Ares

Nomad, Book 1

By: K.A. Finn

Narrated by: Keith Michaelson

He wasn't expected to survive, and for 20 years, he has managed to stay off their radar. Until now. Until her.

Gryffin was the sole survivor of The Foundation's experimental project to transform human children into hybrid cyborgs - half human, half machine. The program failed and he was sent on a one way trip into The Outer Sector where he was left for dead. He has survived for 20 years by suppressing his human emotions and embracing his machine side.

Officer Terra Rush believes in her duty to the Foundation. The Sector needs to be prepared for colonization, and nothing can stop her from doing her job... except him. When Gryffin saves her from an attack, Terra uncovers a terrible secret. The Foundation has been lying to her... and maybe they still are.

They have labelled Gryffin a killing machine, yet he acts more human than many of The Foundation's leaders. He has awakened intense feelings in Terra that throw her loyalties into question, and even though he pushes her away, she is determined to find out the truth about the cyborg program.

Gryffin refuses to be a mindless soldier, yet escaping The Foundation's control and stopping the colonization of his home will require Terra's help. Can Gryffin overcome the machine inside and trust her? Or will getting in touch with his human emotions destroy him once and for all?

©2015 Karyn Finnegan (P)2015 Karyn Finnegan

Excellent Audio book

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gryffin

What about Keith Michaelson’s performance did you like?

His voice gave me goose bumps when he was the Gryffin character, so right on!

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Cyborg Space Opera

Would you consider the audio edition of Ares to be better than the print version?

I've not read the print verison, only the audio.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ares?

There were several memorable, pro, meh, and con.

Pro: Space Battles! Chemistry between characters. World Building. Griffin. I'm a sucker for an angsty alpha male.

Meh: Timing between sections and within sections...some of the scenes seemed too quick, while others felt too drawn out for the actions. The speed of some of the surgeries and such. It seemed like a blink of the eye that the characters would be operated on and then just as quick moving around, etc. Seemed to push the boundaries of acceptable realism.

Cons: The actions of the heroine (Terra) seemed a bit to naive for an officer, and while that does reveal a cherished innocence, it was also annoying that some of her actions were ill thought out in the grand scheme of things. The graphic inferences of the 'surgeries'. Some of the plot was a bit predictable.

What does Keith Michaelson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Michaelson's rough gravelly voice for Griffin gave me shivers in a good way. He was also able to help me picture the characters more intensely in my head. The Surgeon's Voice still gives me the creeps!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Actions near the end of the novel between Chase and Griffin were heartbreaking, as well as Griffin's 'dreams' while in the lab.

Any additional comments?

It took about 40 or so minutes to really get hooked on the story, but after that I couldn't stop listening. While the plot did have some obvious predictability, and I have issues with the female lead's actions, overall this was a good beginning novel for what I hope to be a great series. I'm looking forward to devouring the next book! This book was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review via audiobook blast dot com.

Bikers in Space!

Gryffin is the human/cyborg captain of the Nomad ship Ares. Here in the Outer Sector, Nomad and the Foundation fight for domination over the scattered colonies. Lt. Terra Rush serves on a Foundation ship, following in her father’s foot steps. However, when she crosses paths with Gryffin, her loyalties become divided. Gryffin has spent the last 20 years attempting to suppress his human nature, but his feelings start to unfurl once he meets Terra.

So, basically, this is Sons of Anarchy in space. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it does mean it’s a little predictable. Gryffin and the Nomads are basically outlaws, and look the stereotypical part with long hair, leather clothes, piercings, tattoos, etc. They make individual agreements with the settlements, providing protection for a place to set down when needed and favorable trade arrangements. Gryffin is the heir to the Nomad leadership, having pushed for more trade and less pirating. When traveling around on the surface of a planet, the Nomads have black, sleek motorcycles. Then there’s the Foundation, which represents law and order for the story. When a colony aligns with them, the Foundation makes all the rules and the settlement abides. Even some of the character names in this book are the same to characters in the TV show: Terra (the main love interest) and Clay (Gryffin’s second in command).

