Silent Clarion: The Full Collection Kindle Edition

Good story idea, though at times it feels a little bit disjointed like it was written as a serial with a little bit of a rough chapter transitions (I like the music theme chapter identifiers) . The rough areas didn't distract from the overall story, though I have to admit I'm going to have to read the first book again to see if I just missed any foreshadowing about what was revealed in the end if this book. The world of Naomi is certainly headed far past the stereotypical post-apocalyptic world of most other authors. I'm definitely interested in seeing that.

Silent Clarion by Matthew Graybosch is a series published by Curiosity Quills now compiled into one book that encompasses all of Adversary Naomi’s involvement with the small town named Clarion. Naomi is CPMD+ meaning she looks dynamically different from humans and can really only hope to have children (should she choose) with another who is like her. But Naomi is a real badass chick. She’s an Adversary for the government and is a step above the police but that puts her in a dangerous position nonetheless. Should she be found to be overstepping her bounds she can be executed for it because of the power that being an Adversary carries. She’s good at her job but she takes things to the edge when her boyfriend of a year tells her that his family has been on him to marry and have an heir. But that’s not what takes her to the edge…he asks her to become his mistress after he cheats on her with the woman he decides to accept as his fiancé. The next day at work she takes things to the edge with some officers who are violating monotheists rights and decides she needs to take a break for awhile.
While taking a bit of her vacation up in New York she hears about disappearances in a small town called Clarion. She does a little probing but it is told that the information is classified and she’s not cleared to even be told anything and to leave it alone. But Naomi decides to go and do some investigation of her own. Of course in no time flat before even getting into town she’s making friends and starting to learn a few things here and there but there is danger afoot. Something is being covered up there in Clarion and some of the inhabitants are working to keep things quiet.
Silent Clarion is an engaging story. It is definitely a long read but it’s an enjoyable one overall following along with Naomi as she works to learn what is going on and to protect lives as well. This is a SciFi Thriller in my opinion because it puts the main character into situations of where, even though you know that she’s fully capable of handling herself, you wonder about those that she takes with her at times. This book is engaging and really enjoyable over all. I really think that the author and Curiosity Quills had a great idea compiling all of these into one book. Definitely a good one to check out if you are into SciFi stories and thrillers with a bit of mystery as well.

Silent Clarion introduces the reader to the world of the future - some years after the event know as 'Nationfall', which is pretty much what it sounds like - the fall of nations around the world. What Graybosch does with that is a new approach - his post-nation world is not only far reduced in population, but is not controlled by various mega-corps, as the cyberpunk genre tends to be. That is an interesting change. In this world, the Phoenix Society offers some level of order, as a sort of trans-global watchers of the watchmen. With the total focus on the rights of the individual, these watchers, known as Adversaries, have nearly limitless authority within strict boundaries. One such is our protagonist, Naomi Bradleigh. Young, brash, and very good at her job, we open with a look at the divisions in the society when her boyfriend explains to her one morning that he will be marrying the woman his parents chose, but wants to keep her as a mistress. Seems at his social level, being with someone who has congenital pseudofeline morphological disorder (referred to in the rest of the book as CPMD or being CPMD+) is unacceptable. CPMD is a not-uncommon condition that results in the carrier having above-average physical and mental abilities (see a WAY more detailed breakdown from the author here). Being depressed, angry, and overworked, Naomi takes a semi-forced vacation, originally to New York, and from there, based on an overheard conversation and (spoiler), up to Clarion, NY. Strange things are indeed afoot, and here the book hits a snag.

It is, simply, too heavy-handed with the metal references. I know this is the point, I know this is meant to be a form of rock opera type novel. And believe me, I like that idea a lot.

Same applies, but with the character commenting on it, to the events in town. Like some other books from CQ, this is one that has a lot of spoiler moments fairly quickly. That makes going more in depth a bit of a challenge. Let's leave it at there is a conspiracy, another conspiracy, and a third, all like Russian nesting dolls, focused on Nationfall, Clarion, CPMD+, and going even further back. This is a great intro to the Starbreaker series, and would make Without Bloodshed make more sense if read first.

Let's do some background. The novel is set in 2095, and does describe some of the accelerated technology that is common in science fiction - the usual suspects mostly, such as AI, neuroimplants, colonies off Earth (but still in the system), etc. What is interesting is that the tech does not extend much to weapons - AK-47s are still common, and the preferred weapons across the board are swords. Even for the police. That seems a bit anachronistic, to be sure, but it does make for a better story, fits the Adversary concept, and serves the author's purpose well. Ever since Batman: The Animated Series premiered, I have loved the idea of advanced technology coexisting with older tech and methods, and Silent Clarion does that flawlessly.

Silent Clarion does, albeit belatedly, explain some of the things that are fairly confusing in Without Bloodshed. Such as the nature of the Phoenix Society, asuras, Nationfall, and so forth. That is welcome, especially to someone who, like me, is often more interested in the background than the story itself. That is a compliment, as a compelling (but absent) background keeps me interested, seeking to know more of how things came to be.

Overall, this is a solid book, with a lot going for it. I have had trouble divorcing it from Without Bloodshed, as I read them back-to-back. I do look forward to more in this world, and hope to see the sequels soon.

The story follows Adversary Naomi Bradleigh. If you've read Matthew Graybosch's first novel, Without Bloodshed, then you'll be familiar with this character already. Born with CPMD, a condition that gives people cat-like features, Naomi is as tough as they come. Using her position to whip police officers into line and keep the peace, she's a force of nature.

But even officers of the law need some down time, and the majority of this story takes place during her "vacation" which is anything but. A hint of trouble presents itself, and she follows the trail, uncovering twist after twist, always finding more questions than answers. The pace is fast, and I never had any idea what was going to happen next. I loved this story, and look forward to more!

I loved it! Very different from the usual sf suspense novel. Enter a post apocalyptic world populated by ordinary humans, human feline hybrids and AIs, where the vast technology is even more amazing than the inhabitants could realize. This book makes most people's conspiracy theories seem tame.

To many suspensions of disbelief to make this work. Story wandered in and out of focus. Character development weak and one dimensional. Trying to hard to be currently hip and relevant.