Scions of Change

As Raena's and Jason's training with the TSS nears completion, the return of the Aesir is imminent. Whether the Aesir are adversaries or allies will be put to the test as the final pieces of the Sietinens' plan to bring down the Priesthood fall into place. Facing an unstable political landscape and with the future of telekinetic abilities among the Taran people on the line, Wil and his family must wage one final war to correct past injustices and usher Tarans into a new era of peace.

Scions of Change is the seventh installment in the Cadicle series. This novel brings together the final pieces for the High Dynasties to attempt an overthrow of the Priesthood and restore equity in the Taran worlds.

Scions of Change (SF)

“Book 7 in the Cadicle Series”

By Amy DuBoff

Independent Publishing Platform

ISBN #978-1548119324

Price $13.99

350 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“The Long Awaited Conclusion Is Here”

The children of the Cadicle, Raena and Jason are finally put into position to help bring the reign of the Priesthood to an end. Raena has been moved to Sietinens’ High Dynasty to take her place as future heir, while Jason is moved in position to train teams for telekinetic warfare. Ryan, the heir to the Dainetris Dynasty is groomed to ascend to his place. With the other five High Dynasties in the wing, they must be brought on board before an all out attack can be launched against the Priesthood, and even then it may not be possible without help from the Aesir.

The seven Dynasties are brought together for this final volume: Joining the Sietinen and Dainetris Dynasties are Vaenetri, Talsari, Baellas, Makaris, and Monsari Dynasties. Wil discovers that both the Priesthood and Aesir want something on the other side of a rip in the fabric in the Rift, which could be a hole into another dimension. The rip is acting like the mythical Sirens, calling the unwary to approach its sweet call. Will it give them godhood or destruction? Wil intends to keep that from happening, for he’s tasted the call also, and knows its danger.

Although I enjoyed all the volumes in this fantastic world building science fiction yarn, I think this seventh volume is the best in the series. Basically, each story was a similar plot, the Priesthood moving children of the Sietinen Dynasty towards the birth of the Cadicle, Wil Sietinen, who was to destroy the Bakzen, but it doesn’t end there; it must now follow the Cadicle’s children for more plans of the Priesthood and Aesir. However, they had not counted on the fighting spirit of the Sietinen children or their powerful telekinetic abilities. Highly Recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of THESE ALIEN SKIES

Path of Justice

In the years since the Bakzen war, Wil and Saera have raised a family on Earth outside the purview of the High Dynasties and Priesthood. Except, it's almost time for their teenage twins, Raena and Jason, to begin telekinesis training and they have no idea such abilities even exist. With the Bakzen threat eliminated, Wil hopes the TSS can offer them training without the need to commit to a lifetime of military service. Just as the twins come to understand the life on Tararia that was kept from them as children, the family discovers that there's always another layer of secrets guiding their lives.

Path of Justice is the sixth installment in the Cadicle series. This novel lays the foundation for the plan to finally bring down the Priesthood.

Path of Justice (SF Adventure)

“Cadicle Vol #6

By Amy DuBoff

BDL Press

ASIN # B01NCZ15M9

Price $3.99

362 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“A New Generation.”

Saera is several months pregnant, and they decide the children will be raised on Earth after they’re born on TSS Headquarters. The story then jumps sixteen years and we meet the twins, Jason and Raena, who know nothing of their heritage. Then, suddenly, Raena has her Awakening, the onset of abilities, and hears voices as she picks up what her classmates are thinking. Jason calls their dad, and the kids are quickly taken from the Earth to the moon headquarters where they are introduced to their heritage – and future. The Priesthood and the Aeiser are also aware of the situation and both want Raena for their own purposes.

The author’s writing is excellent, and the story is interesting. Unfortunately, it moves slowly, as we follow the twins and their activities in a new environment. There is the expected kidnapping and rescue towards the end, and we wonder why the TSS doesn’t destroy the Priesthood once and for all, but the author isn’t finished building her universe yet. In fact, we see a lot of changes in this latest novel, as commands are repositioned and we watch the next generation move forward. As much as I like the series, I think the author needs to throw away the current formula and invent some new and more exciting ideas to the series. Each story is starting to sound like the previous one, with just a change of characters, i.e., the next generation. Still, this is one of the best new SF series I’ve read in awhile, and I highly recommend it to those who like good world building in science fiction.

Tom Johnson

Author of WORLDS OF TOMORROW

Crossroads of Fate

With the Primus Elites' training almost complete, Wil and his men relocate to H2 to make their final preparations. Everything seems to be staged for a swift TSS victory over the Bakzen as Wil assumes the position of TSS Supreme Commander with Saera and his most trusted friends by his side.

But, Tek won't let the Bakzen go down easily. He will find Wil's greatest weakness and do anything to make him crumble. The generations-old war began as a feud of races and ideals, but with this fight, it's personal.

Crossroads of Fate is the fifth installment in the Cadicle series. This character-driven novel chronicles the decisive space battles to end the war with the Bakzen so a new era for Tarans can begin.

CROSSROADS OF FATE (SF)

Cadicle Book #5

By Amy DuBoff

BDL Press

ISBN #978-1537185910

Price $12.99

370 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“World Building At Its Best.”