Once I got beyond the bikers in space idea, I was really intrigued by first Gryffin but then also the politics surrounding him (much of which he is unaware of until the end of the book). Gryffin was abducted as a teenager and spent some years being transformed into a partial cyborg before he was able to escape. Now in his mid 30s, he has a successful life with the Nomad which gives him purpose. However, some implant in his head is making him freak out more and more often and his crew has the injuries to show for it. For some reason, Gryffin can’t read. We never find out why and it bothered me a bit that it was never really explained. He was old enough to have some basic reading skills by the time he was abducted, so did one of those implants give him a reading disorder? Anyway, while it’s a small thing, the author could easily have taken 2 sentences to easily explain it. Gryffin’s illiteracy, his anger management issues, and brute strength made me picture him like a Conan the Barbarian in space. Though Conan got more play; Ares doesn’t allow women on board, believing they are bad luck. Snort.

Terra Rush started off as an interesting character. Her father is dead and her captain, Ramon, was his good friend. She sees Ramon as an uncle or perhaps surrogate father and he sometimes treats her as a daughter, watching out for her. She’s the newest member to the ship but still has a fair bit of training under her belt. She can put up a decent fight, is a fair shot, and can improvise as needed. However, once she meets Gryffin, she turns into a klutz and is repeatedly tripping, running into people, or falling into pits. Hence, Gryffin has several opportunities to rescue her. For much of the book, she’s the love interest and spends her energy in trying to puzzle out Gryffin and provide him some comfort. The sex scenes are non-existent, having some heavy kissing, close the curtain and time passes, and then how Terra feels afterwards. I would have enjoyed a bit more detail, but that’s me.😉 I was sad to see that Terra’s character didn’t develop further once she became the love interest.

There’s some interesting side characters. On the Foundation ship, there’s the ship’s Doctor, Mila (spelling?). She’s become a good friend to Terra and they often confide in one another about men and romance. However, Mila has this important, sometimes tense, job of doctor and that makes her more interesting. There’s also Ylena (spelling?), a leader of a settlement that the Foundation and the Nomad are currently duking it out over. She’s also somewhat of a friend to Gryffin, having known him for some years now. She has to walk this careful line, trying to keep not only the Nomad and the Foundation happy, but also nearby colonies. Chase is Gryffin’s personal aid and perhaps even a friend to Gryffin, though Gryffin prickles when anyone uses the word around him. Clay is definitely a bit more hard-nosed than Chase, often giving it to Gryffin straight and usually not backing down.

Then we get into the politics, which were pretty darn entertaining and interesting for much of the book. There’s the surface stand off between the Foundation and the Nomad. But then each side has their internal politics. On the Foundation side, there’s the super secret cyborg program of old that some active politicians and military leaders want to keep buried. So they are pulling strings from behind the curtain to try to capture or kill Gryffin. Ramon gets an unexpected entanglement concerning Gryffin that weighs heavily on his decisions regarding the Nomad throughout the book. This particular piece was very well done and I was thoroughly caught up in wondering how things would play out for Ramon. In the last quarter of the book, the politics get pretty muddy and convoluted as backstabbing, betrayals, and previously unknown allegiances come out. It felt a little rushed and a little more complicated than it had to be, but it also provided a ripe situation for everything to go wrong. And that provided a lot of tension for the ending, which I totally ate up and couldn’t put the book down. The story ends on a tense, even sad note. However, once I finish posting this review, I’m going to download Book 2 to see what happens next for Gryffin and Chase and Ramon and Mila. And perhaps Terra too, though I do hope she gets some real character development.

I received a copy at no cost from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Narration: Keith Michaelson did a really good job. He gave Mila (the Foundation doctor) an Irish lilt, which was nice. He had gruff voices for the men when they were ticked off. His female voices were believable. He really brought the characters’s emotions to life. His native accent sometimes just barely slips into each character here and there but it’s a pleasant accent and doesn’t detract from the performance.

I wouldn't have guessed

First, some other reviewer didn't exactly like the narration. Well, I loved it. I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the story as much as I did. His voice is so deep with some of the voicings that my chest rumbled at times (listened to this mostly in my car). Anyway...

