Blog Archives
Raq
Some books pull you into their world gradually. Raq grabs you by the collar and throws you straight into the heat. Set in an alien society where belief, honor, and duty shape every action, it follows Lieutenant Raq, a soldier of the Hlad race, as he faces the impossible, a crashed alien ship, a survivor who isn’t like anything his people have ever seen, and a truth that could shatter everything he believes. What starts as a mission to protect his world turns into an unsettling journey of discovery, where Raq and the human survivor, David, are forced to bridge their differences to uncover something bigger than both of them.
One thing that stood out immediately was the visceral world-building. Toppin doesn’t just describe the Hlad; she immerses you in their culture. From the Fire King’s brutal rule to the structured hierarchy of warriors and scholars, every piece of their world feels lived-in. Raq, in particular, is a character torn between deep-seated faith and an uncomfortable new reality. His reaction to the humans is intense disgust, superiority, then creeping doubt. You can feel his internal struggle as he hesitates before killing a human, as he wrestles with the possibility that everything he’s been taught is a lie. There’s a moment early on when he watches the alien leader, “the Tall One,” fall back protectively in front of his injured companion. That brief hesitation, that flicker of recognition, sets the stage for his slow unraveling. It’s masterfully done.
The novel also does something many sci-fi books struggle with: making the aliens alien but still relatable. The Hlad aren’t just humans in lizard suits; they have different physical structures, customs, and ways of processing emotions. And yet, they still feel incredibly real. Their biology is fascinating, with spikes that bristle in response to emotion, mandibles that twitch when angry, a rigid class system that dictates their entire lives. The moment when Raq realizes that David, the human, is just as confused and afraid as he is, is a pivotal shift. The way language is used as a barrier between them is handled well at first, all Raq hears are strange, clipped sounds, but then David keeps repeating “I am human” until Raq starts to understand. It’s a slow, believable progression, not a convenient sci-fi instant-translation moment.
Raq is an ambitious book that takes its time unfolding its layers. The first half is gripping, packed with tension, mystery, and high-stakes conflict. Then, the pace shifts, allowing room for deeper reflection. David’s journal entries bring a rich perspective, immersing us in Earth’s forgotten history and the mission that led them to Hlad. While these sections slow the immediate action, they add depth and context, making the story feel expansive. The balance between action and introspection leans heavily toward world-building at times, but for readers who enjoy a thoughtful, layered narrative, this shift offers a rewarding look into the bigger picture.
Raq is an engrossing read for anyone who loves deep world-building and character-driven sci-fi. If you enjoy stories where different cultures clash and characters have to earn their understanding of each other rather than just getting along right away, this one’s for you. Fans of The Forever War or The Sparrow will appreciate the moral dilemmas and the slow unraveling of certainty. It’s not a light read, but it’s a rewarding one, and by the time you turn the last page, you’ll be left with that eerie, lingering question, what if we’re not as alone as we think?
Pages: 237 | ASIN: B0B913PTBG
Something Of A Science Buff
Homeland follows an AI entity living in a world where humans and AI coexist and looks to build a future where humans are no longer part of the plan. What was the initial idea behind this story and how did that transform as you were writing the novel?
The initial idea behind the story was a belief that biological organisms could never travel into deep space. This transformed into a story about A.I. and how it could do so. All the other stuff relates to the original premise. I tried to find characters who would make things real enough.
I found the science in the novel to be well-developed. What kind of research did you do to make sure you got it all right?
Ah, yes, the science. I am something of a science buff, but many hours were spent calculating distances, volumes, FTL figures. Even at that, there is some, shall we say, license taken.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I focused a lot on dialog. Writing in the third-person omniscient requires a lot of dialog.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
A sequel is on the way (working title IMPERIUM). It picks up from where HOMELAND ends, with Tigran continuing on as a biosynthloid.
Author Links: Amazon | Facebook
Charles addresses this peril. He is the first of his kind—a hyper-intelligent android created by Dr. Thaddeus Ford to be the near-perfect anatomical replica of a human. Many millions of Charles’ kind follow. They are dubbed “Artinians.” All but one are benign.
This one, Artinian Paulon discovers and seeks to rule “Number,” an astronomical population of diverse, anatomic, nomadic AI beings—appointed stewards of the Milky Way. Paulon does want Earth included in his realm-to-be. In a third storyline, science must come to grips with stark realities about interstellar exploration. Humanity experiences disasters and technical hobbles that must be conceded to—finding redeeming solutions instead.
