The Acheron: Publisher's Pack

The Acheron, Books 1-2

By: Rick Partlow

Narrated by: Tess Irondale

Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Contains books one and two of The Acheron series.

The Acheron, book 1 

Sandi and Ash never set out to be heroes. She joined the Fleet to please her mother, the Admiral. He signed up to escape the grinding poverty of the Housing Blocks. And the unlikely friends envisioned boring, peacetime careers as shuttle pilots. The Tahni Imperium had other ideas. 

Caught in the desperate fury of the Battle for Mars, the two young pilots wind up the last defense against an alien armada, but their war is just beginning. Recruited to fly the Fleet’s newest weapon in this new war, they take the fight deep into the heart of the Imperium and battle not just against the enemy but against incompetent leadership and ineffectual tactics. Can the unconventional strategies of a pair of hotshot young pilots change the course of the war? And when the time comes that a choice has to be made between duty to command and loyalty to a friend, which of the two will be willing to make one last flight alone? 

The Prodigal, book 2 

Sandi Hollande is trouble...the kind of trouble that gets people killed. On the run from cartel bounty hunters, she turns to the only one left in the galaxy who gives a damn: Ash Carpenter, her old wingman. 

She’d saved his life in the war, so he owes her, and his ship, the Acheron, is the perfect way to pay off that debt. She wants to take it and get as far away as possible, but there’s no way Ash is letting the Acheron go anywhere without him. Together, they play a dangerous game with the deadliest criminals in the galaxy and hope they live to tell the tale.

©2017 Aethon Books (P)2020 Podium Audio

Gritty and Dank. Just how war stories should be..

Well, to keep it short and sweet. This two book series of the Acheron had me on the edge of my seat the entire 17 hours. I am a pilot and a Marine Corps veteran. Knowing a Rick was in the military made it that much better because he understands the b.s. we all go through and no one realizes until they actually have done the job. He does an excellent job at this to the T. I need more of this! I connected more with his droptrooper series but this was honestly very well done. Tess did a great job narrating this. 10/10 totally. Keep up the great writing Mr. Partlow and same with you Tess!! great job!

Another great book from Rick Partlow

I had some problems with the narrower the first two hours but after that this was a fun and great story and I like book 2 much more then the first one. I´m looking forward to the next one.

too slutty I could not continue.

The main character has no likable qualities.
Not a character I can root for.
very disappointing

Mostly very good . . . some just okay . . .

This 4 book series is indeed 4 different books, although they are being sold as two publisher's packs, (so you get four books for the price of two). And although the 4 books have the same overall arc, and the same characters, there are different plots for each book . . . or at least for the first 3, because I'm currently on book 3, so I can't be positive about book 4. The author, Rick Partlow has done an excellent job of giving us an overall arc broken up into 4 very distinct and original plots. I like the different characters and their development, and I'm definitely enjoying the pace and feel of the books.

Book 1, (the first of the two in publisher's pack 1), is excellent, as our two main protagonists serve in the military during the war. I'd note that book 1 is primarily about the female lead, Sandi, and her counterpart, Ash, played only a minor role. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion, although it isn't unrealistic; in other words, decisions have consequences. I'd give book 1 five stars.

Book 2 (in the 2 book publisher's pack) is nowhere near as good as book 1. It feels a bit contrived and almost like a placeholder, or filler. The war is over, and we follow the exploits of Sandi and Ash working for bad guys against even worse bad guys. Some of it was a little over the top and unbelievable, but it was good enough for me to buy the 2nd publisher's pack containing books 3 and 4. I'd give book 2 alone just three stars, hence my overall four star rating for publisher's pack 1.

I will write separate reviews for books 3 and 4, (publisher's pack 2), but I do want to note here that I'm a few hours into book 3, and I'm loving it. So far, in the 3 of the 4 books I've read, the author has come up with clever changes to the plots, so you never feel like you're just reading one long book.

Finally, but of no less importance - the narrator. Tess Irondale is doing an excellent job, and I'm thoroughly enjoying her narration.