The Cruel Stars

De: John Birmingham

Narrado por: Morgan Hallett

With a ruthless sect of humanity intent on wiping out their species, five intrepid heroes must think like their enemies in this epic sci-fi adventure for fans of The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica.

The galaxy was once terrorized by the Sturm, a group of “species purists” intent on destroying any human with genetic or cybernetic enhancements. Fashioning themselves as the one true “Human Republic,” the Sturm cut a bloody swath across the stars, killing billions before finally being defeated and driven into the far reaches of Dark Space. Centuries of peace bred complacency. Everyone believed the Sturm had died out in the Dark. They were wrong.

The enemy has returned and, with a brutal and decisive attack, knocks out almost all of humanity’s defenses. Now on the brink of annihilation, humankind’s only hope is a few brave souls who survived the initial attack: Commander Lucinda Hardy, thrust into uncertain command of the Royal Armadalen Navy’s only surviving warship. Booker3, a soldier of Earth, sentenced to die for treason, whose time on death row is cut short when the Sturm attack his prison compound. Princess Alessia, a young royal of the Montanblanc Corporation, forced to flee when her home planet is overrun and her entire family executed. Sephina L’trel, the leader of an outlaw band who must call on all of her criminal skills to resist the invasion. And, finally, Admiral Frazer McLennan, the infamous hero of the first war with the Sturm hundreds of years ago, who hopes to rout his old foes once and for all- or die trying.

These five flawed, reluctant heroes must band together to prevail against a relentless enemy and near-impossible odds. For if they fail, the future itself is doomed.

©2019 John Birmingham (P)2019 Recorded Books

Just finished reading this, loved it.. nice one JB!

I, for one, welcome a return to the military sci-fi of Weapons of Choice era - natch

Great!

When I first started this book I didn't know where it was headed. Many characters were introduced and I didn't see where it was going. But it was well worth the wait!
the narrator did pronounce a few military terms incorrectly but that is easily forgivable and does not happen often enough to really impact the story.

Great sci-fi adventure book

in the beginning this book follows three main groups that all end up coming together in the storyline. The audiobooks reader does a fantastic job. The story is engaging and made me interested enough to purchase the second book in the trilogy. I imagine I'll get through that one just as quickly and be waiting for the third one to come out on 2023.

A little loose in the story line

I’m a big fan of sci-fi, but I found that this story jumped between three stories and the transition made it rough to follow. I’m still going to give it a listen, but while paying less attention.

A full tale

I enjoyed the universe building in this novel and that it was a complete story that can stand on it's own.