The two main characters keep having chance encounters that leads to them being involved. The story, while a typical "attraction from two people can't possibly be together", does work. characters were pretty good, even though some of the more minor ones felt more developed than the main characters. Milla is a good example, as is the scientist. Super wide range of characters that are easy to follow along with, which the quality of the narration does help with.

I have to say, I thought the twists were all done in the first part of the book and then we were just going to see how those twists got resolved. Well, I was wrong. The author did a good job of taking information that was sprinkled in, and felt complete, and using that to create a plot twist that made me sit up straight in my seat. I may or may not have almost ran a red light at one particular part.

The romance scenes have a respectable fade to black and aren't overly sensual. Anyway, great first book!

Hybrid Cyborgs..

Any additional comments?

Gryffin, the male lead, is half human, half machine and a survivor of The Foundation's experimental project

Terra, the female lead, is an officer in the Foundation and has been lied to by them.

She meets Gryffin when she is in a dangerous situation, he saves her and has her rethinking everything that she has believed in so far because Gryffin is on the Foundation’s hit list.

Terra has awakened the human side in him and they decided to work together saving lives.

The story line was well developed with likable heroic characters.

This was an entertaining science fiction novel and an overall good read.


Keith Michaelson did well with the narration

Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."

I was completely engrossed by the end

Ares by K.A. Finn is the first book in a series called Nomad. Set in vicinity of a series of planets that the main government organization called the Foundation is trying to civilize, Griffin of the rebel group Nomad are insistent on keeping the colonies free of Foundation control and within Nomad protection. In addition to the Foundation trying to control these free planets, Griffin and the Nomad also have to contend with a rival rebel group called the Hunters. While he is the leader of the Nomad, Griffin must also fight himself for control of his own actions and feelings. Griffin is no ordinary man. He was kidnapped as a child and modified to be a cyborg: part human, part machine. Mind control implants in his head push him to extreme violence when Griffin is not in control of his mind. Right around the time that Griffin meets Foundation officer Terra Rush, everything in his life begins to spin out of control. Fighting himself and his feelings for Terra, he must find a way to keep the colonies under his protection and free from Foundation control.

This novel grew on me leaps and bounds and I was completely engrossed by the end. The plot is winding and there are a lot of moving parts, but they work together really well. The relationships between the characters are well thought out and not revealed until opportune moments with great effect. Some of these reveals/twists can be guessed, but others left my mouth hanging open! During the novel, however, some of the feelings between characters seem to grow intense abruptly. For example, the romance between Griffin and Terra is extremely abrupt – no reasoning, just deep love seemingly out of nowhere. While this definitely induces a few eye-rolls, once I was able to get past this, their romance was fun. I liked all of the characters and I understood their motivations for the actions that they take. They each have depth of experience guiding their actions. The end is exciting and there is a definite conclusion, while leaving so much more to be revealed as the story progresses in the next novels. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

The narration by Keith Michaelson was excellent. He really captures the tone of the characters. I liked the varied accents and the creepy voices left me cringing. He did an excellent job. The production quality was good as well. Something to keep in mind overall, the tense of the novel is in active. This took me off guard as apparently most of the books that I listen to either don’t use this tense or I don’t typically notice. It took me about an hour to put my finger on it, but it bothered me for a bit. However, I stopped noticing as the novel progressed and the plot became more complicated. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves space based science fiction, outlaws, and fighting against the establishment.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Rivoting

Amazing narration. It actually felt like I was watching a movie. Great story line. The characters very realistic and well portrayed

Space Opera with so much to offer!

Would you consider the audio edition of Ares to be better than the print version?

I've not seen the print version of the book to know for sure, but I know why I loved this audio.

The cool thing about this audio... You know in the movies when you hear a voice and you know that voice, but you don't see the character physically? That happens here a few times and I found that I was holding my breath, waiting to see the character. Or in this case the solid definite name. It was that I knew but had to have that solid evidence to back me. And the impact that goes with that evidence. Just wow.

What did you like best about this story?

So much to share on this enjoyable story! Where do I start?!?

