Pros
- More background about the Taliz even if they are the ones from the Obsidian Gate
- Filled with action and suspense
- Introduction and humanization of the “enemy” that paints a more realistic, diverse picture not only of the Taliz but of the galaxy and story universe
Cons
- Start of the story feels a bit disjointed from the ending of previous book
Rebel’s Ultimatum Review
Rebel’s Ultimatum by J. N. Chaney and Scott Moon is an exciting continuation of Noah Gantz’s journey and attempt to bring peace to multiple galaxies.
The story begins with Noah relaxing on a quiet mountaintop with Scratch the Qurk. But this serenity is soon interrupted with a call from Solen and Noah’s abduction by the Taliz Dwellers. Thus begins another Noah adventure where he finds himself in the middle of yet another facet of the conflict on the other side of the Obsidian Gate.
This time, the conflict is between the Taliz and the lost Tytons who have since established themselves on the other side of the Obsidian Gate. But these Tytons have been in near-constant conflict and war with the Taliz since their arrival.
It’s this war that threatens the livelihoods and perhaps the existence of both the Taliz and the Obsidian Gate Tytons whose cultures and customs have since deviated from their Reach brothers except for one small group of elders who have remained cryogenically frozen and thawed for important decisions.
The story takes a turn when Noah’s interrogator, a high-ranking Taliz official, Voc’ti is bound to Noah through a series of political maneuvers. This strange pair is then cast away onto a prison work planet where they are condemned to death.
It’s said that people who go through traumas together create lasting bonds. Whether these people are soldiers who survive through battles together or even coworkers who commiserate because of a bad boss, these bonds tend to be strong. But do these strong bonds come with trust?
That’s the question that Noah struggles with as he survives prison gangs, hard work, forced marches, little sleep and food, and invaders as he struggles toward an escape from his condemnation. The bond Noah creates with Voc’ti may seem strong, but at the back of his mind is the seed of doubt. After all, the Taliz did abduct him and they have made their motivations known.
What’s great about Rebel’s Ultimatum is that it portrays the Taliz not as some murderous alien “other” on a rampage across galaxies. Instead, the authors show the Taliz to be as complex, perhaps even as human, as humans. Like humans, they have factions, desires, self-interest, and they are as dynamic and as diverse as humans, making not only Voc’ti, but other Taliz relatable—Voc’ti is doing what he is doing because he believes that doing so will save his species from extinction.
Rebel’s Ultimatum by J. N. Chaney and Scott Moon is an action-packed adventure story that reveals the complexity of not only the Taliz but of the depth of the aliens who inhabit the Reach galaxy and the Homeworld Lost series.
Read reviews of other books in the Homeworld Lost series.
