Unbreakable (Chronicles of Promise Paen, 1) - Softcover

"Unbreakable" runs the gamut from close-quarters combat, to titanic space battles, to interstellar foreign policy as Promise and her marines are pinned down far from home, defending the planet Montana. What sets it apart is hinted at in the title: Paen and her soldiers are subjected to a rigorous and unrelenting campaign that tests their skills and resolve. Bauers demonstrates the real impact that war has on soldiers as their numbers dwindle over the course of the a never-ending battle.--Andrew Liptak "B&N blog " "Unbreakable" is an exuberant read in the mold of David Weber's Honor Harrington series, with strong female characters and a welcome absence of overt romance. Promise is a believable, comfortable character who feels the death of every one of 'her marines' while leading the survivors in an against-the-odds battle with a significantly better-provisioned army. The military details seem authentic, but don't threaten to overwhelm or sidetrack this well-told story. W.C. Bauers's impressive debut will appeal to fans of hard and military science-fiction alike.--Rob LeFebvre "Shelf Awareness " "Unbreakable runs the gamut from close-quarters combat, to titanic space battles, to interstellar foreign policy as Promise and her marines are pinned down far from home, defending the planet Montana. What sets it apart is hinted at in the title: Paen and her soldiers are subjected to a rigorous and unrelenting campaign that tests their skills and resolve. Bauers demonstrates the real impact that war has on soldiers as their numbers dwindle over the course of the a never-ending battle." --Andrew Liptak, B&N blog "Unbreakable is a wonderful debut, with engaging characters (the dialog between Promise and her dead mother is a hoot), thrilling military action on land and in space, and a credible universe with good and not so good folk on both sides of humanity at war. I very much look forward to more of Promise Paen and her Marines." --BookLoons.com "Unbreakable is an exuberant read in the mold of David Weber's Honor Harrington series, with strong female characters and a welcome absence of overt romance. Promise is a believable, comfortable character who feels the death of every one of 'her marines' while leading the survivors in an against-the-odds battle with a significantly better-provisioned army. The military details seem authentic, but don't threaten to overwhelm or sidetrack this well-told story. W.C. Bauers's impressive debut will appeal to fans of hard and military science-fiction alike." --Rob LeFebvre, Shelf Awareness "Bauers' debut is an impressive achievement, set in an enormous, complex universe that combines large-scale action with the emotional journey of one truly unique heroine." --RT Book Reviews "This is a solid, well-crafted military SF." --Booklist "Military science fiction with a kick-butt female lead ..." --Kirkus Reviews "The action scenes are plentiful; however, while Bauer sketches in the outline of the politics shaping Montana's history, a strong picture of why the various forces are fighting for control of the planet is never really conveyed." --Library Journal "Fascinating characters, sprawling space politics and rivalries, cracking battles and awesome tech ...." --Smash Dragons "[Promise Paen] is a wonderful character for readers with a taste for the emotionality of honour, respect and duty." --The Nameless Zine "Unbreakable" runs the gamut from close-quarters combat, to titanic space battles, to interstellar foreign policy as Promise and her marines are pinned down far from home, defending the planet Montana. What sets it apart is hinted at in the title: Paen and her soldiers are subjected to a rigorous and unrelenting campaign that tests their skills and resolve. Bauers demonstrates the real impact that war has on soldiers as their numbers dwindle over the course of the a never-ending battle. Andrew Liptak, "B&N blog" "Unbreakable" is a wonderful debut, with engaging characters (the dialog between Promise and her dead mother is a hoot), thrilling military action on land and in space, and a credible universe with good and not so good folk on both sides of humanity at war. I very much look forward to more of Promise Paen and her Marines. "BookLoons.com" "Unbreakable" is an exuberant read in the mold of David Weber's Honor Harrington series, with strong female characters and a welcome absence of overt romance. Promise is a believable, comfortable character who feels the death of every one of 'her marines' while leading the survivors in an against-the-odds battle with a significantly better-provisioned army. The military details seem authentic, but don't threaten to overwhelm or sidetrack this well-told story. W.C. Bauers's impressive debut will appeal to fans of hard and military science-fiction alike. Rob LeFebvre, "Shelf Awareness" Bauers' debut is an impressive achievement, set in an enormous, complex universe that combines large-scale action with the emotional journey of one truly unique heroine. "RT Book Reviews" This is a solid, well-crafted military SF. "Booklist" Military science fiction with a kick-butt female lead ... "Kirkus Reviews" The action scenes are plentiful; however, while Bauer sketches in the outline of the politics shaping Montana's history, a strong picture of why the various forces are fighting for control of the planet is never really conveyed. "Library Journal" Fascinating characters, sprawling space politics and rivalries, cracking battles and awesome tech .... "Smash Dragons" [Promise Paen] is a wonderful character for readers with a taste for the emotionality of honour, respect and duty. "The Nameless Zine""

Situated in the buffer zone between two rival human empires, the planet Montana is a backwater: remote, provincial, independently minded. Even as a provisional member of the Republic of Aligned Worlds, Montana merits little consideration until it becomes the flashpoint in an impending interstellar war. When pirate raids threaten to destabilise the region, the RAW deploys its mechanised armoured infantry to deal with the situation. Leading the assault is Marine Corps Lieutenant and Montanan expatriate Promise Paen of Victor Company. Years earlier, Promise was driven to join the Marines after her father was killed by such a raid, and Promise is in no way happy to be back on her birth world. Making matters even worse, Promise is persistently haunted by the voice of her dead mother. Meanwhile, the RAW's most bitter rival, the Lusitanian Empire, has been watching events unfold in the Montana system with interest. Their forces have been awaiting the right moment to gain a beachhead in Republic territory, and with Promise's Marines decimated, they believe the time to strike is now.