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Loralynn Kennakris #3
Asylum
Asylum is the third book in the Loralynn Kennakris series. It contains two installments: Wogan’s Reef and Asylum; presented together in one volume.
WOGAN’S REEF: War is all hell... and there’s no place like home.
It’s been a rough year for the Nereidian League in its war against the Dominion of Halith. The Doms have had pretty much everything their own way since the beginning. The League’s Colonial Expeditionary Forces have been forced to bend repeatedly, but they have yet to break.
For Ensign Loralynn Kennakris, Lieutenant Commander Rafael Huron, and a Marine captain named Minerva Lewis, the time for bending is over. They’re in a mood to start breaking things, and they don’t much care if they have to go through hell to do it.
ASYLUM: Armed. Dangerous. And nothing left to lose . . .
First they called her a hero. Then they called her a medical problem. Now they’re calling her a criminal. It’s been an exciting first year of active duty for Lieutenant Loralynn Kennakris.
She started it by proving herself to be the League’s most promising young fighter pilot. She’s earned decorations and gained both admirers and enemies. But those rumors wouldn’t go away: dangerous mental instability, hostile tendencies, latent psychosis. Pushed too far, she did the unforgivable, and her enemies finally have the excuse they have been waiting for.
They are right about one thing, though: Kris is dangerous, and now she has nothing left to lose.
WOGAN’S REEF: War is all hell... and there’s no place like home.
It’s been a rough year for the Nereidian League in its war against the Dominion of Halith. The Doms have had pretty much everything their own way since the beginning. The League’s Colonial Expeditionary Forces have been forced to bend repeatedly, but they have yet to break.
For Ensign Loralynn Kennakris, Lieutenant Commander Rafael Huron, and a Marine captain named Minerva Lewis, the time for bending is over. They’re in a mood to start breaking things, and they don’t much care if they have to go through hell to do it.
ASYLUM: Armed. Dangerous. And nothing left to lose . . .
First they called her a hero. Then they called her a medical problem. Now they’re calling her a criminal. It’s been an exciting first year of active duty for Lieutenant Loralynn Kennakris.
She started it by proving herself to be the League’s most promising young fighter pilot. She’s earned decorations and gained both admirers and enemies. But those rumors wouldn’t go away: dangerous mental instability, hostile tendencies, latent psychosis. Pushed too far, she did the unforgivable, and her enemies finally have the excuse they have been waiting for.
They are right about one thing, though: Kris is dangerous, and now she has nothing left to lose.
499 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2015
27 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Owen R. O'Neill
10 books103 followersOwen R. O’Neil is a physicist, a writer, an amateur historian and the descendant of a long line of engineers. After three years working for the US Navy as a missile systems engineer, he became a member of the intelligence community and spent the rest of his career there. One of the last generation of Cold Warriors, he worked on topics as diverse as satellites, telecommunications, infrared semiconductors and C4ISR. He is an expert on technology projection and threat assessment, and did groundbreaking work on IW/IO before it was cool.
These days he writes, exercises a passion for photography he inherited from his father, and indulges in his two principal vices: cooking 'unhealthy' food and ferreting out exceptional but under-appreciated wines. He lives on nine rural acres in northern California where, when not engaged in the foregoing, he listens to his tenants (bullfrogs and coyotes) and watches over his infant vineyard.
He has written several novels and shorter works with Jordan Leah Hunter.
These days he writes, exercises a passion for photography he inherited from his father, and indulges in his two principal vices: cooking 'unhealthy' food and ferreting out exceptional but under-appreciated wines. He lives on nine rural acres in northern California where, when not engaged in the foregoing, he listens to his tenants (bullfrogs and coyotes) and watches over his infant vineyard.
