Retaliation

The Oceanstone Initiative, Book 2

By: Haley Cavanagh

Narrated by: Matt Chittick

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

One doctor, one alien lover, one botanist, and one engineer on a desperate mission to save earth from human destruction.

Sakota saved Astraeus and her friends from certain death, but in doing so, she gained the attention of the Oreck, who will stop at nothing to destroy everything in their path.

With their ship severely damaged, Sakota and her crew land on a nearby planet and seek sanctuary while they make repairs to return home. But nothing on this perfect planet is as it appears, and Sakota soon learns they've traded one danger for another.

Hunted and targeted, will Sakota be able to carry out her mission, or will everyone she cares about be destroyed?

©2019 Covey Publishing, LLC. (P)2020 Haley A. Cavanagh

Sci-fi Adventure

Retaliation, the first book in The Oceanstone Initiative series, is not your typical sci-fi romance, rather more of a space adventure. I like the premises, it's unique, and the scientific theories used are quite intriguing and believable. Dr. Sakota Thorell, Astraeus, and the two members of the crew survived the Oreck attack and escaped to the nearest planet. Their ship is damaged and will need help to return to Earth.

In the first book, we learned that Earth is on the brink of extinction due to severe climate change, pollution, and war. Sakota is determined to complete her mission, now she has to find a way to convince the aliens to render aid to Earth. Sakota is facing a difficult challenge convincing them to give humanity a chance for survival. The planetary alliance doesn't consider humans as a safe option to contact. They believe humans to be a risk, a violent species that sucked up all the resources from their own planet. Furthermore, the council leader is more than meets the eye.

Haley Cavanagh did a fabulous job with the world-building, technological, and cultural differences between the humans and the aliens. Also, I liked that the romance was restrained and not the primary focus of the plot.

Matt Chittick used distinct voices for the various characters. I wasn't happy with his portrayal of Astraeus; the tone used, sounded too soft and very different from the first installment. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great story with strong female lead

Sakota and Astraeus are the two main characters of this exciting tale of striving to survive and save Earth in an alien society where nothing is as it appears. Their ship was damaged after the attack by the Oreck. However, Sakota and her remaining friends are able to crash land on an alien planet through the use of a wormhole. and ask for sanctuary. While they are there, it’s made known that they not welcomed. Follow their tale to see how this interesting story shows the courage and will to survive can be used to defeat evil.

While I didn’t read the first book, there is enough detail in the second book and didn’t keep repeating information.

Retaliation

I don’t want to spoil anything... but, what a conclusion!

Haley Cavanagh kept the energy level high and really kept me entertained. A very satisfying ending!

It took me a little bit to connect with the new narrator (since I jumped in immediately after finishing the first book), but it didn’t take long at all. Matt Chittick delivered a great performance.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Outstanding Sci-Fi Romance!!!

Absolutely fabulous second book in the series! I loved listening to this book. The storyline just keeps getting better and better. I’m a Sci -Fi Phonetic and this is an amazing story. This story has adventure, intrigue, suspense,action and romance. I believe if you like sci-fi and romance you will love this book.
The narrator does a fabulous job with the characters and voices of each which makes it easy to distinguish between the characters. The narrator has just the right amount of emotions.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Retaliation

Sakota is a very strong woman and Astraeus was great. This was a very enjoyable book that I liked as much as book 1, Astraeus. Matt Chittick did a very good job with the narration. I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Paradise found?

A damaged ship forces Sakota to land on the closest planet. Everything seems good there, really good. Too good to be true? She realizes that this seeming paradise is just a polite facade thinly veiling a dangerous reality. Sakota will have to be clever to get herself and her alien lover out of there alive.

I enjoy strong, tough female characters like Sakota. I haven't read the first book in the series but certainly would like to.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall