Jon Del Arroz launched his science fiction series ‘The Saga of the Nano Templar’ with Justified. I have seen it described as “neo-pulp,” but I found it to be more of a conquest-themed story.
The synopsis explains,
“The Templars battle for more than just defending a galactic empire and protecting countless worlds - they fight for eternal souls.
Drin is among the best soldiers the Templars have in their force. But after years of fighting, he can no longer justify the costs of war. He abandons his post, an act that puts him on the run from his own people. Left for dead on a desert world, he wanders the sand dunes until he discovers a city full of the poor and downtrodden, enslaved under the oppressive thumb of a Sekaran sheikh and his dangerous battlemages.
The slaves ask Drin to lead them in a revolution. He has the power to free these destitute people from their Sekaran overlords, but he has committed to a non-violent path. He can save through the sword, but is violence ever the answer?”
Like his comic books, Jon Del Arroz always delivers what he promises. He vowed to give readers an alternative to the woke slop that plagues bookstores these days, and he does so with this sci-fi series.
The novel definitely carries heavy themes of faith and religion, but it never feels overloaded, since the main character is a true believer. It sticks to the story and puts its message in subtext instead of a lecture that you read in a lot of modern books. This made for an enjoyable story that is fun, but also has a lot of twists.
Drin is also a character you can root for. Yes, he is a hero, but he struggles with fear, weakness, and doubt, overcoming them in a variety of ways. This made him feel well-rounded and interesting.
I also liked Anais, the main female character. She is strong, fierce, and bold, but she is not a girlboss who suddenly becomes an action hero or worries she is “too powerful.” She has depth and grows as a character. She added a lot to the story, and I found myself cheering for her by the end.
If you are looking for a new sci-fi story that has laser swords, alien mages, and a rebellion, this is the one you want to pick up.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, movie, novel, or anime you would like me to review.