He has written several novels and shorter works with Jordan Leah Hunter.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 9, 2016
Kris is back in a thrilling adventure that centers around a war and it immediate aftermath. The book started off a little slow for me, but picked up to a delightfully fast pace about 1/4 in. The story does introduce quite a few new faces, and while I'm not always a huge fan of having more than a few point of view characters, it seemed to work fairly well here. It was interesting to see all of the different military leaders try to outsmart and outmaneuver each other, and I especially enjoyed the scenes that gave Kris and Rafe Huron a chance to show off their awesome fighter pilot skills. It was also very rewarding to watch their relationship develop more here.
The story has plenty of high moments, but also some very deep, dark lows. I appreciated the authors' ability to handle such difficult subject matter with care and sensitivity. I may have teared up a few times while reading this, but only because Kris is such a compelling character and I have become so attached to her over the last three books. I look forward to finding out what's in store for her next.
The story has plenty of high moments, but also some very deep, dark lows. I appreciated the authors' ability to handle such difficult subject matter with care and sensitivity. I may have teared up a few times while reading this, but only because Kris is such a compelling character and I have become so attached to her over the last three books. I look forward to finding out what's in store for her next.
February 22, 2017
The Asylum [Wogan’s Reef] opens with a description of the two massive opposing forces, relatively balanced, and their respective strategies, each probing for vulnerabilities.
While preparation for battle begin, we’re introduced to new characters, including Captain Minerva Lewis CEF Marine Corp, who will be commanding a high risk assault. She expresses both vocal formalities and what she’s really thinking. Prominent players from the previous two books in the series are brought up to date.
Kris and Rafe continue to cross paths, flying sallies together accomplishing remarkable feats and raising stature, while others on the CEF home front – in addition to a full scale war with a coalition from Halith and the Bannermans on the horizon – are showing malicious intentions, driving Kris over the edge releasing a savage torrent of retaliation. She doesn’t like people messing with her head! A hint of what’s to come. Albeit, Kris has someone resourceful on her side, along with accruing some stellar personal achievements of her own merit.
The broad-scaled battle scene is impressive, well conceived and conveyed with unique military tactics – three dimensional in scope – providing several concurrent windows to the developing action with split second decisions stacked. Highly engaging!
In addition, the novel scores high ratings for well constructed intelligent characters and dialog. I like the playful bantering and subtle humor dispersed throughout the story and the writers’ ability to take you deep inside the human psyche, at times a bit stirring.
Asylum chapter 7 opens with horrific graphic details to set the tone, vehement atrocities Kris is subjected to, compelled to irradiate the perpetrators and the whole damn system. I skipped the 1st half and continued, maybe because they write it so effectively.
All in all, an excellent compliment to the series. In fact, I’d love to see this series on film as a TV series with stunning special effects!
While preparation for battle begin, we’re introduced to new characters, including Captain Minerva Lewis CEF Marine Corp, who will be commanding a high risk assault. She expresses both vocal formalities and what she’s really thinking. Prominent players from the previous two books in the series are brought up to date.
Kris and Rafe continue to cross paths, flying sallies together accomplishing remarkable feats and raising stature, while others on the CEF home front – in addition to a full scale war with a coalition from Halith and the Bannermans on the horizon – are showing malicious intentions, driving Kris over the edge releasing a savage torrent of retaliation. She doesn’t like people messing with her head! A hint of what’s to come. Albeit, Kris has someone resourceful on her side, along with accruing some stellar personal achievements of her own merit.
The broad-scaled battle scene is impressive, well conceived and conveyed with unique military tactics – three dimensional in scope – providing several concurrent windows to the developing action with split second decisions stacked. Highly engaging!
In addition, the novel scores high ratings for well constructed intelligent characters and dialog. I like the playful bantering and subtle humor dispersed throughout the story and the writers’ ability to take you deep inside the human psyche, at times a bit stirring.
Asylum chapter 7 opens with horrific graphic details to set the tone, vehement atrocities Kris is subjected to, compelled to irradiate the perpetrators and the whole damn system. I skipped the 1st half and continued, maybe because they write it so effectively.
