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Vale #1
Ark of Souls
In the 24th century, the human race has colonised the galaxy. Economic and political fragmentation has allowed intersolar corporations to grow so powerful they are no longer subject to the rule of law.
The Cygnus Vale. A remote, unpopulated region of space bordering the Human Frontier and the Verani Dominion.
The Verani believe the Vale is where all life began and where all life will end.
On the Outer Frontier the FSS Berlin, an ageing Federal Navy Cruiser disrupts a pirate attack on a corporate freighter.
Mira Thorn, an emotionally damaged veteran of the Martian War of Independence is despatched to investigate the heavily damaged vessel.
The broken ship becomes Mira and her companion’s only hope of survival as events spiral out of their control.
As they begin their desperate voyage for salvation a discovery in the hold launches them
on a journey spanning lightyears and millennia.
A journey that unlocks the secret of the Vale. A journey that forces Mira to confront her past, her future
and her own mortality.
The Cygnus Vale. A remote, unpopulated region of space bordering the Human Frontier and the Verani Dominion.
The Verani believe the Vale is where all life began and where all life will end.
On the Outer Frontier the FSS Berlin, an ageing Federal Navy Cruiser disrupts a pirate attack on a corporate freighter.
Mira Thorn, an emotionally damaged veteran of the Martian War of Independence is despatched to investigate the heavily damaged vessel.
The broken ship becomes Mira and her companion’s only hope of survival as events spiral out of their control.
As they begin their desperate voyage for salvation a discovery in the hold launches them
on a journey spanning lightyears and millennia.
A journey that unlocks the secret of the Vale. A journey that forces Mira to confront her past, her future
and her own mortality.
- GenresScience Fiction
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2017
About the author
Paul Grover
5 books6 followersBorn at the tail end of Apollo and growing up on a diet of Star Wars and Star Trek, Paul Grover became obsessed with all things space at an early age.
Realising he was not cut out for the rigours of astronaut training, he decided that if he couldn’t boldly go to space, he’d write about it instead. The process of creating and exploring strange new worlds on paper soon became an obsession.
After numerous false starts, too many energy drinks and far too little sleep, his first book Ark of Souls was published in 2017. The Vale series now spans several volumes.
While he proudly describes himself as a nerd, Paul has made it his mission to make sci-fi accessible to readers of all backgrounds. He populates his galaxy with relatable misfits. For some, saving the universe is the least of their problems.
Paul lives on the Kent coast and spends his nights either writing about space or photographing it
Realising he was not cut out for the rigours of astronaut training, he decided that if he couldn’t boldly go to space, he’d write about it instead. The process of creating and exploring strange new worlds on paper soon became an obsession.
After numerous false starts, too many energy drinks and far too little sleep, his first book Ark of Souls was published in 2017. The Vale series now spans several volumes.
While he proudly describes himself as a nerd, Paul has made it his mission to make sci-fi accessible to readers of all backgrounds. He populates his galaxy with relatable misfits. For some, saving the universe is the least of their problems.
Paul lives on the Kent coast and spends his nights either writing about space or photographing it
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 29, 2017
How can I love this book so much when I don’t like Sci Fi?
I fell in love with the main female character - Mira Thorn. She's my kind of woman, strong yet deeply flawed, lesbian and is driven by an unwavering moral compass.
In addition to Mira, although she was enough to make the book work for me, there is a mix of mysticism with the futurism in Ark of Souls, which I find compelling. The magic is science based, but it stills feels like magic. Maybe that's why I love it. That and the lack of jargon in the language Grover uses.
I think the story could have been told from Mira Thorn's point of view throughout without losing anything of value. While Ark of Souls has a number of diverse and interesting characters who narrate the various chapters and subchapters I am so "Team Thorn" that I barely remember the other heroes and villains.
All in all a brilliant read even for people who don’t like Sci Fi.
I fell in love with the main female character - Mira Thorn. She's my kind of woman, strong yet deeply flawed, lesbian and is driven by an unwavering moral compass.
In addition to Mira, although she was enough to make the book work for me, there is a mix of mysticism with the futurism in Ark of Souls, which I find compelling. The magic is science based, but it stills feels like magic. Maybe that's why I love it. That and the lack of jargon in the language Grover uses.
I think the story could have been told from Mira Thorn's point of view throughout without losing anything of value. While Ark of Souls has a number of diverse and interesting characters who narrate the various chapters and subchapters I am so "Team Thorn" that I barely remember the other heroes and villains.
All in all a brilliant read even for people who don’t like Sci Fi.
March 13, 2024
Ark Of Souls : Vale series #1
By Paul Grover .
My review
In the 24th century humanity has colonised the galaxy. Economic and political fragmentation has allowed inter-solar corporations to grow so powerful they are no longer subject to the rule of law.
