BOOK REVIEW - "RHATS FREE" (MUTO CHRONICLES BOOK 3) BY KERRY NIETZ.

 

Can Frohic, as active captain of the Presage, direct the Presage safely home, with:

1. Shikastra (ugly lizardlike creatures with personalities uglier than they look) on the ship with a bracelet to shock implants that Frohic, ship's captain Abs, and another member were installed  with?
2. Three members of the crew (including captain Abs) missing in action, though more likely dead?
3. Giant space squids that feed on energy outside the ship?

"Rhats Free" by Kerry Nietz is the third in the Takamo Universe's Muto Chronicles, following "Rhats" and "Rhats Too," and the series gets better with each installment. (A muto or rhat is a human size rat.) I love adventure stories with two friends working together (in this series, Frohic and Abs). The twists keep coming, as well as excellent character development.

Besides outerspace action and a tongue implanted firmly in cheek, this series looks at issue. For example, in this book is the query on what freedom - if it truly exists - looks like. But then, what would you expect from the author of "Amish Vampires in Space?"

So far, this is my favorite novel I've read this year, and I highly recommend it.

Allow me to add one comment. When Becky saw the cover of this book (the Best cover of this series, in my opinion), she commented about the pictured characters,  "They look harmless. Except for the guns."

BOOK REVIEW - "RHATALOO" (A TAKAMO UNIVERSE NOVEL, MUTO CHRONICLES) BY KERRY NIETZ

Why and how is spaceship run by human size rats (aka rhats or mutos) landing in Napolean era France looking for cheese (and wine)? Can the Granum's executive officer Cedric explain a messed up mission satisfactorily to muto bureaucrats without him and his captain's tails getting docked? Can mutos survive in a world run by "umans?" 

"Rhataloo" is technically a prequel to the Muto Chronicles ("Rhats!," "Rhats Too!," and "Rhats Free!"). I am not sure how
"Rhataloo" compares timeline wise with either the later Chronicles or how the Takamo Universe relates to ours (in other words, are rhats travelling space before our 1800's, or is this a parallel universe where their Napolean showed up centuries after ours), but author Kerry Nietz has created an enjoyable series. (What would you expect from the author of 
"Amish Vampires in Space?")

The story has a lot of plot twists and entertaining moments, jumping from the current debriefing with the powerful bean-counters and Sedric's recollection of what had happened previously. The characters are creative and fun as well.

I'm looking forward to reading the next Rhats installment, and for that matter anything else by Kerry Nietz.

 

BOOK REVIEW - RHATS TOO! (TAKAMO UNIVIERSE; THE MUTO CHRONICLES #2) BY KERRY NIETZ

 

Where did Frohlic's large family (all mutos have large families) disappear to? He barely survived his previous smuggling trip in space; did he really want to join his friend Abs for another one? Especially when facing ants and spiders that are bigger than you?

I absolutely loved Rhats Too!, the full length sequel to Kerry Nietz' novella surpisingly titled Rhats. In this edition, our muto (a cross between a human and a, believe it or not, rat) hero finds his family missing from his home, with a feisty, flirty female with a gun there instead. He also is invited by his friend Abs to join his crew another smuggling trip... along with the feisty, flirty female.

There is plenty of sci-fi action in this book, as well as surprises here and there. My favorite part is the friendship between Frohlic and Abs. 

If you like sci-fi, this is an excellent book to read. I highly recommend it.