Review by The-happy-reader-7 -- Masters and Bastards

[The-happy-reader-7]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Masters and Bastards" by Christopher J. Penington.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Masters and Bastards by Christopher J. Penington is a science fiction novel which explores a universe riddled with oppression. There are three main worlds, Poltervaut, Gideon and Rubicon. The story is seen through the eyes of an Arpathian, Andreas Marset, a legionary in possession of unimaginable talent, intelligence, combat skills, and unique gifts. He is a bastard and an orphan with no knowledge of his parents. He resides on planet Poltervaut, on which there exists a caste system by which Iberians maintain their wealth and superiority, ranking loftily in the hierarchy, at the bottom of which the oppressed Arpathians exist. Marset finds himself the pawn in a very dangerous game of power and deception. Has he found true love, or is a puppeteer dangling him on thin threads? The unavoidable question of who the master of one’s fate really is, burns at the forefront of my mind. Who can he trust, when mostly everyone has a reason for wanting him dead? Can he survive the inevitable war against the Vulgari alien race?

The story brimmed with suspense as there were so many plot twists. Each chapter of this book is a layer of artful storytelling, and a testament to the author’s pure, unquestionable talent for plot development and world-building. I liked the fact that there is something for everyone in this novel. This story contains the perfect combination of action, war, romance, politics and science fiction. There were alien races, unusual creatures, and diverse characters with special abilities such as telepathy, and the ability to create a mental barrier known as a firewall. There were different theories about their creation, and different religions. Each character demonstrated unique personality traits which added a touch of realism to them. The political system created was also very influential throughout the plot. The familial and romantic relationships are complex and unique.

I found this book to be very thought provoking with regards to society and how people treat one another. While this novel is a science fiction book, it serves as an excellent reminder to be kind and respectful to one another, to appreciate and respect our differences. Seeing this world through Marset’s eyes was a real eye opener. I could not fathom how his character endured it in a world, where one could be arrested, simply for the act of walking around a garden unaccompanied, the true crime being one’s identity, being an Arpathian. I admired Marset for his bravery and impertinence, even in the way he spoke candidly to the emperor, Constantine.

I would not recommend this book to children as it contains sexual content, rape, war, and expletives. I would not recommend this book to adults who do not want to read about weighty topics such as war and rape. I would recommend this book to adults who enjoy science fiction, suspense, romance, and action. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and there was absolutely nothing I disliked about this book. However, I could not ignore the errors which hinder me from rating it a perfect score. As such, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

******
Masters and Bastards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[thaservices1]

Great review. The more reviews I read the more I want to read this.