Relic of Sorrows: Fallen Empire, Book 4

Excellent space opera. I guess that's the name they use when there is an actual story instead of just humans killing alien life. This is a very intricate story full of political, religious and romantic adventure. Mysterious artifacts from a people who's home world was destroyed by a traitor. Everyone in the galaxy after it. Dimensional rift hiding what?

This book, number 4 in the series, pulls together much of what we'd guessed at in the previous three, and adds some new twists in the plot . Since we've been in Alisa's head all along, we know pretty much everything important about her, and have also come to learn her character. In her essence, she is ethical and empathetic, and capable of extraordinary courage. She is also a normal girl, in many ways. She allows herself to be tempted by people and circumstances, and often gives in to this. She is an inveterate eavesdropper, and though conflicted about this, seems to have no desire to stop. She gets caught at it, and is embarrassed, but just decides to be more careful next time.She also considers thievery, as we've seen in the other books, but doesn't follow through primarily because she wants to keep Leonidas' good opinion of her, if that might be possible. She can be manipulative, but isn't very good at it. She can't help but let it out when she feels snarkiness welling up inside of her, but thinks she is charming because of it. Despite all these character defects, she IS charming, and it's easy to see why the various men are drawn to her.Leonidas, on the other hand, is, contrary to the reputation most cyborgs have, upstanding, capable of friendship, and probably love, ethical, brave, protective, very smart, and introspective. Alisa, and gradually, the others in the group, have come to realize these things about him, and to value him, and his opinions. We learn, in this book, one of his great secrets, which, because of all the foreshadowing done, is not much of a secret when he finally reveals it to Alisa.The two also finally get together, as much as they can. While this is happening, she is being pursued by Abelardus, who manages to throw several curves at her, and causes discord between she and Leo. Because of the secret we learn about Alisa, (which was also a secret to her), we know why he is doing this. This results in some fairly enjoyable scenes between the two of them. Enjoyable to the reader, at any rate.We learn what the orb is that Alejandro has carried with him throughout the various voyages, and get to finally see it in action. The circumstances around this are, actually, surprising, and open up a whole avenue of further plotlines. It's hard to describe these scenes without including lots and lots of spoilers, so I'm not going to. Just be assured that it's really, really worth reading.None of the other crew members or passengers get much time, and we don't really learn much more about them. It's the plot that is primarily furthered in this installment. We've gotten beyond all the searching for the relic, which is now found, and because of Alisa's cleverness, is in the possession of this group, instead of all the other powerful people who have been looking for it. The book ends here, and we can only surmise that as soon as the Alliance discovers that they have been tricked, they will come storming after them.There has been no action on the search for Jelena this time, but Leo has agreed to stay with Alisa and work for her while she searches for her daughter.There IS plenty of action and excitement in this book, (it's a Buroker novel, after all), but nothing like the previous ones. The value in this one is in the background information we gain, and in movement of the plot. The next book is going to be fantastic. It will include the search for Jelena, a search for Torian, (the Emperor's missing son), possibly the kidnapping of Dr. Tiang, (the researcher newly introduced into the story, who is knowledgeable about cyborg workings), and the conspiracy which is beginning to form between Abelardus and Alejandro to either force, or convince Alisa to use her newly found power to aid them in their ultimate mission.This series is my newest guilty pleasure. I tear through the books when I get my hands on them. Buroker has some stock characters that she writes over and over, and Alisa is one of them. That being said, I never get tired of it. I love the way the author writes her women. She is also generous with her men, and gives them interior lives that are as rich as the women. Even among the peripheral characters, you'll never find a cardboard figure. Everyone is fully fleshed and interesting in their own right.The whole series is a 5 Star series. If you happen upon this review, and don't already know this author, take this opportunity to discover your next favorite book. You will go on to collect the whole catalogue, because, well, you just will.

The characters in this book are really defined. Each has it down weakeness and strengths. In the past I've rarely read books that the mc is a woman but it's nice for a change.

"Be sure to tune in for next week's episode!" That's what it feels like, anyway, where one plot-arc is resolved, but not the rest. I am getting a little impatient with the non-search for her daughter. Alisa is dragooned into another detour, going after a staff of power that she'd be far happier NOT seeing land in the hands of anyone who can use it, neither Alejandro's Imperial hopes nor Abelardus's Starseer claims.This volume features shipboard battles with androids, autonomous robotic weaponry, and deadly radiation; revelations about what recruits to the cyborg program had to give up; and an unexpected discovery about Alisa's own heritage; plus an honest conversation about what they both wish for. Abelardus is uncomfortably interested in Alisa, and has little compunction about intruding into her thoughts, adding to Alisa's problems. As they approach the long-hidden location that Leonidas pinpointed, it becomes all too clear that it's not hidden any more, and the Star Nomad will have stiff competition, including Alisa's old Alliance colleague Commander Tomich, who must once again deal with her unclear loyalties.A quick read that I quite enjoyed. I don't recall any prooifreading goofs, either. I just have to decide whether I want to pick up Cleon Moon right away, or read something else waiting in my TBR queue first.P.S. Don't forget, if you subscribe to the Fallen Empire newsletter via the author's website, you can get the "2nd Epilogue"| bonus scene, and a couple more extras from throughout the series, free!

