Reviews

Reviews for Iskander Series Novels.

Arrival
Written by: Christopher Hoare
Science fiction / Fiction / Time travel
Rated: Very Good (****)
Review by: Lisa Haselton

Gisel Matah is sixteen. She’s on a starship with her father, brother, and a small entourage of explorers no longer able to get back to their home world. Being female and the youngest on board are not complimentary attributes for this spitfire, but she has skills that no other crew member has and her importance becomes apparent to everyone.

Being on board the Iskander with supersmart engineers and scientists, Gisel is challenged to be a ‘typical teenager.’ She was brought on board as personal trainer because her father, the engineering chief, pulled strings and having high-level connections doesn’t win her any friends. She’s headstrong and persistent, and, of course, knows everything.

She finds a way to be a part of the first landing party to the planet passing below the starship, and although most of her adventure doesn’t go smoothly, the crew discovers that she is the only person able to communicate with the natives they have run into.

Iskander technology is years ahead of the planet they must rely on for survival. The crew quickly learns that no matter how advanced you are, when you only have the basics to deal with, you have to adapt or perish. Creating alliances when you don’t know if the people can be an asset to you or not is a tough political position to be in. Gisel finds herself front and center while the General of the Iskander works to create relationships with the people on the planet, and she enjoys it.

She may only be a teenager, but Gisel has an inner strength, the intelligence, and the youthful wit to survive in just about any situation she finds herself in. Sometimes survival turns out to be luck, but in a brand new world, as long as you can keep your wits about you, you have a great chance to succeed.

Arrival is fun to read. It’s interesting to see how Gisel’s start within the Iskander crew relates to the first two novels. Her energy is contagious and comes through the pages. The reader, at times, wants to reach out to protect the young girl from danger, but Gisel quickly figures out a solution so the reader can breathe a sigh of relief and continue reading.

Christopher Hoare’s third novel, Arrival, brings the reader into the past. It fills in the details of the time before Deadly Enterprise, the first book in the series featuring Gisel Matah. The story continues in The Wildcat’s Victory and now the reader can see how Gisel became a young military leader at such a young age.

I recommend reading Arrival to anyone who enjoys exploring old worlds through time travel, politics behind creating alliances, battles, strategy, survival, and a small dash of romance.  Arrival is a great story that gives the reader the scoop behind Gisel’s life.
I’ve enjoyed all three novels in this series and look forward to more novels from this writer. I think any of the three novels would be great on the big screen.

Title: Arrival
Author: Christopher Hoare
Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-55404-620-1
Pages: 354
Price: $16.99

****

Reviewed by Geoff  Nelder
Iskander: Book Three – Arrival by Christopher Hoare

Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing (October 2008)
Paperback: 356 pages
ISBN-10: 1554046203
ISBN-13: 978-1554046201

Gisel Matah is a feisty spaceship teen. Although as big a nuisance as she can be for the crew and her father, she is wise for her years with an aptitude for languages.  An ability that comes in handy when her ship jumps but instead of the intended planet they see a replica other-Earth. With depleted resources the crew have no choice but to land only to find mostly pre-industrial societies. How to sneak down without causing alarm, befriend communities that might be helpful and assist those friends with modern aids when essential is the meat in this Iskander installment. As the spirited main character, Gisel, has all the ingredients to keep a reader thirsting for more. She is the spaceship’s version of Joan of Arc, sword fighting, and using strategies to defeat knights and villains.

This book is a page turner with fine elements of late-medieval economics, espionage and relationships with the added spice of futuristic technology discreetly applied. There are clever dialogue exchanges and neat setting descriptions such as: “The city of Leyden…seemed to sleep in the Fall sunshine as if it had experienced a very busy summer.”

I am sure the readers of the first two Iskander books will be very happy to follow with this adventure. Even new readers, teen to adult, will be entranced; Arrival works as a stand alone novel.

