A must-read for fans of science fiction epics who love rebellion against impossible odds.
On the planet Affer, six species once coexisted in fragile harmony—until war ripped the world apart. Humanity, once dominant, was nearly wiped out in the conflict, and those who remained were enslaved, scattered among their conquerors, and conditioned over centuries to accept subjugation as destiny. Nearly five hundred years later, one man refuses to bow. Fletcher Rush, driven by a vision larger than himself, takes up the impossible task of uniting his broken people and reclaiming their place on Affer. His quest demands sacrifice and resolve, pushing him to confront both external enemies and the crushing weight of despair that has kept his kind in chains for generations. What unfolds is more than a battle for territory—it is a fight for identity, dignity, and the right to shape the future. As Fletcher sparks the first embers of resistance, he faces entrenched powers that will stop at nothing to preserve the order they built on humanity’s ruin. With its mix of sweeping world-building and the raw urgency of revolution, book one in The Conquest Trilogy begins with a powerful tale of freedom reclaimed at terrible cost, setting the stage for an epic struggle that will shape the fate of a planet.
With a flair for imaginative wordplay that brings a story world to life, Matthew D. Devitt has penned an epic, imaginative start to a bold new sci-fi trilogy in The Quest For Freedom. Fletcher Rush is a powerful, defiant protagonist you can’t help but root for, thanks to some very relatable dialogue and description. This characterization is only part of this novel’s magic formula for sci-fi success. The skillful development extends into an equally realistic setting, and the author’s world-building on Affer is rich, layered, and utterly immersive, laying great groundwork for the many strands of the plot. The compelling mix of planetary politics, interspecies conflict, and personal determination moves along at a natural pace and balances context, detail, and action well so that there is never a dull moment. The blockbuster action scenes cut in sharply, but there are also deeper themes of freedom and resilience to explore, and a truly harrowing portrayal of humanity’s fall and the spark of rebellion that inevitably follows is totally believable. An expansive opening that promises more high stakes, sharp twists, and dramatic confrontations to come, The Quest For Freedom is a must-read for fans of science fiction epics who love rebellion against impossible odds.
