Archangel by Margaret Fortune + a Giveaway

Warning: if you haven't read Nova, there will be spoilers ahead!!!

Michael Sorenson never saw himself following in his parents footsteps. He never had aspirations of a military career in mind. But desperate times and all. 

It's been a little over a year since New Sol exploded and the truth about the Tellurian colony on New Earth was exposed. In that time, the spectres have spread throughout the Expanse, infecting colony after colony. Knowledge is power, certainly, but it's limited power in this case considering their enemy is one they cannot see. 

Michael wasted no time at all joining the Guardians in the wake of losing Lia. But before he can even begin moving up in the ranks, he's tapped to join an elite - and secret - R&D post. There, scientists, civilians, and military personnel work together to develop and test weapons they hope will help win the war. But as accidents and mechanical failures begin to plague the facility, Michael stumbles upon evidence of a possible saboteur. What's worse, it seems this person is out to make Michael the scapegoat.  

This is the perfect, action-packed follow up to Margaret Fortune's series kick off, Nova. You don't necessarily have to have read Nova to be able to dive into Archangel, but I do personally recommend it. Michael is still reeling from losing Lia and holds onto a LOT of anger as a result. There is, I feel, pretty ample backstory and call backs to Lia's tale, which means you won't be totally lost if you haven't read it. Of course you are missing the big reveal about the spectres as well as the introduction to this world. Not to mention Michael and Lia!

Where its predecessor took place mostly on New Sol (with a few flashbacks to New Earth), Archangel gives us glimpses into the BROAD expanse of the Celestial Expanse. Michael's missions take him to a few different colonies, one that contains a pretty big surprise too. It gives readers a chance to really see just how massive the world Fortune has created really is. And even when we're not traveling to a different planet or station, there are mentions of just how many have fallen to the spectres to further support that massiveness. The world building is amazing and the continued possibilities for the rest of the series are huge!

As I mentioned, Michael has quite a bit of baggage. Lia's going nova is what changed everything for everyone. She's a hero. But Michael is mired in her loss and blames pretty much everyone for being part of it. He also isn't keen to let anyone know that he not only witnessed the event first hand but that he was an active participant too. He's basically set to explode and the stress of war doesn't help. When you throw in the possibility that someone in R&D, maybe even someone on his own team, is trying to frame him for sabotage... 

Fortune does a fabulous job building the tension of the tale! I love, love, loved everything about it and cannot wait to get my grubby little book junkie hands on the next installment!

Readers, if you're looking for an epic space opera that will suck you in from the very start, this series is definitely for you. And the best thing about it? It's got massive cross over appeal for teens! Yep, while Fortune's series is definitely billed as adult sci-fi, both Nova and Archangel feature kick-ass teenage characters giving their all to defend human civilization from an enemy that's all but invisible and intent on spreading it's nasty ghouls to the furthest reaches of space. 

Archangel is out on shelves now and thanks to the publisher I get to give away a copy to one of you lucky readers! To throw your name in the hat, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, March 27. Open US only and no PO boxes, please. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway