To Fire Called (A Seeker's Tale From The Golden Age Of The Solar Clipper Book 2)

While this one was slower about half way through, it still kept my attention. As a fellow author on Kindle, Nathan Lowell is one who I study to get better with my writing. I buy all of his books as soon as they are released.

Ishmael is back in another excellent adventure of an ordinary person living in the deep darkness of space. Ishmael, his friends, and crew meet the challenges of working in a different social and business environment than Ishmael is use to and succeeding. This story is well told and a joy to read.

I greatly enjoyed this latest installment, but be warned! Somethings are changing. In my opinion, this story is NOT a waste of time, nor is it as described by the current top review "too much skulduggery."

I did re-read it within a couple of days of the first read. Yes, Pip isn't quite the same Pip, but maybe we didn't know the old Pip as well as we thought?! The book before this one, "In Ashes Born," seemed very much like the early years of Pip and Ish. But maybe too much lightness blinded us to the darkness lurking there. And there is darkness, and this latest installment has them getting closer. Is it surprising that the characters may not have fully revealed their doubts and secrets? This installment reveals some of those.

It was easy to get caught up in the fun of the last installment, and overlook why Ish was back at the Academy. I found myself having so much fun with his adventures getting reacquainted with former ship mates that I found myself forgetting the horror he had just lived through.

This book brings you more in contact with the aftermath of book six, "Owner's Share." Pip isn't all fun and games, and neither is Ish. More layers and depth are added to the characters. I will admit that after the first read of this book, I wondered if the characters were being "reimagined." But after the second reading, I now think we are seeing more depth, more "reality" of the situations that are unfolding.

Lastly, regarding the issue of strong women leading Ish around, I disagree a bit with some of the reviews. It is the job of the first mate to help the captain see his/her weaknesses and address those. The first mate here is a woman, so we have a strong woman helping Ish remove his head from his backside! And his engineer is a woman, but one with secrets of her own and a history that we don't fully know. If she helps Ish figure somethings out or helps him see something, to me, that doesn't make a strong woman leading Ish around. That is another character revealing themselves to our hero.

My two cents: read it, let it sit for a bit, and read it again if you think something is off. I did that and found the characters more satisfying than when I first read it. And I first read it expecting more of the early Ish & Pip relationship, so I felt off kilter as they related to one another in the context of the current drama/story.

I liked this book much more after thinking about things that have happened to the characters. I think if that perspective is kept in mind, we can "get it" better than if we expect a story like "Quarter Share" or the early days of the Ish and Pip show!

I've read everything by Mr. Lowell and thoroughly enjoyed everyone of his books. Recommended them to my older sister (74 y/o) she loved them too. Can't wait for more. Excellent reading, clean story no foul language or sordid scenes.
About everyday people we can all relate to. No negatives.

I'm really glad I stumbled across Nathan Lowell a few years ago. I've followed Ishmael since the beginning and find his story almost a visceral experience. I'd heartily recommend the whole series, but do start at the beginning as you'll loose something picking them up part way through.

This is a continuation of the Solar Clipper tales. The character development and interaction is great. Nathan Lowell is able to grab your attention and keep it through the entire series. Always leaves me anxious for the next book!! Highly recommended!

This entry of the Ishmael Wang journey lends more depth to the characters we know, adds more new ones and even revisits a few from earlier books. It grounds itself in prior stories but we get to see Ishmael's perceptions evolve as we follow him into a wider understanding of the Deep Dark. It's a fine entry into the Golden Age stories and well worth reading.

While the earlier books were wonderful with great characters and fun world building, this has a richer and more complex story while maintaining everything that I loved about the earlier books. The end was a tad abrupt. I think it could have used one more chapter before the epilogue. But overall a real winner.

As soon as I realized that Lowell's latest installment of the Solar Clippers saga was available for purchase I leaped at it with all the grace of a poppa bass hitting a spoon! Terrific storyline, terrific characters, terrific writing skills.

True, the ending is abrupt and a little frustrating. However, thinking about it, I realized the author left the door to his creativity wide open. Consider that this could inspire the writer to produce the third volume. Opening with coverage of the period of action missing from the ending of this volume.

I realize there will be criticisms of how the writer chose to end this book with a cliffhanger. I urge you to be patient and give the author the benefit of the doubt. Let me just say from bitter experience. How difficult it is to write a strong ending to any story. Extreme frustration and extremely self-flagellation of what promised to the apex of artistic expression and just fumbled into a razzedberry dud.

Lowell's style is slow paced without being boring. Details matter and he has the ability to make you pay attention to the details without belabouring the point. Have read the series several times over and it is still a go to for long shifts, flights and relaxing at home.

Awesome story by and amazing author. Nathan Lowell has matured into a wonderful author. I have followed everything he has written since Quarter Share, and look forward with anticipation to each new book.

Nathan Lowell's latest is a good middle book. Ish gets out of his head and back into life. Some problems resolved, and loose ends are addressed. Clearly Pip's family plays a major role, though it was resolved that Pip is only a "Wannabe TIC agent".
He talks too much, and must madden the real agents in the crew.
I would not be surprised if most of the crew are with Naval Intelligence, the TIC or similar agencies. Al seems to be there to watch the Captain's back and psyche. She is a great #1, with no desire to be a Captain.
It's also clear that she could have more with the Captain, when he is healed.
Christine Maloney is also in the running. She has become a Spacer, and that could make it work.
Ishmael deserves happiness, though when he finds it the story could be over.

Another great book from Mr. Lowell. It was easy to read as all great stories are. I have read all the Ishmael Wang stories and I loved them all. I can't wait for the next book - hope there will be another one soon.