Doomsayer ~ Review and Author Interview with Giveaway

Doomsayer
Conquests of Brokk #3
By Thane Keller

This is the third book in the Conquests of Brokk series, that being said after the first few chapters one can easily get into the story even without reading the two previous books. But you'll be so intrigued by this book you'll want to go back a read them later (speaking from experience here).

But now to the story, the Galactic Order is teetering on the edge. War is on the horizon - the Jark Empire's rogue commander Brokk attacked the Tassi and now turns his sights on his own world. But his war on Tassi has earned he and his people the hate of Cale. Cale's revenge will leave Jark in shambles just as Tassi was.

But war isn't the only threat to the Galactic Order as a coming collision with a neighboring galaxy looms ever nearer. What lies beyond is a question no one can answer. Is someone waiting to claim their space as their own? Will the merging of the galaxies forever alter what they've known? Only time will tell that is assuming anyone will survive.

This is a most interesting book and well worth reading. It is a clean read as far as SciFi goes - there are deaths as there is a war taking place this should not come as a surprise but the language and morals get an A+ in my estimation. The characters are not flat they have a dimension with facets that depending on the angle you view them at gives one varying insight into them.

If you like Star Wars you should like this offering from Thane Keller - it has a similar feel in how it plays out. Perfect reading for teens and up! And the ending let's just say it will leave you wanting more.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Brokk, Commander of the mighty Rogue Fleet, desires more than just his exile come to an end. His heart is set on revenge and his aim is to be the ruler of the Jark Empire. With his Armada resupplied and a powerful priestess at his side, Brokk intends to stop at nothing until his goals are achieved. Despite Brokk's plans, Cale has his own intentions for the Galaxy and his own desire for revenge. As conflict descends on the Jark Empire, a fog of war masks the plans of the remaining species in the Galaxy and a battle for positioning begins


About the Author:

Thane Keller is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in psychology and a minor in English. Following college, Thane married his high school sweetheart, Sarah, and started his career as a cavalryman in the United States Army. Over the course of his career, he has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where he was personally engaged in ground combat. He has earned two Bronze Stars and numerous other awards and decorations. Relying on his background in psychology, military experience, and Christian faith, Thane writes novels that seek to explore human nature under dire circumstances, the reality of pain and suffering, and the resilience of individuals to accomplish superhuman feats. He and his wife have four children. 

For more information, visit www.ThaneKeller.com. 


Author Interview:
1) What genre do you most like reading? 

~ I like reading science fiction the most, but as far as sub-genres I tend to read
space operas or technology-based thrillers. Anything that allows me to imagine
the fantastical with little care for present reality is fine by me! I also like a book
that keeps me moving. If the author lets me imagine the little details and keeps
the storyline pumping, I’m all in.

2) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?

~ I would love to be mentored by Dean Koontz. There is a casualness in the way
that he writes and I appreciate the brief descriptions he gives in a setting that are
vivid and intense. Dean Koontz can tell a story with no more than three
characters and keep your interest throughout the novel. I love that about him.

3) How do develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?

~ I’ve tried to give my reader a variety of unique settings that shaped the history
and evolution of the species they will encounter. In that sense, setting is almost
always developed by thinking through genetics first and struggle second. One
thing that I find fascinating about the science of our Earth is how fine-tuned it is to
life. But what if we find complex and sentient organisms on a planet that had
twice the gravity? What would they look like? How would their bodies form to
allow them to thrive on such a planet?

~ Another quality that captures my attention is how unbelievable space is and how
those qualities relate to space warfare. I try to build a space environment that is
harsh but still allows for a dynamic environment. In my Sci-Fi world, I want ships
hiding in nebulas and using stars and planets as terrain they can fight behind.

~ The final aspect of my settings are always emotional. Our emotions control how
we remember people and places far more than we ever realize. In Doomsayer
there is a scene where poor Sabik and his crew are being tortured and I describe
it as a fire that was always burning but never leaving him fully burned. It was all
consuming but never consumed him. It doesn’t end. Depression often feels that
way, doesn’t it? For me, these emotional settings are personal and I try to let
these emotions from periods in my past come out through my writing.

4) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend?

~ Of course I love Dean Koontz but I already gushed on him enough. Recently, I’ve
really enjoyed reading James Maxwell and his book series “The Shifting Tides.”
The classics always capture my attention and books like “The Things They
Carried” and “Lord of the Flies” hold a special place in my heart because of the
psychological facet of the author’s writings.

5) What aspect did you most enjoy writing about in this series?

~ When I started this series, I wanted to write about space warfare, but the
character that stole my heart was Tamara and I loved writing about her from start
to finish. Tamara represents so many variables within the human experience: she
is a category, a stereotype, a victim, and a villain. She is desperate for
meaningful relationships but often develops a helpless love to those that abuse
her. She is idolized by followers and idolizes those in power. If Tamara was a
real person, the soldier in me would probably have fallen in love with her. Sadly,
the psychopath in her would likely find more joy in killing me than going to the
movies with me.

6) What one question do you wish you would be asked and how would you answer it?

~ Wow, what a hard question! If I have to choose just one, I wish someone would
ask me what relevancy this far out space conflict has on my job as a soldier. I
would tell them that the way we think about conflict, technology, and people must
continually be challenged. I would tell them that fiction can serve as an engine to
drive the way we think about the future and that the Army with the broadest
thinkers might be the Army that has the greatest ability to innovate and adapt.

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Enter the Giveaway for a chance to win 

one (1) copy of Doomsayer

Open to US Residents with a US mailing address 

who are 18 years of age or older.

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