FantasyNibbles Rating: 
Published by: Dancing Lemur Press
Due for release: February 28, 2012.
‘The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend – to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.
The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.
To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…’
(NB, I’m going to do my best to review this with absolutely no spoilers, apologies if things sound vague & brief here, I just don’t want to ruin it for anyone)
The Good:
- CassaStar on steroids! I really enjoyed CassaStar but CassaFire, CassaFire I LOVED. It has everything the first novel had, and a whole lot more.
- Byron. The best thing about this one for me was seeing Byron develop and grow as a character. I love the way the essence of his personality remained constant, but we get to watch him change and alter certain behaviour patterns in response to qualities in the characters around him. There’s a real feel of going on a journey with him, and in much more depth than the one we took in CassaStar.
- Sci-Fi for the masses. This is the ideal novel for anyone wanting to dip their toes into Sci-Fi. There’s none of the elitist, brain melting pomp and faff that I’ve encountered a few times as I’ve tentatively circled the genre. It’s accessible to all, and infinitely enjoyable.
- Athee. We have a strong female character! another huge plus on CassaStar (and on a large proportion of the genre as a whole?). I really don’t want to go near spoilers, but will just say she’s a hugely likeable character that I would love to see more of in the future.
- Fun. Escapism at its absolute best. I enjoyed every minute of this one.
- Third book? I can’t help but notice the ending has been left perfectly placed for a third installment, I hope I’m right!
The bad:
- Tell us more. Alex J Cavanaugh has done it again, he’s left me with a bucketload of questions (mostly surrounding ‘the experiment’) and I want another novel to address this please. I’m including this in ‘bad,’ but of course it’s really a positive, I’m so intrigued by everything I want another shipment of details. In terms of actual 100% BAD, I’ve got nothing.
Favourite Quote: (second favourite in actual fact, my first choice would ruin the ending) ‘”You always liked to do things a little different,” said Ernx. “Glad to see you haven’t changed in that respect.”
CassaFire is everything I love about Sci-Fi. It’s Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars and Star Trek all rolled into one perfectly formed fast paced, action packed adventure. It’s got everything; alien races with varying degrees of technological advance, tense relationships between races with different backgrounds and requirements, the emergence of unlikely heroes and the development of unexpected friendships. It’s a wonderful escape into a fantastic adventure. I really can’t fault it.
I’m a longtime fan of Sci-Fi film & TV. CassaStar piqued my interest in the wider world of Sci-Fi literature, and CassaFire has made me a convert. I now aim to be a regular reader and reviewer of Sci-Fi. I don’t think there’s any greater praise I can give an author than that very fact.
I can’t recommend this one highly enough. I hope it’s the huge success it richly deserves to be.
Oh wow!!!! Nibbles, I’m so glad you enjoyed it that much. I’d worried it would be a sophomore effort at best and too different from the first one. Thank you for five stars – you’ve made my whole weekend!!
You know I enjoyed the first one, but this one..is in a different class
You nailed it, I’m so excited for you! Plus this puts you in my top 5 reads of the year, which I hope to post tonight if I get a bit of time to myself.
I really wish I had not read this review. Shame on you Alex for directing me here. I am now uber-anxious for CassaFire to release and I know I still have two months. My first Christmas wish was an announcment that a movie deal was in the works for CassaStar. My second wish was to do sort of a “laymans review” of CassaFire because really, that’s what I am when it comes to book reviews (but I have a sense of what works). Now I am just teased beyond the need and still no mention of a movie deal. Now I guess my third wish is to time warp to the end February and grab my copy first! Oh, yeah Nibbles…great review!
It’s a great read Chuck, you’ll not be disappointed
And I wish that all of Chuck’s wishes would come true!