Category: Science Fiction Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Type: Fiction
Pages: 205
Copyright: July 13, 2019
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Chroniclesof Kassouk:
This is the prequel, what happened centuries before the series began with Book One: White Tiger
When Trixie's star freighter, Noah's Ark, drops out of jump space in an uncharted part of the universe, she believes the Earth-like planet on her viewer represents hope and salvation for her motley crew and the ragtag settlers aboard her ship.
Kostas, ex Space Marine, the expert survivalist recruited for this expedition, doesn't believe in coincidences, and knows that when something looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Everyone on this voyage to seed a new planet with life, is running from something, and harbors dangerous secrets... including Trixie, who vowed to never let a man control her life again. As for Kostas, he would get lynched on the spot if anyone suspected who he really is.
But on this seemingly abandoned planet, others are watching, herding them for evil purposes... And when the truth emerges and secrets unravel, Trixie and Kostas will have to fight for survival, for freedom, and for the right to love...
Professional Reviews
Sci-Fi Romance with action, adventure & love
Schartz pens a suspenseful prequel to her futuristic series, "Chronicles of Kassouk" with "Noah's Ark." Filled with action, adventure, greed, betrayal, and love, "Noah's Ark" tells the story of how the humans were brought to Kassouk and how they fought for their independence in the face of adversity.
Set in the future, a group of human settlers leave the Mars colony on Noah's Ark looking to find a virgin planet to populate. Everyone has a secret and the beauty of the journey is that all the secrets are left in the past once the mission starts.
Trixie is the caption of Noah's Ark. She's surrounded by a competent crew and Kostas is the military man on the mission designated to protect them. While in jump space, Noah's Ark is attacked, forced into regular space, and crashes on Kassouk. The settlers soon discover remnants of previous inhabitants - a citadel along with an extensive tunnel system and a duranium mine. Shortly after landing, an alien race known as the Godds (from Godda) approach the settlers. The goods, Ktal and Khur, need the humans to mine the duranium ore and in exchange they'll use the weather satellites to make life hospitable on the planet. They also assist the human geneticist, McClure, in populating the planet with animal life.
Reluctantly, Trixie agrees to help Ktal. Life settles into a "normal" routine. Trixie and Kostas decide to explore their attraction and enter into an affair. McClure, however, wanting to further his own agenda, discovers Kostas' secret and threatens to expose him. It's a secret that could destroy Kostas' affair with Trixie and his credibility with the other settlers. When the godds send their enforcers, the situation grows perilous for the humans. Can love and hope win in the end?
Having read the other books in the series, I was anxiously awaiting the prequel and Schartz delivers. She engages the reader right from the opening. Her writing style is crisp and easy to read.
Schartz excels at world building as she layers the humans' discoveries staring with the citadel, then the godds, and then tossing in the zerkers.
The dialogue adds a rich authenticity to the story. It's the little touches which bring the humanity into the story from Viking the cat to Tabor's horseback riding lessons.
For me, the most rewarding aspect was the characterization. Trixie is brave and daring, having finally turned her back on her father and her family's "noble" heritage. Kostas is a true match for her, giving her the space she needs to make her own decisions. He's tender when tested and not afraid to brave the dangers of the new planet.
The love scenes are vivid, capturing a sense of primal urgency as Trixie and Kostas dare to claim each other's hearts in the same manner that they dare to claim the planet of Kassouk. "Noah's Ark" keeps the reader turning the pages eager to find out what will happen next. The story does not disappoint!
