Perilous Shield

The Lost Stars, Book 2

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.

Better than the first in the series!

I liked this book better than the first in this series. There was an excellent plot twist and by the end General Dragon is in a tough spot even as he and President Iceni grow closer and learn to trust one another. I can't wait to start the next in the series!

Same Lost Fleet, Completely New Angle = A

I finished this book in about 2 days, I am a big fan of Jack Campball & his lost fleet series & this is a spin off of the series but from the POV of the other side (Syndicate) side of the series towards around the same time 'Guardian: Lost Fleet Beyond the Frontier' takes place. It is interesting & well written to give the background of how a Syndicate officer is brought up within the rank vs. an Alliance officer (more traditional ways our army work off, still keeping many of the same ranks). The main protagonist's are two people that if not for the rebellion against the Syndicate yolk would probably figuring out ways how to screw each other over. In this book u get the internal thoughts of both of them thinking these ingrained idea's that brought them to their current position but at the same time they are no longer 'Syndicates', they are a free world at the edge of known human space that has struck a deal with a larger than universe character in John 'Blackjack' Geary. It's well written & includes not only ship to ship battles but mobile ground forces as well. It also includes a great deal of uncertainty in who might be double-crossing or triple-crossing whom & how the 'Free Worlds of Midway Star System' views a character we already know so much about from the 'Lost Fleet' series & the 'Beyond the Frontier' series.

IMO this book was much better than the first book of the series 'Tarnished Knight' & believe this POV could develop into a great series to compliment the 'Lost Fleet' Series, I recommend it to anyone who likes military universe building & the overlap of characters. In this particular book it leaves u with a great ending I did not see coming for a type of book I can usually predict the ending. I would not say it was a cliffhanger but a great set-up for another book in the series.

I don't think Marc Vietor did a bad job, in fact he did a much better job with this one than the 'Tarnished Knight' book before this one. I just happen to think Christian Rummell would probably have done an awesome job since he already does the 'Lost Fleet' series. Hearing 'Blackjack' sound like 'John Taylor' or 'Croaker' from his other books or even the Posleen Wars was weird... but he did a great job

great story

love the story i must have thanks for your story, you out follow the main story

MUCH BETTER!!

This second book is nothing like the first. It has LOTS of action and Drama. Written like you wre there. Answersl questions about Black Jack and the Fleet. A Very Good Book!
This is a 4 to 5 star STELLA Book for any Lost Fleet Fan!

may be repetitive but cant stop listening!

every book so far has intrigued me and taken me into a world where every night my dreams are related and i too am apart of the entire story in my own way of course. I need more books i know the end is coming and i hate that feeling...