HOMELAND gives us seven diverse main characters who propel three intertwined plots. Each entertains in their own way, stirring our beliefs and feelings. This is grounded science fiction, making it possible for you to envision a possible future for humankind.
ARIESSY OF MIDGARD – Book Trailer
Two Races — One Law — Zero Tolerance
On the verge of losing her father to a mysterious illness, seventeen-year-old Seiva Ariessy Taylor must take drastic measures to cure him.
When the authorities question her, matters take a turn for the worse and the Veurrulfar — a shapeshifting race from Nidavellir — reveal a long-held secret that changes her life for ever.
Ariessy must learn who she can trust before it’s too late.
Is freedom worth dying for — or can her secret save her?
Set in South Wales, United Kingdom. Ariessy of Midgard is an emotional urban fantasy adventure with hidden magic, mythical creatures, and a fantastic combination of mystery and mythology that will keep you turning pages.
Rats in a Maze
Rats in a Maze by Peter Bailey is a crime novel surrounding the mysterious accident in Pier 54. Ray Fisher, the detective assigned to the case, believes there is more than what meets the eye. Together with his partner, Brad, they both try to uncover the mystery behind the accident. The accident uncovers the horrible truths of the world to Detective Fisher and his life changes. The concept of death becomes clearer to him as he goes about his job. What Detective Ray and Brad did not know was that they were signing up to one long suspenseful rollercoaster the moment they started the investigation on what seemed like a simple and normal traffic accident.
I was highly impressed by the story; it is not the typical crime fiction story going through the motions of a police procedural. The writer introduces readers to the characters on a high note, getting you to relate and empathize with the character so you care about what happens to them, and I liked how this feeling was consistent throughout the story. The characters are crafted specifically to fit into their roles. Peter Bailey does a fantastic job in incorporating different aspects of life into the story which made things feel authentic and grounded. We’re thrown into the detectives life through Detective Ray’s storyline but we are also thrown into story lines on family, romance, even in office settings. The way the writer switches up chapters keeps the reader engaged with the story, if not with the plot. Every chapter brings up a new event and a new twist without losing the progression towards the stories arc.
Rats in a Maze is a riveting mix of everything I wish for in a good crime fiction novel; government conspiracy, humour, people in power, romance, always with a dash of cunning crime solving. The book leaves readers with a cliff-hanger that will have you begging for a follow up novel.
Pages: 199 | ASIN: B08JMC8VHJ
The Empath’s Lover
In The Empath’s Lover: A Sci-Fi MM Romance Novella by Sidonie Savage, Davon Pax is the Chief Medical Officer and Microbiologist on the Explorer 2. Davon wakes from cryo-sleep after a ten year journey from Earth and is excited to be one of the first humans to explore Neptune and its moons. But before the crew can complete the mission, their research vessel is attacked. They are saved by an alien named Tulq’on, a Kyphomi Intelligence Officer who has been studying humans. He is injured, and Davon heals him. The two find themselves feeling unexpected emotions for each other. But unless Tulq’on can convince the Kyphomi that humans are worthy of life it will be the end of all humanity.
This short novella was a quick and engaging read. I enjoyed the meeting of two worlds and reading about how Davon and Tulq’on interacted together when they first met and as they learned to communicate and discovered more about each other, both their differences and the ways that they were the same. I liked that they had compassion and respect for each other, acting selfless in putting the other before themselves, as they worked together to prove that their species could coexist. Due to the short length of the book, I felt that the conflict was resolved quickly, but I liked that the story had a happy ending for Davon and Tulq’on even though they came from different worlds.
It was interesting to learn the details of the Explorer 2’s mission at the beginning of the book, but I think this level of detail would have been better suited to a longer story, or for a story that was sci-fi fiction rather than romance. For a romance novella, the heroes should have met sooner in the story. This did not happen until after the first quarter of the book, which didn’t give the heroes much time to come to know each other before declaring their love. I felt that this was too rushed, and I would have liked the book to be a bit longer to allow for more focus on this aspect of the story. I also wanted to see how Davon adapted to life among the Kyphomi, and how Earth reacted to the introduction of the alien species. There was not much world-building and I would have liked to know more details about the Kyphomi and their society.
Pages: 76 | ASIN: B08H4W2YHF
LITERARY TITAN 