3 out of 4 stars
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In Shades of Redemption by Chuck R. Hoyle, two planets have existed collaboratively. Until, Bren realizes it has all been a hoax, a strategy and a plan for destruction intricately planned by Ranson, the opposing side. A war is waged between a justly-ruled monarchy, Bren, and the corrupt and lawless republic of Ranson. The villains of Ranson seek out the remaining ruler of Bren who is hiding on American soil. General Pestia, an official in the kingdom of Bren, relentlessly follows after the young king to save him. The battle shifts and it carries along Barbara Cerasoli, a social worker who encounters the extra-terrestrial bodies, as well as George Gregaris, a former military forensics expert.
As I began reading the book, I was quickly pulled into the action. The fighting was so real and the conflict was evident. The dissension between Bren and Ranson can be easily felt from the beginning. The drive on every side to either redeem their kingdom or subdue their enemy is presented from the first page. The book is fast-paced and includes multiple scenes packed with suspense. The outcome of the action is not always told immediately which further heightens the suspense.
The extra-terrestrial appearance added an extra element of surprise to the plot. They are similar to African-Americans and they feel more comfortable in places where African Americans are present. In essence, the author reflects upon separatism and the impact of racism in a subtle way throughout the book. The aliens come from a kingdom where everyone’s skin color is similar and they are surprised by the human idea of separation merely based on skin color. Hoyle also shines light on human greed for money which he highlights through the aliens’ observation of human character.
The start of the book is however confusing and it took me quite some time to figure out what was happening. There lacks a balance between creating fast action and offering sufficient description that helps the story set right from the beginning. The characters are also too many which added to the confusion considering the fact that the aliens went by different names on their planets and on earth. I enjoyed the action, however, I wish much more would have been done to explain the storyline possibly through the inclusion of much more telling dialogue.
Every fan of science-fiction will find Shades of Redemption to be a treat, especially if they have a knack for action. It is captivating and engrossing. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
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shades of redemption
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