All in all, an excellent compliment to the series. In fact, I’d love to see this series on film as a TV series with stunning special effects!
March 6, 2015
It's not a wonder that Kris has been considered "certifiable" by the time Jordan Leah Hunter and Owen O'Neill get to the third book, Asylum, of the Loralynn Kennakris series. Rafe Huron, her flight instructor, closest friend, and top flying ace, has been known to take risks and moves not even thought of by normal pilots but Kris drives that behavior up by ten notches in the very least. In her quest to exact vengeance for what she's gone through in her short life, she courts danger and makes maneuvers that border on suicidal.
This is the tone on which Asylum is set. The title itself is a nice play on the story, where it could be a safe haven or a resting place for lunatics. Which definition will Kris be subjected to?
The war between the Halith and the League is now in full force. In The Morning Which Breaks, the previous book, the fighting had just started, enough for Kris to be pulled out of the Academy and put on active duty with the rest of her classmates. Several encounters later, with some legends tacked onto the budding ensign's name, Kris finds herself in a battle of legendary proportions, enough to get the attention of several people, not all of them good.
The only question here is, can Kris hang on to her sanity long enough to pull off a coup momentous enough to spin stories for centuries? You'll need to reach the very end to find out.
I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning and I'm seeing it develop in leaps and bounds as each segment is released. The tales keep getting better; I see a more homogeneous blending not only of both authors, but of history, science, classical literature, and fantasy that makes the reader burrow deep into the adventure and come out the other side longing for more.
I find how Kris develops as a woman one of the more interesting aspects of this ongoing story. The battle scenes are fascinating, of course, and the accuracy with how deployment and fights take place are so riveting that the book is next to impossible to put down. Attention to detail is paramount and leave the reader feeling the trueness of what was related. Personal tribulations are brought to light, filling out the character even more in preparation for the upcoming stories.
Asylum keeps the state of suspense high, not just between the two entities at war, but with Kris and everyone she's come in contact with so far, because O'Neill and Hunter have perfected teasing the reader with the promise of a bigger thing coming up next, chapter after thrilling chapter. Just when you come to the breaking point, BAM! The totally unexpected conclusion hits you on the head ... and you're left with the introduction of Absalom's Hundred.
I was lucky enough to be asked to beta read this book.
This is the tone on which Asylum is set. The title itself is a nice play on the story, where it could be a safe haven or a resting place for lunatics. Which definition will Kris be subjected to?
The war between the Halith and the League is now in full force. In The Morning Which Breaks, the previous book, the fighting had just started, enough for Kris to be pulled out of the Academy and put on active duty with the rest of her classmates. Several encounters later, with some legends tacked onto the budding ensign's name, Kris finds herself in a battle of legendary proportions, enough to get the attention of several people, not all of them good.
The only question here is, can Kris hang on to her sanity long enough to pull off a coup momentous enough to spin stories for centuries? You'll need to reach the very end to find out.
I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning and I'm seeing it develop in leaps and bounds as each segment is released. The tales keep getting better; I see a more homogeneous blending not only of both authors, but of history, science, classical literature, and fantasy that makes the reader burrow deep into the adventure and come out the other side longing for more.
I find how Kris develops as a woman one of the more interesting aspects of this ongoing story. The battle scenes are fascinating, of course, and the accuracy with how deployment and fights take place are so riveting that the book is next to impossible to put down. Attention to detail is paramount and leave the reader feeling the trueness of what was related. Personal tribulations are brought to light, filling out the character even more in preparation for the upcoming stories.
Asylum keeps the state of suspense high, not just between the two entities at war, but with Kris and everyone she's come in contact with so far, because O'Neill and Hunter have perfected teasing the reader with the promise of a bigger thing coming up next, chapter after thrilling chapter. Just when you come to the breaking point, BAM! The totally unexpected conclusion hits you on the head ... and you're left with the introduction of Absalom's Hundred.
I was lucky enough to be asked to beta read this book.
