The High Ground

Imperials Saga Series, Book 1

De: Melinda Snodgrass

Narrado por: Nicole Poole

The Emperor's daughter Mercedes is the first woman ever admitted to The High Ground, the elite training academy of the Solar League's Star Command, and she must graduate if she is to have any hope of taking the throne. Her classmate Thracius has more modest goals - to defy his humble beginnings and rise to the rank of captain.

But in a system rocked by political division, where women are governed by their husbands and fathers, the poor are kept in their place by a rigid class system, and the alien races have been conquered and subjugated, there are many who want them to fail.

A civil war is coming and the machinations of those who hunger for power threaten the cadets. In a time of political intrigue, class conflict, and alien invasion, they will be tested as they never thought possible....

©2017 Melinda Snodgrass (P)2018 Tantor

Melinda Snodgrass is an AMAZING storyteller!

I couldn’t put this book down. It is filled with surprises. The characters are endearing and I cried a few times. I am downloading the next book immediately.

Wow!

Probably the best 'Space Academy' story I've ever read. Great character development and plot, intriguing world-building, plenty of subtle villains.

Unfortunately, the narration is uneven. She mispronounces enough English words to be distracting, and also mispronounces some Spanish words. However, her character voices are very good.

I hope there's a sequel or two...

I’ve been waiting years for this, and it was great.

The author had a short story published in an anthology in 2010 with a story from Tracy‘s perspective, which I always loved, and I was so happy to realize that she expanded on the universe.

I love how seamlessly she ties in the Spanish, and as a fluent Spanish speaker it just makes my heart melt to see it incorporated into the history and culture of a science-fiction universe. The aliens are fun and pose interesting questions for the rest of the series, and Mercedes and Tracy are cutie pies.

It’s a well-crafted world that makes you feel for a variety of people, whether it’s the struggling middle-class, the nice but sheltered rich kids, or the ever present struggle of the alien races. I’m so excited to read the next book, I believe it will do good things.

Outstanding in every way

Great characters, an intriguing world, and a solid plot make for an enjoyable book and a wonderful voice actress completes the package. Looking forward to book 2.

Much Better Than Expected

The jpublisher's summary makes this book sound almost like a coming of age story. In a way, it is, but it is really an exploration into the competing needs of social stability through hereditary aristocracy, meritocracy, xenophobia, and the protection of power, position, and privilege. The narration is excellent and the characters very flawed and very real. I will not say more as to not give away the story. I really enjoyed this one.