Cover Artist: Adrian Nicholas
Hate buying books in a series until the whole thing is done? Then check out the Rainbow Award-winning Taking Shield series, just released as an e-book boxed set. Not only do you get the entire series, there’s a very nice saving on the cost of the individual books! Anna’s dropped in today to tell us more.
About Taking Shield
Earth’s a dead planet, dark for thousands of years; lost for so long no one even knows where the solar system is. Her last known colony, Albion, has grown to be regional galactic power in its own right. But its drive to expand and found colonies of its own has threatened an alien race, the Maess, against whom Albion is now fighting a last-ditch battle for survival in a war that’s dragged on for generations.
Taking Shield charts the missions and adventures of Shield Captain Bennet, scion of a prominent military family. Bennet, also an analyst with the Military Strategy Unit, uncovers crucial data about the Maess to help with the war effort. Against the demands of his family's 'triple goddess' of Duty, Honour and Service, is set Bennet’s relationships with lovers and family—his difficult relationship with his long term partner, Joss; his estrangement from his father, Caeden, the commander of Fleet's First Flotilla; and Fleet Lieutenant Flynn, who, over the course of the series, develops into Bennet’s main love interest.
Over the Taking Shield arc, Bennet will see the extremes to which humanity’s enemies, and his own people, will go to win the war. Some days he isn’t able to tell friend from foe. Some days he doubts everything, including himself, as he strives to ensure Albion’s victory. And some days he isn’t sure, any longer, what victory looks like.
Review
From Gryfalcon all
the way through Day of Wrath, Anna
Butler’s Taking Shield series is an
incredible sci-fi fantasy packed with lots of non-stop action, difficult
relationships and fascinating characters. Through it all we trace the career
and emotional ups and downs of Shield Captain Bennet and the man he finds real
and lasting love with, Flynn. At first we watch his open and long term
relationship with Joss who, when Bennet isn’t fighting an alien enemy, is
trying to convince Bennet to leave active duty and move into a job in academia
which would ground him for life. But Bennet loves his job—even more so than
Joss and it’s during one of his mission that he meets Flynn and the rest is a
complicated history that eventually means loss but a real chance for happiness
for the two men together.
This series was amazing. While I still felt sometimes that
the technology was still a bit antiquated and not futuristic enough, I still
appreciated every trial, fight and life-threatening scene Bennet and crew
managed to find themselves mired in. The world building was satisfying, the
characters complex and the action was gripping to say the least. Even though it
may feel like cheating to some, Joss and Bennet did have an open relationship
despite the fact that Joss rarely took advantage of that fact. Still it was
Bennet’s incredible lust for attaining the rank of Shield Major that seemed to
derail every relationship he pursued. To that end, the final book in this
series is definitely the most significant for the future of Flynn and Bennet’s
relationship and brutal in the losses that is racks up.
Anna Butler has written an epic sci-fi journey in five parts
and each one takes us on a wild ride of a journey that often leaves your heart
in your throat. I really enjoyed these books and for those who have been
waiting till all five were in one set this is the series for you.
Giveaway
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Contest ends November 30th
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