Book Review: A Clash of EMPIRES BY J.D. SULLIVAN
Synopsis
War between empires is now inevitable, but Dillon and Sherisza have never accepted being pawns of fate.
With the technology at their disposal, they're called upon to do whatever they can to prevent the war or, at least, make sure the Kwaagi and the other powers of the known galaxy emerge victoriously.
If they push the bounds of what their ship can do, they may be able to do more than that.
Are the theories of time travel correct, or can history be altered to save the future? And how just how far will Sherisza go to protect her people, her love, and her cubs?
I’m always interested when reading a trilogy to see what the author will do to bring the story arc to an end, and if they can tie off all the loose plot points. Happily, it turns out J.D. Sullivan is an author that has the ability to add to the overall narrative in the final part of the trilogy, while tidily tying off the loose ends. This is definitely an excellent example of how you finish a trilogy on a solid note.
The world building is again excellent. Expanding on repopulating Sherisza’s world using her ships unique properties to bring in more of her people to help recolonize her home world, it’s an excellent bit of hopeful world creation. This is in contrast to the Kwaagi empire, which is facing the imminent threat of a powerful galactic empire from across the reaches of space, who they inadvertently caused damage to, and now must face the consequences. The threat of an intergalactic war increases the stakes for Dillon and Sherisza exponentially, especially since they are tied into all the major players, and will play a pivotal part in the events that will affect the galaxy at large.
The characters are again a real strength. Dillon and Sherisza’s relationship has really grown since the first book, and their romance is such a wholesome change from a lot of sci-fi stories attempts at romance today. They really enhance each other, and they really go through some trials in this one that push them to their limits. They also have some really great family moments as well, with Dillon’s family really enhancing their relationship as well.
The villains in this one aren’t so much villains, as they are people that are hurting from a misunderstanding and are looking for some sort of revenge for the damage inflicted. They end up being honorable in their own way, and their culture is a real change for the people on this side of the galactic reaches. They certainly give a new meaning to trial by fire, with Sherisza, Dillon and the Kwaagi Emperor facing the ultimate challenge, with their lives on the line as the consequence.
Mixing a bunch of different sci-fi elements, with some great characters and lots of action, this is a story that has some excellent appeal. It has elements of family drama and romance as well, and it’s well played, and the reader is sucked into the story, anxious to see what comes next. While the story arc was complete with this book, I could easily see possibilities for future stories with these characters, and I hope to see them flying the space lanes again some day.
Rating: 9.5/10 Stars
