The Half-Life Empire 3: An Alien Apocalypse Novel

The Half-Life Empire, Book 3

By: Shami Stovall

Narrated by: Diana Richardson

The thrilling conclusion to the Half-Life Empire trilogy pits freedom fighter Kita against traitors, gangs, and the lasting chill of the Forever Winter.

Hacker and freedom fighter Kita Yamasaki has a new world to build. The granddaughter of Benjamin Yamasaki, a scientist and ambassador striving to make peace with the invading alien Teth, Kita was raised in the Forever Winter, a freezing, gray post-nuclear wasteland where humankind's last survivors dodge the murderous alien Vay and ally with the Teth, who arrived on Earth with the A-tech now critical to survival.

Accompanied by her lover, Bishop; her adopted daughter, Crouton; and Brecht and Vega, a human and Teth who spent their lives locked in an underground facility before meeting her, Kita has a vision for a better future, and it begins with Sanctuary, a lush safe zone where humanity can regain its dignity and safety. But the Iron-Blooded, a cult of alien-worshippers who swear allegiance to the Vay in exchange for their lives, are out for her hide.

Little do they know Kita possesses three Teth eggs, the spawn of three different castes, suspended in cryostasis gel, just waiting for the right opportunity to awaken—and she's pregnant. Can she help create a new civilization that won't end up like the ruthless Ex Cathedra or the isolationist United California? And can she protect the people in her care? Does the answer lie in the power armor waiting for her to step into it and fight?

©2024 Shami Stovall (P)2024 Podium Audio

Critic reviews

"A fantastic read . . . Kita is so much more than a hacker, and the world she moves through isn't just lethal—it feels uncomfortably familiar, and incredibly close." —Terry Maggert, coauthor of the Backyard Starship series

Another hit

My only disappointment is it's over! another amazing book by Shami Stovall! only way it could have been better is a whole other book just for an epilogue

did not disappoint

I've waited months for this book and was delighted when it exceeded every expectation!! it was a fantastic ending to a great story

The perfect conclusion!

This third and final book of the series was remarkably well written and I already want to listen again. The author has outdone herself to the point I could actually picture myself in the story.

Another incredible ending!

It’s hard to pick a favorite Stovall series, but this one is definitely on the list. (Along with all the others!) This conclusion to the series was filled with tension, surprises, and just a touch of romance between the bloody fights! The ending was more realistic than the typical good guy beats bad guy which makes it so believable, there was no other way it could have ended.

Kind of a cop-out

This ended well enough, although I was left longing for a more layered solution to the four-way conflict between Team Kita, the Ironblooded, the Vey and Ex-Cathedral. Although I liked the treatment of the Ironblooded, the other two factions were made to heel by conveniently finding superior weaponry against Ex-cathedra and the Vey.

The interactions between the MCs that I loved from book 1 continued to decline here, with Crouton barely getting a cameo and even Bishop separated from Kita and global politics. I would still recommend the series for it’s creatively different alien-apocalyptic world.