This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
VanWest The Present is the second entry in the VanWest Series by Kenneth Thomas, a fast-paced, engrossing science fiction story with a protagonist that I loved. VanWest has grown up to be a loyal Enforcer, who blindly obeys every command — however dark and morally corrupt — from the Universal Council. He has ingrained in his mind the mission to serve without question, to work for the growth of humankind and the universal commandment, and to destroy everything or anyone who stands in the way of the Universal Council.
Everything changes after his promotion to captain and after getting injured at the Games. But this also unveils his latent psychic sense — the ability to see future events. The Council sends him on a precarious mission to stop the Utopians, a renegade set led by the former Head of Science, the genius Dr. Isaac VonHelmann. While he is about to be reunited with his childhood best friend, Iris, the daughter of the Utopian leader, there are far more disturbing truths when he gets to Mars. The choices he makes with what he knows will determine the survival of Earth. Will he follow orders or his heart on a far-off planet?
I didn’t read the first book in this series but I absolutely enjoyed VanWest The Present. The characters are exceptionally written and the adventure is exciting. I also loved the twist in the plot. The protagonist is a multi-layered character whose complex nature is brilliantly written. The conflict — both on internal and the physical levels — is well-conceived and deftly articulated. Kenneth Thomas’s gift for plot and character creates the success of this story that puts the past and the future at an intersection in the present. It is a fantastic story, indeed.