A space opera through and through. So many lives connected and affected here. There are conspiracies and dark secrets in every organization. Deceptions and new allies. All collide here with Foundation Council wanting new colonies, Admirals and their own secret project, Someone on Ares twisting things against Gryffin, Gryffin struggling with his mechanical tech wanting to take complete control of him. The Foundation ship has her own stories and connections between the crew and other characters. There is a deep story here.

I think this science fiction story is one that all, male and female, can enjoy. There is lots of fighting and action that fit to the deep story and the secrets everyone holds. I love the important pieces we get constantly through this story. The information is worked in with each scene and so important. There are a few times I had to stop the audio and digest the impact of the important pieces at the end of the story. They are huge and mean so much! Well played. Well played. There's a loyalty of the ships, or questionable loyalty as well. But there is a love intertwined to the characters as well.

There seems to be an attraction, and potential love interest, from the first meeting of Gryffin and Terra. Well...maybe not at first meeting, but after she wakes up from the drug he gave her. He had reason. ;) lol. It's cool and I enjoyed their meeting. Terra also never seems to be dissuaded from looking or interacting, even yelling at, with Gryffin. Terra sees something else in him that no one else ever has. She's strong in her convictions and also a kind soul.

This is an emotional science fiction. I loved this story as it has so much I wanted and enjoyed. The characters become as emotionally invested as I did. The fear of what could happen, has happened, curiosity as to the hidden secrets, and love. There is a growing love that could pull deeper and help. There comes a point I feel my heart and stomach drop. What Gryffin has created for what's to come, it's not what you would expect but is exactly what Gryffin would do. I feel terrible for Gryffin now.

Gryffin...Now Gryffin is a very special character. What he's gone through in his life has created the man he is now. And is also why he fights with himself. He's man and part machine. This creates much pain and torment for his mind and body.

Which character – as performed by Keith Michaelson – was your favorite?

Just one character? Nah. There were several.

Keith's voice is a low rumble that I enjoy. Keith is a wonderful fit for the many voices of Ares. There are many male voice, but there are females as well which he softens his voice to portray. At times he reminds me of Sam Elliot when doing Gryffin's voice. He is talented at the accent of some of the Foundation officers and Hunter crew. There are many characters here and Keith does well to differentiate their voices in slight changes of tones and softness to his voice. I really like the way Keith does the Scientist. lol. He switches through voices with ease as we listen. Nice. He does the gruff feel for Gryffin in the way a dangerous Captain would be. Keith is a wonderful pick for the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely! Each scene brought us more information to what is happening here and then there are the heart-stopping, jaw-dropping moments that thinks hit us that have been happening or are connected. Constant movement here!

Any additional comments?

The ending had me hanging on every action. It moves fast with short sections from different views so we get the who battle in the moment. It's exciting and drawing!

KA Finn has created an outstanding first book here! I'll be anxiously awaiting NEMESIS to come out. KA has set the bar high with this mesmerizing first book and I can't wait to see the crew again!

Wow what a find!!!

I came across this audiobook by accident. So glad I found it. Not only is the story telling excellent but the narration is outstanding! You are immediately brought into the world and ready to continue to the end.

Luckily there is a book two to follow this. I'll be starting that right away.

I received these two audiobooks free of charge in exchange for an honest review. But I would have been glad to purchase it anyway. Now on to book two !!!!

Excellent action, adventure, cyborg!

Ares
Nomad, Book 1
By: K.A. Finn
Narrated by: Keith Michaelson
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
I loved this book! Wow, I am hooked! I had listened to a later book but I needed to know the start and boy, it is amazing to know how all this started for Griffin. Wow. This is such a great sci-fi novel. Griff is taken as a 10 year old boy and experimented on and made into a cyborg. No one knows he is alive. All the others that is kidnapped and experimented on died, he is the only one that lived. Somehow he got away, his number is 35. It is so exciting. I don't want to say anything more about the book except that it is so exciting, lots of action, touch of romance, adventure, suspense, and a must read/listen.
The narrator was perfect! Wow, he does the women's voices so well, I was so surprised! Great job.