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Wednesday, January 7, 2015

THE MISSING PLANETS by Hawk MacKinney: Book Review and $25 GC Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the book review tour for The Missing Planets: Vol. II of The Cairns of Sainctuarie series by Hawk MacKinney, a science fiction novel available now from Sage Words Publishing. This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the banner to visit other stops on this tour.




BLURB


Planet Terato has become a member of the assembly of the Confederated League of Allied Star Systems. The Murian Outpost Terato once commanded by His Imperial Majesty’s Lord High Chamberlain Herklo Korvo XXXIV is now Teratoan staffed and under the command of Teratoan Eklam a’Qoc.

From the uncharted reaches between galaxies, attacks of extraordinary weaponry come against Terato and the Myr worlds of the Murians. Terminus Terato’s expanded link-portals and converter power modules are virtually useless. Power loss, defenses, communications and travel are totally disrupted. High Chamberlain Korvo’s unexpected return to Terminus on a mission for His Imperial Majesty leaves him stranded on Terato. Attacks grow more massive, more unpredictable; spread across the worlds of the League, as an isolated Terminus struggles among the shattered rubble and whispering remains of an ancient Polity of star-walkers.

Family and friends are lost, empires and civilizations in disarray, Terminus and Planet Terato almost defenseless. Desperate for answers, their worlds being overwhelmed by this remorseless aggressor, Eklam and Korvo reach across unexplored space in a despairing gamble and the last reserves of converter star-substrate, seeking one insignificant star system of gas giants and rocky inner planets for possible relics of the elusive Lantaraan Polity.


EXCERPT


The setting of Terato’s two suns at the end of that day stopped his short boyhood and started another life. At the graves of his parents, filled with grief, he wanted to look his grown-up best; show respect for his parents. Before dawnlit that morning he’d shaved for the first time with his father’s stropped blade, the way a man shaved. There had been a few blood-smeared nicks. He’d stopped with half of his face unshaved; looked at his reflection. He wasn’t yet old enough to have a voice in the village debates, but from that point on he would follow his parents’ guidance; honor their care for him; make his own decisions. Keep them to himself if he could, but his life would be his. Whether he shaved or not, Uncle a’Qoc would continue to treat him like a kid. Uncle a’Qoc could be gruff and strict. It was his uncle’s way. Uncle a’Qoc was never purposely unkind, just set in his ways. He didn’t want to disrespect Uncle a’Qoc. In the emptiness of death, families of the close-knit rustic farming hamlet of a’Qoc gathered to console this rangy, long-limbed youth the only way they could. The pestilence had taken many. That night Eklam a’Qoc slept in the bed he’d slept in his whole life, in an empty, echo-filled house his father had built, now no longer a home. Uncle a’Qoc would bargain it to strangers he’d never met, a young family with a new baby girl.


BOOK TRAILER





MY REVIEW



As with The Bleikovat Event (volume one in The Cairns of Santuarie series), MacKinney excels in building a world that is unique and filled with intrigue for The Missing Planets. The Missing Planets is a true science fiction novel that doesn't make for fast reading, but is definitely enjoyable. 

I especially enjoyed the relationship between Eklam and Korvo. Their struggle to find answers and solutions kept me on my reading toes to the very end. There are a lot of world-specific terms and science-related discussions. I found the glossary to be very helpful in bridging brief gaps in my understanding.

The Missing Planets offers complex world building, well-researched issues, and lots of action. I found myself plotting movie scenes as I read the book. While the majority of its fans will likely be science fiction lovers, I think that The Missing Planets has appeal for sci-fantasy readers as well.

The Missing Planets is the second volume in The Cairns of Santuarie series, but can be read as a standalone. The events of volume two happen some years after the events of volume one. If you like to know the whole story, like me, I'd recommend reading The Bleikovat Event as well. You can see my review of it here.

NOTE: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


AUTHOR Bio and Links


With postgraduate degrees and faculty appointments in several medical universities, Hawk MacKinney has taught graduate courses in both the United States and Jerusalem. In addition to professional articles and texts on chordate neuroembryology, Hawk has authored several works of fiction.

Hawk began writing mysteries for his school newspaper. His works of fiction, historical love stories, science fiction and mystery-thrillers are not genre-centered, but plot-character driven, and reflect his southwest upbringing in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Moccasin Trace, a historical novel nominated for the prestigious Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War Fiction and the Writers Notes Book Award, details the family bloodlines of his serial protagonist in the Craige Ingram Mystery Series. Vault of Secrets, the first book in the Ingram series, was followed by Nymrod Resurrection, Blood and Gold, and The Lady of Corpsewood Manor. All have received national attention. Walking the Pet is Hawk’s latest release in the Ingram series. The first book in another mystery-thriller series is scheduled for release in 2015. The Bleikovat Event, the first volume in The Cairns of Sainctuarie science fiction series, was released in 2012. Its sequel, The Missing Planets, has just been released.

