I didn't read it as I had lost interest in the story during the first book.

Sorry for the extended delay in reviewing. I'm working on catching up on my backlist of netgalley reviews.

An interesting sci-fi with a blend of fantasy. Great characters and plot, but nothing original that kept me hooked, sadly.

It took me a while to complete ‘Infinity’ by Tabitha Lord. This was due to it being the second of the series and having not read the first ‘Horizon’. I spent much of the first half trying to identify and establish the characters as there are many. Once I managed this I started to really enjoy the plot and by the end I was excited to read the 3rd instalment of the Horizon series which is still to be released.

‘Infinity’ is a sci fi and fantasy novel that follows Caeli Cry’s journey back to her fragile world Almagest which is being destroyed by a revolution between its own people. Caeli’s mission once on Almagest is to join the revolution and help save the prisoners being held captive by dictator Marcus. Marcus is using children and his people as slaves as well as torturing anyone who gets in his way or revolts. Caeli is helped by commander Derek and his crew who’s job it is to restore and maintain peace throughout all the worlds.

“In all of human history, freedom has been costly. It’s been costly to establish, and it’s costly to preserve.”

The characters and plot in ‘Infinity’ are both very detailed and in-depth this helps create a very clear picture of the world Almagest and it’s people but at times it can drag. I would recommend this novel to sci-fi fans but would recommenced reading the first instalment ‘Horizon’ first. I ended up enjoying ‘Infinity’ so much I am going to go back and read the series in order so I can fully appreciate Tabitha Lord’s work.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the second in the Horizon series and it is just as good as the first. The characters are more familiar so you are more invested in their stories. Derek and Caeli are back to her planet to free it from the tyranny of genocidal Marcus. Things do not go as expected and heartbreak awaits for both of them. Interspersed with their story is the back story of how the Novali came to be and the events that caused the beginning of the troubles. Engrossing, edge of the seat read. Looking forward to the next one in the series.
I received the ARC free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review

This is a really poor Science Fiction opera.
I found the characters to be one dimensional and the story one of the worst I have read.
Personally I would leave this well alone.

I got both of Ms Lord's books at the same time. When I found that I did not like the previous book, I did not attempt this one.

Infinity is the second in the Horizon series. Unlike the first, there is really no character descriptions. Most are from the first book where you got to know them, but a reminder would have been helpful. As it is, if you haven't read Horizon for awhile, you may want to reread it before reading the next book.
I found Infinity a struggle to get into, mostly because I couldn't remember who certain people were. I also found that the plot was almost struggling to work. It did have some decent ideas and fun people, but it was not my favorite.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Well, I can't say whether I enjoyed or hated reading this book. I look for some science in a science fiction. There is a hint of science in this book, even though not developed fully. This book is the second book of the series, but I can't say whether reading the first book will help.

Too many characters make sudden appearances in the beginning and throughout the book. Whether you read the first book in the series or not, it may not help in having a full inventory in place. Perhaps, a list of characters and locations could have helped. But it does not matter. Most of the characters come and disappear; none is fully developed to stand out.

The plot is feeble at best. A planet-wide strife is reduced to the level of a skirmish in a military facility. One man seems to run everything. He shoots at unsuspecting crowds, directs the search for dissenters and oversees the sales of goods to interplanetary traders. There is a bit of history, which though said in few words, seems to have a more engaging plot, as well as a bit more science. There is an abandoned city in ruins, which offers an interesting twist, but was soon forgotten.

We have earth like planet, with two moons. Nothing more is said about this world, Almagest. Maybe the first book has more details about it. There are two cities or habitations in this world. One populated by regular people, Amathi who have a dictator to run the show. Another place has descendants of a genetically modified people, an experiment that was carried out one thousand years back. The Novali are the genetic mutants and have special powers. They can read other people's minds, they can heal injured, and sick people and they are highly empatatic. So, they are peaceful, and therefore they got almost wiped out after a geneocide - the story of the first book.

This book continues the story with a small group of Amathi dissenters and Novali survivors ganging up with a small group of interplanetary guests to overthrow the dictator. Nothing is bordering novelty here. As said, it is just a minor street fight.

What is interesting is a few genetic modifications that can give such powers. How does that happen? Perhaps the first book has some explanation, but it is sorely missing here. Or is this information reserved for a future book in the series?

This is another exciting installment -strong writing and plot make it engaging. My rating 4.5.

This sequel picks up shortly after the end of Horizon. Derek and his team get intel that one of Caeli’s people, the Novali, has been sold in a space market. The intel reveals that Almagest is now trading with space opportunists and the use of these empathic people could be a fierce weapon…for good or evil depending on who controls them. This could endanger more than just Caeli’s home planet.

Derek’s commander agrees to allow Derek to take a team to Almagest to determine the extent of the problems. When the team arrives they soon discover the resistance struggling to face a cold winter with limited supplies. There are still contacts within the city but Marcus, the brutal dictator, is pushing hard to find rebels while arranging trades of ore and Novali to further his military growth.

The team must find new shelter as Marcus is sending planes out to locate and destroy their current camp. Caeli is already suffering PTSD and is emotionally injured again when not everyone makes it safely to the new location. The team plans a daring raid to take control of a supply train. The plan runs into a few hitches but does result in desperately needed food supplies for the resistance.

The team and resistance leaders realize they have to move soon as Marcus closes in. Derek decides to go undercover to approach Marcus so he can get a better picture of the situation. Although Caeli has been glad to see familiar faces, some events are triggering the PTSD that impacts her effectiveness at crucial times. There are more losses and betrayals before an all-out confrontation brings the rebels face to face with Marcus’ troops.

This story jumped into action and continued along at a good pace. Emotions ran on a roller coaster with sorrow and anger followed by joy and hope; then dropping again to more anger, sorrow and fear. The relationship between Derek and Caeli is strong and touching. I liked the inclusion of characters from the first book and there are some new characters I like and hope to see in the next book(s).

The author uses historic journals to explain how the Novali people came to be which was interesting once it became clear what this was. A simple tie in through the current day characters explaining they were reading the journal would have made this technique clearer. I liked the plot progress and the resolution on the planet. Then the author adds a last page hook of suspense to set up the next book. Hope it isn’t a long wait! I recommend this to readers who enjoy a good space opera with action, suspense and warm romance elements.

I received this from NetGalley for tour review.