Christopher Nuttall

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Title: When the Bough Breaks
Series: The Empire's Corps #3
Author: Christopher Nuttal
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages: 422
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

The End of Empire.

Belinda Lawson, a Marine show more Pathfinder (amped up and maxed out with the latest tech), loses her team when the planet Han's rebellion is crushed. The Terran Marines are being pulled away from Earth on one pretext or another and the Marine Commander on Earth puts Belinda as an slightly undercover Marine bodyguard for the crown prince Roland. Roland has been indulged his whole life and deliberately overfed, overdrugged and oversexed by the Grand Senate, thus making him the perfect puppet. Belinda changes all of that and begins the process of turning Roland into a man.

This follows various storylines showing the destruction of the terran empire and the destruction of Earth. One Grand Senator is making a powerplay to become the next Emperor and centuries of neglect and abuse finally catch up with everyone.

We follow the Grand Senator, Belinda and Roland and then several students at the University. Through their eyes we see as everything unravels, like the bursting of a rotten, maggot infested piece of fruit. It happens quickly, suddenly and violently.

My Thoughts:

Now we know that Captain Stalker and the Marines on Avalon will not be getting ANY help from Earth.

I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. Besides Belinda and Roland, every character we follow is killed at some point in one way or another. I pretty much suspected that going in and was prepared to be completely blahh'd over it. Thankfully, it didn't happen to me and I was able to enjoy the story.

I was glad to hear the story about the Empire falling apart. If we'd just stuck with Stalker and the group on Avalon we wouldn't know WHAT had happened and there would always be that little niggling hope that “maybe someone from Earth will save us”. Now, we know that isn't the case.

I think this was closer to a 4star book in terms of enjoyment. However, there were quite a few grammar slash spelling errors. Most of them were misused words, not incorrectly spelled words. Irreverent was used when Irrelevant was meant. It happened at least 3 times (not that particular word but that particular issue) and just goes to show that you need to PAY someone to rip your book to shreds and point out everything wrong with it BEFORE you put it out there.

Wordsmithing is not something that has a “good enough” line. Taping up a Yard Sale sign crooked is good enough. But using the wrong word isn't good enough. It is flat out wrong and shows a lack of familiarity with basic English. I felt like I was a beta reader and that just isn't acceptable for a book that has been put out there, indie or not.

★★★☆☆ show less

Humanity has been a servant race to the powerful, conservative Alphan Empire for several centuries, but the Alphan hold on the quadrant is weakening. Humans see a path to independence, but they may not be ready to stand on their own when the Alphans pull out. Nuttall takes us into the minds of both human and alien characters and writes well-paced space battles. A readable story, but it doesn't do much with the future tech.

Caitlyn Aguirre is the only magic-less person in her family in a world where magic is power and as a triplet, she was supposed to be extra strong. Resigned to her life as a zero, Caitlyn is dismayed to learn her parents are sending her to Jude's Sorcerous Academy with the hope that she'll overcome her magic problem. Or die trying.

This book sucked me into the story and I was all there for Caitlyn. The despair she felt regarding her magic and her position in society was terrible and I rooted show more for her as she pushed the bounds of her mind and creativity in finding a solution. She could be petty and jealous and envious at times but she was also brave and honourable and quick witted and I loved her.

On the other hand her family just sucks. Like her sisters were terrible but they were also twelve. Her parents and other adult figures though were disgusting. Although she seems to accept being turned into a frog and the target of all magic - I hated it. It seemed like she was being tortured and all adults and her own parents were turning a blind eye. It just made me mad.

I was glad she met Rose. I was a little unhappy with her fierce envy and jealous at the beginning of their friendship but she's also twelve and missed out on magic - I get it. Rose was fantastic. She was level headed and smart and loyal and I loved that her and Caitlyn develop a fierce and steadfast friendship.

But the bullying in this book is intense and I hated it. It seemed like every time Caitlyn turned around she was being punished for ridiculous things and like no one ever stepped in. The limits were so wide it was ridiculous. It just seemed like they were basically given free reign to kill, maim and torture. It made me anxious to read and I think that's honestly why I couldn't rightly give this book 5 stars. The whirlpool of emotions just made me feel sick.

That said, the world building was really interesting and I loved the focus on inventing and learning and testing the limits of magic. The plot was predictable with all the familiar elements of a magic school but the execution was strong and delivers a unique take on an old idea.

A worthwhile read for anyone after a progression fantasy or a magical school setting. 4 stars. show less

Ah - one of my favorite authors, Christopher G. Nuttall doing what he does best. Utilizing his contrary ingredients of democracy and despotism, favoritism and free competition, he spins a magnificent story of galactic proportions that hits painfully close to home - especially in these time and days of an America that is in danger of becoming the state of political elitism, the very anathema of our forefathers. 1000 families rule the galaxy and it is Nuttall's choice of names you will take show more notice of - you will find amongst those names the Kennedys and Roosevelt’s, etc. The intriguing complexities and perplexities of Democracy's Right make for a solid read and if you have read Nutall's three-volume series "Barbarian at the Gates" you will feel right at home.

M.K 2017 show less