Dogs of War

Ixan Legacy, Book 3

By: Scott Bartlett

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

The invasion has begun....

The Progenitors are here, and Captain Husher knows the galaxy isn’t ready. He spent his entire military career preparing, but it wasn’t enough.

As the Interstellar Union continues to flail and colony after colony is consumed, Husher must make some impossible choices. About what to save. And what to let fall to the onslaught.

If he can’t find a way to oppose the Progenitors, they will sweep through the multiverse like fire through a parched forest.

It all comes down to this.

©2018 Scott Bartlett (P)2018 Scott Bartlett

The best series I’ve ever had the honor !

Three series’s each as its own but together are one !
And not just one, but one of the best masterpiece ever created.
I’ve listened to all from beginning to end all over again and I’ve discovered so much that I missed the first time it’s just amazing what Scott Bartlett have created, no other author have done something like this ever before, at least not that I’ve came across !

There is no question about it, I fully recommend this book, I fully recommend everything that was touched by Scott Bartlett without a doubt.

How this series ends will blow you away!

Fortunately, I hate spoilers, and I don't use them in my reviews.

So no peeks ahead here. Dogs of War is the culmination of the Ixan Legacy series, and the way the series ends will surprise you and blow you away.

Once again Captain Vin Husher is having to make agonizing, impossible decisions and choices. Being a flawed human, he doesn't always make the right ones. He doesn't always make the best ones. But he keeps fighting, and he is doing everything he can to save humanity, all the other species, the galaxy, and the universe. If you really start to like and become attached to characters, just be aware that a lot of bad things happen in this third book, and some of them can't be fixed. You'll need to read it to find out who and what I'm talking about. Husher's situation, that of the IU, the Interstellar Union, their allies and enemies, have become increasingly desperate and only desperate measures will end up saving even a few lives. Maybe.

This is the third book I've read by Scott Bartlett, the first being Capital Fleet, the first book of the series, and the second being Pride of the Fleet. Suffice it to say that while I thought it was a bit of a slow go at the beginning of the first book, after the first few chapters its been pedal to the metal all the way through, and I found myself hooked and unable to stop listening until I could reach the end of the series. Even still, I'm going back and reading Ixan Prophecy and Mechwars, both of which I now already own.

Mark Boyett has done a masterful job with the narration. I think he really got who these characters are, and what their struggles are, and he has done a truly admirable first class job of narrating the series. When narrators are really good, the characters actually take shape and form - and for that matter come to life - based on their voices, and that's what happened in this series listening to Mark's narration. It is just outstanding.

As a lot of my readers know, I'm a bit of a perfectionist as a watchmaker and a very hard man to impress. I'm not a flatterer, I'm someone who is perfectly happy to render constructive criticism or to outright say when something sucks. So I would, in a professional and constructively critical way, if it did. Otherwise, how can we learn and grow and develop and improve?

The fact that I have already purchased 2 other series from Scott Bartlett, and that I will undoubtedly listen to them, should certainly stay with you long after this review is forgotten. This series is very, very good and absorbing, it is military space opera in high form, and extremely enjoyable. I highly recommend this book and the series.

A fantastic wrap up.

You could end the series here and it feel concluded but clearly more awaits! This has got to be one of the most darkest books I have read. A very heavy hand of political antigovernment is evident. Political screaming aside though it concludes the current story Arc very well and with common sense and leaves the story open for another Arc in the series.

Good book, perfect for in the car

I really enjoyed this book. It was perfect for listening while driving. (Which is when I listen to audio books). Good action, interesting tech, logical motivations and compelling characters. Worth the credit.

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Excellent Conclusion

I was skeptical of the political side of this series, but I am glad I gave it a chance. The politics place a key part, and the reflect what's happening modern western society & culture.

