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NASTRAGULL: Pirates (volume 1)
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5 of 5 stars - OMG - space opera at its best!!
Pirates: nasty, horrid, depraved SOBs! Aliens of every shape/form/animal/whatever: intriguing, vile, sly SOBs! Federations and Coalitions: slimy, conniving, fanatical SOBs! Hero: young, but strong; determined and righteous; honourable and easily seduced :) Heroine: abusive past, vicious 'adoptive' father (OMG, just thinking about Zuzack turns my stomach!); intelligent and sexy. Just what all H/H's need to be!!
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
This is one fast-moving story, deliciously filled with any sort of depravity (if you like 'those' things); some blood-curdling, gut-evisceration fighting; some really evil baddies, as well as some not-so-evil goodies; some people one could really truly HATE (like Hughes, ugh!), and some who you can't help but love (Nina, awwwee). Poor Alec and Alexa go through so many bad things, one almost gives up hope - but incredibly they survive (I guess that's the whole point of the story of course :) since they're there to fulfil a prophesy or something).
So, don't touch this if you dislike bloody, gory violence or gut-destroying torture or detailed sexual depravities - they're all there! And I completely and utterly LOVED it!!
A note of caution: the prologue may seem completely superfluous (as a little bit of injected fantasy), but there are some 'voices' heard by Alec and Alexa which, on occasion, direct their actions. It's all part of an overall plot (I think!) which we'll be introduced to a little at a time (a good ploy for a series).
Oh, and the last chapter or two had so much happening, with many new characters, that I nearly (!) got lost; but there is a twist there at the end - leaving me puzzled, bemused, a WTH sigh, and a DAMMIT I WANT THE NEXT ONE NOW!!!!
5.0 out of 5 stars Nastragull delivers
Action lovers, SciFi enthusiasts, mythology mages this is for you! And even for general fiction readers. This is good literature pretending to only be entertainment. (Good literature can be a chore to like. Nastragull is the cure for your boredom.) Don't let this masterful work pass you by. Willen has done this right!
5.0 out of 5 stars 50 Shades of Gray in Space!!!
WOW - this one came as a shock! A new author that knows how to write a really great sci-fi story! As a sci-fi fan I have a tendency to compare anything I read with the best: Star Wars and Star Trek. What was missing in these epic stories you will not miss in this awesome story. It has everything any reader could want. Even though at times there are some very detailed described acts of violence and some sex the story itself overwhelms all that. What we have here is a new great author. A very fast read, cover to cover and the best part; you don't even have to be a sci-fi fan! Overall I think most people will fall for this epic story. Watch out Star Wars and Star Trek a new star has risen!
5.0 out of 5 starsArrrr - There be Pirates out here matey !
Though science fiction is not really my cup of tea - I'm a horror fan - I found Nastragull to be exciting, well written & interesting. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next installment.
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story... great characters ... need more ....
This story surprised me (not only because I have to wait for the next part to find out what happens to these characters) because the author has created realistic characters in a fantasy environment that I can relate to, and I fell invested in what happens to them. The first part has a few erotic undertones (I'm not complaining!) but it is still suitable for older children and any adult who likes Joss Whedon's Firefly or the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The character development reminds me of one of my favorite authors, Heinlein. Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and Thrilling Sci-Fi Adventure
Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen is an exciting and thrilling science fiction adventure. From the first page to the last it kept a firm grasp on my attention, making it hard to put down.
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat "for mature reader."
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The story line was well developed and easy to follow. The fast paced action kept me wondering what was going to happen next. With each new twist you just kept saying wow. I love a good space opera and this is one.
The characters were easy to identify with and were very believable. Each of the main characters was well developed and their background info was relevant.
There is one sour note in the story. There is a section where the author wrote an intense scene which had graphic and extreme sexual content. I felt it added nothing to the content of the entire story and in fact distracted from it. My personal opinion is it needs to be rewritten and toned way down. Other than this, it is an excellent book.
I highly recommend Nastragull: Part 1 Pirates by Erik Martin Willen with the caveat "for mature reader."
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
5.0 out of 5 stars An intergalactic, edge of seat, saga.
