The Light Within Darkness


Fiction - Science Fiction
422 Pages
Reviewed on 06/10/2023
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

The Light Within Darkness is the third book of the Space Unbound series by David Jeffrey. Commander Aiden Macallan and his elite crew of the advanced spaceship Sun Wolf, equipped with the revolutionary zero-point drive, are tasked to search and locate the dangerous Cardew Amon, who has fled into the newly found Astrocell Beta. Cardew has been amassing an army of Transhuman cloneborgs, ready to end life as we know it in his pursuit of a Posthuman Realm. Meanwhile, Dr. Skye Landon's mission in the world of Shenmi puts her in mortal danger when a member of Cardew's Line takes her captive and forces her to work for them. With Cardew's ruthless ambition and rapidly growing army, Aiden's only hope lies in an unexpected ally that springs up beside the mysterious voidoids—gateways between the star systems.

Explore new worlds and delve into the mysteries of the universe with this gripping installment of the Space Unbound saga, The Light Within Darkness. David Jeffrey weaves an action-packed sci-fi yarn soaked in mystery, suspense, and intrigue. The stakes have never been higher, and the book places our heroes up against an existential threat to humanity that wishes to end all life in the universe. The characters are compelling, with the eccentric Dr. Elgin Woo getting more page time as he joins Aiden and his crew on the Sun Wolf. I found the concept of seed pods intriguing, and as usual, Jeffrey integrates feasible scientific theories seamlessly into the plot. All in all, a perfect odyssey for sci-fi lovers.

K.C. Finn

The Light Within Darkness is a work of fiction in the science fiction, exploration, adventure, and space drama subgenres. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and contains no graphic material. In this third installment in the Space Unbound series penned by author David C. Jeffrey, we move on after the discovery of an astrocell containing a whole new region of space, only to discover that this brave new world has already been claimed by a dangerous figure. As the breeding of a truly psychologically damaged cloned army begins in a bid to wipe out the human race, the crew of the Sun Wolf is called in to chase down the villain at the heart of the plot, with Commander Aiden Macallan at the helm.

Author David C. Jeffrey continues his thrilling space adventure series with another disaster that’s set to be even bigger and more dangerous than what has already come. Aiden and Skye have both been through a lot at this point and the psychological toll on them is clear from how tough and adventurous their approach is to the problems of the plot and subplots. I really enjoyed the different twisting elements that feed back into the main cat-and-mouse chase of the tale, and the crew of the Sun Wolf has a fantastic rapport with a lot of lively dialogue that keeps the pace of the novel rolling. Hard science fiction fans will find plenty of good space logic and interesting concepts for destruction via the maniacal mind of our central villain too. Overall, The Light Within Darkness continues all the excitement, tension, and atmosphere of a thrilling series so far, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Parul Sood

The Light Within Darkness, the third book in David Jeffrey's Space Unbound series, takes readers on an exhilarating interstellar adventure filled with heroism and the fight for humanity's survival. Set in the 23rd century, the year 2218, the story unfolds in a vast new region of space, teeming with thrilling adventures and threats. Our protagonist Commander Aiden Macallan and his crew aboard the Sun Wolf embark on a perilous mission to track down Cardew. This nefarious figure is determined to annihilate the human race, using an army of invincible hybrid human psychopaths known as cloneborgs. Commander Aiden emerges as a strong, empathetic protagonist and leader, fostering a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Despite the high stakes and divided opinions, Aiden's ability to solicit feedback while maintaining his authority is commendable. With time running out, Aiden and his crew must navigate uncharted star systems and exotic exoplanets, following cryptic clues to locate Cardew and prevent humanity's extermination.

In The Light Within Darkness, David Jeffrey continues his remarkable craft of world-building, showcasing his vivid imagination and meticulous attention to detail. The scientific components are seamlessly integrated into the plot, offering readers an immersive experience. The author also delves into the theme of artificial intelligence, presenting fascinating discussions and interactions between the protagonists and AI entities. Even without having read the previous installments, readers will find this novel an enjoyable experience. Fans of hard science fiction such as The Expanse series, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Blade Runner will find this book a true gem, showcasing the perfect blend of suspense, action, and character-driven storytelling.