This is the Epic Conclusion to the Ixan Legacy

At the end of book 2, we saw the massive battle at Thessaly, in which the Progenitors where trying to destroy not just the forces in space, but also use their Ravagers on the ground. Husher, along with Captain Norberg, (who initially had been sent to detain Husher, but reluctantly agreed to help him defend Thessaly), go head to head with the Progenitor force, out-gunned, but desperate to save the Civilian population.
Even though it seemed like they where going to lose, they are saved at the last minute by a rogue Darkstream fleet that has come to support Husher.
During this battle, the modified ship, ‘The Spire’, Captained by Fesky, Husher’s XO, also helps using its special ‘Subspace’ abilities to drop off a couple of Missile payloads.
However, Fesky has another mission, to locate the Progenitors home world, so that Husher can put an end to this once and for all. At the end of book 1, she meets a man that is identical to Husher, and responds to his name, but doesn’t appear to be himself.
At the start of Dogs of War, we see a bit of this Hushers history, before we return to now, and see Fesky being captured, and brought before this ‘Other’ Husher, this Evil Husher, who hates Wingers, and has spent his life perfecting the art of torture, especially on Wingers, and there is this horrific understanding of just how bad things are going to get for Fesky, who is trapped in a parallel dimension, with no one knowing where she is, not just the location, but in relation to space and time as well – there are an infinite number of possibilities – Fesky might never be found, her situation is one that is truly hopeless.
In the meantime, back in our reality, Husher is getting hammered from every possible angle.
The Progenitors continue to smash away at systems, even though they managed to force a retreat at Thessaly, they only appeared at the next system over, Caprice, in larger numbers, and begin to attack there, and this system is not as well protected as Thessaly. When Husher races to protect Caprice, he finds himself in a difficult position, and, with sudden loses due to overwhelming amounts of Ravagers, fatigued crews, and damaged ships, he requests help from Norberg, leaving Thessaly unguarded. Although they manage to turn back the forces at Caprice, this only leaves Thessaly open to another attack, in which the Progenitors, having made a hole in Thessaly’s protection, manage to pound the surface.
Husher finds he gets political and social pressure them, from the Government of Caprice, the Galactic leaders, wanting Caprice protected (as they are based there), as well as answers as to why only Thessaly’s rich were evacuated (because of course they own the ships, and evacuated themselves, only a few having the courage, and nobility to actually stay and help people.
And just to really make Husher’s day, his ex-wife turns up to give him grief because his adult Daughter is living in the city aboard the Vesta, and believes it is his job to talk her out of living there.
Bartlett really gives a realistic impression of what it is like to actually have the role of someone in that command position, all of the different things that continuously seem to be dropped into Husher’s lap, whether it be shipboard priority, action stations, something political, just the general bureaucratic operations of the ship that the Captain must be a part of, and then there is his own personal life that he must take care of, his Daughter obviously being a major priority in his life. Bartlett really captures the day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute stresses of his life, and the role he has to play, and it is this realistic Character driven story line that makes Bartlett’s work just so outstanding.
Add to this the exceptional world-building (or Galaxy Building in this case), that has gone into this story, from the Capital Starships, with their massive size, so big, that they actually have a city living within them. But they are also the backbone of the IGF, with enough firepower to crush a small fleet of other ships. The missile technology is fascinating from a military point of view, Bartlett has obviously done a lot of research to create a complex variety of missiles for war.
There are a multitude of other stunning aspects to the world building that make this story just an amazing Mil Sci-Fi story to read, as the level of detail is just stunning, adding this level of credibility and realism to the story.
One aspect of this that has been really amazing from the technological point of view has been the spatial distortion tech, bouncing through rifts in space/time to fight, spy, communicate, whatever is required. The concept is totally fascinating, and whilst it isn’t completely unique to this series, Bartlett has used it in a really clever and in some ways, unique aspect, to give his story this a really captivating edge. The ability for his fighters to bounce in and out of subspace, dropping missiles, alpha strikes and vanishing again is an awesome bit of tech, but to have the ‘Captain’s Yacht’ fully kitted out, to do it with the ability to spy, analyse, and use covert tactics is just masterful.
This is a really intriguing book, one with a bit of a ‘Mirror’ universe concept going on, only the Progenitors are the Mirrors, and they are using this to completely destroy life in the Galaxy as we know it.
As it becomes apparent to those in our Galaxy, and they realise people are missing/hostages, things really start to heat up. So does the battle for our Galaxy, as the Progenitors throw everything they have at destroying life in Husher’s Galaxy.
What follows is an action packed, non-stop, brutal and ferocious fight to the end, in which there can be only one side left standing, and in which Husher’s side are desperate to rescue those that are missing.
Oneiri team will fight and be shattered, and we will see Jake’s character bared to the soul as he fights for all he believes in and more. We thought we had seen some Mech fights before, but this is to a whole new level.
The ship to ship combat is just so incredibly ruthless, as capital ships, fighters, drones, smart missiles, ravagers and more, all tear each other apart in what is incredibly realistic, and brutally graphic combat scenes, that have been masterfully described, with so much detail, you feel like you are in the middle of the zone, or riding warheads and Ravagers into combat.
This is the culmination of 5 Epic books, leading to this final chapter in the Ixan Saga, and it doesn’t disappoint, you will be amazed and stunned at its conclusion. This is required reading for anyone who loves Mil Sci-Fi, Scott Bartlett, or any other Author who has written a good Galactic Space Conflict Saga.
Mark Boyett is so good at narrating these books. I have made numerous comments previously at how brilliant he is at creating the different voices for the characters, Husher, even the subtle differences between the Good Husher and doppelganger Husher, you can tell when they talk that there is a difference between the two characters, it is so clever.
He does a remarkable voice for Fesky, for each of the main characters, male, female, alien or human, they are just so clear, so concise, you can tell each character apart he does them so well. It is not just that though, you can tell how they feel, as he gives them such emotion, the glee Evil Husher is getting from torturing Fesky, and the pain she is feeling.
The annoyance and disdain Iris has for her parents. The utter contempt that Husher has for Snyder, and the superiority that Snyder feels towards Husher, like she is so much better than he is. Boyett conveys all of this in the voices he uses, and he does it so well. He is a truly masterful Narrator, and one that is an easy one to recommend, and, one that you should absolutely listen to, rather than read, as you will get so much more out of the book!!

