Review from Mysti Parker of “Onet’s Tale” by Jack Eason
Imagine slaving in a mine on a distant planet, where each swing of your pick throws poisonous dust into the air that will kill you in a few months’ time from breathing it. This is where “Onet’s Tale” opens, but it doesn’t stay there long.
The once enemies band together to escape the mine and start a rebellion that eventually leads to a war that spans the years and galaxies.
The story itself is narrated by Onet, who happens to be a Khaz. Think little gray alien guy that might land in Area 51.
Except Onet is albino and has red eyes. He’s watching all this unfold, waiting for his chance to stop the evil that his kind started, which spread through a goddess-type being called Shu and continued through her horrible creations of berserker warriors.
Murder, war, and mayhem reign throughout this book, while the main characters try very hard to live normal lives. Their efforts are always ripped out from under them, and I sympathized with the tortuous events they lived through. On the other hand, I kept wishing for more character depth. I’m partial to character-driven novels, and this one seems mostly plot-driven. For me, I would have liked to have been inside the characters’ heads more, really feeling what they feel.
If you like sci-fi packed with battles, futuristic weapons, and modes of transport, you’ll love “Onet’s Tale.”