The Machines of Bellatrix

The Girls from Alcyone, Book 2

By: Cary Caffrey

Narrated by: Kristin James

Excerpt:

Suko slid down next to her, her eSMG in her hand. "Whatever we're doing, we better do it fast. Looks like they brought air support."

Sigrid didn't have to look. She could feel the low rumble of the heavy thrusters firing, growing louder. Still kilometers away, two air vehicles were moving quickly toward them. They were gunships, Thunderhawks, and they were moving fast, closing on their position. Quad cannon mounts extended from their sides, swinging into firing positions and taking aim.

They were outnumbered, and the situation was deteriorating quickly. These mercenaries might not be the enemy she was looking for, but they were still men, and they still hunted them.

"If you have a plan," Suko said, her eyes fixed on the incoming gunships, "now's the time to share it."

"Plan?" Sigrid unholstered her sidearms. "We kill them all."

Synopsis:

Alcyone is gone. The Independent stronghold on Scorpii is destroyed. Sigrid and her sisters have fled the Federation to make a new home on the remote world of Medea.

But with a price on her head the size of a planet, and pursued across the galaxy by the Council for Trade and Finance, Sigrid knows she and her sisters are not safe. As long as there are those who would seek to control them, hunt them, they will never be safe.

Unless Sigrid can stop them first.

But to stop them, Sigrid must first find them. But how? And where? Her only clue is a mysterious coded message. One that could serve as either warning or invitation. One that will lead Sigrid to a factory world at the very edge of Federation space, and to a deadly confrontation with her most dangerous enemy yet: the machines of Bellatrix.

©2013 Cary Caffrey (P)2016 Cary Caffrey

Excellent sequel!!!

Audio is done great. Lots of action packed scenes! Can't wait to start book three. I recommend this to anyone who love Sci fi. Cary does an excellent job explaining the science and world building.

exciting thrilling

so amazing so exciting I'm on the edge of my seat the entire time. this is an absolute must read.

Love it, the lead character is just so cool!!!!

What made the experience of listening to The Machines of Bellatrix the most enjoyable?

The strength of the writing. The lead character, whose name I can't spell, or even say correctly pronounce , is just awesome and again so very well written along with her action packed girlfriend.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Machines of Bellatrix?

At the end of story when she knowing or maybe not so knowingly gives up for her girlfriend's safety. And then turns around and fights her way out. That was just too cool, the action packet story with Superman like action given to the lead throughout the whole story was just way cool.

Which scene was your favorite?

The above mentioned, plus all the little tender moments with the lead and her girlfriend, the little you arn't going without me's. And the little lovely dovie moments, that never went any where but still where cute.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Too many to list here that made laugh out loud starting with the beginning and going through to the end that made me want to cry.

Any additional comments?

I know I gave a few spoilers but I really was trying not to give too many. This part two, of the series is just as good as part one if not better, with more action. I laughed hard, I wanted to cry at the ending (Don't worry just like Star Wars movies, the second ends kind of sad for one character, but in the 3rd in the beginning all is resolved. Just not the same way) So if you love this series get the second and the 3rd all at once. And Have a heck of good time listening. Trust me as very good as 2 is, 3 is even better, but you have to do part 2 first.

An Excellent Sequel

The Machines of Bellatrix is book two in the Girls from Alcyone series, and picks up some time after the first book ends. Sigrid and the other girls have a new home, but find that they are still in danger and Sigrid is tired of having to run.

This book is just as fast paced as the first book, and we find ourselves in a lot of conflict in this one. Sigrid has taken up more of a leadership role and takes her position seriously, often putting herself in the line of fire to help protect the girls. The resulting conflicts and fights were pretty freaking amazing. We see a few new places and get some really great world building in the process. I really like the scope of the universe in these books, because while it is growing it doesn’t feel like and over abundance of knowledge all at once. Then of course there is the new threat that has popped up, and it gets crazy intense especially towards the second half of the book. And holy cliffhanger batman! The way this one ended had me reeling!

Sigrid and Suko still remain my favorite part of this series. I love space travel and exploring new worlds with cool tech, but these two top all of that. Their relationship is one that really provides light in some really dark situations for both women, and I loved that they have such a strong bond even with all the outside issues.

Kristen James does a fantastic job as always in her narration, with a wide array of voices and perfect pacing. I love listening to all of her different works because she really knows how to give individual and unique voices to characters and not have it feel recycled from one series to the next. Not to mention her consistency in the voices despite there being so many.

I’m moving at a snail’s pace this year with my reading due to stress and being busy, but I’m really looking forward to listening to Night Witch as soon as I can.

Not as good as the first book.

I love the characters in the first one but it seems they did not flush out any at all. They need to grow and become more in depth. I also don't like it when writers end a book and it seems like they left off in the middle of the story. Still an OK read. I will get the third when it comes out summer of 16.

loved it

eagerly waiting for third book. narrator is very good....always important. excellent story and awesome characters.

Great series

I listened to all three books back to back and loved them. book 2 was an exciting and fun book with both action sex and explosions.

I loved this series and can't wait for the next books in it.

awesome story, good narration.

the voice actress is great her accents are hilarious. However there were times near the end when Leta's accent was inconsistent.

The girls are hunted

Where does The Machines of Bellatrix rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Kristin is a favorite voice of mine. She does many different tones, accents, and emotions in her voices as we listen to the story. All these differences present help differentiate characters for me, and makes them more individual and personalized. As always, Kristin's voice is crystal clear in speaking and no background noise as well as seamless in flow. A pleasure to listen to.

Any additional comments?

This book starts like the previous ends, and my kind of story. Action and danger at each decision. I believe the girls would be in trouble is Sigrid doesn't act, yet it was her action that could bring danger to their doorstep and gives Sigrid the reason to correct what was started. There are slower times as they plan to protect New Alcyone by finding those after them. But I felt this was attracting due to the setting up of the people in positions and clues to where they are going and what they will look for. This book kept that feel throughout the story, adding more weight and backing to who Sigrid is after, and why.

We learn there is new research being done, and these prototypes might be more dangerous. The things these doctors are doing! They are just mad! But it's the next logical step in what they started to create with Alcyone. Scary.

This book feels more adult to me than the first book as well. The first book was them growing up and training, this is Sigrid and the first set of girls as they fight to survive. There are intimate moments with Sigrid and Suko. The private moments are rather detailed, so definitely adult content. These two ladies have a solid relationship and we see the romance between them through the book. Suko flirts more than Sigrid in stressful moments, but it helps them and us get through the serious moments and reminds that there is love there.

We do get addition POV's with Sigrid. In doing so we learn different directions and plans of others, slowly they come to light as we go through the book, all coming together. I feel there is more story and drive in this book where in the first book we got more of the girls growing up and training, which felt slow to me.

The ending... Oh my! Sigrid... Wow. I can't tell you but it takes the story to a new direction and makes me worry. What has happened? Oh, we were lead to this by everything in this book pointing to here, but it's still a shocker when we get there.

I was engrossed in this story the whole time. For me, this book was better than the first and I'm pleased I continued with the series. Where Sigrid is now... oh I am soooo looking forward to the next book!

Dichotomy and disappointment

Once again, the story includes a creative spin on a concept that has become fairly standard in science fiction since Ender's Game and Halo developed child soldiers from brilliant cadets to bionically enhanced superhumans.

Despite introducing a competitor's design on the supergirl soldiers, there are a handful of narrative flaws. The most persistent one being the use of dialogue from Star Wars movies that distracts from the action and the story. And I mean, there is a *lot* of lines lifted from the original trilogy, especially The Empire Strikes Back.