Wings of Redemption

The Forgotten Fleet, Book 3

By: Craig Andrews

Narrated by: Shamaan Casey

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

After discovering the Baranyk's hidden fleet, Captain Coleman and the Redemption race to warn humanity. The enemy force is larger than anything ever assembled and they're coming.

Callan Coda O'Neil uncovered the truth about his father's past, but that's made him a threat. Stripped of command and grounded from flight, he has his sights on one thing: return to the cockpit and take his place in the escalating war.

Aided by the Redemption's intelligence, the Sol Fleet prepares for a battle that will decide the fate of humanity. But they're outnumbered and outgunned. The Fleet's only hope is a daring plan devised by Captain Coleman and the Forgotten.

Failure will hand the enemy its most devastating weapon. Success means the end of the war.

©2023 My Story Productions (P)2024 My Story Productions

Excellent

Just wish it was a little bit longer, but very good series. Maybe they’ll be a future book, great author.

Great Conclusion to the Series

This was a well done conclusion and full of action. Koda goes through so much throughout the series that you Wounder if he will ever find an end to the troubles.
Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline

A vast tale of wins and losses

For the third and final audiobook in this trilogy from “The Forgotten Fleet” series, “Wings of Redemption” felt grander and more intense than the previous two audiobooks. In many ways this make sense, it is the pinnacle material bringing the story arc to completion. What started as a rag-tag group of young and immature pilots now culminates with the need to save humanity from a devastatingly powerful and vastly outnumbered enemy. Has this team grown enough? Trained enough? Believed enough? For the answer to these questions, you will need to give the audiobook series a listen. I can say that for me, this was a journey and experience that kept me engrossed and entertained along the entire way. There were enough things that felt like other science fiction space battles, yet there were a few unique turns that had me wondering how things were going to play out until the end. Both Craig Andrews (the author) and Shamaan Casey (the narrator) do an exceptional job of creating an authentic story that comes to life via its narration. If not for the hard work of both these individuals, we would not be able to enjoy this wonderful series.

This story throws the listener right into the heat of action with rather little prequel details. I can say that some of the background information is presented a bits and pieces as the story is told. However, I’m one who prefers a prequel chapter as there is often a time gap when listening from one audiobook to the next in a series. From the start (if you listened to the second audiobook), major planets are at risk and the humans need to find a new weakness in their enemy’s defenses or all will be lost. Being able to detect and block the mind control beam, seeking to find the head of the hive, and being able to defend against an enemy that is nearly ten times in numbers, is a daunting observation and something that would bring fear to everyone in the same situation.

There needs to be additional training, better weapons, and the ability to leverage his father’s skill in infiltrating the hive network to learn all they can before the final battle. We see the earlier squadron of the Forgotten training up others to be the best ship pilots and/or drone pilots the fleet has ever saw. The entire story is action packed and well thought out, including its pacing. The mantra that is often repeated is that “speed is the answer to living” for pilots, and this is something that many need to learn the hard way. With this being the third audiobook, we can see that there are greater battles with heaver casualties on both sides. This brings in the emotions of sorrow and how people individually deal with death or loss. Tempers rise, friends begin to quarrel, and disunity can be the death of a team unless squashed quickly.

I enjoyed that the author gave us some periods of rest, as with most battles, fighting goes on until both parties are exhausted and need a respite. For the listener, this helped in allowing us to right ourselves before the next onslaught of fighting commenced. Also, these down times give people an uneasy feeling as there is constant wonder what the other side is up to. This is the case in this storyline as well. Here we see that both sides also need to develop new technologies to at least slow down their opponents, while always looking for the upper hand. This series still gives one the feeling of “Starship Troopers” blended with “Star Wars”, and a few other space battle movies sprinkled in. All of this is a good thing in my opinion. It was a well thought out and narrated bit of science fiction.

About the audiobook’s narration, Mr. Casey always does a professional job with his presentation, character voicing, and his clean audio recordings. All the volumes were consistent along with no noticeable audio artifacts, such as pops, clicks, swallows, etc. I find that a great narrator can consistently voice a character across multiple books and not get the voices confused. Mr. Casey is one of these narrators who I have seen hone is skills over time, and I very much enjoy this narration works. His rich and velvety voice has the ability to lull one, even in the heat of battle.

