Review: a cut above the self published sci-fi out there
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2013
I read about 1-200 mainly military sci fi books a year since the invention of the Kindle and self-publishing.  The vast majority are pretty good but the themes are very well-worn and the writing is very average.  This book, however, is a real cut above the rest. Hence my 5 stars - it deserves to be read and the author should really keep writing - he definitely has the skill.The story is excellent in that it only hints at the wider universe in which it is set, while introducing characters, aliens and starscapes that are novel, believable and even a little magical. Particularly fine are the descriptions of the sinister military from which the main character has come and the thoughts of the main alien character - not easy to do - and in some places the writing is really quite unusual and compelling.  While the former may well owe much to the author's day job as a cop, I really cannot imagine where he gets the other stuff from.  The book is well-paced, mysterious, well-written, satisfying and leaves you waiting for more.  I hope we get to see more of Kin Roland - I'll be buying the next installment for sure.