Perilous Shield

The Lost Stars, Book 2

By: Jack Campbell

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Great story

If you are a fan of Jack Campbell and especially the Lost Fleet series, you will certainly enjoy book #2 in what is a fantastic addition to the Lost Fleet canon.

deeper relationships

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

Yes, I'd recommend this book. I'm a fan. This book is another fast easy listen with more focus on the tensions between characters than prior books which hooked me with "at time point 1.2 initiate maneuver." Good listening and good entertainment.

Gripping Novel but Cliffhanger Ending

The Lost Stars series describes many of the same events as the Lost Fleet series and the Beyond the Frontier series but from a different point of view. I like the approach, borrowed from the Alexandria Quartet. I find the characters compelling, the plot lines interesting, and the political and military detail very plausible and insightful. I would have given the first 95% of the book five stars. However, I did not like the ending, which leaves the key issue in the novel unresolved and has two major plot twists. Campbell abandons his normal approach of careful, plausible plot development. I had been completely drawn into the reality of the story and suddenly, in the last few minutes, found the spell broken as the author introduces a stereotypical megalomaniac plot line that seems implausible.

I hope the author rescues the plot line quickly in the next novel in the series. And I hope the next novel actually has an ending that is not yet another cliffhanger.

Still worth worth reading or listening to, but I suspect it would be more satisfying to be able to read the sequel right away.

Mindboggling

If you could sum up The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield in three words, what would they be?

Intriguing, captivating, addictive.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Good question, Captain Bradamont comes close, a kind of Admiral Geary in being. But the book also depicts nameless workers, unruly mobs, sneaky snakes ,and all have their place in the story.

What about Marc Vietor’s performance did you like?

His even voice that still can bring the characters to life and making a difference without overdoing the shifts from falsetto to bass.

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

Lead well and Survive.

Any additional comments?

When does the next Campbell arrive in the Library?

Mirror Mirror

What did you love best about The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield?

Have you ever wondered what happened after Captain Kirk left the bearded Mr. Spock in charge after giving him a powerful weapon system and a sexy concubine...... well this is it.

Any additional comments?

Great ending (almost too good), sequel has "High Bar"

Spinoff.... Warning...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
Hard to say... The work as always is great.. But I am not a fan of spinoff's I wanted to hear another story around Black Jack.... Not the other characters... So the first part of the book, I had a problem of getting into the story... Eventually I was ok... The book is good, It just wasn't what I was expecting.

Would you recommend The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield to your friends? Why or why not?
Most likely would recommend.. Just because I am not a fan of Spinoff series...

What does Marc Vietor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Marc brings all his wonderful efforts into this book...

Do you think The Lost Stars: Perilous Shield needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
Of course... we were left with the usual cliff hanger at the end....

Any additional comments?
All my gripes about spinoff, is just me... I hear Lost Series... I want to hear about Black Jack... Not a whole book on the other characters...

This one is a real zinger!

The plot thickens considerably in this one with one really large OMG moment. Lots of good space conflict.

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!

Space Opera Heading for Soap Opera

After enjoying many of Jack Campbell's books, this was a disappointing letdown. The story just drags on and on with no real resolution and very little action. The storyline feels quite fake and I feel like I have wasted way too much time trying to "get into it." I never did. I will definitely drop this series at this point. Perhaps another of his many series will prove interesting, as he is a talented writer.

excellent Series of books

this Series of books is exactly what Science fiction should be and the narrator Marc Vietor really pulls it together