CELLO’S GATE by Maurice Africh

5 stars

I simply ADORED this debut sci-fi and fantasy novel – and I can barely wait for the next book in this Sky Pirates series!!

It’s thrilling, with non-stop action and with characters so deeply drawn that you feel like you know them intimately. It’s a delightful, laugh-out-loud at times, swashbuckling tribute to innumerable sci-fi and fantasy hits that have come before it: Firefly, Indianna Jones, Star Wars, Galaxy Quest, to Guardians of the Galaxy. If you like this genre, this is a must-read!

Grey has rebelled against his famous father who’s an admiral in the ruling oppressive government’s space fleet. Grey got shipped off to reformatory school at a young age and now has emerged as the captain of his own airship with a dedicated crew available to hire for dangerous, off-the-book missions. Calling themselves pirates, Grey and his eclectic crew get hired by the adopted daughter of the government’s ruler to find the seven stones of Indigo. These stones, supposedly imbued with mythical power, are based on a myth around the formation of Immortal’s in this universe. Supposed Indigo their founder, had his essence split into seven pieces by six Immortal disciples.

The quest proves ridiculously harder than anyone anticipated, especially Grey who questions if the huge payout is worth the lives of his crew. And what a crew they are: there’s Minn who grew up with Grey, an oracle who can read people’s auras and sense the future; her younger brother Farlow who’s a talented doctor and researcher, Mars, a giant fighter rescued by Grey from being an enslaved fighter sent into fights to the death, a married couple who Grey’s not sure he fully trusts who serve as pilot and engineer, and Dot, a highly trained fighter in a cult-like church from which she’s fled. Add in powerful evil enemies out to stop Grey and his crew, a search on a remote island with intense booby-traps, a quest on which the future of their world hinges, and you have all the elements of a best-seller.

Most of all, this outstanding read is super FUN!

Standing ovation to Africh on his remarkable debut- and please, please hurry with the sequel!

Thanks to Sage Press, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.