 |
Pirates (1)
By: Erik Martin Willen
 (21 reviews) |
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!, September 18, 2013
I sincerely love
this book. I love the opening scene. I love the flow of the story; I love how
the adventures just never cease rolling in...It's so easy to get swept up into
the book and forget about everything else. Time slips and by the time you
notice it, hours have passed. It's that good. I am so glad Erik Martin Willen
has made this into a trilogy series... and I hope everyone loves it as much as
I do.
This story grabbed my attention right from the start! The characters are believable and intriguing. The story line keeps you from wanting to put the book down. We need more books like this and are looking forward to anything more from this author! A delightful read!
This story grabbed my attention right from the start! The characters are believable and intriguing. The story line keeps you from wanting to put the book down. We need more books like this and are looking forward to anything more from this author! A delightful read!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Groovy fun time, August 26, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
Awesomeness times
ten. Although it was hard at first catching on to the flow of the story. Once
the pieces fell into place I was hooked. Can not wait to read the next
installment!!!
WOW - this one
came as a shock! A new author that knows how to write a really great sci-fi
story! As a sci-fi fan I have a tendency to compare anything I read with the
best: Star Wars and Star Trek. What was missing in these epic stories you will
not miss in this awesome story. It has everything any reader could want. Even
though at times there are some very detailed described acts of violence and
some sex the story itself overwhelms all that. What we have here is a new great
author. A very fast read, cover to cover and the best part; you don't even have
to be a sci-fi fan! Overall I think most people will fall for this epic story.
Watch out Star Wars and Star Trek a new star has risen!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arrrr - There be Pirates out here matey !, June 30, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
Though science
fiction is not really my cup of tea - I'm a horror fan - I found Nastragull to
be exciting, well written & interesting.
I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next installment.
I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next installment.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nastragull delivers!, June 13, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
Action lovers,
SciFi enthusiasts, mythology mages this is for you! And even for general
fiction readers. This is good literature pretending to only be entertainment.
(Good literature can be a chore to like. Nastragull is the cure for your
boredom.) Don't let this masterful work pass you by. Willen has done this
right!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome story... great characters ... need more ...., June 5, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
This story
surprised me (not only because I have to wait for the next part to find out
what happens to these characters) because the author has created realistic
characters in a fantasy environment that I can relate to, and I fell invested
in what happens to them. The first part has a few erotic undertones (I'm not
complaining!) but it is still suitable for older children and any adult who
likes Joss Whedon's Firefly or the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The
character development reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Heinlein. Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new way to read about becomeing Pirates, February 15, 2013
This story is made
to just be better and better. The writter 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 becomeing 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 becomeing hit in the movie world
Read it and Love it/ it's worth it D.R
5.0 out of 5 stars
An intergalactic, edge of seat, saga., February 8, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
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 instalment 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 instalment in the saga.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just waiting for the Movie!, January 3, 2013
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!
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
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."
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
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."
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pirates Indeed!, November 18, 2012
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
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!
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!
4.0 out of 5 stars
Follow this author, December 16, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
Good solid SF. Well
worth the time of a good read.
The story line is fun and a good saga. The characters are mostly good - with lots of fun. Interestingly the supporting cast are better developed and more believable than the main two characters - though the top two are fun all the way through, they just sometimes come in and out of character.
Some of the violence is a bit over the top with too much detail without really adding to the value of the scene.
I have two recommendations. One, get it and enjoy it. Two, follow the author. I believe he will only get better. The minor flaws in this book are those of a new author - many very good books should be on the horizon!
The story line is fun and a good saga. The characters are mostly good - with lots of fun. Interestingly the supporting cast are better developed and more believable than the main two characters - though the top two are fun all the way through, they just sometimes come in and out of character.
Some of the violence is a bit over the top with too much detail without really adding to the value of the scene.
I have two recommendations. One, get it and enjoy it. Two, follow the author. I believe he will only get better. The minor flaws in this book are those of a new author - many very good books should be on the horizon!
4.0 out of 5 stars
keep writing, December 14, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
This is more for
the author, others have written fine reviews. I really like what you have
started here and hope you continue. I am looking forward to your next book. To
me that is the highest praise, anticipation for your next offering.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Gritty Entertaining Sci-Fi, August 5, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
'Nastragull' is
the story of pirate Alexa, and military cadet Alec who is captured by her
captain along with his friends.
The story strikes a dark and remorselessly brutal tone right from the start, which fits very well with the main cast of characters being blood-thirsty pirates. It's a graphic and gut-wrenching tale of the depravities and brutality visited upon the helpless slaves of these truly evil, twisted pirates. There is a ray of hope within all of this darkness however, with Alexa's dream of being rescued from the awful life she has been brought up in and Alec's attraction to her in spite of what she is.
There's a wild mix of action, sci-fi, horror, erotica, and romance in this novel which makes it difficult to classify. I enjoyed it as an entertaining and gritty read, made more believable by the brutality of the pirate characters. There were perhaps moments where what was going on was more extreme than technically required but I think that is what makes it unique. I liked the main characters but found it hard to connect with them, simply due to these extremes.
All in all I found this to be a gripping, entertaining read. I will warn it's not for the faint-hearted due to the graphic scenes of horror and erotica it contains. If you enjoy horror or dark, gritty novels this is a must read.
The story strikes a dark and remorselessly brutal tone right from the start, which fits very well with the main cast of characters being blood-thirsty pirates. It's a graphic and gut-wrenching tale of the depravities and brutality visited upon the helpless slaves of these truly evil, twisted pirates. There is a ray of hope within all of this darkness however, with Alexa's dream of being rescued from the awful life she has been brought up in and Alec's attraction to her in spite of what she is.
There's a wild mix of action, sci-fi, horror, erotica, and romance in this novel which makes it difficult to classify. I enjoyed it as an entertaining and gritty read, made more believable by the brutality of the pirate characters. There were perhaps moments where what was going on was more extreme than technically required but I think that is what makes it unique. I liked the main characters but found it hard to connect with them, simply due to these extremes.
All in all I found this to be a gripping, entertaining read. I will warn it's not for the faint-hearted due to the graphic scenes of horror and erotica it contains. If you enjoy horror or dark, gritty novels this is a must read.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Exiting Big Scale Space Adventure, February 14, 2013
This review is
from: NASTRAGULL
(Pirates) (Kindle Edition)
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, Floyd B. Largent 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.
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, Floyd B. Largent 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.
