The Maiden #1: Out of Ashes - Karen Koehler Book Review

Enter a review
of your own!

Other books by
author Karen Koehler

"The Maiden #1: Out of Ashes"
Message Board

Click here for free online dating advice!

Review Summary

Black Death, Jul 2003, 16.00, 246 pp.
ISBN: 0967922038

For centuries two factions fought for supremacy in their homeland. The result is that their orb is in the final stages of death from the devastating holocaust. However, the civil war continues unabated with the fighting continuing off planet to remote rocks like earth where the indigent populace remains ignorant that aliens live amongst them with one side planning to conquer the backwater planet.

In Chicago, the cruel leader Talos poses as highly regarded human Police Commissioner Tate Taloni. He uses alien technology to direct the activities of his earthly minions. His niece Janna almost died in a confrontation with Uncle Talos. Only her loving mechanical scientist husband Ty saved her life, but at a cost of converting her into a cybernetic fighting automaton. Janna may be more machine than human, but she has two strong motivators. She remembers the love she share with her spouse and also seeks retribution for herself and all those who died and suffered atrocities by destroying her uncle and his evil underlings. Janna, Ty and two earth recruits unite in an effort to prevent Talos from achieving his latest objective, enslaving the human race.

OUT OF ASHES is the powerful debut of a new series that with the high quality level of this novel will be great due to a fully developed cast and an action-packed story line. The fascinating heroine is an alien Robocop with less of the programmed safeguard restrictions and a deeper mourning, along with Ty, on what they have lost. The evil villain feels like Darth Vader from the original Star Wars.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Maiden #1: Out of Ashes

Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
New movie search (click here) New book search (click here)

Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Lifeform altered? Yes
Kind of alteration: - turned into/from a robot/computer
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female Alien
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - bulging muscles

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male Alien
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

Most similar books to The Maiden #1: Out of Ashes
Sunrise Alley by Catherine Asaro
Omnifix by Scott Mackey
Beyond Those Distant Stars by John B. Rosenman
Harvest of Stars by Poul Anderson
Proteus Rising by Peter Dingus

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

Try our new Star Wars & Star Trek puzzle pictures! Click here

Advertise with us
Feedback
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith plot spoilers
Hobbits
The politics game
The lawyer game

3 Book search options!
1) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
2) Detailed book search
(click here) or

3) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion

Games:
Trivia Masters!

Rescue your favorite
scifi characters from
slavery!

Talk to your favorite
scifi characters!

Eating New Yorkers
Computer Game

Pomeranians

Most recent TV & Movie discussions:

Charmed: What's wrong with Rose McGowan's chin? 7/5/2008 11:53:33 AM

Charmed: Is Piper really a Halliwell? 7/5/2008 11:48:59 AM

Doctor Who: Who was the best Doctor? 7/5/2008 4:23:13 AM

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 7/5/2008 2:40:59 AM

Doctor Who: Who was the best companion? 6/30/2008 7:37:52 AM

A Boy and His Dog: A Boy and His Dog 6/30/2008 12:55:48 AM

Lost in Space (TV): What kind of a name is Guy for a guy? 6/26/2008 10:21:30 AM

Lost in Space (TV): Wasn't it obvious that Major West was never going to get any? 6/26/2008 10:17:45 AM

Alien Series: Was Vasquez a lesbian? 6/26/2008 6:57:27 AM

Battlestar Galactica: Do Vipers fly past the speed of light? 6/26/2008 1:27:52 AM

Newest slaves:
Kirsten Dunce (Dunst) 1:03:47 AM
Christina Aguilera 1:03:30 AM
Eva Longoria 1:02:12 AM
Luke Skywalker 1:01:36 AM
Colonel Samantha Carter clone 12:58:26 AM
Monica Lewinsky 12:56:52 AM
Hillary Rodham Clinton 12:56:12 AM
Mariah Carey 12:53:49 AM
Gywneth Paltrow Nichean 12:51:27 AM
Stargate Atlantis Boob Shrink 12:48:45 AM
All slaves
(click here)

Celebrity interviews:
President George W. Bush 6:32:00 PM
Jan-Michael Vincent 2:16:51 PM
Captain Kathryn Janeway 3:47:46 PM
Jack ONeill (Richard Dean Anderson) 1:39:22 PM
Jennifer Aniston (Friends) 5:01:07 PM
All celebrities
(click here)