The best reward for me as a writer is when someone likes my work. Thank you all for taking the time to write a review and share your opinions.
(From amazon.com, amazon.UK and goodreads.)
OMG - space opera at its best!!
Carole-Ann rated it 5 of 5
stars
Pirates: nasty, horrid,
depraved SOBs! Aliens of every shape/form/animal/whatever: intriguing, vile,
sly SOBs! Federations and Coalitions: slimy, conniving, fanatical SOBs! Hero:
young, but strong; determined and righteous; honourable and easily seduced :)
Heroine: abusive past, vicious 'adoptive' father (OMG, just thinking about
Zuzack turns my stomach!); intelligent and sexy. Just what all H/H's need to
be!!
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
Pirates Indeed!
Floyd B. Largent Jr rated it 5 of 5 stars
Until I read Nastragull: Pirates, I thought they didn't make decent space opera anymore. This rip-roaring new novel delivers action from the very beginning, segueing from a haunting prologue immediately into a pitched space-battle between a multispecies gang of cutthroats and the passengers of the cruise liner they've targeted. You haven't seen action like this since the old Doc Smith days of classic sci-fi, though Willen does Smith and Co. one better. You see, these aren't the roguish heart-of-gold space pirates so beloved of the old pulp masters. These pirates are literally monsters--some half-human and others entirely alien, all eager for blood, loot, rape, and slaves...and a nice meal of human meat on the side, civilization be damned.
Fortunately for the Bright Star and its 20,000 passengers, she's carrying a cadre of recently graduated military cadets who rally the crew and passengers to fight the pirates nearly to a standstill, rather than just giving up without a fight. They inflict serious damage on their attackers, but are finally overwhelmed. Cadet Alec Horn, who led the defense--really Alec af Hornet, son of the top military leader of the Nastasturus Federation, a local superpower--is among the enslaved survivors.
One of the pirates, a young human girl named Alexa, becomes enamored of Alec. Alec is equally smitten with her...and uses their mutual attraction to arrange an escape. He makes off with a shuttle loaded down with an emperor's ransom in precious metals, antiques, and other booty. And then...
Well, I don't want to ruin your enjoyment of the book by including a blow-by-blow description or too many spoilers. Let me put it this way: just like it says in the description, this is a blockbuster of a book. It's pretty sizeable too, but it moves fast, with slap-dash action sure to delight any adventure fan. It would be perfect for adaptation into a movie...a more adult version of Star Wars, maybe, because this universe is by no means as conservative as Lucas's. Fair warning: prepare for some serious sex scenes that are so hot the pages would probably catch fire if you weren't reading this book on your Kindle!
Willen doesn't pull any punches in his writing, whether in the battle scenes or the romantic ones. His settings are vivid and energetic, just like his characters. For pulse-pounding, exotic (and erotic) sci-fi action, you're not going to find better than Nastragull: Pirates. I can't wait for the next installment!
Exciting and Thrilling Sci-Fi Adventure
Larry B Gray rated it 5 of 5
stars
Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by
Erik Martin Willen is an exciting and thrilling science fiction adventure. From
the first page to the last it kept a firm grasp on my attention, making it hard
to put down.
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat “for mature reader.”
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat “for mature reader.”
Very Exiting Big Scale Space Adventure
Richard Bunning rated it 4 of
5 stars
This first part of an epic
Star Wars type of production is very entertaining, often gripping, and well
written. It is also easy reading, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. The
characters are strong, and the main ones are easily identifiable and very
memorable.
There is only one thing wrong, and that is my reason for only giving the book four stars. In the mix are a couple of chapters of unnecessarily graphic sexual and sadistic activity. This may be considered a rather starchy view, but it is more than that. I am all for mixing genres, but not in this particular case SF adventure and “adult” material. Willén writes very well in both genres, the problem is in the mix. Indeed, I could include horror when considering one or two of the very descriptive violent actions.
The modern use of the term Space Opera, as used to describe this book by another reviewer, Blagent Jr., is, I think, highly appropriate. This book really is on a big production, dramatic, scale. The themes are familiar, but very well mixed, and although I can’t claim to have read any but a tiny fraction of these types of books I feel that there is more than a touch of originality as well. The story would work as big budget film, or possibly more realistically as some form of modern motion capture animation. I see fantastic potential here, if Willén can decide which audience he is really going for.
I never doubted that I would finish the book, and I was left with an interest in reading more. That is evidence enough for me that this writer deserves success. This is a full length, good value and highly entertaining novel. If this story appears with a greater purity of genre I will absolutely give the fifth star. As someone who detests the necessity of genre classification, I never thought I would say that.
A new way to read about becoming Pirates
David rated it 5 of 5 stars
This story is made to just be better and better. The writer really knows
what a Sci Fi reader want in reading way and when (Must just be a matter of
time) this book will be a film I will follow it for shore.
I'm shore we just have seen the Start of a new becoming hit in the movie world
Read it and Love it/ it's worth it
D.R
I'm shore we just have seen the Start of a new becoming hit in the movie world
Read it and Love it/ it's worth it
D.R
Pirates in a space opera
Woody rated it 4 of 5 stars
You take the theme of pirates
of old and place it in the 26 th century and in the case of this book you get a
unique world view. Whilst it isn't the way I like my scifi, the writer draws
you into the story with descriptive scenes and strong characters, so much so
that some of the book I didn't like as it bordered on the horror genre which I
don't like. But I continued and the pace speeds up and the story unfolds into a
pirates yarn complete with hidden treasure, a hero out for revenge and a galaxy
spanning space opera and a little romance thrown in. The first of a series this
book gives a good grounding of all the characters and whilst it can be read on
its own there are too many cliff hangers/ unanswered questions/ mystery to
stop.
Just waiting for the movie!
The Baron rated it 5 of 5 stars
Wow, this is the best sci-fi I've read
since Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" (which was made into a
great movie but missing the best from the original book).
Erik Martin Willen really delivers action and suspense and some surprices too! The book is very graphic and it feels like watching a movie while reading. Maybe someone like Peter Jackson could develop this great sci-fi story into a big blockbuster movie.
The pace is great and it's page are filled with swashbuckler adventure in outer space and what else could you ask for?
Looking forward to the next book in this series!
Erik Martin Willen really delivers action and suspense and some surprices too! The book is very graphic and it feels like watching a movie while reading. Maybe someone like Peter Jackson could develop this great sci-fi story into a big blockbuster movie.
The pace is great and it's page are filled with swashbuckler adventure in outer space and what else could you ask for?
Looking forward to the next book in this series!
An intergalactic, edge of seat, saga.
Chris Graham rated it 5 of 5
stars
Take Star Wars, add the motley
crew from Pirates of the Caribbean, liberally sprinkle with intergalactic
species of all imaginable kinds, throw in chunks of robust sex scenes, torture,
hand to hand fights and daring escapes, then stir in vengeance and cook at gas
mark 5 until something is ready to explode.
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next installment in the saga.
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next installment in the saga.
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