Into the Dark

Alexis Carew, Book 1

De: J.A. Sutherland

Narrado por: Elizabeth Klett

At 15, Alexis Carew has to face an age old problem - she's a girl, and only a boy can inherit the family's vast holdings. Her options are few. She must marry and watch a stranger run the lands, or become a penniless tenant and see the lands she so dearly loves sold off. Yet there may be another option, one that involves becoming a midshipman on a shorthanded spaceship with no other females.

©2014 J.A. Sutherland (P)2015 J.A. Sutherland

Space Opera that invokes Aubrey-Maturin series.

I received an Audible copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The quaint English setting of this space adventure immediately invoked the setting of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series for me, which was a good start. The science side of the book is perhaps too much in the background and some of the characters feel like stereotypes. Having said that, I enjoyed listening to the book (narrator did a good job of voicing the protagonist) and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

400+ Audio books. Sci fi and fantasy.

This is a five star book. Starting on the second in the series now ☺

Great main character wonderful voice actor!

I liked this book very much! I will be reading the next book in the series.

Sailing Spaceships - super cool!

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this book. Its fast moving, interesting and not what I was expecting. But it’s definitely a fantasy so don't expect everything to make sense. You have to use your imagination and let the writer take you to those very unlikely places that as a kid you truly believed existed and could not wait to go there. Its fun and easy listening. I'm looking forward to the next book. The narrator, Elizabeth Klett, is one of my favorites and never disappoints with her outstanding performance.

Original take on a Royal navy adventure.

I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I got the credit from the author in return for an honest review. Well, what I got was a great adventure story set in space, but set like a wind and sail Royal Navy adventure. Alexis Carew is a 15 year old girl on a colony planet that has inheritance rules based on Male Primogeniture, meaning she can't inherit her grandfathers land or property, but has to be married so her husband can. After an especially bad meeting with a spoiled potential suitor, she decides to try and join the Royal Navy, which happens to have a recruiting party on the planet at the time. She is refused as an able spacer, since she is too young, but the ship's Captain decides to use his discretion and takes her on as a Midshipman. So starts her adventures and education on board an otherwise all male ship, with the many different challenges this entails, such as lack of privacy, not having uniforms made in her size, some resentful crew members and no background for naval training. She overcomes these challenges, and grows into her role as an officer in training as the ship deals with patrolling, combating pirates, and at the end of the book, preparing for a war. The book is well written, and while set in space, it reads as a sort of homage to books like Horatio Hornblower and Master and Commander. It has interesting technology, without getting too bogged down in the details. It is well paced, and I really enjoyed it. Elizabeth Klett did an exceptional job as narrator, keeping the action moving with a variety of different voices, tones and accents that kept me wanting to hear more. I would recommend this book for any fans of Master and Commander, as well as fans of Jack Campbell and H. Paul Honsinger.

Charming!

The young heroine, Alexis Carew, really makes Into the Dark an outstanding book. She has a lot of personality without being snooty nor an annoying know-it-all, and she is actually very responsible and respectable. I can’t help but adore this well written young protagonist, because it is increasingly difficult to find a strong female lead in books these days. This is the first book I’ve listen to by Elizabeth Klett, she has such a pleasant voice to listen to that I instantly became a fan. Her performance for this book is top notch!

I think this is a wonderful book for lovers of YA, even if you’re an adult!

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

A Very Different (But Very Good) Sci-Fi Tale

This is not your average space science-fiction story but is definitely worth the listen. Even though there are space battles, heroes, enemies, and everything else you might expect, this book is so different as to set it apart from other similar stories.
The author manages to combine space science fiction with the old tales of British tall sailing ships, far off colonies, broadsides, boardings, and pirates. The author manages to combine the two in a way that (mostly) works and makes sense without losing the feel of the sailing ship or futuristic space themes. As a fan of both sailing and space science fiction, I feel like this book could have been written just for me.

The main character, Alexis, is a teenage girl on a far off colony planet. Raised by her grandfather after her parent's deaths, she is the heir to vast lands, plantations, and holdings. She has grown up leading, managing, and learning about her families businesses and trading activity throughout the colony. Unfortunately, women cannot inherit and her grandfather is getting old. Unable to stomach the thought of marrying any of the arrogant, stupid, or abusive male nobility left in the colony or to become a destitute worker after her lands are sold off, she enlists as an officer on a visiting naval vessel desperate for crew. Though a woman in the navy isn't unheard of, none of the military ships in the outer colonies have ever had a female on board. A capable and intelligent teenager, she throws herself into the honor of the service. However, she does not lose hope that her grandfather will be able to convince the governing landowners to change the law on her homeworld so that she can someday return and claim what is hers.

The life on board the ship is identical to that the officers and sailors of old sailing ships, but the author still brings all of the aspects of space travel to make a ship that "sails" through space. There were a few places that I (admittedly) was unconvinced with the technology or science behind some of the story, but it was a good enough book that it's easy to overlook the few holes in the science in exchange for the amazing theme and universe the book created.

The British narration was very good. The narrator gets a solid 5 stars.

Most fans of sci-fi will either like this book very much or will at least be able to appreciate it. If you're like me and have an like or experience with sailing, then you will certainly love it. I would recommend to just about anyone.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. I was NOT required to write a positive review and this reflects my honest opinion of the work.

I LOVED THIS STORY

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definately recommend this book to a friend and have in fact have already recommended it to several people! I got this book free for a review, but would spend a credit on it in a heartbeat. In fact, I was quite annoyed when I found out that the next book was not yet out!

What other book might you compare Into the Dark to and why?

I would say this book is a cross between the TV series Firefly and the book The Martian, as far as the Science Fiction aspect of the story goes. That is the way I would describe it to others. However, I would have to add that it is one of those tales, like the Harry Potter books, that could be enjoyed by any age range. There is a heroine who is the underdog, the people in her corner, and the ones working against her. The writer is excellent. I don't know if this is his (or her) first book, but if it is, I think they have a long and successful career ahead of them.When this book is discovered by others, as I know it will be, it will be a bestseller.

Which character – as performed by Elizabeth Klett – was your favorite?

She did a wonderful job with everyone, and there were alot of characters. It would have been a tough job as a narrator (and I know since I am one) to differentiate all the people in the story in a way the listener can keep them straight.

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

It was a bit too long for that. I listened every chance I got though.

Any additional comments?

I loved it and am looking forward to the next book.

Excellent story

Would you consider the audio edition of Into the Dark to be better than the print version?

She reminds me of Honor Harrington. Alexis is a young officer, first time onboard a combat spaceship. Story is very well told. Alexis is my new hero!

great book

well written
good combination of old sailing ships and space. great use of dark space
well performed