May 9, 2015
Kris at war! Actually, I think I'd have been happier if that was the bulk of the book, but instead we did a lot of reading about other players in the big space war -- lots of commanders on both sides of it, which got confusing because I had a little trouble remembering who was on which side -- and we saw a lot of space-war action. Some of which Kris took part in.
The drawn-out romance between Kris and her mentor started in earnest this time through, although not without various difficulties. Kris runs afoul of the evil psychiatrists who've been gunning for her from the beginning -- one scene in particular resulted in an audible gasp and horror at what was being attempted. Kris flirts right on the edge of having a death wish for much of the novel.
A lot of action-packed space battles. I find this sort of thing less compelling than the overall story arcs, so I tend to skim. And I did a lot of skimming through this book.
I started noticing parallels between the political players and what I've read of WWII history, which actually helped me sort out what was happening when and for what reason. If you think of the bad guys as the Axis and the good guys (well, maybe "less bad guys") as the Allies, with their various national personality quirks, it does help to define motivations and what you can expect to see happening.
I like this series for adding a "fighter pilot" dimension into the idea of space fleets -- the current sci-fi metaphor for space is almost exclusively naval, which I think limits our thinking about space and space battles to some extent. I'd like to see more fiction in this vein, exploring space from an "Air Force" 3D thinking perspective, because I think it'd add something to the genre.
The drawn-out romance between Kris and her mentor started in earnest this time through, although not without various difficulties. Kris runs afoul of the evil psychiatrists who've been gunning for her from the beginning -- one scene in particular resulted in an audible gasp and horror at what was being attempted. Kris flirts right on the edge of having a death wish for much of the novel.
A lot of action-packed space battles. I find this sort of thing less compelling than the overall story arcs, so I tend to skim. And I did a lot of skimming through this book.
I started noticing parallels between the political players and what I've read of WWII history, which actually helped me sort out what was happening when and for what reason. If you think of the bad guys as the Axis and the good guys (well, maybe "less bad guys") as the Allies, with their various national personality quirks, it does help to define motivations and what you can expect to see happening.
I like this series for adding a "fighter pilot" dimension into the idea of space fleets -- the current sci-fi metaphor for space is almost exclusively naval, which I think limits our thinking about space and space battles to some extent. I'd like to see more fiction in this vein, exploring space from an "Air Force" 3D thinking perspective, because I think it'd add something to the genre.
June 11, 2017
This is really two books put together, the first ‘Wogan’s Reef’ is mainly about the war with the Halith and the second ‘Asylum’ starts with such a clichéd plotline that I almost couldn’t believe the authors had actually dared write it. Fortunately a different story develops and this is the more interesting, if much shorter, of the two sections.
The first part is such a disappointment, the majority of the narrative is just so boring. The series is entitled ‘Loralynn Kennakris ’ but this is misleading as it has very little to do with Kris. Large sections of the book are full of long detailed descriptions of the political situation, boring meetings and endless characters that appear and disappear.
The authors have stopped writing about Kris and have decided to create a massive galactic space epic, the problem is they may have listed lots of different planets, governments, rulers, generals etc but they haven’t made them interesting. I don’t really know anything about the different cultures the different personalities etc. The groundwork hasn’t been done and to be honest I don’t really care enough about them. Even the big battles aren’t that interesting because any excitement is destroyed by the tedium of the overwhelming detail. OK a few small actions are note worthy because the writers concentrate on just a few individuals.
I read this book because I was interested in Kris and the people that interact with her, not a group of boring politicians and admirals. Kris basically makes walk on guest appearances until one decent dogfight near the end of this section.
We now come to the second part of the book, the vindictive superior uses a bigoted doctor to plot Kris’s downfall, but this turns into a more interesting story and redeems the poor start to the book.
The first part is such a disappointment, the majority of the narrative is just so boring. The series is entitled ‘Loralynn Kennakris ’ but this is misleading as it has very little to do with Kris. Large sections of the book are full of long detailed descriptions of the political situation, boring meetings and endless characters that appear and disappear.
