The Fires of Coventry

Federation War, Book 2

By: Rick Shelley

Narrated by: Tim Pabon

Coventry: One of the founding worlds of the Second Commonwealth. It lies just eight light years away from the Commonwealth’s capitol world, Buckingham, but it’s mostly been ignored during the Federation War.

No longer. The Federation has its sights set on taking Coventry by any means necessary. Their first wave of attacking troops have set Coventry aflame in an effort to force out the population and keep local resistance at bay as they establish a base for attacking the heart of the Commonwealth.

Coventry is Reggie Bailey’s home. Reggie isn’t a Royal Marine. He’s a family man, a father of three. But he has to put it all aside and join his brethren to fight the fires that threaten his world. It’s up to the home guard to keep the Federation at bay long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

To Sergeant David Spencer of the Commonwealth’s Royal Marines, the scorched earth assault on Coventry is a challenge. But he’s trained, skilled, armed, ready. When the unexpected orders to go to Coventry arrive, there’s no question that David and his men are up to the task, but there’s every question if they can arrive in time and fight their way through the fires of Coventry before it’s too late for Reggie and his family.

War hits home as Rick Shelley’s Federation War trilogy continues.

©1996 Rick Shelley (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

No character development at all

These books are not great. Don’t waste your credits on this series. We follow some of the characters so you care if their killed, but we don’t get to know them at all. There’s no development we don’t learn more about them or care much about them. It’s basically a war book with some interesting parts about the civilians but that’s about it.

Incomplete recording doesn't help

What disappointed you about The Fires of Coventry?

1) It's a mediocre story, based on strategists being stupid.
2) The opening couple of pages of the book is missing.

What aspect of Tim Pabon’s performance would you have changed?

I would have removed the weird pauses and improved the characters' voices.

Any additional comments?

This book really doesn't move the trilogy forward at all. You can safely skip it.