4 out of 4 stars
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Planet of Men Book 2 of Enigma is an exciting and an action-filled science fiction novel and the second in the series written by David Crane.
Professor Peter Blackwood is a refugee in Freedom Island in the Planet of Enigma. He is a citizen of the space Confederation and a former Space Marine officer. He was on his way to a paradise resort planet to enjoy his retirement when he was abducted by the red cloud and was taken to Enigma, a planet colonized by humans and overlords, to fulfill a four-hundred-year-old prophecy. Considered as the messiah by the humans and an enemy by the overlords, powerful demigods that rule the colony, Peter finds refuge in Freedom Island, an exotic and a magical place where demigods are stripped of their powers.
Prophesied to be the one to end the rule of the overlords over humans, Peter leads the search for the Heart of the Sun, a powerful weapon that turns overlords into ordinary humans. It is buried deep in the bowels of the Hydra caves and is guarded by monstrous creatures of ancient legend.
Meanwhile, Empress Yuka Sato and Edward Grant are preparing for the invasion of Freedom Island. The islanders, however, are not going down without a fight, and in their battle against the powerful and mighty overlords, the fierce and courageous tribesmen find an unlikely ally.
Told in the first-person perspective of Professor Peter Blackwood, this is a fast-paced, an exciting, a suspenseful, and an action-filled book with thirty-six chapters. It features a multiple of subjects including love, friendship, freedom, courage, determination, and sacrifice, as well as power, greed, and cruelty. It depicts how the power that can be used to create, to heal, and to help out can also be used to destroy, to hurt, and to demean. It shows how easy it is for someone powerful to take advantage of someone else he considers inferior.
The plot is unpredictable with several unexpected twists making the story suspenseful and exciting. Scenes are intense and carefully and thoroughly described including scenes of battle, confrontation, and even hand-to-hand combat. Characters are well-developed and have sufficient backstories. Among the number of endearing and admirable characters, which include Peter Blackwood, himself, my favorite is Sachiko Nomura, the brave and smart overlord who is loved by her people because of her kindness. Finally, I find the ending quite fitting.
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book immensely. The part I like most is the portrayal of intelligent, strong, and courageous women. They know what they can do, what they are made of, what they want, and what they need to do. Though they love a man, they do not need a man to make them feel complete.
Except for noticeable errors, which are, thankfully, very few, I like everything about this book. I, therefore, rate it 4 out of 4 stars. It is interesting, exciting, and suspenseful. I recommend it to readers who enjoy science fiction and thriller novels. Scenes of violence and gore, however, may not be suitable for young readers. Moreover, though I, obviously, enjoyed this book as a standalone, I recommend reading the first book in the series for better appreciation.
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Planet of Men Book 2 of Enigma
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