****

Deadly Enterprise

Written by: Christopher Hoare

Science fiction / Fiction / Time travel

Rated: Very Good (****)

Review by: Lisa Haselton http://lisahaselton.tripod.com/index.html

Lieutenant Gisel Matah is resourceful, daring, and from a future earth. She’s also beautiful and rebellious–a wild cat. At 20, she’s the Iskander’s top operative. She thrives on the adrenaline rush of each assignment. Able to stay focused, in character, observant and determined, Gisel may not always follow orders to the letter, but she always gets the mission accomplished.

Iskander technology is well-advanced of Gaia, the older earth which the Iskander’s find they must adapt to. With battles raging between the Emperor and other factions, the Iskanders are interested in finding peace and making allies. To that end, they choose to approach the Felgers, a successful merchant and banker family, to assist them with their trading and production plans. Gisel must convince Yohan Felger of the benefits to him and his family business if they join forces. It’s not an easy task. She has to share enough information about their technology to convince him of their worth, but not too much information which he could use against them.

In a world where women are required to be under the care and supervision of men, Gisel must remain disguised as a man in order to accomplish her mission. Complicating matters are rumors on Gaia about a female agent named ‘Wildcat’ who is nothing but trouble, and who is being sought by Zagdorf, his troopers, and hired local forces.

The story is intriguing and entertaining. Deadly Enterprise is a page-turner. The reader is naturally curious to see how Gisel will manage to keep her identity and heart disguised while escorting and protecting Yohan through the warring territories in order to make alliances for a peaceful and prosperous future for everyone. Logic can sometimes be overruled by emotions and plans don’t always go as expected, especially when innocent people are put in harm’s way. Gisel must make a lot of tough decisions.

Christopher Hoare’s strong female protagonist in Deadly Enterprise is well-crafted. The descriptive scenes and tight writing keep the reader engaged and turning the pages. Deadly Enterprise contains elements of time travel, past worlds, future worlds, politics, battles, strategy, survival, and a small dash of romance. After all, Gisel may be a soldier, but she also has a heart.

I solidly recommend reading Deadly Enterprise for the pure enjoyment of a well-written novel containing strong and clearly defined characters, clear, crisp details that propel the story forward, and an enticing glimpse into a new world. I look forward to more novels from this writer, especially if they include Gisel Matah.

*******
Deadly Enterprise    TCM Reviews
Christopher Hoare
Double Dragon Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-55404-466-5
Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewed by Eugen M. Bacon

Immaculate cover graphics from Double Dragon Publishing set searing premise for this novel, as does the momentous map of Gaia, one that dates to conceivably primeval epochs. Lieutenant Gisel Matah of Iskander Security makes a pert and audacious start on alternate Earth Gaia. Gisel is brazen as she is shrewd; feisty enough to draw tradition bound Yohan Felger of an affluent merchant dynasty to the Iskander’s cause. But Yohan’s allegiance remains indefinable until a deadly encounter with Commandante Zagdorf, an enemy as slippery as he is brutal, instils prompt persuasion.

Deadly Enterprise exhibits unsullied sense of place. Sporadic period dialogue runs along nicely to inject quaint mood and pace abreast sassy humor. Enduring sparring between Gisel and Zagdorf’s militia keeps action rolling, pages twirling. Renegades versus outlaws; brigand stealth and head to head pursuit: the novel offers undeniable charm, bustle and risk, as well as whetting assurance of a persuasive sequel.

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Muse Book Reviews:

Gisel’s character is so refreshing, not only because she is a woman and can defend herself, but the situations she finds herself in and how she eludes the enemy, well, you just have to read to understand why I loved this novel.

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Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books     Friday, April 18, 2008
Deadly Enterprise Offers Perfect Escape From Painful Reality
http://blogginboutbooks.blogspot.com/2008/04/deadly-enterprise-offers-perfect-escape.html

Alternate realities and gun-toting secret agents usually aren’t my thing, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Deadly Enterprise by Canadian author Christopher Hoare. I
mentioned that I started reading it in the E.R., and I have to say, it provided the perfect escape from my painful reality.

