Life Debt (Star Wars: Aftermath #2) by Chuck Wendig

Life Debt (Star Wars: Aftermath #2) by Chuck Wendi-430 pages

I like this better than the first in the trilogy as the prose and plot are better, but still not great. The writing is not as choppy, but is still not top notch, by any means. I do enjoy that Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca are included in this story with the liberation of Kashyyk, but these characters are not quite what they are in the movies or in other books written about Star Wars. Overall, I enjoyed reading this second book in the series well enough to want to finish the series. The third book's anticipated release is sometime next year, so I look forward to that.

Gatefather by Orson Scott Card

Gatefather by Orson Scott Card -- 384 pages


Danny North is the first Gate Mage to be born on Earth in nearly 2000 years, or at least the first to survive to claim his power. Families of Westil in exile on Earth have had a treaty that required the death of any suspected Gate Mage. The wars between the Families had been terrible, until at last they realized it was their own survival in question. But a Gate Mage, one who could build a Great Gate back to Westil, would give his own Family a terrible advantage over all the others, and reignite the wars. So they all had to die. And if the Families didn't kill them, the Gate Thief would—that mysterious Mage who destroyed every Great Gate, and the Gate Mage, before it could be opened between Earth and Westil.

But Danny survived. And Danny battled the Gate Thief, and won.

What he didn't know at the time was that the Gate Thief had a very good reason for closing the Great Gates—and Danny has now fallen into the power of that great enemy of both Earth and Westil.

Gatefather is book three of the Mither Mages series.

The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 352 pages

This is book 2 of "The Homecoming" series.

Nafai and his family have been chosen by the Oversoul to travel back to earth and repopulate it, but it won't be as easy as standing up and leaving. One problem is that they have no wives with them. Another is General Moozh, who deliberately fights any attempt from the Oversoul to guide him. Now General Moozh can tell that the Oversoul is trying to keep him from taking Basilica, but not even a mind-controlling computer can stop him.

I listened to the eaudiobook.

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 352 pages

The Oversoul wasn't built to last this long. For 40 million years, the Oversoul has orbited Harmony, keeping watch over the people and insuring that evil does not get out of hand, keeping humans from making war machines and weapons of mass destruction. But the Oversoul is wearing down. It can tell that its own reasoning is waning, and worse, its power over the human mind is weakening. It needs help, human help, from the people who can still hear from it.

So it was a little slow at times, but definitely interesting. I liked when the feeling is more Sci-fi and less religious. I don't mind that the story is based on Mormonism, just that the worship is to--a computer? I did go on to the next book, but (WARNING!) the book leaves off on a cliff hanger, so I didn't have much choice, did I?

This is book 1 of "The Homecoming" series. I listened to the audiobook.

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card -- 384 pages

Book #3 of the Ender's Shadow series

Shadow Puppets follows the stories of Bean, Petra, and Peter as governments on earth rage against each other.

While Bean and Petra struggle to understand their relationship and Bean's condition, Peter Wiggin has plans of earth and with Bean's help, he will make history, and maybe even rule the entire world.

I also listened to this on Overdrive.

Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card

Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card -- 451 pages

Book #2 of the Ender's Shadow series

The War is over. Ender has defeated the Buggers and has joined the group of colonists who have left to explore the Buggers' left-behind homes, but on earth, the crew of brilliant children who were with Ender during the 3rd invasion are scattered among the countries and continents.

As potential weapons and some of the most powerful resources in the world, it becomes apparent that these students won't be living normal lives. Ever. One by one the battle school students are being kidnapped, except for Bean, they simply dropped a bomb on his house.

After a narrow escape, Bean turns to Ender's brother, Peter Wiggin, for help.

I listened to this through Overdrive. The audiobook is well made.

Implant by J. Grace Pennington

Implant by J. Grace Pennington -- 173 pages

Gordon's life was rough enough as, orphaned and anemic, before he developed cancer. Now his life, sad as it is, is going to end. Soon. Unless an implant can save him.

This chip is supposed to cure any disease, but before he can get it, he is suddenly pulled into the future--a future where everyone has an implant, and that implant can kill a person with the push of a button. Because he was fetched before he got the implant,he might be a help the rebels who brought him here. Or maybe they want him for another reason.