Take Star Wars, add the motley crew from Pirates of the Caribbean, liberally sprinkle with intergalactic species of all imaginable kinds, throw in chunks of robust sex scenes, torture, hand to hand fights and daring escapes, then stir in vengeance and cook at gas mark 5 until something is ready to explode
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a Father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next instalment in the saga.
The Prologue leads you gently into this book with a Father telling his son and daughter a bedtime story, but all is not what it seems.
Chapter 1 starts your journey into a tale which builds up to a finish that will leave you biting your nails and wishing for the next instalment in the saga.
5.0 out of 5 stars Just waiting for the Movie!
Wow, this is the best sci-fi I've read since Robert A. Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" (which was made into a great movie but missing the best from the original book).
Erik Martin Willen really delivers action and suspense and some surprices too! The book is very graphic and it feels like watching a movie while reading. Maybe someone like Peter Jackson could develop this great sci-fi story into a big blockbuster movie.
The pace is great and it's page are filled with swashbuckler adventure in outer space and what else could you ask for?
Erik Martin Willen really delivers action and suspense and some surprices too! The book is very graphic and it feels like watching a movie while reading. Maybe someone like Peter Jackson could develop this great sci-fi story into a big blockbuster movie.
The pace is great and it's page are filled with swashbuckler adventure in outer space and what else could you ask for?
5.0 out of 5 stars Pirates Indeed!
Until I read Nastragull: Pirates, I thought they didn't make decent space opera anymore. This rip-roaring new novel delivers action from the very beginning, segueing from a haunting prologue immediately into a pitched space-battle between a multispecies gang of cutthroats and the passengers of the cruise liner they've targeted. You haven't seen action like this since the old Doc Smith days of classic sci-fi, though Willen does Smith and Co. one better. You see, these aren't the roguish heart-of-gold space pirates so beloved of the old pulp masters. These pirates are literally monsters--some half-human and others entirely alien, all eager for blood, loot, rape, and slaves...and a nice meal of human meat on the side, civilization be damned.
Fortunately for the Bright Star and its 20,000 passengers, she's carrying a cadre of recently graduated military cadets who rally the crew and passengers to fight the pirates nearly to a standstill, rather than just giving up without a fight. They inflict serious damage on their attackers, but are finally overwhelmed. Cadet Alec Horn, who led the defense--really Alec af Hornet, son of the top military leader of the Nastasturus Federation, a local superpower--is among the enslaved survivors.
One of the pirates, a young human girl named Alexa, becomes enamored of Alec. Alec is equally smitten with her...and uses their mutual attraction to arrange an escape. He makes off with a shuttle loaded down with an emperor's ransom in precious metals, antiques, and other booty. And then...
Well, I don't want to ruin your enjoyment of the book by including a blow-by-blow description or too many spoilers. Let me put it this way: just like it says in the description, this is a blockbuster of a book. It's pretty sizeable too, but it moves fast, with slap-dash action sure to delight any adventure fan. It would be perfect for adaptation into a movie...a more adult version of Star Wars, maybe, because this universe is by no means as conservative as Lucas's. Fair warning: prepare for some serious sex scenes that are so hot the pages would probably catch fire if you weren't reading this book on your Kindle!
Willen doesn't pull any punches in his writing, whether in the battle scenes or the romantic ones. His settings are vivid and energetic, just like his characters. For pulse-pounding, exotic (and erotic) sci-fi action, you're not going to find better than Nastragull: Pirates. I can't wait for the next installment!
Fortunately for the Bright Star and its 20,000 passengers, she's carrying a cadre of recently graduated military cadets who rally the crew and passengers to fight the pirates nearly to a standstill, rather than just giving up without a fight. They inflict serious damage on their attackers, but are finally overwhelmed. Cadet Alec Horn, who led the defense--really Alec af Hornet, son of the top military leader of the Nastasturus Federation, a local superpower--is among the enslaved survivors.
One of the pirates, a young human girl named Alexa, becomes enamored of Alec. Alec is equally smitten with her...and uses their mutual attraction to arrange an escape. He makes off with a shuttle loaded down with an emperor's ransom in precious metals, antiques, and other booty. And then...
