Book: Empire from the Ashes Book 2 – Armageddon Inheritance

After starting this trilogy in 2022, I finally finished the second book this summer and made a considerable dent into the third book. However, the second book is going to be hard to beat. This was incredible. There was a lot going on in this book. Weber takes on the international implications head on and forces at very divided world into something it was not prepared for. Of course, the entire perspective is from the military leaders and the unrest this all causes is told in exposition from military reports but still, you do get a sense of real turmoil throughout the world.

Before I get too far ahead of myself, you may be want to read my previous review of Book 1. It covers a lot of the initial discovery of the Imperials on Earth as well as the battleship planetoid (Moon) Dahak. This picks up after the battle with the mutineers and shows an Earth that is preparing for an invasion by the Imperium’s enemies – the Achuultani – an alien cross between bugs and mammals that is really hard to picture. Meanwhile, the protagonist takes Dahak (the Moon) across the galaxy to find the remnants of the Imperium (leaving an artificial gravity well in the Moon’s place).

This book has everything. On Earth, there is international intrigue, war tactics, and great characters. On Dahak, there is exploration, mystery, and revelation. It all comes together when they meet up with the Achuultani and have a massive battle. It ends with a great struggle to survive, discovery and victory! And of course, inheritance in the title is the Imperium itself. Artificial Intelligence plays a big part of the story, and because of the relevance of today, it shows a unique approach to the good and bad side of AI and it’s effects on cultures.

I highly recommend this series if you not only like military sci-fi but also Star Trek type sci-fi as well as some Niven influences. My favorite part is the revelation of who and what the Achuulanti are. They made the whole slow-burn of the beginning worth it.