IN HER NAME: One readers view

[brianm]

I am not sure if this belongs here or elsewhere...... I just wanted EVERYONE to known that I had just finished reading this book late last night
and LOVED IT !!!!  The writing reminds me of Elizabeth Moon a bit, but boy..... the story I thought was excellent. I believe that the author has
a real good chance of moving into the big time......he has the skill/s.

Congratulations Mike !!!!!!!


            Brian

[Anju No. 469]

Brian - are you a member of the 2+ am finish IHN book Klub?

You do know we are petitioning for a movie?  Now all we need is the right person to step forward to pay for it 

There is also a prequel of this book, due out "soon" 

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Brian - are you a member of the 2+ am finish IHN book Klub?

That was my first thought, too, Dona.  We were all trying to stay on schedule with the book club, but got to a point where we couldn't stop.   

You do know we are petitioning for a movie?  Now all we need is the right person to step forward to pay for it 

Yeah, we're all ready to paint our faces blue and die for Mike the Empress.

[intinst]

I too recently read this trilogy and found it to be one of the most enjoyable reads I have had in some time.

[Kristus412]

I read this book several months ago and loved it as well. I look forward to the next book.

[Michael R. Hicks]

You know, I think KB is getting too darn big! I didn't even see this thread until now. Brian had PM'd me (thanks again, Brian!) to let me know he'd finished and what he thought of the book, so that was awesomely cool. But I didn't realize he made this thread. D'oh!

And YES, the prequel - In Her Name: First Contact is almost ready! It's in the hands of a couple of eagle-eyed beta readers, and once they get done I'm going to go ahead and get it out there.

I've also asked Betsy if she'd mind opening up a "read with the author" book klub for it, so be on the lookout for that.

Last but not least, for those interested (who haven't already read the rough first-draft chapters), here's a preview that's about as much as should appear in the Kindle sample when it becomes available. This isn't the final final version, but should be 95+ percent final. 

http://www.kreelanwarrior.com/wp-content/uploads/drafts/first-contact-preview.pdf

[Susan in VA]

I've had the Trilogy on my Kindle for two months but haven't gotten around to reading it.   I've been waiting for a day when I had no early-next-morning commitments so that I could read until the wee hours, since everyone says that's what will happen....

Now that the prequel is imminent, should I be reading that one first, to read them in the order of the story's timeline?  Or should the Trilogy be read first?

[Michael R. Hicks]

Now that the prequel is imminent, should I be reading that one first, to read them in the order of the story's timeline?  Or should the Trilogy be read first?

Well, this is probably the best way to look at it: the original trilogy is sort of like Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. First Contact would be like Phantom Menace (start of the first - chonologically trilogy), with two more books yet to come. So if you want to only read everything in order, you've got a bit of a wait yet: I still need to write two more books! 

Myself, I like the idea of reading the original trilogy first, because even though that really takes you to the end of the overall story arc, it also gives you a lot of background that the prequels will cover in more detail. Sorta hard to explain, but that's just me...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

I've had the Trilogy on my Kindle for two months but haven't gotten around to reading it.   I've been waiting for a day when I had no early-next-morning commitments so that I could read until the wee hours, since everyone says that's what will happen....

Now that the prequel is imminent, should I be reading that one first, to read them in the order of the story's timeline?  Or should the Trilogy be read first?

I suggest you don't deny yourself the pleasure of reading IHN now.  Some of us hardier souls were able to hold back and read along with the author each week.  We all lost the battle at different times and just had to plow right through to the end. 

[intinst]

I've had the Trilogy on my Kindle for two months but haven't gotten around to reading it.   I've been waiting for a day when I had no early-next-morning commitments so that I could read until the wee hours, since everyone says that's what will happen....

Now that the prequel is imminent, should I be reading that one first, to read them in the order of the story's timeline?  Or should the Trilogy be read first?

I suggest you don't deny yourself the pleasure of reading IHN now.  Some of us hardier souls were able to hold back and read along with the author each week.  We all lost the battle at different times and just had to plow right through to the end. 

I also think that you should go ahead and read the trilogy now, you'll enjoy.

[Susan in VA]

Well, that's three votes for reading the Trilogy first, so i guess that'll be it! 

Note that I said "first" and not "now" as suggested.  The TBR list is long...

[Rhiathame]

I am really struggling with this book. I keep trying to read this book but have not been able to get into it. I will keep trying to get past the first chapter.

[intinst]

I am really struggling with this book. I keep trying to read this book but have not been able to get into it. I will keep trying to get past the first chapter.

I too had it start slow, but it got much, much better for me just a little further into it.

[Rhiathame]

I too had it start slow, but it got much, much better for me just a little further into it.