Ark Of Souls is book one of the Vale series and I have to say from the start this was an amazing read.
In the far reaches of space the FSS Berlin comes across a corporate freighter under attack by pirates after stopping the pirates Commander Mira Thorn is sent to investigate the heavily damaged ship. This starts a chain of events that will not only see Mira's life changed but possibly the universe's as well. As events spiral out of control, Mira will be forced to confront not only her actions, but her past also.
This is sci-fi in the vain of Babylon 5, or Space Above And Beyond, it has an organic feeling to it, a certain mysticism grounded in science, but still it asks questions of life, the soul and what comes next. The science bit is intelligent and clever but never so overly complicated you become lost in description. The action is breakneck, bone crunching and well realised both planet side and in space, the space battles in particular had a real old school navel feel to them and at times I found myself holding my breath. But for me what sold the book was the characters, this is a multiple pov book with Mira's view driving the narrative and whilst all the characters were really well fleshed out and very interesting (especially Tish and Xander) I am definitely 'Team Thorn' all the way.
Mira is wonderfully written, to say complexed is an understatement, having survived a crash that should have killed her, leaving her with life changing injuries, she defies the odds and takes to the skies again. She suffers mental health issues and is impulsive, stubborn , quick to anger, uses profanity and will easily get into fights and has a past filled with several high profile incidents. That all being said, she is loyal to a fault, brave, kind and caring and quite possibly one of the best pilots out there, all in all she is human and all that encompasses. This book does come with some trigger warnings amoung them are drug use, self harm and sexual assault ( implied ) but for all the dark overtures, this is a galaxy spanning book of hope and the determination to keep going no matter the odds. Easily a five star read.
By Paul Grover .
My review
In the 24th century humanity has colonised the galaxy. Economic and political fragmentation has allowed inter-solar corporations to grow so powerful they are no longer subject to the rule of law.
Ark Of Souls is book one of the Vale series and I have to say from the start this was an amazing read.
In the far reaches of space the FSS Berlin comes across a corporate freighter under attack by pirates after stopping the pirates Commander Mira Thorn is sent to investigate the heavily damaged ship. This starts a chain of events that will not only see Mira's life changed but possibly the universe's as well. As events spiral out of control, Mira will be forced to confront not only her actions, but her past also.
This is sci-fi in the vain of Babylon 5, or Space Above And Beyond, it has an organic feeling to it, a certain mysticism grounded in science, but still it asks questions of life, the soul and what comes next. The science bit is intelligent and clever but never so overly complicated you become lost in description. The action is breakneck, bone crunching and well realised both planet side and in space, the space battles in particular had a real old school navel feel to them and at times I found myself holding my breath. But for me what sold the book was the characters, this is a multiple pov book with Mira's view driving the narrative and whilst all the characters were really well fleshed out and very interesting (especially Tish and Xander) I am definitely 'Team Thorn' all the way.
Mira is wonderfully written, to say complexed is an understatement, having survived a crash that should have killed her, leaving her with life changing injuries, she defies the odds and takes to the skies again. She suffers mental health issues and is impulsive, stubborn , quick to anger, uses profanity and will easily get into fights and has a past filled with several high profile incidents. That all being said, she is loyal to a fault, brave, kind and caring and quite possibly one of the best pilots out there, all in all she is human and all that encompasses. This book does come with some trigger warnings amoung them are drug use, self harm and sexual assault ( implied ) but for all the dark overtures, this is a galaxy spanning book of hope and the determination to keep going no matter the odds. Easily a five star read.
December 14, 2017
Ark of Souls is what happens when you take one war torn heroine, a crew mismatched personalities, a vessel filled with an 'exstinct' alien species and throw them in outer space...need we say more??
I'll be honest; after the first attempt to read this book I became very apprehensive. There is just SO MUCH there in the first couple of pages. I had to set Ark of Souls down for a couple of weeks before trying again, and again, and one last time. I had to change the way I was reading it from a novel to a video game (Mass Effect). Once I approached it that way I was hooked!
I love the way Mira (our heroine) is portrayed. Very flawed, very human. I can picture every aspect of her and the author doesn't miss a detail in her story.
I also really enjoyed how everything flowed. From villains, to the introduction of a new member of the Ark's "team". The action never stopping, even the technical explanation of ship parts fit in with scene being played out.
It's a great space opera! I'll definitely be checking out other items by Mr.Grover!
I'll be honest; after the first attempt to read this book I became very apprehensive. There is just SO MUCH there in the first couple of pages. I had to set Ark of Souls down for a couple of weeks before trying again, and again, and one last time. I had to change the way I was reading it from a novel to a video game (Mass Effect). Once I approached it that way I was hooked!