Website: www.hawkmackinney.net

Publisher: www.sagewordspublishing.com

Publisher: www.archebooks.com



Book Trailers


The Bleikovat Event: http://youtu.be/-m-H8pfoh-A

Moccasin Trace: http://youtu.be/OvV8gqls688

The Missing Planets: http://youtu.be/tLOOHlQ3IYs

 

The books are available at:


www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com


GIVEAWAY


Hawk will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour via Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway
at

17 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2015 at 4:43 AM

    I liked the book trailer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 6:47 AM

      Curtis HEINING - I'd like to claim the book trailers were my doing. They’re not. BUT—I couldn’t agree with you more. The trailer-videos ARE movie-previews on their own, AND done exceedingly well. The music, stills, excerpts, graphics, voice-overs assembled/edited by graphics & internet professionals(s)—are high points of plot/character/scenarios in the tale being word-painted for readers. I’ll pass on your comments to the authors-producers-writers of each of my titles. They deserve the kudos. I often watch the videos, & discover new perspectives my word(s) have evoked. Thank U for stopping by & commenting on your like of the book trailer – they will appreciate the mentioning -

      Hawk MacKinney
      www.hawkmackinney.net

      Delete
  2. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 7:03 AM

    MAD HOYDENISH – Thank U for hosting the review tour of The Missing Planets with its mix of genre(s), characters, a touch of rough-&-ready actions & a subplot dash & hint of romance. The personal/professional interplay between Eklam & Korvo may seem Sci-Fi fiction, BUT we biped space-species hominids having already taken baby-steps to meeting ‘others’. Evolving new idioms & languages of far-flung worlds was fun…I kept the glossary handy to make sure I didn’t fumbled the technicalities of different syntax & lexicon. Thank U also for including the link to MAD Hoydenish earlier review of Vol-I, The Bleikovat Event…which certainly will help readers discover the Cairns series. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow.

    Hawk MacKinney
    www.hawkmackinney.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. Rita WrayJanuary 7, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    Great excerpt, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 9:59 AM

      RITA – I like it as well – it sets the formative background of the young who will be the protagonist of the Cairns series. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow. Thank U for stopping by & commenting -

      Hawk MacK

      Delete
  4. Enchanting ReviewsJanuary 7, 2015 at 10:04 AM

    This looks very interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 10:11 AM

      Amy BOWENS – I had fun painting the tale told - thank U for stopping by & commenting -

      Hawk MacK

      Delete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2015 at 2:32 PM

    I loved the excerpt. Powerful and emotional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 3:04 PM

      Amanda SAKOVITZ -
      I like that particular scene for setting the background of the would-be protagonist - I had fun bringing that character from where the reader first meets Eklam in the excerpt & into cross-cultures of other worlds. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow. Thank U for stopping by & commenting.

      Hawk MacKinney
      www.hawkmackinney.net

      Delete
  6. UnknownJanuary 7, 2015 at 4:57 PM

    I enjoyed the excerpt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 7, 2015 at 5:45 PM

      Erin MURPHY – I like it as well for setting the background of the protagonist of the Saintuarie series. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the series to follow. Thank U for stopping by & commenting -

      Hawk MacK

      Delete
  7. Linda RomerJanuary 7, 2015 at 6:28 PM

    I love Science Fiction and i will definetly check out the Cairns of Santuarie series. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 8, 2015 at 6:30 AM

      Linda ROMER – Hope you enjoy the Cairns series as much as I’m enjoying telling the tales. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow. Thank U for stopping by & commenting -

      Hawk MacKinney
      www.hawkmackinney.net

      Delete
  8. AnonymousJanuary 7, 2015 at 9:42 PM

    I love when there is an excerpt with a review. Shows the writing style and your take on the book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 8, 2015 at 6:36 AM

      STEPHANIE – You’re right . Having the excerpt(s) has let me glimpse readers’ perspectives of the titles of the Cairns series that I hadn’t looked at as the writer. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow. Thank U for your comment – it's right on the mark –

      Hawk MacK

      Delete
  9. UnknownJanuary 9, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    I liked the EXCERPT!

    rounder9834 @yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hawk MacKinneyJanuary 10, 2015 at 5:13 AM

      Thomas MURPHY – It was a good excerpt. Vol-III is in the works with Vol-IV in the Saintuarie series to follow. Thank U for stopping by & commenting -

      Hawk MacK

      Delete