With the final war with the Bakzen at hand, Wil is promoted to Supreme Commander, and he leads the TSS in a calculated battle with their enemy, an enemy not truly an alien race. Wil is now aware that the Bakzen are clones of genetically modified Tarans created by the Priesthood, and it’s really the Priesthood who forced the clones out, making them enemies of those who created them. But the hatred of the Bakzens, against their creators cannot be dismissed with less than a war to destroy one or the other. But for Wil, this is something that might destroy him as a person when he’s responsible for innumerable people dying on worlds caught in the crossfire because of his actions. Can he live with the knowledge that his power and leadership is the ultimate weapon that will wipe out an entire race of people? Will he come out of this unscathed, even if he survives the battles? And what of his friends, his parents, and his wife, will they also be damaged by his actions?

Again, the author gives the reader a well thought out novel of mysterious forces moving people around a chessboard to reach a certain goal. It is world building at its best. The writing is smooth, and fast, with realistic dialogue, and memorable characters that you won’t soon forget. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of WORLDS OF TOMORROW

Web of Truth

Tension is mounting in the rift. With the situation dire, Wil is tasked to train a group of twenty young men to serve as his officers--collectively, the Primus Elites. He has five years to raise them to full Agents, and he'll need every minute. Training alongside them, Wil still needs to master simultaneous observation. But, the closer he gets to achieving the feat, the more likely the Aesir will come to test him--to see if he's worthy of the Cadicle title bestowed on him at conception. If he can survive their test, he'll finally uncover the truth the Priesthood has gone to such great lengths to hide.

Web of Truth is the fourth installment in the Cadicle series. This character-driven novel with action, romance, and intrigue reveals the true nature of the war as Wil learns the secrets behind the Bakzen's origins.

Web of Truth (SF)

Cadicle Book #4

By Amy DuBoff

BDL Press

ISBN #978-0692648414

Price $11.99 (Paperback)

Price $3.99 (Kindle) 

318 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

Wil and Seara are preparing for their engagement and upcoming marriage while he trains selected men in the Primus Elite and Saera tests for Agent Class. In the meantime General Tek plans a takeover of the Bakzen military. TSS meanwhile needs better accommodations to build their new fleet of war ships. To add to their problems, the mysterious Aesir have their eyes on Wil, and may wish to test the Cadicle themselves; the final chapter deals with that meeting and Wil’s test.

Book #4 is slow due to the planned marriage and preparations for heightened training. Although there are small combat engagements and other incidents to keep the story moving, any heavy action is lacking in this one, except in small doses. However, this is the story that reveals so much the previous novels have left out, and Wil finally learns to truth about the Bakzen and the war, and his ultimate role in in the war with the Bakzen. It ties the whole backstory together, yet leaves room for more as the war progresses to a fulfillment. Readers will not want to miss Cadicle Book #4, or the next in line. Highly recommended.

Tom Johnson

Author of WORLDS OF TOMORROW           

Bonds of Resolve

A year after his encounter with the Bakzen, Wil is still grappling with his upcoming role in the war. Weighed down by his sense of duty and a grim vision of his fate, he has withdrawn from friends and family—focusing only on his official assignments. However, Wil finds unexpected support when he befriends a new TSS trainee from Earth, Saera. Through their budding relationship, Wil comes to terms with the purpose he was born to fulfill and gains comfort in the knowledge that he won't have to face the future alone.

With a sweet romance, coming-of-age, and a dash of adventure, this novel follows Wil as he completes his training to become the youngest and most powerful Agent the TSS has ever known.

Bonds of Resolve (SF)

“Cadicle #3”

BDL Press

ISBN #978-0692589147

Price $11.99 Paperback

$2.99 Kindle

300 Pages

Rating 5-Stars

“Topnotch Author And Fantastic Series.”

In book #3 of the Cadicle series, young Wil Sights is in training for Junior Agent and preparing for his Internship graduation, but the Priesthood and the Tararian Selective Service have more plans for the 16-year-old. They are rushing him forward towards his final tests to see how powerful his telekinetic energy really is. He has been bred for this role, chosen in stealth by the Priesthood through secret maneuvers within his bloodline. Now a young woman, Saera Alexander, has connected with him, and he may want to rebel if she isn’t on his side.

This third entry is every bit as fascinating as the first two novels. I must admit to a couple of problems I thought I had detected, but felt the author was going to explain these away eventually, and I was right. One problem I had was with the social technology. Here we are millions of years in the future, yet people use tablets, handhelds, and send emails. This is today’s technology, not for a highly advanced civilization that may only need their minds to communicate. But we read this conversation between a trainee and instructor:

”So, Taran civilization is tens of thousands of years old, right?”

“More like millions.”

“All right, even better. So why isn’t this millions of years old civilization more advanced?”

“It’s pretty advanced.”

“Like there’s the gravity manipulation and subspace travel, but you’re still entering things by hand on touch-panels and using what is essentially a smartphone.”

We’re told that there was a collapse of civilization 1000 years before, and we basically had to relearn everything from scratch. Plus, the old adage of what goes around comes around again. Thus, it seems that the current technology has come back around. Okay, I’ll buy that, for now.

The second thing that has bothered me is the lack of women in real leadership and active roles. It appears to be a man’s world. Yes, women train in the TSS, and become instructors, and given positions. But no real active roles besides a doctor that appears once a book, or someone in another position we hear about once in a while. Women’s roles are reduced to mother and wives and girlfriends. With the introduction of Saera, I’m hoping this will change, and we have women in leadership and present for active parts.

Each novel is a story of its own, but I would suggest starting with the first, and reading the series in order. But for a good read, I highly recommend this book and series for SF readers.

Tom Johnson

Author of WORLDS OF TOMORROW