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Title: Legacy of Valor
Author: Kurt Springs
Genre(s): Military Science Fiction
Word Count: 100,000
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: 6/20/2024
Summary:
Major Liam O’Connor is a hero in his own right. He is descended from a family of heroes. Now he will be tested. Now he will become legend. The Rebel faction lead by Marshal Kergan has seized Treespo, the fifth moon around the fourth planet of Beta Proximus. Treespo is a major source for valuable rare metal elements. With all other Alliance forces out of position, Liam’s Special Operations Company has been attached to the New Terran Marine Corps Third Division. Their job is to provide the spearhead to retake Treespo.
There is an old Marine saying: “No plan ever survives its first encounter with the enemy.” Treachery kills all senior officers in Third Division, leaving Liam in command. With humans of Terran, Neo-Etruscan, and Finnian descent looking to him to keep them alive, Liam must reach deep inside himself. Failure leaves the bulk of the galaxy’s rare metal elements in Kergan’s hands. If Liam succeeds, he will find himself an heir to his family’s legacy of cunning, their legacy of courage, their Legacy of Valor.
My Review:
Major Liam O’Connor, a descendant from a lineage of heroes, finds himself at the heart of intense conflict in Kurt Springs’ latest novel. Tasked with reclaiming Treespo—a critical source of rare metals—from the Rebel faction led by Marshal Kergan, Liam’s Special Operations Company is thrust into chaos when treachery claims the lives of all senior officers in the New Terran Marine Corps Third Division. With command unexpectedly falling to Liam, and other Alliance forces out of position, he faces overwhelming odds with no room for failure.
The narrative grips from the outset, with Springs expertly capturing the urgency of war. The tension is palpable and unrelenting. Springs excels in depicting intergalactic conflict, plunging readers into the gritty reality of Treespo alongside Liam as chaos unfolds rapidly. His portrayal of Liam’s desperate struggle against superior forces, both outgunned and outnumbered, adds depth and intensity to the story.
Liam, a character I’ve always admired, reveals new dimensions in Legacy of Valor. His adept navigation of the dreamscape lends him an almost ‘superhuman’ quality, yet it’s his spiritual growth and unwavering faith in the Creator that truly impressed me, particularly in his relationship with Celenia and his evolving role as a Shaman. This character development breathed unexpected life into this story.
While compelling, the story’s rapid introduction of numerous characters posed a challenge for me. The sheer volume made it difficult to associate each with their respective factions, occasionally leading to confusion about their allegiances amidst the intense action. However, Springs’ execution remains commendable. The strategic deployment of characters across various battlefronts—from land to sky and deep space—was well-managed, ensuring clarity on their locations if not always their affiliations.
Despite this complexity, the novel is undeniably worth reading. The characters face grave peril, their ingenious escapes compelling readers to eagerly turn each page. I need book three.