Book Review Tuesday: The Lab by D.L. Cross #AlienInvasion #AlienEncounters @stacitroilo

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Warm and cozy window seat with cushions and a opened book, light through vintage shutters, rustic style home decor. Small cat on window seat, along with coffee cup by pillow, Words Book Review Tuesday superimposed over imageHappy Book Review Tuesday! Today, I’m sharing my review of The Lab, the closing chapter in the Astral Conspiracy Series by D.L. Cross (a.k.a. Staci Troilo). I’ve been glued to these books from the moment they released, reading one after the other as soon as new titles became available. All five books and the prequel are now available for download, so you can start at the beginning and read straight through, back-to-back. Trust me—you’ll be glued to the pages!

book cover for The Lab by D.L. Cross shows flying saucer hovering over an one story building at night, emitting ray of light into buildingThe Lab
Book 5 Astral Conspiracy Series
by D. L. Cross

After breathlessly following this series from Book one (and the prequel), I found myself riveted to the closing novel. The Astrals have found humanity lacking and it’s only a matter of time until they release their judgement on Earth.

Each chapter and each plot thread—of which there are many, expertly woven together—are ticking time bombs. Catch your breath on one, and Cross plunges you into another maelstrom of danger, action, and double-crosses. The sense of urgency in this novel is a pot-boiler.

All of the plot lines that have been steadily building through the previous books meet head-on in an explosive conclusion. It’s difficult to say much without giving away spoilers, but I find myself startled to note how my opinions altered regarding certain characters.

It’s difficult to name a single standout character (each are deftly drawn and multi-faceted with plenty of gray areas) but the relationship between Nadia and Beck—how it changed and grew over the course of the books—was a highpoint for me. By book five, I’d also started to look at reptars differently, especially one in particular. Journeying through five books in a world populated by Titans, Mullahs, the Separated, the Nine, Reptars, Lightborn, and humans has been a astounding adventure.

In the end, not everything is wrapped up with a tight bow. It makes me wonder if there is more planned, or if the author chose to leave certain elements open to the readers’ imagination. All of the major storylines and events are concluded, but there are a few surprises that leave the door cracked slightly ajar.

For anyone who enjoys intelligent and fast-paced science-fiction mixed with vast dollops of mystery, suspense and brilliant character development, I highly recommend this series. It stands among my top reads for 2020!

graphic of flying saucer emitting a beam of lightI give The Lab 5 STARS and 5 BIG GLOWY UFOS!!

AMAZON LINK
GENRE: Alien Invasion Science-Fiction > Colonization Science-Fiction

Thank you for joining me for another Book Review Tuesday. I know several of you are reading this series or have it on your radar. With the weather turning colder (at least in the northern hemisphere), it’s a great time to curl up inside with a book. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the warmth of the southern hemisphere, there is nothing like a good read by the pool or on the beach. Just watch out for the reptars!

51 thoughts on “Book Review Tuesday: The Lab by D.L. Cross #AlienInvasion #AlienEncounters @stacitroilo”

  3. Nothing could make me happier than five big glowy UFOs. (And I’m always tickled when someone uses the word maelstrom in a review, especially of a work of mine.)

    I really don’t have the words to express how delighted I am that you were so devoted to and excited by this series. Thanks so much.

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  11. Great review, Mae! I’m just wrapping up my re-read of Book 1, and loving it as much as the first time. Looking forward to starting Book 2 probably tonight. I’ll catch up with you soon, though. 😀 And I’m glad to know I have only good stuff ahead. (Just what I expected, but confirmation never hurts!) 😀

    Congratulations, Staci! Sounds like you knocked the entire series out of the park! Sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • I predict by book 5 you’ll have waffling opinions about those reptars, Jacquie (at least 1 or 2 of them). I do hope if we ever see any ships arrive and have our own Astral Day, they’re nothing like the aliens Staci penned! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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