Ross Harrison (2) (1987–)

OMG! I had never read any of Ross Harrison’s novels or the Nexus series, but the cover and title drew me in and I had to have it. It is a long read, but every chance I got I was picking it up. I had to know about Ares. Because I was new to the Nexus world, it took me a moment or two to gather the necessary facts, but, once I did…

She became a character that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. Most believed she was a ghost, buried in rubble. We know they are wrong. So wrong. And she will wreak her vengeance on them all. Never believe everything you are told. Things are not always as they seem.

Juni, a five year old girl thinks of Ares as her mother. In all sense of the word, she is.

The action is brutal, intense, catastrophic. Bodies fall, I mean, literally fall, only to rise again. I love the science fiction aspects and Ross Harrison took me deeper into the story than I thought I would go. I had moments when I thought, OMG, she is really dead. Then, I would think, no, she can’t be. What will happen to the little girl that someone is determined to make her an assassin at seven years old, like Ares.

Imagine a five year old girl saying:

I fell on it and now I’m wounded because you let go!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Juni stole my heart and the dialogue and her thoughts made for some sweet, yet heartbreaking moments. Her belief that Ares would always be there kept her moving forward, trying to do the right thing. At times, I thought things were too grown up for her, but we have to remind ourselves where she comes from and the lessons Ares has taught her. They move constantly, barely staying ahead of those that want to kill them both. Ares has instilled in her the necessity of being aware of her surroundings at all times.

She felt a warm little hand on top of hers, and her hearts fluttered. “It’s not about the destination,” Juni said earnestly. “it’s about the journey.”

Isn’t that real life?

WOW! Forge of the Assassin by Ross Harrison wasn’t what I expected and I love it. Even though it took me a while to figure out all the players and what was going on, the constants were Ares and Juni. If anything happened to me I would love having either or both of them at my side. Just because Juni is a child, don’t count her it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Forge of the Assassin by Ross Harrison.

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Travis Archer is a freelance bounty hunter who accepts an official assignment to hunt down and destroy the Star Wraith, a powerful but apparently unmanned ship with the nasty habit of appearing out of nowhere and destroying ships. He puts together a colorful crew of misfits, the most memorable members of whom are the beautiful but not-very-nice Juni Lien, who is deadly with weapons and not at all forthcoming about her motivations, and the somewhat cantankerous Jay Miller, an old pal of Travis’ with whom he is constantly butting heads.

Although Travis and his crew are the focus of the story, the narrative cuts to other scenes in a cinematic fashion, showing, for example, one of the Star Wraith’s attacks before he gets his assignment. The more fascinating of these scenes reveal glimpses of a shadowy villain called Baorshraak, whose goals and motivations remain shrouded in mystery even as he appears to be the one pulling the strings.

The world-building that takes place in this story is detailed but understated—we are given a good idea as to how this universe works without the lengthy explanations or technobabble. Readers not accustomed to science fiction will nonetheless be able to slip into the universe Harrison creates, which is clearly explained and familiar despite its futuristic setting. Most of the story takes place in the fringes of a highly advanced alliance of alien civilizations or on board starships.

In terms of narrative voice, Harrison writes with a distinct attitude that is very aware of the genre his story takes place in. References are made to the clichés of space opera, which he acknowledges and makes fun of even as he unapologetically takes advantage of them. Many ideas in this book are decidedly familiar—starfleets, space cowboys, humanoid aliens—but they are used well. There is a dry sense of humor that radiates not only from the characters but the narrative itself, as though it isn’t taking itself too seriously.

Travis himself appears well aware of the clichés he embodies, and he delights in them. For example, in the first chapter: “Twenty-six years of glowering at people—and forgetting his sunglasses on sunny days—had given Travis permanent glare lines and the useful ability to severely harden his eyes; reminiscent of a badass space cowboy, he liked to think.”

Although this attitude makes for entertaining commentary, there are a few moments where it seems somewhat intrusive—as though it’s the author speaking and not the character. Nevertheless, it’s what adds an extra bit of sparkle to the already dynamic plot, which carries the reader to unexpected corners of this galaxy.

Other notable points—although the story starts on a small scale, it eventually escalates from one man’s dangerous assignment to a potentially devastating interstellar conflict. Race relations between alien civilizations are touched upon—at one point, an official notes that one of Travis’ alien crew members cannot be paid like a human would. Also, there is an android called Arkuun-Marl with the obnoxious tendency to make lame jokes about everything. His commentary is cringingly facepalm-worthy, and the other characters are quick to tell him to shut up, adding an element of quirky comedy to the story.

Overall, Shadow of the Wraith is a smartly plotted and entertaining space adventure that takes the reader on many twists and turns—the direction the story goes in is quite different from what is expected. But in the end, it’s really the characters’ voices—and Harrison’s—that make it memorable. I ended up enjoying it so much that I suffered from two nights in a row of Star Wraith Insomnia—the inability to sleep due to the fact that I had to keep reading.… (más)