Action Packed but seems a bit rushed at the end

I really enjoyed this book as the conclusion of the Ixan Legacy series; the good news is that it brings all the big things to a conclusion, while leaving massive openings for sequels/spin-offs. The bad news is that the end seems abrupt without much 'post-climax' resolution to a lot of things, I think that it needed a few more chapters to resolve some of the plot/character points.
Mark Boyett is an outstanding narrator, he does a great job of making all of the voices sound distinctive and using just the right amount of heightened energy when in the midst of a crisis or battle scene (pretty much always the same thing in this series!).
Overall I'm really glad I read this series, found myself making excuses to go on walks, work outside, etc. to 'find out what happens next'.

Interesting way to distribut propaganda.

OK so I am a sucker for a good space opera. To a certain level this book set achieved its objective. The author is not without talent in moving the narrative along ( specially the tactical portions ). The problem is that the author has an agenda and is as transparent as Saran Wrap in delivering the message with pretty much boils down to "We must save the elite rich ethnocentric Heroes from the inclusive socialistic hoards".

Hey, when someone puts this much effort into creating a work of fiction, they have the right to inject it with their own bias. None the less, that right should be checked a little as to not let it interfere with the quality of the work. In this case, sadly, such a check was not in place and as a result we are treated to simplistic, one dimensional characters. It is sad specially because his point ( his agenda really) could have still made it across in a more subtle matter. I did finish the three books, I am just glad they were in audio-book form so that I had one hand free to hold my nose throughout the whole ordeal. We need a little more nuanced thinking from our authors, not just an apt writer in search for a megaphone.

