Star Divide

Ascension, Book 2

By: Ken Lozito

Narrated by: Jeff Hays

Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

After initial contact with an alien entity leaves Kaylan unconscious, she wakes up to discover that she's now in command of the Athena mission stranded in a star system far from Earth.

The ship's computer is malfunctioning, and former hacker and astronaut trainee Zack Quick is the only one who can fix it. If he can't figure out what's wrong, they have no hope of getting back home.

In order to survive, the crew of the Athena must explore an alien star system to find the species that summoned them.

©2016 Ken Lozito (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Excellent second book!

I was lucky to stop by and see Jeff Hays new releases because I didn't know these were out! haha, it was nice to be back so soon with the crew of the Athena, and to see how and what was going to happen to them in their dire situation. From Michael trapped on Pluto to the crew now in an unknown galaxy.

The character development is really good, I enjoyed the little menage a la 4 that's been going on, even though we know that Kayleigh and Zack are meant to be with each other, it seems that they're just not going to get that right just yet. Katy is a wonderful gal and does Zack a load of good by being nice to him, I do wonder though if it's going to go south it will just end up with Katy and Hicks being hurt. :( and that sucks these two are really nice characters.

As for all the alien stuff, it takes off after the first book and the speed and action doesn't really get chance to let up. There's one thing after the other for the crew, and my heart was literally in my throat for most of the read through. What I really love about this is it's not quite your typical alien invasion 'we must destroy Earth' of course no doubt they're on the way to doing so, but this is more exploration gone wrong with fallible characters you grow to love.

Jeff of course is an excellent narrator, his tone and voices really make this pop out. And it was a great listen while driving. I can't wait to get the next book on. Thank you to you both. This is an excellent series. :)

too much akward romance

also the way the writer lack of description in dialog . he said. she said. cs exclaimed, said sullenly. etc. it might just be because he is a new writer. ill get next book and see if the writing improves.

Well that escalated quickly

Star Divide, book 2 of the Ken Lozito's Ascension series picks up immediately where book 1 left off. Kylan, Zack and the rest of the crew have been transported via wormhole to an unknown star system that they presume is related to the observation station back on Pluto. During this adventure, they encounter the alien race that built the observatory and surrounding star shroud as well as another alien race living in that star system and the alien race they were warned about. As with the 1st book, the relatively short story ends on another cliffhanger.

The sci-fi elements are mainly limited to alien biology with wings or treebark like skin, but are mostly anthropomorphised humanoid creatures. There is implant technology that allows interface with an alien artificial intelligence which incrementally upgrades all the human tech. For what little humanity has to offer, Kaylan is a bit too ready to lend assistance on the expectation of returning to Pluto to rescue her captain, left stranded with presumed injuries.

There's also a bit of discordance with humans being regarded as "primitive" and not ready for entry into the galactic federation. This is contrasted with the resident aliens of the star system already being in the federation, but upon first contact with another alien, a social foo-pah is taken as such offense that a duel to the death is initiated. In addition, in spite of this race having some degree of scientific sophistication, at least interplanetary travel capability, and familiarity with alien species beyond their star system, they have no planet wide governmental authority (in that they let a local, largely rural group handle diplomatic affairs) and don't even monitor spaceship activity around their planet. Finally, there are two opposing alien races vying for power in the federation and Kaylan and crew naively assume the first group that tells them they're the good guys are being truthful.

The narration is respectable given the range of characters of both genders as well as the various alien races. Overall, the pace is smooth and moves quickly, although there is the feel of a made for Netflix / Amazon series where each book is handled as a season with the requisite cliffhanger to hold the audience for the next round.

Who is who.

Book two of the Ascension series by Ken Lozito is a confusing one now that we know of the galactic war that goes on and the cunning enemy, the real question is if to blindly trust the supposedly good guys or is it all one con.


Narration by Jeff Hays is perfectly done for each of the characters in this book.

Recommended !!!

Oded Ostfeld.

Awesomeness

Heading to number 3! It’s a good series once you get yourself into it. Stay the course!

Good follow up novel

The pace of this book was a lot faster than the first book. We finally get to see a lot of what this wide universe looks like. There is good character building and drama with the plot. The narration is top notch.

Absolutely Wonderful

After having listened to the entire First Colony Series (which I much-loved), I decided to explore those in the Ascension group. While Book-1 (Star Shroud) was excellent, I lack the appropriate words to express how I felt while hearing the second book of this series (Star Divide), for I consider it marvelous. Indeed, I must once again congratulate Mr. Ken Lozito for his outstanding talent in producing outstanding Science Fiction manuscripts; in fact, there were moments, which It nearly brought tears to my eyes! Well done Ken! Please keep on delivering additional books to your eager admirers, for I can hardly wait to start book 3.

The story continues

We find Kaylan now in full charge of Athena, with the way home seemly cut off. Now in a totally alien space, they must find help to get home, and as we can expect from Ken, it never going to be the simple. The AI is growing, and making changes to the ship without the knowledge of the crew, but she needs help as well. Zack is the one she turns too for that help, and explains that she has been making upgrades to the ship and systems.

Kaylan, must get the crew to work together to sort out a way home and to do this she looks to the planets and moons in the system they have come to. She find that there is two different aliens, which appear to be at war with each other, but it is not one it appears. The Boxans and the Xiiginns, the Boxans demand that they leave the Star System, but they find that the Xiiginns have captured on of their own and Kaylan will not leave until she is free, but this will put them all in danger.

Good continuation of the story

Good continuation of the story line, only complaint is sort short, I would have preferred more story back ground on the aliens. Sort of Star Trek universe, people meet aliens for the first time and no one is interested in finding out what they are like. All aliens just seem to be versions of people. But over all a good read and passable listen, a female voice actor to represent the female characters would help the Audible presentation.

Good old Sci-Fi at it's modern best.

Good old Sci-Fi at it's modern best. I really like where the author is going with this. It is a very imaginative series with likable characters and an interesting story line. It is fun and not dumb. If there is something a bit corny it is meant to be and it is funny because it needs to be when it is, otherwise it would all be just too serious. And that's no fun. Nice work, author.

Not as good as the first

Really liked the first this one lost me a but, not so bad as I'll return it... I made it to the end but not as good as the first..

Can be addictive

The first book was a relatively slow introduction; the second book has stepped up a notch and is really very good listening. Having purchased the first three books at the same time, I am looking forward to continuing journey.