For parents and younger listeners, this audiobook in the series contained some crude humor and light use of profanity. There seemed to be a bit more in this third audiobook then the previous ones. I would say that it is still very enjoyable for teenagers and older listeners with the understanding that there is some use of vulgar language.

In summary, this was the largest and most action packed of the series. Here everything comes to a head and is resolved. The story is well written and paced, the narration is professional and without errors. The story is believable, and even a bit young adult in the early portions but grows up along the way to be enjoyed by many. It is a series that one can easily get drawn into and hope there will be some future works based on this universe.

A Masterful Blend of Epic Battles and Heartwarming Connections

Listening to Wings of Redemption by Craig Andrews, narrated by Shamaan Casey, was an exhilarating experience from start to finish. This audiobook took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, blending epic battle scenes with heartfelt moments that took the fast-paced battle scenes and slowed it back down allowing each moment to resonate deeply. Andrews has a knack for writing compelling military science fiction, and this book is no exception. It’s a story of courage, resilience, and the enduring bonds of family, all brought to life by Casey’s powerful narration.

What stood out to me immediately was the depth of the battle scenes. Andrews truly excels in this aspect, crafting intense and detailed encounters that kept me on the edge of my seat. The tactical elements were fascinating, and I found myself eagerly anticipating each new strategy and maneuver. Casey’s deep baritone voice added a layer of drama and epicness that enhanced the storytelling, making every battle scene feel larger-than-life. His performance was nothing short of captivating, bringing a sense of urgency and gravity to the unfolding events.

Despite the heavy focus on military action, Wings of Redemption didn’t shy away from exploring the emotional landscapes of its characters. The relationship between Callan Coda O’Neil and his father was particularly moving. Their bonding moments provided a poignant counterbalance to the high-stakes warfare, adding depth and humanity to the story. Even with Coda’s sidelining, his determination to return to the cockpit and fight for humanity’s future was inspiring. These personal touches transformed the book from a typical science fiction tale into a narrative with heart and soul.

I also loved the fast-paced research and development that happened throughout. Countering certain defense moves or even crazier than that. I think some of this is missing from current science fiction, so it’s refreshing to see new products and countermeasures being actively developed and challenged in Wings of Redemption.

Overall, I think that this is a must-listen for fans of military science fiction and those who appreciate a well-rounded story with both action and emotion. Andrews’ writing, combined with Casey’s stellar narration, makes this audiobook stand out. The combination of epic battles and heartfelt character development creates a dynamic and engaging listening experience that I highly recommend.

Action-Packed, Thrilling Adventure

The violent and overwhelming Baranyk is greater than anyone suspected, and it falls upon Captain Coleman and the Forgotten to save humanity, eliminating the Baranyk threat. Captain Coleman and his crew must complete a daring plan to fulfill and ensure the mission’s success. Callan Coda O’Neil and his father also play a pivotal role, but at what expense?

The author, Craig Andrews delivers a thrilling, fast-paced narrative filled with unexpected twists and a few new characters, keeping everyone on edge. He expertly crafts scenarios and characters that emphasize the significance of relationships and the dangers of obsession. Rich in detail and deeply immersive, the audience is drawn in. The plot twists are intriguing and captivating, keeping the listener guessing until the end. He delves into relationships, their necessity, and their impact during battles and demonstrates the significance of teamwork. This was well done and significant to the narrative.

The narrator, Shamaan Casey, masterfully paces the narrative, building suspense easily. He immerses the audience by bringing every element of the story to life. Despite the narrative’s complexity, his skill enhances the audience’s connection to the characters, making the story easy to follow. Through precise tone, he accurately conveys the mood and emotions of the characters, scenes, and narrative fluidly.

This is a rich, action-packed series that leaves the listener gasping in surprise and suspense. This third book of the series is richer in plot twists! I highly recommend his book as both Shamaan Casey and Craig Andrews provide the listener with a rich and rewarding sci-fi adventure!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.