Star Marque Rising
The future is governed through a genetic hierarchy--superhumans at the top, humans and defects at the bottom. Welcome to an all-new military science fiction novel from critically-acclaimed author Shami Stovall.
Clevon Demarco, a genetically modified human, has a cocksure attitude and the combat skills to back it up. With his unparalleled skills, he makes his living as a ruthless gunrunner on a shady space station near the edges of the quadrant. Stronger, faster, and wittier than most sad sacks, no one even comes close to Demarco's abilities--until he crosses paths with the captain of the notorious Star Marque, Endellion Voight.
Captain Voight arrests Demarco and offers him a choice: go to a prison planet for his crimes, or join her starship, the Star Marque, working as mercenaries for the superhumans. But she didn't pick him at random. She has a plan to become a planet governor; a title no human has held since the superhumans won the war. It doesn't matter the cost--assassinations, extortion, blackmail--she's determined to claw her way to the top.
All Captain Voight needs is Demarco's help to carry out her machinations, and she'll give him everything he's ever wanted in return.
A fast-paced space opera for those who enjoy Old Man's War by John Scalzi, Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds, or anything by Robert A. Heinlein.
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Community Reviews
Clevon Demarco is a criminal who wants nothing more than to get off Capital Station and get planetside...any planet would do. In this futuristic society governed by superhumans, Clevon scrapes out a living using his genetic modifications to operate as a gunrunner for a shady crew of misfits. The day Clevon thinks he'll finally make his departure from the armpit space station is the day he finds himself in the path of Captain Endellion Voight of the starship Star Marque.
Captain Voight recruits Clevon and reveals her plan to become governor of a planet, a position that has been withheld from a human since the superhumans won the war. Clevon finds himself embroiled in deadly ambition and cutthroat politics and danger around every bend.
The camaraderie between the crew of the Star Marque was amazing - this was what first reminded me of the movie, TOP GUN, which had me dubbing Demarco as Maverick. Demarco has the same cocky attitude of being a superior pilot and making rash decisions, but the difference is we got to watch Demarco learn. I appreciate the attention to detail here, because Demarco had never been a starship pilot previously, or served in the military and the author never forgot that or glossed over it, instead his skills and lessons learned from mistakes continued to develop over the course of the story. I love when it's earned and not a one paragraph training montage and then WHAM! The character is suddenly cream of the crop.
The relationships formed and interactions between the characters were another element I really enjoyed - this combined with the fast pacing, the battle and action scenes had me unable to put this book down for long. I don't usually read on the weekends because I try to give all my attention to my family, but this book wouldn't let me...I had to know what was going to happen next!!
I loved the intrigue and the politics - I loved these so much that I am about to have a fit trying to figure out how to squeeze in the second book of this series into my TBR as quickly as possible. The way it's written, it's easy to get addicted to the adrenaline rush of all that was going on. I grew attached to the crew, I'm invested in their future and I need to see them do what I think they're about to do...ASAP!
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did accept a copy of this book from the author to read in exchange for an honest review. I have purchased a copy of the second book in this series with my own money.
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