Karrin

Warrior Woman (Excalibur Saga Book 4)

Fiction - Science Fiction
157 Pages
Reviewed on 04/24/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

In Karrin: Warrior Woman by Sahara Foley, we find human Karrin alone, abandoned on the planet Switch, with only her two-tailed, monkey-like friend Brownie for company. Karrin has been alone ever since her rescuer, hero, and true love Ispepyein leader, Lurga Pukani, had seemingly abandoned her some three years earlier. When Brownie continually disappears from time to time and returns with “gifts” for Karrin, she is intrigued as to where they come from. Following Brownie on one of his sorties, Karrin discovers the massive wreck of a cargo ship. Discovering nobody aboard except the ship’s artificial intelligence, along with a cargo of a powerful, radioactive silver substance, she discovers that the Calens are coming for her and intend to destroy her. Regaining her Ispepyein Warrior Child mantle and her confidence, Karrin is determined to fight to the end like a true Ispepyein Warrior. She may die but she will take as many of them with her as she can. So begins an adventure through the galaxies, the universes and the dimensions that will see Karrin and her forebears locked in a battle for survival, not just for themselves or their species, but for the whole of their universe.

I like my science fiction to be less technically driven and more emotionally driven. Karrin is just such a character-driven story. Sahara Foley has written a tale of adventure, love, and survival that transcends the setting of science fiction. The author introduces some weird and wonderful creatures into her world but always underlying everything is the deep love and affection between the characters, despite their many physical and emotional differences. I think I was particularly drawn to this story as it used the notion of panspermia (seeding of life) as one of the basic precepts of the story. I love the idea that perhaps all life in the universe has originally come from some powerful, supreme race that has seeded the galaxies and created many diverse and fascinating life-forms – humanity included. I particularly loved the relationships developed and nurtured in this story, especially between former enemies and also between races seemingly so different yet still capable of feeling powerful and abiding love for each other. I haven’t read any of the earlier books in this series but that wasn’t necessary. The author was extremely adept at dropping gems of information into the narrative that explained what had gone before and why a character now reacted the way he/she did. This was a wonderful read and one I can highly recommend, not only to all science fiction fans but also to a wider audience. Ultimately it is a beautiful love story that happens to be set among the glories of the universe.

K.J. Simmill

Karrin had been abandoned, left alone with only an Omar for company. She had been dubbed a warrior child, but years had passed and she was a child no more. She had lived in isolation, never straying too far in fear the ships would return. But curiosity got the better of her, leading her back towards what seemed to be her destiny. A wrecked ship lay in ruins, and her claim on it brought war. It was a battle she thought she could not win, but so much depended on her survival. She possessed a skill, an ability to cross the time-rift. Those who opposed her would see her blown from existence, but there are still those who need her; their very existence depends on her. But with the odds stacked against her and her powers sealed in the orb with the Other, it seems her only choice is to fight; to live long enough earn a death that would make Lurga proud.

Karrin: Warrior Woman is book four in Sahara Foley's Excalibur Saga. Whilst I haven't read the previous books, I found it easy to pick up and understand as most of the important details are explained throughout the narrative, with enough left out to ensure intrigue for anyone not having read the first parts. Sahara Foley writes in the third person which easily enhances the flow and voice of the story. Karrin and Lurga are good central characters and their exchanges, along with the addition of new characters, struggles, and complications, make for an interesting read. There has been a lot of attention paid to the settings, as well as creating unique and enjoyable magic, plot, and characters. Action and adventure collide with a reunion of lost love and family where the price of success is almost as great a burden as a failure.

Ruffina Oserio

Karrin: Warrior Woman is the fourth book in the Excalibur Saga by Sahara Foley, an enthralling science fiction story with a protagonist that is well-sculpted and multidimensional. Karrin, an eighteen-year-old girl, is abandoned on an alien planet with a weird companion, Brownie, a two-tailed creature she has known during difficult times when she lost Lurga. When she discovers a spaceship, thanks to the help of Brownie, she learns that the contract on her life is still active. But what is worse, the merciless Calen has launched a fleet to kill her. In another world, Karrin is the only one who can save them from imminent destruction. Can she defend herself against an insidious enemy without her psychic powers?

I love narratives that are transporting and I love it even more when an author makes me feel that worlds exist when they don't and Sahara Foley is just so good at the game. First, she creates a compelling, multidimensional protagonist and thrusts her into a very harsh world, devoid of her powers. She has to use meager resources to survive and the reader follows her courage and mental state, watching out for what happens to her next. The plot is complex and it moves at a fast pace. The conflict is multifaceted and it helps fuel the tension that moves the story to a satisfying end. There is a lot to enjoy in this book: the great writing, the fascinating narrative voice, and the wonderful characters. An engaging story that kept me reading for hours.