On Winged Gossamer

“On Winged Gossamer by Victoria Lehrer is the third book in the New Earth Chronicles, a well-crafted science fiction novel with a strong post-apocalyptic setting. I have read the first book in this series, The Augur’s View, and was fascinated by the author’s imaginative setting and the strong writing, so when I picked up On Winged Gossamer, I wasn’t expecting anything short of excellence. And again, Victoria Lehrer delivers an experience that is far beyond my initial expectations. This is a great story that is beautifully told. The setting is a world that has been pulled asunder and where the strong take advantage of the weak. Science has evolved to a level where an army of robots is a reality and where cloning is a practice that is no longer uncommon. Victoria Lehrer creates an imaginary world that is exciting to navigate. I loved the way the author writes about the revolution in which the poor masses rise against their oppressors. On Winged Gossamer features unforgettable characters, a well-imagined post-apocalyptic setting, and a monumental conflict. The twists will entice any reader and keep them rooting for the characters.”

“The plot is twisty. The conflict is colossal. The characters are solidly developed. Victoria Lehrer is one of those authors who create an array of characters and keep each of them interesting, evolving through a conflict that sweeps everyone in its tide. There is a lot to enjoy in this novel. The author writes about a class struggle with groups having different degrees of privileges fighting against each other, and she does so in a way that infuses the writing with realism and compels readers to reflect on similar issues they face in society. The underdogs are the Sovereignty Seekers led by Caellum Nichols. They have few resources for a full-blown war, yet they are the backbone of the economy that sustains the tyrant. The rapprochement between the Mad Queen and Charles Scholtz, the Imperial Governor, is a trick to possess Michael. The relationship between Caellum and Dora is well-developed and it spices the story in many ways. While she is married to someone of “noble” blood, her heart goes out to the rebel. The story is fast-paced and episodic, balanced, and deftly written. The protagonist of this tale is not an individual, but a class fighting for freedom: The Sovereignty Seekers. While On Winged Gossamer is set in a post-apocalyptic world, it explores social issues that reflect contemporary society.”

“Author Victoria Lehrer has crafted a hugely engrossing, intimate, and detailed work of sci-fi and fantasy fiction with plenty of intrigue on all sorts of different levels to offer its readers. Having read other works in this series before, I was delighted to be thrown back into a fast-paced and well-established world where crazy tech and even crazier villains battle for control. I am a sucker for a well-developed and enthralling wicked character, so Biate quickly became the one I was searching for from page to page. But whether you’re into heroes or villains, you’ll find plenty of emotive characters, highly engaging dialogue, and all-out action and adventure in every single chapter of this excellent work. Overall, I would highly recommend On Winged Gossamer to fans of immersive otherworldly fiction, powerful political and military intrigue, and for readers of the existing series everywhere.”