Review of The Rhysu Alternative

Post by **Kibet Hillary** » 12 Oct 2023, 10:34

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Rhysu Alternative" by P.D. Blackwell.]

4 out of 5 stars

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Bev Colli regains consciousness to find herself encircled by the Rhysu, her mind incessantly echoing that they are the enemy. Are they? Who planted the thought, and how did they do it? The revelation of her consciousness residing in a form devoid of flesh and blood is nothing short of shocking. Why did they transfer her consciousness? As she continues to live with them and reconstruct the events leading to her current state, Bev becomes aware of the profound interconnectedness of everything in the universe and the importance of the Rhysu's mission to secure their survival by eliminating the Compression Drive, an action that jeopardizes humanity and civilization's progress. In parallel, the Shoku, another group of energy sea creatures, is on a different mission — the annihilation of the human race.

Meanwhile, Arlud, armed with intelligence, orchestrates arrests during a critical delegation assembly aimed at forging a new alliance. In his homeland, very far away, rising political tensions and propagandist efforts threaten his ascent to the high regency, a position he is rightfully poised to claim as the son of the former High Regent, his father, Armand Erstallius. Questions abound: will Arlud and his family survive these machinations? What were the traitors attempting to achieve, and how did Arlud uncover their plans? Will the nascent alliance hold strong in the face of imminent challenges and formidable forces?

The Rhysu Alternative: The Erstallius Chronicles, Volume Two by P.D. Blackwell unfolds as a captivating installment in this enthralling science fiction trilogy. It delves into the gradual disintegration of the former Alliance, a series of brutal retaliatory attacks by vengeful clans bent on destruction, and the pivotal role of Bev Colli, a former sapi, in the struggle to save humanity from total extinction. The narrative, refreshingly unpredictable and relatively free from heavy-handed authorial influence, flows naturally, making it a classic choice for those who appreciate seamless plots. The unpredictability of Bev's growth and the deployment of her newfound abilities adds an engaging layer of intrigue and suspense, which I liked.

I found nothing to dislike in or about this exceptional book. The extraordinary plot, brilliantly developed characters, and vivid settings collectively create a remarkable and memorable reading experience. However, I rate it four out of five stars due to the minor errors I encountered while reading, but the book generally deserves a perfect rating. The cliffhanger ending, certainly, piques curiosity and leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Most loose ends are adeptly tied up, leaving room for a seamless narrative continuation in the sequel. One thing is for sure — The Rhysu Alternative stands as an incredible science fiction novel that captured my curiosity and attention from the moment I grasped its premise, as I had not read the previous installments.

******
The Rhysu Alternative
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Stephen Pokoo · Post by **Stephen Pokoo** » 15 Oct 2023, 03:54

I have to admit that it's truly difficult to dislike anything from this book. Hats off to the skilled author who brought us "The Rhysu Alternative", and a round of applause to you for an excellent in-depth review. Your combined efforts have created a wonderful reading experience for all of us."

Miracle Oge Adaeze · Post by **Miracle Oge Adaeze** » 16 Oct 2023, 13:56

I see that this is a trilogy. I may have to start from the first book before I get into this one. Thanks for the review, though.

Post by **Kibet Hillary** » 20 Oct 2023, 00:27

Thank you, @Stephen Pokoo and @Miracle Oge Adaeze, for your nice comments. I hope you will enjoy reading The Rhysu Alternative: The Erstallius Chronicles, Volume Two.

Cara Wilding · Post by **Cara Wilding** » 21 Oct 2023, 14:43

Kibet Hillary wrote: ↑12 Oct 2023, 10:34 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Rhysu Alternative" by P.D. Blackwell.]

4 out of 5 stars
Share This Review

Bev Colli regains consciousness to find herself encircled by the Rhysu, her mind incessantly echoing that they are the enemy. Are they? Who planted the thought, and how did they do it? The revelation of her consciousness residing in a form devoid of flesh and blood is nothing short of shocking. Why did they transfer her consciousness? As she continues to live with them and reconstruct the events leading to her current state, Bev becomes aware of the profound interconnectedness of everything in the universe and the importance of the Rhysu's mission to secure their survival by eliminating the Compression Drive, an action that jeopardizes humanity and civilization's progress. In parallel, the Shoku, another group of energy sea creatures, is on a different mission — the annihilation of the human race.

I found nothing to dislike in or about this exceptional book. The extraordinary plot, brilliantly developed characters, and vivid settings collectively create a remarkable and memorable reading experience. However, I rate it four out of five stars due to the minor errors I encountered while reading, but the book generally deserves a perfect rating. The cliffhanger ending, certainly, piques curiosity and leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Most loose ends are adeptly tied up, leaving room for a seamless narrative continuation in the sequel. One thing is for sure — The Rhysu Alternative stands as an incredible science fiction novel that captured my curiosity and attention from the moment I grasped its premise, as I had not read the previous installments.

It sounds as if this author has done an excellent job of building a captivating world and well-developed characters—an absolute must for this genre! The beginning of your review caught my attention. What an interesting problem to introduce the book with! It's unfortunate that the errors took away from the book; however, it's clear that the story was top-notch. It's good to know that you don't necessarily have to read the earlier works to enjoy this one. Thanks so much for sharing your review with us!

Upphilan Paul · Post by **Upphilan Paul** » 24 Oct 2023, 02:39

Wow! This is a captivating and mind-hacking read with a compelling review and I long to read this book and see what you've read. I like your review. Good job.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 26 Oct 2023, 14:05

The first book of this series seemed like an engaging science fiction story with an intriguing mystery and well-developed characters. I see that this sequel continues the good development of its elements, though I hope the author does another round of proofreading. Thank you for your great review!

Gee-Q Mdluli · Post by **Gee-Q Mdluli** » 05 Nov 2023, 05:35

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book. I've never read it, and looking at the cover, I wondered what it could be about. Your review has convinced me to check it out. Thanks again for your insight.