Prey of Angels by JCM Berne

Blurb:

Rohan has been building alliances and solidifying his abilities, all to keep his friends, his family, his homeworld, and the Empire safe from anything that threatens them, from anywhere in the universe, whether from inside the sector or from a distant galaxy.

He thought he was doing a pretty good job.

He thought he had a pretty solid handle on what he needed to worry about.

He was wrong.

Review:

Prey of Angels is book 8 in the Hybrid Helix series by JCM Berne, a series which holds a spot on my top 10 of all time! And once again, Berne has knocked it out of the park with this instalment.

For those unfamiliar with the series, allow me to glance back to book 1 for a moment—Wistful Ascending.

Here, we’re introduced to Rohan, a half-human super-being living a quiet life on a faraway space station. Rohan has a dark history, but now holds strongly to virtuous ideals. He is powerful, likeable, and hilarious, but with such a murky past, things have a way of catching up with you…

In short, the series is superhero space opera at its finest.

This book continues to uphold the strong storytelling qualities that define the series. Berne is nothing if not reliable. The pacing carries through seamlessly, with action, adventure, and dialogue blended into the perfect mix. The story can be dialogue-heavy at times, but if you’re a fan of the witty and “punny” humour, like I am, then you will absolutely devour these books. Regardless, the prose has a seamless flow to it that is quite accessible and makes for a quick, engaging read.

Prey of Angels runs rife with mystery-fuelled adventure. The ball gets rolling immediately, and as more plot threads are woven into this momentous tumbleweed of mystery, more of the worlds we’ve come to know are explored. All the while, Rohan is pushed to his limits, both physically and mentally.

This brings me to the one area of Hybrid Helix that has come to resonate so strongly with me—the themes.

For many of us, certain shows, comics, and stories were undeniably formative in our early years. Even as adults, some of these titles continue to hold a special place in our hearts.

That’s what Hybrid Helix has become for me: a work of art that offers more than simple nostalgia… It offers themes that resonate universally. Compassion and understanding, even toward our greatest enemies; mastering our emotions for the good of everyone, and for ourselves most of all; making the right choices in the toughest of circumstances, and learning from our mistakes without allowing them to torment us.

Honestly, this could just as easily serve as a review of the series as a whole. If you’ve made it past book 3, then it’s safe to say you’re a fan. Prey of Angels introduces many new characters and settings while building upon circumstances and events from previous installments. It adds depth and nuance to the already intriguing lore and hints at grander climaxes yet to come.

I cannot recommend this series enough. If you’re a fan of superheroes and space operas, of vast sci-fi universes without any tedious technical babble or exposition, or of a found family of humorous characters spanning multiple species, then I urge you to give the Hybrid Helix series by JCM Berne a shot.