The Down Deep

The Dust Knights, Book 1

By: Catherine Asaro

Narrated by: Morgan Hallett

DUST KNIGHTS: A NEW SERIES IN CATHERINE ASARO’S SKOLIAN EMPIRE

A CITY DIVIDED

For centuries The City of Cries—one of the most desired locales in the Skolian Imperialate—has existed by the thinnest of threads. On the dying world of Raylicon, the “haves” live in great luxury in Cries while the “havenots” scrape by, eking out a marginal existence in the notorious Undercity beneath the desert.

Major Bhaajan, formerly of the Pharaoh's Army, knows both worlds. Born into the Undercity, she nevertheless has made a name for herself in the Imperialate. And now, she has the chance to help her people.

HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION

For the first time, a member of the Royal class wants to extend an olive branch to the Undercity. Hoping to build bridges, Colonel Lavinda Majda recruits Bhaaj and her Dust Knights to act as guides and bodyguards on a mission of goodwill to those who live below the surface of their parched world.

THE DOWN DEEP

But the problems of the Undercity run deeper than anyone knows. To help find peace, the Dust Knights must reach the most hidden rungs in that mysterious underground world, a place known only as the Down Deep, where the scars from centuries of distrust are greatest. There they will face an unseen enemy that may destroy the lives of everyone they know—and threaten interstellar civilization.

©2024 Catherine Asaro (P)2024 Recorded Books

Thank you for continuing the story.

I am always looking for a continuation of this story line. I am glad you are adding to the ongoing saga of these people. If this is book one, then then I can look forward to more in the series? Thank you.

Story and narration were excellent

I love this spinoff of the Major Bhaajan series, but I wouldn’t recommend reading ‘The Down Deep’ until you’ve read the Major Bhaajan books. The characters, setting, and the audio narration in The Down Deep’ were great and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

A visit below Undercity

It’s a few years after Jigsaw Assassin and it takes a lot of persuasion to get approval from General Vaj Majda to let Colonel Lavinda Majda visit Undercity. Major Bhaajan has worked hard on her end to get a general agreement to let Lavinda visit without interference. Of course both Cartels, Vakaar and Kajada, have to go and make the visit just a little too exciting. This leads to making arrangements with Dr Karal Rajindian in response to the cartels. While in the clinic, word comes from the Down Deep Healer of an urgent need for medical help due to an outbreak. Colonel Lavinda believes it’s necessary for her to see what’s happening and they accompany Dr Rajindian. She gets a real eye opening due to the beauty and challenges of the Down Deep.
Most of these chapters also alternate with Angel’s challenges of her first day of work in Cries and meeting the Raylicon Track Coach. Her experiences inform Angel more about the challenges experienced by Bhaaj when she went out into the world with zero help.
Hallett does a pretty decent job of narration.

The bridge of 3 worlds.

This story picks up after The Jigsaw Assassin. Majda Queens find out some hard truth about " The Under City and The Down Deep."