After uncovering an artifact that grants him extraordinary powers, Jael thought he had gained the upper hand in the lawless fringes of space. But news of his newfound abilities has spread throughout the galaxy, and a bounty is placed on his head for crimes he didn’t commit. New enemies emerge to claim the reward and old foes remain relentless in their pursuit of the artifact.
Jael is unwillingly thrust into a high-stakes game that determines control over the moon. The four crime syndicates use this brutal contest to decide who will rule, and now Jael’s fate is entangled with theirs.
Complicating matters further, a mysterious woman with a similar artifact stalks Jael across the moon, sabotaging his quest. With each step, the stakes rise, and every decision could mean life or death. Jael must fight to stay alive, protect his crew, and uncover the second Antiqui lock—before time runs out.
Syndicate Moon is a thrilling, high-stakes space drama and the 2nd book in the Stellar Heir series. The book picks up where book 1, Stellar Heir, left off, delving deeper into the series’ sci-fi universe and turning the action dial way up!
The story once again follows protagonist Jael and his crew of fugitives (from book 1), who are hunting down an ancient machine capable of saving the galaxy. Their quest leads them to a syndicate-controlled moon, where Jael uncovers a powerful artifact granting him mysterious abilities. News of this power causes a massive bounty on his head, drawing both old enemies and bounty hunters to pursue him. What follows is a violent power struggle as four crime syndicates wage war for control of the moon—and for Jael himself. In order for Jael and his crew to survive, they must uncover the secrets of the Antiqui artifact before it’s too late!
The world-building in both books in the series is expansive and incredibly intricate. The main setting in this book is the vividly depicted Syndicate Moon, where lawlessness reigns and danger lurks at every corner! The moon becomes a multidimensional character in its own right, showcasing itself as a battlefield, labyrinth, and corrupt power base. As the story mostly focuses on Jael and the conflicts he faces, the intricacies of the crime syndicates and galactic politics aren’t explicitly described, but their war to control the moon is an integral part of the story.
The dual storyline structure is complex, making the book more than just a casual read—readers need to pay close attention at all times to follow the non-stop action and constant turns in the plot. If listening on audio, it is highly recommended to listen at a slower speed—to grasp everything and become properly immersed in all the excitement! There are a lot of characters and syndicates in this book, and jotting down locations and character names while reading or listening can be helpful. By following along intently, readers will feel like they’re in a race against time with Jael and his crew—and themes of survival and loyalty shine through!
The pacing in this book is relentless—so be prepared for several heart-pounding chase/battle scenes and drama with Jael and his crew. The conflicts come one after another, and the combat scenes are infused with martial arts, making them very cinematic and leaving readers breathless afterwards. There are a series of battles called Krav’llayia, where the only way to win is to survive—these give off major Hunger Games vibes and are highly entertaining!
Jael is a formidable protagonist, seemingly more mature and self-aware than in book 1, and much more comfortable with commanding a crew. Jael is also a hunted man in this story, forced into a brutal contest that pits the four ruling syndicates against each other for control of the moon. His journey of self-growth and his evolution into a powerful galactic hero are the foundation of the book, and readers of the first book will appreciate the continued evolution of Jael’s emotional arc. Jael’s forever faithful companion, Goni, an android/monkey hybrid, continues to offer incredible solutions in their quest.
Jael’s interactions with his crew members add moments of humor and drama to the otherwise tense storyline. The emotional stakes become quite high during a few battle scenes as Jael is forced to make quick decisions and deal with betrayal, making the story even more captivating! The mysterious woman who stalks Jael and his crew, wielding a similar powerful artifact, adds another layer of mystery to the story and eventually complicates alliances and causes upheaval—readers will be hooked by this subplot, and its unfolding is quite unpredictable!
Jael’s unique supernatural powers also continue to evolve and impress in this book—an armor of black crystalline scales erupting from Jael’s skin is a thrilling twist during violent combat. When the plot is not offering non-stop action, Jael is often depicted in deep, introspective inner monologues, reflecting on his past experiences, assessing his obstacles, or contemplating his next moves. Readers really get a deep glimpse into his inner workings and can clearly see how much he’s learned and is evolving!
