BattleFront: Chronicles of Rondure: Book II
Written by TC Marti
Regular visitors to this website may be familiar with the name TC Marti. BattleFront is the second book within his Chronicles of Rondure series and the eleventh entry in his broader Renegades Epic, and the ninth of his tales I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing (I haven’t read Liza Fury: The Discovery or Tarja Titan: Sophomore Year from the Terrian Chronicles). If you’re unfamiliar with Marti’s name, be sure to read my reviews of of the books from his—so far—five interconnected series: Elementals of Nordica (Wind Wielder, Wind Master, Wind Keeper and Wind Ruler), the aforementioned Terrian Chronicles (Tarja Titan), Sentrys of Terrene (The Rebellion Awakens), Cymraeg Tales (Spirit & Fire), and the series BattleFront belongs to, Chronicles of Rondure (Civil War). Those of you who recall these reviews may also recall that I’m a fan of these books. I’m pleased to report that I am also a fan of this latest entry.
Like the majority of the author’s works, BattleFront is an action packed adventure packed to the brim with set pieces, wonderfully choreographed action scenes, and a fast pace that runs towards the finish line without feeling like it’s rushing through the story to reach its conclusion. Though each series in the Renegades Epic has its own identity, readers can largely count on Marti to provide a story with plenty of action. By this point, he has not only gotten this approach down to a fine art; he has improved on his previous books.
Fast paced action isn’t the only area the author’s writing has seen improve over the course of the Renegades Epic. His prose has as well, with BattleFront being the most polished of the lot. As difficult as it is to pick my favourite books in the series, the quality of BattleFront’s prose has pushed it to the top for me. Not only is it more polished than the previous books, it feels more confidently written. Rather than reciting a sequence of events, the writing revels in the joy of the story, and invites the reader to revel in it, too. The book is told in the first person through the perspective of the book’s protagonist, Mina, whose voice acts as a wonderful guide to the story.
Similarly to the author’s other books, BattleFront is a relatively short read, at 233 pages in paperback (or an estimated 245 pages on Kindle). While some of the author’s previous books have felt a little too short at this length, it suits the second Chronicles of Rondure book perfectly. It continues Mina’s adventures from the previous novel, expanding upon her place as a Smoke Wielder, while also adding depth to the world and increasing the stakes. There’s a lot happening for its page count, and it’s a testament to the author’s judicious writing that the story doesn’t buckle under its own weight.
As readers familiar with the Renegades Epic have come to expect, BattleFront is suitable for readers of most ages. It may be filled with action and set against a backdrop of war, but it doesn’t dwell on these details or provide any explicit depictions of violence. Like a number of the author’s books, it’s a young adult story focused on the vantage point of young heroes. The book includes a few hallmarks of the genre, but primarily, the book offers a blend of science fiction and fantasy. Fans of soft science fiction will love its presentation, as will fantasy fans. While the novel is undoubtedly science fantasy, neither element feels as though it comes second to the other. Combined, they form a world where so much can happen—and does.
Young adult stories are only as successful as their protagonist, who should generally be a character that the reader can enjoy reading about and relate to, regardless of whether they are able to wield smoke or not. As she was in Civil War, Mina continues to be an engaging character who is easy to enjoy. The character brings a level of depth and baggage with her. BattleFront’s supporting characters also have layers to them, and each character is entertaining to follow. The characters’ dialogue suits them all well. The characters sound like people their age, and their conversations—of which there are many; BattleFront has a higher proportion of dialogue than average—flow nicely. Much like the prose, the dialogue is a step above the author’s previous works.
I’m a fan of supplementary material in books, and I always look forward to reading the author’s notes at the end of the book. As usual, Marti’s notes provide some wonderful insight into the formation of the book and the Renegades Epic as a whole. Of particular note, he details his dabbling with artificial intelligence, by way of ChatGPT and SudoWrite. While he didn’t use many of the results in the book’s plotting, he discusses how it assisted with generating ideas and working through writer’s block, then elaborates on why he doesn’t believe the technology will replace authors.
As the second book in the Chronicles of Rondure series and the eleventh book in the Renegades Epic, BattleFront does not stand entirely alone, nor should it. The epic is an interconnected universe, where the series bleed into each other, and each new book expands upon it further. While readers don’t need to read the entire epic, at the least, I would suggest you read Civil War first. While the previous books have background information that will add perspective to BattleFront’s story, the novel feels like a complete story, rather than just another chapter within a saga.
BattleFront is the crowning achievement (so far—there are still plenty more stories to come) of the Renegades Epic. The writing is a step up from the author’s previous books, and the story is a fun action packed romp in a science fantasy setting that’s suitable for most readers. I’m looking forward to seeing where the Renegades Epic goes next, and I may have a couple more books to discuss in the coming months.
Favourite Passage
“Watch out!” Zani cries, her keen eyes spotting a dangerous ice drake lurking nearby. Its scales shimmer like frozen daggers, eyes cold and predatory as it sets its gaze on us.
I somersault under the icy breath it unleashes that will freeze anything it touches. “Amiya, distract it!”
From behind a narrow tree, Amiya directs her sword toward the ice drake’s left and unleashes a ball of spirit energy that draws the creature’s attention
BattleFront: Chronicles of Rondure: Book II, Chapter Eleven: “Kore and Archer”
BattleFront: Chronicles of Rondure: Book II was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
BattleFront is available in paperback and on Kindle, exclusive to Amazon.
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BattleFront (Chronicles of Rondure Book 2)
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