Echoes of Angels

Disclaimer first: I received a free advanced copy of the 2nd edition of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cliffhanger warning second: The book doesn't work as a standalone since not many of the storylines get actually resolved in this book. Read at your own risk, having book #2 on standby is recommended. Unless you're cool with cliffhangers, which I am not so much.

This is the first book in this series I have read, although I have read - and liked - other stories by both authors before. Once again, Matt Larkin and J.S. Morin create an immersive world, and the movie running in my head while reading is quite vivid: Lots of action, space battles (there is a Sentinel battleship involved), chases on foot or hoverbikes, plenty of hand-to-hand or rather blade-to-blade combat, all delivered with the familiar occasional snark.

The cast of characters is interesting and thankfully - so far - none of my current favourites have been killed off. Yet. I don't want to get my hopes up, though, this is just the beginning of the series... ;)
Pitching an empath/scholar against megacorps, the military and religious fanatics (family members included) makes for some entertaining storylines, especially after adding an assassin/bodyguard to the mix.

Rachel comes on a bit strong for my taste; she is not quite how I would have envisioned a (former) university professor. At times she sounds a lot like the tough Shieldmaiden Hervor in the Runeblade Saga. Her inner monologue is at times crude enough to make it difficult to distinguish from that of Knight, the assassin.

Aside from that, I found it an engaging story, and I'm looking forward to reading book #2.