In summary, Syndicate Moon is a bold, high-stakes space opera that offers a big punch of entertainment—high-stakes battles, martial arts, mystical sci-fi powers, and compelling characters! In comparison to the first book, this book leans more heavily on action and sets up opportunities for more character development in future books. It’s a must-read for fans of space operas, political intrigue, galactic hero stories, and race-against-time narratives!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of Syndicate Moon is a thrilling listen performed by talented narrator Shamaan Casey. Casey also narrated the first book, so it’s highly recommended to listen to both books in the series back-to-back for an incredibly entertaining and immersive experience!
Casey uses his rich, velvety smooth voice and a commanding tone to narrate the story and brings protagonist Jael’s introspection, strength, and incredible wit vividly to life. His crystal-clear voice and excellent pacing are perfect for this very intricate story, and readers will become easily acquainted with all the characters and follow the many conflicts without any confusion. It’s still recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate all the nuances that Casey injects into the dialogue and combat scenes. Just like in the first book, Casey provides a distinct-sounding voice and unique persona for each character—and this isn’t an easy feat, as there are plenty—and he matches the voices from book 1 for perfect continuity!
Casey increases his pacing and uses a wider and more intense vocal range during the many high-stakes battle scenes, especially highlighting the martial arts sequences—it all feels very cinematic while listening, and listeners will be able to easily picture this book as a film adaptation!
Just like the first book, this audiobook has a high production quality, with crystal-clear sound and seamless transitions between chapters. Overall, Scott Killian’s descriptive storytelling and Shamaan Casey’s polished and immersive performance create a thrilling and unstoppable audiobook. If you enjoy action-packed thrillers, race-against-time stories, space operas, and compelling characters, then add this audiobook to your reading list!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of Syndicate Moon is a thrilling listen performed by talented narrator Shamaan Casey. Casey also narrated the first book, so it’s highly recommended to listen to both books in the series back-to-back for an incredibly entertaining and immersive experience!
Casey uses his rich, velvety smooth voice and a commanding tone to narrate the story and brings protagonist Jael’s introspection, strength, and incredible wit vividly to life. His crystal-clear voice and excellent pacing are perfect for this very intricate story, and readers will become easily acquainted with all the characters and follow the many conflicts without any confusion. It’s still recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate all the nuances that Casey injects into the dialogue and combat scenes. Just like in the first book, Casey provides a distinct-sounding voice and unique persona for each character—and this isn’t an easy feat, as there are plenty—and he matches the voices from book 1 for perfect continuity!
Casey increases his pacing and uses a wider and more intense vocal range during the many high-stakes battle scenes, especially highlighting the martial arts sequences—it all feels very cinematic while listening, and listeners will be able to easily picture this book as a film adaptation!
Just like the first book, this audiobook has a high production quality, with crystal-clear sound and seamless transitions between chapters. Overall, Scott Killian’s descriptive storytelling and Shamaan Casey’s polished and immersive performance create a thrilling and unstoppable audiobook. If you enjoy action-packed thrillers, race-against-time stories, space operas, and compelling characters, then add this audiobook to your reading list!
The audiobook of Syndicate Moon is a thrilling listen performed by talented narrator Shamaan Casey. Casey also narrated the first book, so it’s highly recommended to listen to both books in the series back-to-back for an incredibly entertaining and immersive experience!
Casey uses his rich, velvety smooth voice and a commanding tone to narrate the story and brings protagonist Jael’s introspection, strength, and incredible wit vividly to life. His crystal-clear voice and excellent pacing are perfect for this very intricate story, and readers will become easily acquainted with all the characters and follow the many conflicts without any confusion. It’s still recommended to listen at a slower speed to appreciate all the nuances that Casey injects into the dialogue and combat scenes. Just like in the first book, Casey provides a distinct-sounding voice and unique persona for each character—and this isn’t an easy feat, as there are plenty—and he matches the voices from book 1 for perfect continuity!
Casey increases his pacing and uses a wider and more intense vocal range during the many high-stakes battle scenes, especially highlighting the martial arts sequences—it all feels very cinematic while listening, and listeners will be able to easily picture this book as a film adaptation!
Just like the first book, this audiobook has a high production quality, with crystal-clear sound and seamless transitions between chapters. Overall, Scott Killian’s descriptive storytelling and Shamaan Casey’s polished and immersive performance create a thrilling and unstoppable audiobook. If you enjoy action-packed thrillers, race-against-time stories, space operas, and compelling characters, then add this audiobook to your reading list!