The story revolves around Gisel Matah, a lieutenant from Iskander, a progressive society on a futuristic Earth. Because of a blip in their space/time travel plans, Gisel’s people find themselves trapped in the 17th Century on an alternate Earth called Gaia. Since it’s impossible for the Iskanders to return to their own land, they aim to improve Gaia with their advanced knowledge and inventions. Not everyone is happy about the plan, especially the ruling Trigons, another people stranded in a foreign land. To help persuade the higher-ups to oust the Trigons, the Iskanders form a partnership with banker Yohan Felger. The young man has contacts in the enemy city of Lubitz, so he and Gisel set out together to appeal to the city’s leaders. Gisel’s reputation (her reckless bravery has earned her the nickname “Wildcat”) makes her a target for all kinds of enemies, so she passes herself off as Yohan’s male bodyguard.

Journeying side by side means that Gisel and Yohan must learn to work together. They are an unlikely pair – Gisel is a hardened military woman, reared in an age when women have as many rights as men, while Yohan is a gentleman from a time when women submitted to men or faced the consequences. While Yohan finds Gisel’s aggressive nature appalling, he also comes to respect her cunning and skill. Gisel teases the refined Yohan about his lack of street smarts, but acknowledges he is the kindest, gentlest man she’s ever known. Predictably, the two discover they are attracted to each other, although they have little time to think about romance. There’s also the little problem of Yohan’s betrothal and Gisel’s ex-boyfriend, who longs for a reconciliation.

When the pair finally reach Lubitz, they find a town in confusion. Gisel knows the tide of opinion can be turned in favor of Iskander aid if only she can speak to the right people. But, Lubitz is under siege by the formidabble Trigons, and no one knows who to trust. Her new mission is fraught with danger. Can Gisel convince the right people before it’s too late? Will her disguise keep her safe from her enemies? Most importantly (to me, anyway), will Gisel and Yohan find happiness together? Or will their differences keep them apart?

Deadly Enterprise moves along steadily, with a plot driven by constant action. The characters are likeable, if not super original. Gisel makes an appealing leading lady, with her tough exterior and compassionate heart. Yohan suits her, although their companionship is sedate and lacking the fire one would expect from a woman as passionate as the Wildcat. The supporting cast is large and thus, confusing, with few members really standing out. Still, action rules the day in the book, and that’s what makes it such an entertaining read. When I first read the book’s description, I thought it was a sci fi/techno type thriller, but it’s really more of an adventure story. Fans of both should find something to their liking in Deadly Enterprise. Iskander enthusiasts (of which I am one) will want to follow Gisel on her next adventure in Wildcat’s Victory.

So, if you’re planning a trip to the E.R. anytime soon, you might as well take along a book that will keep your mind off your own reality. I recommend Christopher Hoare’s Deadly Enterprise.

Grade: B

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Sadie’s Storylines

A kickass female protagonist leads the charge in this alternate-earth fantasy. The Wildcat’s Victory is the second in a series (the first being Deadly Enterprise) by Christopher Hoare.

Gisel Matah is not only beautiful, she’s strong and smart as a whip.  She knows more than she’s letting on as the book opens.  Through slow reveals we learn the backstory of the novel (for those that haven’t yet read Deadly Enterprise), and see the deception behind every character as they try to protect their own interests as well as the interests of their superiors.

At first I found the book confusing, but within 10 pages I was hooked and reading more to clear up any remaining confusion I felt.  Christopher shoves you knee-deep in intrigue and action and doesn’t let you go until the last page of this spell-binding novel.

See an earth locked in a time of near-progress, hindered by sins of the past and present, a war of wits and weapons.

Get The Wildcat’s Victory and prepare to sit on the edge of your seat, using your own wits to keep up with Gisel’s.

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The Wildcat’s Victory
Written by: Christopher Hoare
Science fiction / Fiction / Time travel
Rated: Very Good (****)
Review by: Lisa Haselton

Gisel Matah is back! Still in her early 20s and now a Major, she’s still an Iskander operative to be reckoned with. Her hands are full with balancing a love life, dealing with an operative’s murder, and preparing soldiers for battle.

