Daughter of Dragons, Jack Campbell

The Genesis Fleet, Vanguard, Jack Campbell

I read two books by Jack Campbell, or John G. Hemry, as that is his real name, though he is more known under the pseudonym Jack Campbell.

Mr. Hemry is mostly known as a Science Fiction writer but also writes Fantasy - or more accurately Science Fantasy.

I first discovered his books some years back when my brother lend me the first in his "The Lost Fleet" series. Like my brother (who is a big fan of Military Science Fiction) I was instantly hooked.

Since then I have read nearly all of his many books as Mr. Hemry writes extremely well. His plots are always fun and full of selfless and heroic characters. To me his books are like candy, you finish them quickly, and then either pick another one up or get annoyed if the next in the series is not yet out!

Though I can’t fault a man that writes so much faster than I do.

I first read the "Daughter of Dragons" and then "The Genesis Fleet, Vanguard". Both are good, and both are the first in two new series from 2017/18.

If you have not read anything by Campbell yet, I instead recommend you start where I did with "The Lost fleet: Dauntless". A great SciFi book that’s definitely worth a read. If you are more into Fantasy, then instead start with "The Dragons of Dorcastle" this first in his Pillars of Reality series. I love his two main characters in those books, and I'm sure you will too.

Which books to read
Though I had decided not to read Fantasy I snug in the "Daughter of Dragons", telling myself that its Science Fantasy and therefore ok for me to read. Truth be told, I discovered that nearly all the plot takes place in a Fantasy setting, so at least for me this is a good book.

If you are 100% strictly into Fantasy then go read something else, there are so many fantastic writers and books out there, stuff that a lot of people have never even heard off (Game of Thrones are not all there is).

Try reading "The Black Prism" by Brent Weeks, "Black Sun Rising" by C.S. Friedman, "The Misenchanted Sword" by Lawrence Watt-Evans or "The Mirror of her dreams" by Stephen Donaldson.

These days fantasy books are often more gritty and hard, than when I grew up. Authors kill some of their main characters, heck the kill all their main characters if they like, and village boys seldom become heroes or kings any more. They get caught up in intrigue, assassinations and abuse of power.

For my own part I like both the "old style" Fantasy with pious heroes and "where good always win", at least eventually, and the more realistic modern styles where the "bad guys" are often the winners and the "god guys" turn out to be just as flawed or "bad" as their adversaries.

I mean, you don't eat the same meal every day either, right? At least I don't. Sometimes I like a good old-fashioned steak or dish I grew up with, other times I need to taste something new, preferably something I have never even heard of. What I mean is, don’t close yourself up to one "right way" a fantasy book must be. If a book is fun to read for you, that should be good enough, whether your friends, your peers or reviewers think differently. You are the reader, and you have the power, by supporting those books and writers you like.

If you want to read something truly beautiful but completely different than most other Fantasy (but still very much Fantasy) I can recommend "The Slow regard of Silent things" by Patrick Rothfuss. To this day one of the most beautiful Fantasy works, I have read.

/Rune S. Nielsen