Sara's Review: Dying Embers by Betty Adams
Author Provided Copy
Publisher: Caliburn Books
Released: August 19th 2015
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Length: 249 pages
Format: ebook, paperback
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Synopsis
Dying Embers tells the story of Drake McCarty; a sixteen year old boy with more than a few challenges in his life. As if it wasn't enough that he had begun seeing creatures that no one else could, he is suddenly thrust into the position of liaison to an alien race. He was just coming to understand that part of his life when he finds himself pronounced father to three Larian infants; embers. They are injured, frightened, and carrying a pathogen with the capacity to destroy any technology it contaminates.
Bole and the rest of the mature aliens are of limited help; exiled from their home-world following a bloody civil war, they arrived on Earth in a burned out spaceship just as the Cold War began, and for over half a century the military kept them a closely guarded, rather boring, and ultimately unproductive secret. But when the other half of the conflict arrives, bent on continuing the war here on Earth Bole has no choice but to defend his new home and the family he has built here, leaving Drake to tend to the embers on his own. But Drake has other allies; a family with roots that stretch back into antiquity, and a reach that spans the world.
They in turn know beings native to Earth, but far more alien than any of the Larians; creatures that hold no love for the species that they see as invaders, but might hold the key to his children's very survival.
Review - Three Stars
I was provided a copy of Dying Embers in exchange for an honest review. Dying Embers was an interesting concept but from the beginning I spent most of the story confused. I found myself wondering if I missed a previous book. There are aliens here on earth and they are living with a family. But it isn't fully explained. At least not enough to where I'm satisfied with the how's and why's. The Aliens are shape shifters but are huge. But it is almost like they are made of metal also. I never got a clear picture of what they were supposed to be. Then there was the whole two name thing that just confused me even more and I never quite got a grasp on who was who because the names were never the same. Then there is the sentient semi truck who is part of a native clan with mystical powers.... I think? Again confused because Drake knew them from before and it's like we were missing backstory we weren't given. The story revolving around the embers was heartbreaking and I was sobbing. So in that aspect the book was very good. The story was touching and honestly I'm curious to see what happens next. What I would really like would be a prequel explaining the alien war. Drake's families involvement with the aliens and more on the Franklin's. That way this story has more history and I don't feel so lost.