There Before the Chaos

September 17, 2018
Wagers opens a sequel series to the Indranan War trilogy without missing a beat. Hailimi “Hail” Bristol, an Indranan princess turned selectively ruthless gunrunner, was forced to take her empire’s throne after conspirators murdered her family. She saved the empire, but now a war between Indrana’s centuries-long allies, the Farians, who can heal or kill with a touch, and the Farians’ ancient enemy, the Shen, threatens to spill over to all of humankind, with disastrous consequences. As events careen toward a cataclysm, Hail is as sharp-edged and dark-humored as ever, growing in compassion while still engrossingly dangerous to her enemies. Wagers achieves a rare balance of action (most of which takes place late in the book), tension, and quiet moments, keeping pages turning while deepening the portraits of Hail and the friends and foes around her. Fans of the original trilogy will welcome Hail’s return, and any space opera reader can easily jump in here. Agent: Andrew Zack, Zack Company.

October 15, 2018

Former runaway princess and interstellar gun runner Hail Bristol, now Empress of Indrana, stars in a new sequel series to Wagers's "Indranan War" trilogy. Bristol has returned to her family and defeated a rebellion; now she must govern. This classic space opera offers plenty of action, betrayal, loyal friends, alien technology, and foreshadowing. Empress Hail and her cohorts struggle to overcome the past and make both old and new alliances work together. Trouble quickly arises from two alien forces fighting for Indranan support. The story starts out a bit talky, but action does take over after the empress consults with her aides and bodyguards and recaps earlier episodes. Indrana is curiously 21st century in culture, with religious conflict, same-sex relationships, organized crime, and constant surveillance, but the Hindu-Indian setting is a welcome change from the usual Western culture-inspired dystopia. The author deftly balances starfaring technology with relatable personal interactions. VERDICT Fans of the "Indranan War" trilogy and lovers of interstellar intrigue will be pleased.--Edwin Burgess, Kansas City, KS

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2018
After defeating her nemesis and brokering a tenuous peace with the Saxons, gunrunner-turned-empress-of-Indrana Hail Bristol turned her attention to rebuilding her battered empire. But Hail's life has never been particularly quiet, and it's not long before she finds herself embroiled in a conflict between two alien civilizations, the Shen and the Farians. As Hail and her team try to figure out why she's being asked to prevent a war with ancient origins, it becomes clear that humanity has been deliberately drawn into the crossfire. Wagers brings back her large cast of characters from the Indranan War trilogy (beginning with Behind the Throne?, 2016) and adds several more to Hail's extended family of BodyGuards, politicians, spies, and former outlaws. Although she has fully accepted her role as empress, Hail spends the majority of the book intimidating people, battling her fear of enclosed spaces, and chasing down leads before the inevitable conflict erupts, sending her headlong into the promised chaos. This series launch provides an exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction with assertive female characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)