I love the way Mira (our heroine) is portrayed. Very flawed, very human. I can picture every aspect of her and the author doesn't miss a detail in her story.
I also really enjoyed how everything flowed. From villains, to the introduction of a new member of the Ark's "team". The action never stopping, even the technical explanation of ship parts fit in with scene being played out.
It's a great space opera! I'll definitely be checking out other items by Mr.Grover!
May 27, 2018
Strong characters and great introduction to a new series!
An easy read for anyone that loves sci fi, strong female leading characters, and Space Pirates! Can't wait for the next chapter!
An easy read for anyone that loves sci fi, strong female leading characters, and Space Pirates! Can't wait for the next chapter!
May 20, 2024
This is a brilliant start to the Vale series. Both the books and author are new to me but I'll definitely be reading the rest of them. There is an audiobook version for book 1, which was very good as the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life.
The worldbuilding is top notch. Subtle but vivid storytelling is used to immerse the reader in different situations, groups of humans, various planets and tantalisingly, two alien races. Fans of Becky Chambers' Wayfarer series will find similarities and enjoy the scope of the narrative here.
There are storylines running parallel from the beginning of the book, to flesh out the universe, and these slowly draw closer as the book progresses. There are eventual overlaps and an occassional surprise to link key characters in a way that highlights exceptional planning (or freakishly good pantsing) by the author. He does a superb job of keeping characters, motives and action flowing and yet simple for the reader to follow. It can be easy to become lost or overwhelmed by convoluted plots but the author keeps everything, and everyone, firmly coralled.
This is a diverse cast, which I appreciated. No token rep here. There are sapphic characters, neurodivergent ones, POC and some disability and aged characters. They were all prominent in the storyline and mentions of their differences were casual and always accepted by others.
The pacing was perfect! The use of repurposed language felt believable and appropriate. Again, it shows an author who knows exactly how to bring readers along with him and ensure they stay connected.
This author deserves much greater recognition for his work as everything about it is high-quality and extremely enjoyable. A definite 5 stars from me.
The worldbuilding is top notch. Subtle but vivid storytelling is used to immerse the reader in different situations, groups of humans, various planets and tantalisingly, two alien races. Fans of Becky Chambers' Wayfarer series will find similarities and enjoy the scope of the narrative here.
There are storylines running parallel from the beginning of the book, to flesh out the universe, and these slowly draw closer as the book progresses. There are eventual overlaps and an occassional surprise to link key characters in a way that highlights exceptional planning (or freakishly good pantsing) by the author. He does a superb job of keeping characters, motives and action flowing and yet simple for the reader to follow. It can be easy to become lost or overwhelmed by convoluted plots but the author keeps everything, and everyone, firmly coralled.
This is a diverse cast, which I appreciated. No token rep here. There are sapphic characters, neurodivergent ones, POC and some disability and aged characters. They were all prominent in the storyline and mentions of their differences were casual and always accepted by others.
The pacing was perfect! The use of repurposed language felt believable and appropriate. Again, it shows an author who knows exactly how to bring readers along with him and ensure they stay connected.
This author deserves much greater recognition for his work as everything about it is high-quality and extremely enjoyable. A definite 5 stars from me.
April 15, 2024
This is an interesting sci-fi adventure story with good, intriguing world building and a lot of characters. The plot was very engaging and kept me turning those pages. I also liked the idea of the ark of souls. It's a great concept, and combines the sci-fi elements with some religious concepts, which made the whole idea so much more interesting.
I also appreciated the Star Wars style intergalactic politics. This novel gets into the grittier aspects of politics on this large scale, which made it a lot of fun. I also enjoyed having characters from both sides featuring as the story progressed. It was fun to see the situation from the very different points of view, and how they all strive to achieve their goals within the framework of the circumstances.
I like the fact this novel ends, and sets things up for a continuation without a cliffhanger. I'm definitely curious to keep reading. The set up for the next book has me intrigued.
I also appreciated the Star Wars style intergalactic politics. This novel gets into the grittier aspects of politics on this large scale, which made it a lot of fun. I also enjoyed having characters from both sides featuring as the story progressed. It was fun to see the situation from the very different points of view, and how they all strive to achieve their goals within the framework of the circumstances.
I like the fact this novel ends, and sets things up for a continuation without a cliffhanger. I'm definitely curious to keep reading. The set up for the next book has me intrigued.
October 29, 2019
Highly recommended, well worth a read..
I picked this book up based on its summary and have been heartily rewarded. A great story with likeable characters that promises great things to come. I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment.
I picked this book up based on its summary and have been heartily rewarded. A great story with likeable characters that promises great things to come. I’m very much looking forward to the next instalment.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews