Tenebrea Rising

Rating:
Summary: A most satisfying conclusion
Review: Book Three of the Tenebrea Trilogy reads like it was rushed to print before it was fully polished. Tenebrea Rising delivers up some nice moments and a satisfying enough action climax, but ends far too abruptly and with far too many dangling plot threads. Its first half doesn't quite live up to the promise of Tenebrea's Hope, though it overcomes its early failings as events move along. The title is puzzling: the Tenebrea aren't really involved much after their initial rescue, and the authors don't particularly follow through on the implied theme of gradually rising fortunes.

Andrea and her team save the imprisoned Tenebrea, but then she learns the full extent to which K'Rin has used her and others for his own ends. Torn between heartache and rage, she breaks with the Tenebrea and swears to kill K'Rin if she ever sees him again. Considering her own ruthlessness in using others, she really shouldn't be throwing stones.

The Ordinate hit Jod, obliterating most of the fleet, pulverizing the capital, and annihilating the government. Then the Chelle make their own first move into open war with Jod, while Cor Admiral Brulk returns home to rebuild his intentionally sacrificed fleet and forces. K'Rin takes over as both military and civilian leader on Jod, making plans to wage a dual campaign against Cor and Chelle.

With Brigon, Eric, and Andrea overdue in returning to Cor, a crippled Tara leads the starving outlaw clones out of their wilderness retreat to fight the Ordinate at close quarters again. While she's finalizing the details of their proposed assault, the Tenebrea rescue team at last rejoins her with much-needed supplies, equipment, and tactical support from K'Rin. He needs the clones to help wipe out the Ordinate before Brulk gets back to fighting trim. Andrea comes along only as a favor to Brigon, wanting nothing more to do with K'Rin even at a distance.

After waiting all the way through Tenebrea's Hope for some major plot action, readers are again left waiting too long before things finally break in Tenebrea Rising. In the early chapters, the writing seems more clumsy and repetitive than in either previous book. References to prior events don't always agree with earlier accounts. As in Hope, there are too many scattered points of view, with choppy transitions that make it hard for readers' attention to remain engaged. Neither Andrea nor K'Rin shows up often enough or long enough to serve as a necessary anchor for the other story lines.

Once again, though, the patient reader is rewarded; the second half of the book is substantially better than the first. Except for one noble sacrifice, the key characters all get the outcomes they deserve. There are occasional philosophical asides and small action vignettes that rise above the rest of the story and show what the authors might accomplish after a bit more seasoning. The Chelle provide some welcome comic relief. Additional follow-up books might be expected.

Rating:
Summary: Patient Readers Will Be Rewarded
Review: Book Three of the Tenebrea Trilogy reads like it was rushed to print before it was fully polished. Tenebrea Rising delivers up some nice moments and a satisfying enough action climax, but ends far too abruptly and with far too many dangling plot threads. Its first half doesn't quite live up to the promise of Tenebrea's Hope, though it overcomes its early failings as events move along. The title is puzzling: the Tenebrea aren't really involved much after their initial rescue, and the authors don't particularly follow through on the implied theme of gradually rising fortunes.

Andrea and her team save the imprisoned Tenebrea, but then she learns the full extent to which K'Rin has used her and others for his own ends. Torn between heartache and rage, she breaks with the Tenebrea and swears to kill K'Rin if she ever sees him again. Considering her own ruthlessness in using others, she really shouldn't be throwing stones.

The Ordinate hit Jod, obliterating most of the fleet, pulverizing the capital, and annihilating the government. Then the Chelle make their own first move into open war with Jod, while Cor Admiral Brulk returns home to rebuild his intentionally sacrificed fleet and forces. K'Rin takes over as both military and civilian leader on Jod, making plans to wage a dual campaign against Cor and Chelle.

With Brigon, Eric, and Andrea overdue in returning to Cor, a crippled Tara leads the starving outlaw clones out of their wilderness retreat to fight the Ordinate at close quarters again. While she's finalizing the details of their proposed assault, the Tenebrea rescue team at last rejoins her with much-needed supplies, equipment, and tactical support from K'Rin. He needs the clones to help wipe out the Ordinate before Brulk gets back to fighting trim. Andrea comes along only as a favor to Brigon, wanting nothing more to do with K'Rin even at a distance.

After waiting all the way through Tenebrea's Hope for some major plot action, readers are again left waiting too long before things finally break in Tenebrea Rising. In the early chapters, the writing seems more clumsy and repetitive than in either previous book. References to prior events don't always agree with earlier accounts. As in Hope, there are too many scattered points of view, with choppy transitions that make it hard for readers' attention to remain engaged. Neither Andrea nor K'Rin shows up often enough or long enough to serve as a necessary anchor for the other story lines.

Once again, though, the patient reader is rewarded; the second half of the book is substantially better than the first. Except for one noble sacrifice, the key characters all get the outcomes they deserve. There are occasional philosophical asides and small action vignettes that rise above the rest of the story and show what the authors might accomplish after a bit more seasoning. The Chelle provide some welcome comic relief. Additional follow-up books might be expected.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I don't even like reading battles or sci-fi, but this book was amazing! The ending was a little brief, but perfect for finishing this fantastic trilogy! I loved this book and I know you will, too!

Rating:
Summary: A most satisfying conclusion
Review: Tenebrea Rising provides a satisfying end to an ambitious trilogy.

In books one and two, Andrea became ruthless because of the evil done to her. Her mentor, K'Rin has long been ruthless because of his practical, if not exaggerated, sense of duty. The Jod's leader, Pl'Don, is ruthlessly ambitious as is his Cor counterpart, Admiral Brulk, who manufactures clones that he uses like ammunition. Even the Chelle, who offer comic relief, demonstrate a kind of pettifogging ruthlessness. The Chelle's arrogant meddling on Earth actually started the whole disordered mess.

All these unbridled self-interests collide in Tenebrea Rising. As with all moral tales, redemption comes from selflessness, embodied by the maternal (although ironically sterile clone Tara) and Andrea's companion, the noble H'Roo Parh. Andrea finally breaks hate's hold on her when realizes that she is becoming like K'Rin, the latest object of her hate.

The ending of Tenebrea Rising leaves many unanswered questions, but such is life. Andrea quips at the end, "Now we have a future," and we are left to wonder, what kind of future? These books are so much more than space opera--very enjoyable at one level, and deeper still.