The authors have stopped writing about Kris and have decided to create a massive galactic space epic, the problem is they may have listed lots of different planets, governments, rulers, generals etc but they haven’t made them interesting. I don’t really know anything about the different cultures the different personalities etc. The groundwork hasn’t been done and to be honest I don’t really care enough about them. Even the big battles aren’t that interesting because any excitement is destroyed by the tedium of the overwhelming detail. OK a few small actions are note worthy because the writers concentrate on just a few individuals.
I read this book because I was interested in Kris and the people that interact with her, not a group of boring politicians and admirals. Kris basically makes walk on guest appearances until one decent dogfight near the end of this section.
We now come to the second part of the book, the vindictive superior uses a bigoted doctor to plot Kris’s downfall, but this turns into a more interesting story and redeems the poor start to the book.
September 7, 2015
I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
Over the span of these three books Kris has become more to me than a character in a book, she’s become a friend. (Yes I think I have finally lost the plot) So when Kris’ story unfolded and I got to see her fighting in a war, making friends, sacrificing to save others, braving all sorts of terrible things (can’t say or I’ll spoil it) I was right there alongside her—most of the time feeling every single emotion she felt. I cried when she cried, chuckled at her wise cracks and grinned with pride when my girl kicked some serious ass.
And when the thing I’d been hoping for finally happened I had to restrain myself from pumping my fist in the air and shouting at the top of my lungs. “It’s about damn time.”
There is some technical stuff that a romance reader such as myself battled to get her head around but it sure was worth getting through.
This series is the gift that keeps on giving. I am chomping at the bit for the next book in the series. So if the authors read this, I’m begging here, please hurry up.
Over the span of these three books Kris has become more to me than a character in a book, she’s become a friend. (Yes I think I have finally lost the plot) So when Kris’ story unfolded and I got to see her fighting in a war, making friends, sacrificing to save others, braving all sorts of terrible things (can’t say or I’ll spoil it) I was right there alongside her—most of the time feeling every single emotion she felt. I cried when she cried, chuckled at her wise cracks and grinned with pride when my girl kicked some serious ass.
And when the thing I’d been hoping for finally happened I had to restrain myself from pumping my fist in the air and shouting at the top of my lungs. “It’s about damn time.”
There is some technical stuff that a romance reader such as myself battled to get her head around but it sure was worth getting through.
This series is the gift that keeps on giving. I am chomping at the bit for the next book in the series. So if the authors read this, I’m begging here, please hurry up.
December 13, 2019
It's a good book, with some nice plot twists. The amount of sexuality in the series is getting out of hand, however. I realize that the protagonist's background and raison d'etre is based on horrible sexual abuse and I appreciate that - but it seems like the only way characters interact is through sex. You want to meet someone and get some information? There will be sex involved. I'll continue reading the series for at least one more book, but if it keeps going in this direction I'll give it up.
November 11, 2020
Enjoyable
Asylum continues Kris's story but mostly focuses on the major battles the military is engaged in. Lots of politics, too, but the story is well researched and flows. We find out more about her childhood and Kris continues to do the impossible. Lots of fun.
Asylum continues Kris's story but mostly focuses on the major battles the military is engaged in. Lots of politics, too, but the story is well researched and flows. We find out more about her childhood and Kris continues to do the impossible. Lots of fun.
September 29, 2018
3 stars. OK but I'm tired of series. MC is too much the MarySue
October 28, 2019
Excellent!
March 31, 2020
Another great read in this series
The book follows the series main characters as they go to war. The book is filled with action and adventure plus twists to keep your interest.
The book follows the series main characters as they go to war. The book is filled with action and adventure plus twists to keep your interest.
November 25, 2017
How could you not like a woman that is as tough as they come. The authors creates fascinating characters and an interesting plot. All the elements of traditional science fiction are here, intermingled with an old-fashioned space opera.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews