The Blood-Dimmed Tide
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The sequel to The Widening Gyre, praised by Locus, ScienceFiction.com, Booklist, Library Journal and more!
Reclaiming Earth from the Zhen was only the first battle. Now Tajen Hunt and his fellow colonists must fight for their fledgling colony’s survival. Tajen’s mission to seek aid from the Kelvaki Assembly is cut short when the Zhen invade Earth. Now he, Liam, and Kiri must return to Earth and liberate the colony from brutal occupation. When Tajen learns the Zhen plan to destroy a human fleet amassing in preparation to help Earth, he and his crew must escape the planet once more and warn them.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The energetic second space opera in Johnston's Remembrance War series (after the Widening Gyre) offers big, bombastic set pieces but little character growth. It's been a year since Tajen Hunt led the humans to reclaim Earth from the alien Zhen Empire, and continued skirmishes between the species have whittled down the remaining human forces. Following a surprise attack on Tajen's wedding day, he and his husband, Liam Kincaid, turn to the Kelvaki aliens for aid in the ongoing conflict. Curious differences between the various alien races, futuristic tech that's flashy without being overbearing, and the complexities of interstellar politics all entertain while rounding out the worldbuilding as Johnston pushes his characters toward an inevitable interspecies war. The Zhen retake Earth and declare martial law, leading to exciting battle scenes, though the plot soon gives way to the predictable beats of a military thriller. Despite Johnston's crisp prose and attention to detail, Tajen's too-perfect characterization as the quintessential cocky hero grates. Lightly sketched secondary characters mainly serve to prop up Tajen's ego. Still, the winning action sequences save this one from its flaws.
