His Lordship in Exile A Space Opera Epic (Twilight of the Godchosen Book 2
Science Fiction, Space Marine Science Fiction, Alien Sci-fi
AEthon Publishing
January 4, 2022
Kindle
476
Amazon
What do you do if you’re guilty of a crime, but not the one for which you’ve been convicted?
It’s simple: You keep as low a profile as possible and hope for clemency.
That’s extremely difficult if you are Aric kan Ingan, once the Emeraunt Galaxy’s Prince of the Realm, and now beneath the lowest rung of Society’s Ladder.
Under a sentence of Civil Death, the former Prince Tanist to the throne of Arcanis finds himself experiencing firsthand how the dregs of humanity live, while making major adjustments to his attitude as well as life-style. In an effort to stay alive, Aric is forced to work at tasks no self-respecting (or law-abiding) citizen would touch …while he avoids the Space Guard who have a right to kill him on sight.
Aric’s personal morality as well as the vows he’s taken in hopes of being allowed to return to Arcanis will be severely tested as he begins the first steps in the journey fulfilling the rest of the ancient prophecy given to Riven kan Ingan three millennia before.
The Twilight of the GodChosen has begun.
Grab Book 2 in the Twilight of the Godchosen Series today! Scheming, intrigue, war ... If you liked the characters from Firefly, with the passion and planetary intrigue of Pandora, and the action from The Tomorrow War, try Twilight of the GodChosen.
Review By S.C. Principale
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Aric kan Ingan is an Exile, the lowest form of life on a harsh planet on the fringes of a civilized galaxy. However, Aric isn’t just any common prisoner, but a former prince, heir to the throne of Arcanis, the planetary ruler of the Emeraunt Galaxy.
Aric, military-trained and diplomatically skilled finds him moving to other planets. It’s on one such trip that he meets and falls in love with Elizabeth, who alas is married to his Uncle. However, Elizabeth and Aric’s life is shattered when political unrest casts him as a treasonous traitor. Although innocent, Aric becomes an Exile, slave labor, and disposable. Worst of all, Aric finds out it was Elizabeth that betrayed him! All of this is conveyed in the story, but the reader doesn’t see it happen. This was somewhat disappointing (at least to me), as there was no romantic tension in the story, only deprivation and sadness.
He must shield his royal ties and hopefully one day earn his freedom and find the true traitors, Aric hides his identity and begins a new life in Exile. This is beyond your usual sci-fi story. This was an incredibly poignant tale of a young, bold, proud ruler who sinks as low as a person can go. He learns humility, respect for those who struggle, and makes new friends. I initially thought Aric was obnoxious, but within the first two chapters I was on his side. One of the things I admired most about him was that he’d taken vows that he would uphold, and he was turning his Exile into a chance to redeem himself and make himself a better man. What’s more, he was determined to be faithful to Elizabeth, believing that there was a reason behind her betrayal.
The structure of this tale reminds me of The Odyssey, or any other tragic hero’s journey. After working in a mine, Aric is taken on as a shepherd, by another royal family on a “crime planet” Vercingetorix-2. Working for Prince Ludsa, a blubbery crime lord, Aric is forced to do menial work and humble himself, even though Aric also possesses a secret gift aside from his royal blood. Aric has the Bloodsong. When exposed to blood, Aric unleashes violence like a man possessed, violence that will kill anyone in range, even possibly himself. If outsiders knew his secret, he would be dead. This dangerous trait is tested when Aric’s flock is attacked by a wolf and he must save some injured sheep. The wolf species that bit him was also venomous, and Aric risks losing his arm. The Prince, wishing to reward his noble service, but find a fitter man to tend his flock, sends Aric away again, off to the planet of Bel-Ammon.
On Bel-Ammon, Aric works as a bouncer at a brothel, but later climbs his way up to serve as a royal bodyguard. However, when it seems that life is about to go smoothly, or at least approaching something appropriate for a man of his skills and bearing, he saves the Princess, but in doing so activates the Bloodsong, almost killing the woman he respected and protected. Once again, Aric is forced to find a new home and new work in Berengaria. And once again, he is forced to use the Bloodsong to save himself after villains accuse him of theft. Badly beaten and left for dead, a beggar takes him to the nearest hospital, where Aric learns he may never walk well again. His pelvis was shattered in the fight.
The tale of Aric is tragic and it is also very long and drawn out, as many great epics are. Without the feeling cultivated for Aric, many readers would probably lose interest. However, TS Snow’s portrait of a man at odds with the world and carrying too many heavy secrets is too enticing to put down. We NEED to know what happens. And will his heart ever turn from Elizabeth? After all, all he suffers is because of her.
Sadly, the ending is very bittersweet. Aric finds a true friend, Shandoz, who treats him like a person, not a mere Exile. Unfortunately, on a crime planet, drugs and violence, even turf wars between crime princes, contaminate the new position Shandoz gives Aric, as Master Office Manager. Shandoz is killed, Aric faces addiction, and decides to become an assassin to avenge his friend. Slowly, as his nobility eroded, so did the code Aric once held. Was it inevitable? Does the story prove that any man can be broken, or that we can all adapt and survive? Every reader will interpret it differently. A challenging read that will leave you pondering humanity in different ways.