Cool! I will keep at it, once I am through the books I am in the middle of.

[Michael R. Hicks]

I am really struggling with this book. I keep trying to read this book but have not been able to get into it. I will keep trying to get past the first chapter.

Did you download the sample to check out first? Much as I hate to say it, not everybody is going to like any given book, and it's possible this one may not appeal to you. I agree with intnst, though, that the beginning doesn't really give a good look into what most of the rest of the book is like. And chapters 2 and 3 will be very different, too, because of a relationship that's built there that'll be very important later in the story. But once you get to chapter 4, you'll be jumping onto the mainstream...

[Gertie Kindle 'a/k/a Margaret Lake']

Did you download the sample to check out first? Much as I hate to say it, not everybody is going to like any given book, and it's possible this one may not appeal to you. I agree with intnst, though, that the beginning doesn't really give a good look into what most of the rest of the book is like. And chapters 2 and 3 will be very different, too, because of a relationship that's built there that'll be very important later in the story. But once you get to chapter 4, you'll be jumping onto the mainstream...

I think I'll agree with the author on this.  The first chapter is basically the set up.  After that, Reza's experiences start to build his character and you will see why he is able to cope with what happens next. 

[Rhiathame]

Did you download the sample to check out first? Much as I hate to say it, not everybody is going to like any given book, and it's possible this one may not appeal to you. I agree with intnst, though, that the beginning doesn't really give a good look into what most of the rest of the book is like. And chapters 2 and 3 will be very different, too, because of a relationship that's built there that'll be very important later in the story. But once you get to chapter 4, you'll be jumping onto the mainstream...

I rarely just buy without sampling but there was so much positive stuff out there about your book that I just leaped! I do plan on making my way through chapter 4 and seeing where things go. It was not meant as a critisism at all by the way, I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience and had kept going to see if things picked up. I admit to being a reader that (depending on my mood) needs to get sucked in and sometimes my mood bounces around.

[Anju No. 469]

I was convinced to keep going after the first little bit and am glad I did.  Susan you will be sorry if you don't get into it, you will be saying "why did I wait, why did I wait!" 

This was not the type of genre I wanted to read, but so very glad I did, and it opened up the whole world for me as to other books.

Thank you Mike 

[Susan in VA]

Susan you will be sorry if you don't get into it, you will be saying "why did I wait, why did I wait!" 

It's not that I'm waiting, exactly...  it's just that I have a TBR list that's several pages long...   

With paper books, that list was limited by how high I could stack books next to my bed without having the stack tip over.  Now it's getting somewhat out of hand.         I'm sure you all know how that happens...   

[Michael R. Hicks]

I rarely just buy without sampling but there was so much positive stuff out there about your book that I just leaped! I do plan on making my way through chapter 4 and seeing where things go. It was not meant as a critisism at all by the way, I was curious if anyone else had a similar experience and had kept going to see if things picked up. I admit to being a reader that (depending on my mood) needs to get sucked in and sometimes my mood bounces around.

I didn't take it as a criticism, believe me!   And I know what you mean about your mood affecting your reading: I get into awful funks where nothing seems to appeal, even books that I know are supposed to be good. Some of them I later pick up and get into, some I don't.

But try to stick with it through chapter 4: that's where the action really starts (and, ironically, the sample for the omnibus edition of the book has all of the first four chapters)... 

[Neekeebee]

Love the cover!

N

[Michael R. Hicks]

Love the cover!

Thanks! Yeah, I think that came out pretty well, if I do say so myself! 

[Rhiathame]

I didn't take it as a criticism, believe me!   And I know what you mean about your mood affecting your reading: I get into awful funks where nothing seems to appeal, even books that I know are supposed to be good. Some of them I later pick up and get into, some I don't.

But try to stick with it through chapter 4: that's where the action really starts (and, ironically, the sample for the omnibus edition of the book has all of the first four chapters)... 

Soo...I made it past the first four chapters and as you all predicted I am totally hooked. I am now trying to balance all I need to do this weekend against reading this book!

[imallbs]

This has been on my TBR for a long time now.  Those darn Outlander books are taking all my time.  Plus I'm in a I hate every thing I read mood.  I really want to start this one though because I've heard so many good things about it.

Well, this is probably the best way to look at it: the original trilogy is sort of like Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. First Contact would be like Phantom Menace (start of the first - chonologically trilogy), with two more books yet to come.

Only better.  Right?

[Michael R. Hicks]

Soo...I made it past the first four chapters and as you all predicted I am totally hooked. I am now trying to balance all I need to do this weekend against reading this book!

Yaay! Sorry that it didn't grab you earlier, but I couldn't figure out how to do that better. But I think you'll understand why it was that way later on in the story... :-)