void Wraiths, are basically the Reapers, following a cycle of disappearing for a long time and then returning back with plans to destroy the space faring races. Except in this case, they're doing the stuff which the Collectors did in Mass Effect 2 like kidnapping colonies of people to turn them into something else. Oh yeah, The Primo have the back story of the Protheans to boot.

Final example, the "Mind Control Slug" in one of the chapters. It's a somewhat original explanation for the Void Wraith being able to control people which wasn't lifted from the video game, but it was only because he couldn't flat out adapt the Indoctrination aspect from the Reapers of Mass Effect. At least he tried to be original in that area so he gets a little credit for it.

There are several more examples of this blatant borrowing but I'm not going to go any further into it because I'd be writing way more than I need to get my point across. If you've ever played Mass Effect, you'll immediately understand my point.

Since I listened to the Audiobook version, I'll have to give my compliments to the narrator, Ryan Kennard Burke. He read clearly and his voice work was awesome. This review in no way bears on him. He did great.

Instead of buying this book, do yourself a favor and go and play the REAL story which Destroyer: The Void Wraith is actually based upon

Has everything i love about military sci-fi

Love it! Listened to it over the course of two days, usually i try to stretch out a story so I can listen to it while i walk for exercise.

The story was good, each chapter had a small or big cliffhanger, the narration was terrific.

It had space battles, hand to hand combat in the corridors of the ships, alien vs. human, planetside combat, political intrigue, exploration of an ancient culture.

And similar to a JJ Abrams or Clive Cussler story, each time a question was answered it seemed to open the door to a new and more intriguing question, some of which will have to be answered in the next book :)

enjoyable

What did you love best about Destroyer?

characters

Who was your favorite character and why?

Noan, there is a bit more than this but, because as he grows in experience he becomes more confident in leadership.

What about Ryan Kennard Burke’s performance did you like?

I forget he is a narrator somewhere in the book which make you focus on the story. Most of the time I notice the narrative throughout the story which can put a damper on the book.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nope no way that good. But, worth the money and I am going to get the next one.

Purring Cats and Men in Space

A new Genre for me to explore, I became invested in several of the characters from the start, but the fluffy purring space cats, with big guns and grapplers, are my personal favourites.

New sf author brillant

Would you listen to Destroyer again? Why?

Yes the author has a greate feel for keeping the action going wanting the reader/listener keen to ear more

What was one of the most memorable moments of Destroyer?

Commander Nolans maturing into responsibility

Have you listened to any of Ryan Kennard Burke’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

For a first science fiction novel this author has got it right for those who like to listen to space opera type novels. The action was pretty well continuous from start to finish with lots of openings left over for continuation in the second novel of the trilogy leaving the listener wanting more. I cannot wait for the next novel in the series to be published and hopefully be available on Audible. Bring it on I cannot wait.

Fast paced fun!

What did you like most about Destroyer?

The pace. Once it got started there was no stopping this story. There was plenty of oportunities for the author to bog me down with infortmation about the tech and the characters but he didn't. My eyes (ears ;() didn't glaze over once.
The characters were so much fun to tag along with on their finger-nail biting adventure.

What did you like best about this story?

Space marines! Who knew?

What does Ryan Kennard Burke bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His narration was superb. He brought all the character to life - not just with their accents but with there own indevidual tone and tempo - in a way that I would not have managed to do in my own head.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Are you the enemy?
Dun dun duuuuuuunn!!!!! ;)

Any additional comments?

Fantastic! I only picked this to listen to because I was getting ready to scream if I listened to something else (I am working my way through a series and seriously needed a rest) and having read the authors non-fiction books I thought I would give this a try. Honestly, I didn't expect to like it. I was pleasently suprised and I can't wait to dive into the next book when it is released.
I think I may have just found a new genre to go and explore. :)