Well, I don't want to ruin your enjoyment of the book by including a blow-by-blow description or too many spoilers. Let me put it this way: just like it says in the description, this is a blockbuster of a book. It's pretty sizeable too, but it moves fast, with slap-dash action sure to delight any adventure fan. It would be perfect for adaptation into a movie...a more adult version of Star Wars, maybe, because this universe is by no means as conservative as Lucas's. Fair warning: prepare for some serious sex scenes that are so hot the pages would probably catch fire if you weren't reading this book on your Kindle!
Willen doesn't pull any punches in his writing, whether in the battle scenes or the romantic ones. His settings are vivid and energetic, just like his characters. For pulse-pounding, exotic (and erotic) sci-fi action, you're not going to find better than Nastragull: Pirates. I can't wait for the next installment!
5.0 out of 5 stars Arrrr - There be Pirates out here matey !
Though science fiction is not really my cup of tea - I'm a horror fan - I found Nastragull to be exciting, well written & interesting.
I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next installment.
I enjoyed it very much and look forward to the next installment.
5.0 out of 5 stars A new way to read about becoming Pirates
This story is made to just be better and better. The writter really knows what a Sci Fi reader want in reading way and when (Must just be a matter of time) this book will be a film I will follow it for shore.
I'm sure we just have seen the Start of a new becomeing hit in the movie world
I'm sure we just have seen the Start of a new becomeing hit in the movie world
Return to Space with Nastragull
Nastragull Part 2, by Erik Martin Willèn
Nastragull: Hunted
Nastragull: Hunted
Nastragull: Hunted is the continuation of Erik Martin Willèn's space opera [begun in Nastragull: Pirates]. If the first part gave us a soft landing into his universe, the second part is a much harder read, with huge space battles, treachery, and a few hearty atrocities towards the end. The heroes, Alec and Alexa, are now free from the pirates. Alec has saved Alexa from a fate worse than death, but the reunion between them is no bed of roses. The pirates from Part 1 and several other factions are now out to get them.
Battle in Space
It is here that Willén shines. He uses his writing talent to richly illustrate the space battles, describing them in great detail. For the reader, his battle scenes conjure up images of thousands of ships, even tens of thousands, engaged in a vicious free-for-all. It's obvious that the author has placed great emphasis on providing glimpses into the minds of all of the participants.
Tropes, Heroes and Trilogies
Sci-fi literature has an amazing ability to use tried- and-true literary themes in totally new and unexpected ways, which is difficult to find in other genres. Nastragull is in some ways similar to the classic Treasure Island, something that becomes evident when reading either one of Willèn's books. But in Hunted the tone is much darker, clearly focusing on an adult audience. Furthermore, we note that the book also borrows freely from the most common tropes in fantasy literature.
The typical features of the trilogy are evident. The first part introduces the heroes and the villain, and also gives the heroes a quest they must complete. Hunted is recognizably Part Two in this trilogy trope. The book becomes much scarier and darker the farther you read. We assume this is because the writer is providing the heroes with challenges that they must overcome before their final victory.
But Willén leaves no hint as to whether his series we will have a happy ending; in fact, for the moment, it’s looking quite bleak for one of the protagonists.
The Art of Being Boring
The pace of the books is high—the reader is never far from an exciting event—but both the characters and settings suffer as a result. The characters have limited opportunities to develop; in some cases, they are presented as flat and lifeless. The settings are just as difficult to imagine.
There's a temptation for a writer to make sure that the reader always has something new and cool waiting on the next page. But to create vivid characters and settings, one must dare to stop and talk about them outside the context of the dramatic events—to allow the reader to join the characters in the shower or canteen so one can get to know what they eat, what they think about, and how they talk to other people about politics or the latest pop star.
That said, Erik Martin Willèn is still a star on the rise—one of the few Swedes, perhaps the only one right now, writing in the science fiction genre. He is still a new writer, and his books may have some flaws, but that fact does not detract from the importance of his books as he tries to revive a dormant genre.
After the Swedish detective miracle, can we now, thanks to Willén, Swedish literature might be looking forward to a science fiction wonder?
Johan Holst, The Culture Magazine – Tidningen Kulturen, aug, 06-2013
For Paperback & Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nastragull%20hunted
COMING SOON:
NASTRAGULL: Dawn Sets in Hell (Volume 3)
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