The Iskanders have an alliance with the Felgers, a Gaian merchant and banker family. Yet there are still areas where the trust wanes. Gisel’s engagement to Yohan Felger hasn’t helped matters. Each has to balance duty to their people with their desire to be honest with each other. The challenges they face on a daily basis test their limits. How can she fully trust Yohan, when he’s loyal to the Baron who has yet to accept her? What drew Yohan to Gisel is now the same thing he has the hardest time accepting, especially when her newest assignment has her directly reporting to her former lover.

Life on Gaia has improved and progress is being made, but with the murder of an undercover operative and a radical movement that needs tempering, Gisel is not bored. In addition, she is asked to command a cavalry to support the rear of a battle line which has recently lost its commander. She hesitates to accept, but is pulled into the role and quickly learns the challenges ahead of her. A sadistic Skathian prince uses the battlefield for his own enjoyment and strives to learn how to defeat both sides in order to obtain total control.

The story is engaging and intriguing. I liken it to an intense chess match. It’s interesting to see how actions cause reactions and know that there is a third party lingering on the sidelines about to blow all the strategies off the board. Gisel trains her young cavalry men as best she can with the limited time they have. At the climax, their lives hang on her quick thinking, negotiating skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Christopher Hoare’s second novel, The Wildcat’s Victory, picks up eighteen months after Deadly Enterprise. The strong female protagonist, Gisel, is solid and well-crafted. The author manages to keep the character’s voice true to a young female officer with a lot of responsibility in a male-dominated field. She comes off feminine yet also a strong warrior. The tight writing and focused attention to detail keeps the reader engaged.

I recommend reading The Wildcat’s Victory, especially if you are a strategist, chess player, or war enthusiast. The battle scenes are succinct, yet detailed enough to appreciate a commander’s skill needed for success. The pacing is quite in tune with the scenes so the reader feels part of the action, whether it’s calm or full of motion.

Title: The Wildcat’s Victory Author: Christopher Hoare Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-55404-539-6Pages: 320Price: $16.99

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Arrival (Book 3) by Christopher Hoare – Review by Ficbot: http://e-finds.blogspot.com/
Available in print at Amazon for $16.99
Available in e-formats at Fictionwise for $7.99 (club price $6.79)

This book’s author was gracious enough to provide me with a review copy. I was (and remain) unfamiliar with his earlier work. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing in this case! It appears to be a prequel of sorts for his earlier work featuring the same protagonist. This work precedes the others in the timeline, so if you loved the adult Gisel, you may find her teenage self irritating. Coming at this with a blank slate, as I did, I had no such issues and I took the characters as they were.
The story concerns Gisel Mattah, a teenager who gets herself recruited onto her father’s space ship when it goes off on a mission. She feels out of place, at first—she is the youngest person on the ship, the least skilled, relies on other crew for school lessons and is trying to get along with her somewhat estranged father. But she soon makes a place for herself when the ship gets stranded on a pre-industrial Earth and she is drafted into the role of translator and diplomat.
I thought Hoare did an amazing job with things once they landed planet-side. He has clearly done his research on knights, castles and such, and weaves the necessary background in without being a pest about it or coming off like a guest lecturer in a dull history class. I liked that he accorded the ‘medieval’ characters reasonable amounts of status, intelligence and street smarts. They aren’t stupid just because they don’t have space ships!

I found the pre-landing stuff worked a little less well for me. There are FAR too many references to how young and hot Gisel is—if she is really that out of place on a ship like this, I doubt even a father’s pull could have gotten her on it were this the real world. And I found the crew’s behaviour toward the ‘natives’ simply appalling. Perhaps this is my own shortcoming of experience with this particular genre, but the only ’ship stories’ I really know are the Star Trek ones, and I suppose their ‘prime directive’ got a little too ingrained in my head as the acceptable sci-fi standard. This crew’s firm belief that they could just go down to this existing society, do whatever they wanted, and respond as they wished to any resistance from the natives rubbed me very wrong. It’s nice they came around later, but by then I had made up my mind about some of these tertiary characters.
I’m not sure I would have chosen this book on my own simply because I really don’t read widely in this genre generally. But I was glad to be introduced to this author’s work, and I definitely think that if this is the sort of book you enjoy, you’ll make a good choice with this one!