Explorer

Arise, Book 5

By: Jez Cajiao

Narrated by: Jessica Threet, Christopher Boucher

There's an entire galaxy out there, and Steve's already started a war with some of it…

Steve and his companions have been offered a chance, the slimmest of hopes, that the UC—whatever that is—will protect the earth. That protection, offered as it is with the full knowledge that it could embroil billions in a new war? It's never going to come cheap. The UC wants something, and it's down to Steve to figure out how to pay that debt or survive without their sheltering hand.

The greater galaxy is a harsh place, and in the eyes of those who battle to keep the flame of freedom alive another day, anyone who would give up their freedom to gain a little security? In the galaxy's eyes, they'd deserve neither.

©2024 Jez Cajiao (P)2024 Podium Audio

Extremely great writing

That I have to wait awesome story thank you for sharing your great gift with us .totally enjoy

The continuing Storyline

This series of stories was very good and well worth the time to listen too. The story was well developed over the timeline that continues from each part of the series that leaves you wanting more and wondering what is going to happen next. I would recommend this series too you but it is adult content about relationships life and its decisions that you make and must take responsibility for! Try it out I believe you well enjoy it.

best yet

This was the best book in the series so far. it was surprising and far reaching. This one really leaned into space opera territory. Looking forward to what's next!

Enjoyed it!!!!

Enjoyed it right to the very end. I don't know how you do it. But I am glad you do it. 5 STAR

What a great adventurous series

Love the mix of sci-fi and fantasy. So much adventure in one book. It feels like where one book would normally end, this one just keeps giving.
Loved it.

Great Continuation

A great entry, though I think it ran long. The next book may conclude the series which would make sense.

Love love love

This series started a little rough but damn i want more. Keep writing jez. Go go

Great book. With exception

This book continues to be one of my favorite in a long series so far, but I truly enjoy when I don’t enjoy never have is a book that leaves you on a cliffhanger when it takes so very long for the next one to come out. Spoiler alert if you’re writing a good enough series, people will still buy the next one and be in great anticipation of its arrival even if you don’t leave it this way, hence the reason I took one star away

Good stuff… great stuff… but come on with the cliffhanger, my man!

I love how much this author has grown. His ability to write improves with every book, but his ability to tell a good story has always been top tier, in my opinion.

Great for the litRPG nerds among us.

Of course, this kind of book won’t be winning any prestigious awards from hoity-toity book snobs, but it scratches the RPG itch with the best of them.

In the book, we continue the story of Steve and his gang into realms previously unseen. In this universe, the science is examined, explained, and believable but not overbearing, and the pacing continues to be nothing less than break-neck.

I LOVE that this author doesn’t take what I call “commercial breaks” to see what’s happening with other characters, “meanwhile at the ranch.” We get one continuous story that follows the main character and his group, and if it does switch to the first-person of another character, it still continues the story. I really enjoy that. It kills pacing in other books, in my opinion, and those chapters aren’t usually even necessary beyond word-count. If an author wants to tell the story of another character, but has to break up the pacing, then, by all means, they should feel free to do so… in another book.

The only note I would give the author is that I feel he leans on the MC getting hurt badly in almost every altercation to add to the drama/suspense. Almost no one else in the group ever gets hurt regardless of the action they see. Even when they’re alongside the MC, facing impossible odds. Even when they do get injured, it’s almost like it’s a side-note. Without spoilers, for instance, a character that is not the MC gets hurt a couple times in this book, but it’s mentioned that he is stable and we promptly forget about him.

In my opinion, the MC is allowed to kick serious butt and walk away because they’re awesomely awesome with a side of awesome sauce. I mean, Steve is no Ender Wiggin, but he’s still the MC of his own universe. Maybe I’m alone in this. I’ve certainly been wrong before. It’s just something I noticed. (Wash - from Serenity - didn’t need to die… you know? It was just added for drama, it served nothing, and everyone hated it. Yes, I am still mad about a 20 year old movie.)

Also, loved the character voices. The narrators definitely have the feel and flow for this series down pat. Great stuff. They know these characters and the interaction feels real the majority of the time.

I’d recommend this series, and author, to any fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and/or LitRPG/progression/gamelit genres. The author tells a great story. I follow all of his series and grab each new book when it’s in pre-order.

Awesome

Love it, can’t get enough of this series. And I’m looking forward to the next book.