SciFiOne's Reviews > Fractured Empire: Complete Cadicle Series Boxset
Fractured Empire: Complete Cadicle Series Boxset (Cadicle, #1-7)
by
by
Sep 27, 2021
Architects of Destiny
(book 1 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B+
True space opera or adventure - Kind of nice. This is actually a prequel that takes place about 20 years before the first regular novel. Reading it is, of course, optional but it is rather good. The prose is smooth flowing, easy to read, and fun. It is a classic story of the boy who leaves home and takes a job on a freighter plying the space routes. It kept reminding me of the early youth oriented Asimov and Heinlein novels.
It was thoroughly enjoyable and is recommended.
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Oct 5, 2021
Veil of Reality
(book 2 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B
This is the actual first novel in the series. The protagonist is a family man who works as an agent for a semi-military psychic-powers organization. At least he thought it was semi-military until his teen son is kidnapped by an enemy in a hidden centuries long war. That's when the deceit is exposed. The son is the other main protagonist.
The book is not quite as entertaining as the prequel, mainly because it seemed a little padded, it is needlessly introspective, and the conclusion is a little too open ended for my tastes (but not bad for a serialized story). Or maybe I just read it too soon after the prequel. The introspection bits are short and italicized so were easy to skip over when I felt like it. I also speed read some of the interrogation and battles when they got too long. But don't let that put you off, I always do that - they are actually quite exciting in places and very well written.
Recommended with reservations.
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Nov 15, 2021
Bonds of Resolve
(book 3 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B
This book started out so great, grade A level. An apparently new protagonist starts the story. She is a teen from earth who has been recruited into the Taranan Selective Service - a military psychic-powers organization. She was apparently an outsider on earth and has low self-esteem. Her character development is incredibly interesting as is the world building of the training. But, just as she starts to have self confidence about 2/3 of the way through, the story switches to the young protagonist from the last book.
He is a sort of introspective superhero and is quite boring. She, of course, "bonds" with him and by the end of the book has as little story as a simple girl friend. The reader never even gets to see the end of her training. Maybe it will be in the next book, maybe not. I'm sure she has a part to play in later installments, but, in this case, the last third of the book is grade C.
There are also interruptions throughout the main storyline to follow an even more boring villain. I speed read all of those and I think many, if not all, of the middle segments could have been skipped completely. Only the first and last are necessary to the series. Those were grade D.
Recommended with reservations. The author's female leads are much more interesting than the males.
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Apr 30, 2022
Web of Truth
(book 4 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
by A.K. DuBoff
2022 Grade D
This story has three parts. I don't remember what is in part one. Part two is almost pure melodrama. Probably only part three (short) contains material necessary for the long story arc. I had to do massive speed reading on part two including skipping whole chapters. I suspect the whole book can be skipped. I have abandoned the series at this point. Not recommended.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Overall. It turns out there is also a 5 book set. Book one of this set was a prequel and it was best so far. The grades have been going down progressively leading me to abandon the series.
Architects of Destiny
(book 1 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B+
True space opera or adventure - Kind of nice. This is actually a prequel that takes place about 20 years before the first regular novel. Reading it is, of course, optional but it is rather good. The prose is smooth flowing, easy to read, and fun. It is a classic story of the boy who leaves home and takes a job on a freighter plying the space routes. It kept reminding me of the early youth oriented Asimov and Heinlein novels.
It was thoroughly enjoyable and is recommended.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Oct 5, 2021
Veil of Reality
(book 2 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B
This is the actual first novel in the series. The protagonist is a family man who works as an agent for a semi-military psychic-powers organization. At least he thought it was semi-military until his teen son is kidnapped by an enemy in a hidden centuries long war. That's when the deceit is exposed. The son is the other main protagonist.
The book is not quite as entertaining as the prequel, mainly because it seemed a little padded, it is needlessly introspective, and the conclusion is a little too open ended for my tastes (but not bad for a serialized story). Or maybe I just read it too soon after the prequel. The introspection bits are short and italicized so were easy to skip over when I felt like it. I also speed read some of the interrogation and battles when they got too long. But don't let that put you off, I always do that - they are actually quite exciting in places and very well written.
Recommended with reservations.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Nov 15, 2021
Bonds of Resolve
(book 3 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
2021 Grade B
This book started out so great, grade A level. An apparently new protagonist starts the story. She is a teen from earth who has been recruited into the Taranan Selective Service - a military psychic-powers organization. She was apparently an outsider on earth and has low self-esteem. Her character development is incredibly interesting as is the world building of the training. But, just as she starts to have self confidence about 2/3 of the way through, the story switches to the young protagonist from the last book.
He is a sort of introspective superhero and is quite boring. She, of course, "bonds" with him and by the end of the book has as little story as a simple girl friend. The reader never even gets to see the end of her training. Maybe it will be in the next book, maybe not. I'm sure she has a part to play in later installments, but, in this case, the last third of the book is grade C.
There are also interruptions throughout the main storyline to follow an even more boring villain. I speed read all of those and I think many, if not all, of the middle segments could have been skipped completely. Only the first and last are necessary to the series. Those were grade D.
Recommended with reservations. The author's female leads are much more interesting than the males.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Apr 30, 2022
Web of Truth
(book 4 of Fractured Empire - The complete Cadicle series of 7)
by A.K. DuBoff
2022 Grade D
This story has three parts. I don't remember what is in part one. Part two is almost pure melodrama. Probably only part three (short) contains material necessary for the long story arc. I had to do massive speed reading on part two including skipping whole chapters. I suspect the whole book can be skipped. I have abandoned the series at this point. Not recommended.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Overall. It turns out there is also a 5 book set. Book one of this set was a prequel and it was best so far. The grades have been going down progressively leading me to abandon the series.
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Reading Progress
September 22, 2021
–
Started Reading
September 30, 2021
– Shelved
September 30, 2021
–
8.24%
"Finished the first book Architects of Destiny which is a slightly short Space Opera prequel. I enjoyed it and it reminded me of late teen/young adult early Heinlein and Asimov novels. Grade B+"
page
183
October 9, 2021
–
19.4%
"Finished the first two books and will be posting the simple reviews."
page
431
October 9, 2021
– Shelved as:
scifi
April 29, 2022
–
45.0%
"Book 4 of the 7 is almost pure melodrama. I've had to do massive speed reading including skipping whole chapters. I suspect the whole book can be skipped. I'm really losing interest and might just skip to the end of the series."
page
1000
April 30, 2022
– Shelved as:
abandoned
April 30, 2022
–
Finished Reading