The Star Nomad series has been on my kindle for awhile - just one of hundreds awaiting to be read by my book-addicted self. So I've been trying to curb my book spending (mostly, successfully) and going back to the books that have been sitting on my kindle for a couple of years. Glad I have too as the Star Nomad is an excellent and deeply engrossing series. I love the way Lindsay is slowly unravelling this universe - letting you learn a bit more about its history, the Star Seers and the back-stories of the main characters. I love books that don't tell you everything all at once and give you a little bit more with each successive book. Relic of Sorrows continues Alisa's quest to find out where her daughter has been taken by a rogue Starseer. She has taken several detours along the way thanks to her passengers, but along the way she has gained clues to the possible location of her daughter. In Relic of Sorrows, she faces another detour in her quest as Alejandro seeks the Staff of Sorrows. She and her passengers face continuing dangers and again come up against the Alliance military who are also after the same thing. Told with the inimitable humour and style of Lindsay, Relic will keep readers both happily entertained and on the edge of their seats :)

Love the characters and the non stop action. I can hardly put it down and go to sleep! Excellent read!

The 4th book in Lindsay Buroker's space opera/stagecoach western continues the plot of the previous three books in the series.We see a new character added to the cast of characters aboard the Space Nomad. Abelardus, a StarSeer who they picked up at they left his order's base at the end of the third book. Abelardus sees himself having a romantic interest in Alisa Marchenko and keeps coming between her and Leonidas the Cyborg with whom Alisa is hoping to kindle a relationship. This adds a little more to the character development that we are starting to see in the series.All those aboard the Nomad are in pursuit of their own goals and the degree to which individual goals align continues to fluctuate. The main development centres around the quest for an ancient StarSeer artifact that, long ago, was hidden and almost forgotten. Everyone is after this artifact. If you see the StarSeers as Jedi then the artifact might be the light sabre of a long dead Jedi but if you prefer a Harry Potter analogy, it is the Elder wand.Whatever, everyone wants it, not just those aboard the Nomad but also the military from both side of the war in which the Empire was defeated as well as an assortment of tomb raiders and other seekers of fortune.Alisa Marchenko also learns something about herself which surprises and disturbs her too.The story is well paced with lots of action and although nothing is resolved, we do see progress on most fronts.I am happy that I read this and it left me looking forward to continuing with the next book in the series.

Captain Alisa Marchenko and her rag-tag crew, friends and passengers now include a Starseer. Desperate to find her daughter she is yet again diverted by her passengers in their quest to find Alcyone's staff. Their travels take them to a supposedly empty part of space where they encounter further adventures and Alisa learns more about the Starseers and the cyborg Leonidas.Ancient relics, cyborgs, Alliance rebels, Imperial sympathisers, secret societies and plenty of humour make this an enjoyable successor to the free omnibus. Can't wait for the next one.

Great sci fi adventure series set in a group of planets that were once an empire. A recent war has left these worlds in a desperate state and people have to make a life as best they can. This leads to a group of fun characters travelling about in a beaten up space freighter all for their own reasons. This is a series of 8. All the books are individual stories that stand alone while moving the overall story arc along.As well as the sci fi there is a touch of paranormal about some of the characters. Each book is an individual adventure introducing more characters as the quests continue.Very appealing book with a lot of humour and action. Really recommend the whole series though it is best appreciated by reading in the correct order.

I really enjoyed this one - the characters continue to entertain and I felt this time around, Alisa's concern for her lost daughter is sharpening, whereas last time around it seemed more muted. What really makes this book, however, is the relationship between the passengers and their differing agendas and ambitions.I appreciate getting to know each one of these enjoyable characters better, while still sustaining the narrative arc, tension and humour. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.

The group are now starting to work together and even though many do not still get on they now very much have each others back.Lindsay has continued to grow the characters and has put in just the right level of humour.She also continues to raise the question of is it right to overthrow an oppressive empire if all it leaves is chaos, both sides think they where on the side of right, but as the story goes on it becomes less clear cut and it more and more looks like there was little difference between the good guys and the bad guys.