"One of those rare novels that actually lives up to its potential..."

• ASIN: ‎ B0BLNRPLLS
• Publisher: ‎ Ukiyoto Publishing (April 12, 2022)
• Publication date: ‎ April 12, 2022
• Language: ‎ English
• Print length: ‎ 379 pages
• Genre: Space Opera Science Fiction

The BookViral Review:

Tautly paced and immersive, Angelfyre proves a superb blend of intrigue and space opera whilst creating a notable emotive connection with its readers. There’s no mistaking it for anything but a really first-rate Science fiction novel but unlike the vast majority of releases that spoon-feed their readers with generic plots, Francis repeatedly gives his readers something they can actually think about.

Something of a rarity in an age of voluminous genre releases it’s ambitious, impressive and visually powerful with the kind of attention to detail that makes Francis’ far-flung worlds and incredible future technology seem tantalizingly real.

Giving us just enough back story to establish the characters and the lead-up to ensuing events, it’s relentlessly intense with one of the key strengths of “Angelfyre” being its deliberate pacing. It’s certainly not slow to start, and Francis is quick to build momentum, absorbing us first by establishing the bond between Casey and Elissa before he introduces us to the technological marvel that is Angelfyre.

Reducing each chapter to its essence, he gives us just enough to contemplate it and fire our imaginations before moving on. The narrative is always clear, but readers expecting easy plot cues will be sorely disappointed with Francis demanding our full attention throughout.

What makes Angelfyre particularly refreshing is that it doesn’t feel the need to consider any of the existential questions about humanity that are typically central to sci-fi novels with this much scale which gives Francis’ narrative a much more human dimension and allows for an innate sense of humour that doesn’t rely simply on flip one-liners.

With Casey at the centre of Francis’ narrative she’s supported by Angel who is quite simply one of the best A.I. characters you will come across in science fiction and though richly allegorical her ‘intelligence’ seems anything but artificial as she becomes the catalyst for a rousing and unabashedly manipulative adventure that never takes itself too seriously.

Simply excellent Angelfyre is one of those rare novels that actually lives up to its potential and is an unreservedly recommended five-star read!