Political Philosophy Across Universes

Disclaimer: I received a free code for the books in this series, but the only impact that had was to influence me to actually write a review. It had no impact on the review contents. This review is for the Ixan Legacy series books 1-3, not each individual book.
This author brought to mind Terry Goodkind and Ayn Rand. Not has heavy-handed as Rand, certainly the soliloquies were not as long (thank goodness), but it seems the intent of the books was to promote a particular philosophy/political viewpoint in an entertaining fashion. And it was entertaining. I had no trouble getting through the series, and was actually curious to see where some of the characters went and how it all turned out.
The characters were a bit thin in spots. The climax seemed to be a little "deus ex machina" in a couple different places. Overall, it was enjoyable and it might cause people to think a little more than a sci-fi space opera usually does.
*scores are different across books intentionally to get better granularity over rating for the series.

Good scifi with a rushed ending

Dogs of War is the last book in the Ixan Legacy trilogy, by Scott Bartlett. The interstellar Union is pressed to the brink, due to the relentless continued attacks from the progenitors. The enemys ability to phase in and out of reality, and their massive number of ships, has created a situation from which Captain Husher is unsure that they can survive. At the same time, his best friend Feske is missing in a parallel universe, and the IU government is fighting his actions at every move.

The quality of the writing and audiobook narration by Mark Boyett is unchanged, and I still enjoyed it as much as the previous books. It rounds of the trilogy in a satisfying way, although I must say it was somewhat more predictable than previous entries, and I did feel the ending was slightly rushed. The big end battle with the main bad guy was surprisingly quickly over, and the bad guy just kind of vanished without a satisfying finish. I assume it was due to the setup of the secondary bad guy, as a kind of ‘new type’ of baddest bad guy, but even he was also finished very quickly. In addition to that, the aftermath was very briefly touched, and I would have liked to know more about how the political and human aspects of the universe changed post war. I assume it is possible that Bartlett wants to add yet another trilogy to his world, but if he does, I do hope it isn’t another trip with the same bad guy again. :P Now I want to see the different aspects of his world, and while space ship warfare can still be a good part of it, it shouldn’t be the main focus anymore. The author did quite good with the addition of the political side plots in this trilogy, and I would like to see more of it.
As with the previous book, I felt the entire side plot with the characters from the Mech Wars series was a waste. It didn’t add much, and in the end they really needn’t had been there for the overall story. I had no relation to them at all, and thus I often felt I didn’t understand why they did as they did. In addition, the enemy that was introduced in book 2 for these characters was completely unused here, and thus disappeared as fast as he appeared.

Overall I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as ‘tight’ as previous Bartlett books, especially the ending. So if you enjoyed the previous entries, and have you also read the Mech Wars series, you’ll definitely also like this one.

I received this audiobook for free in return for a review. I have no affiliation with the author, the narrator, the publisher, or their pets (Although I am sure the latter are quite nice!).

Thrilling Finish

I have really enjoyed this series. Finally, a sci-fi series written by somebody who isn't a utopian idealist. This is a solid commentary on today through a future lens as well as a super and entertaining romp. The narrator is excellent too. Thumbs up, this was great.

Dogs of War

This is the final part of the Ixan Legacies trilogy and it is a fitting end to the series. I flew through this listening to it much quicker than I normally would have because I couldn't wait to find out what happened!

I can't really remember where the last book Pride of the Fleet ended and this one began. Because I don't want to get into spoiler territory all I will say is that this is the best book of the three, the other two were merely setting the scene so that things could be wrapped up for better or worse here.

We have space battles, mech wars and finally an ending to the frustration of intergalactic politics which wound me up so much in the first two books. Don't let the fact that I got wound up about it put you off, I'm more than certain that it was supposed to.

The ending wraps things up and doesn't leave is with a massive cliffhanger like some of Bartlett's previous book!

I really enjoyed the series and would thoroughly recommend.

A truly good book

This is the third installment of the Ixan Legacy Trilogy. It continues after the Progenitors have started another series of conflicts that has led to fighting. Captain Husher seems to be the only member of the Navy who has recognized the seriousness of the danger involved even as the Union continues to try and destroy him as they also work to wreck their own government.

There are many places where you want to believe that people could not be as bad as they appear; but it provides a look at how far people will go to ensure their own position of power.

The book is exciting and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. It is well narrated and the narrator has great voice control for the various character and is fully understandable.

This book was provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review.