Robert Appleton (https://www.robertappletonbooks.com) is the author of more than 15 novels. Pyro Canyon was published in 2021. It is the 86th book I completed reading in 2023.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence and mature language, I categorize this novel as R.

Corporal Second Rate Gus Trillion has been assigned to the Propaganda Office to help with recruitment. Years earlier, he had made a heroic effort to save his ship. That resulted in severe injuries and the assignment to the Propaganda Office.

Twenty-four-year-old Lyssa Baltacha is a reporter and a friend of Trillion. She had come across information indicating that the Sheikers are planning a major assault. Trillion and Baltacha must do what they can to prepare humanity. Part of their preparation plan calls for the recruitment of legendary fighter aces “Cardie” and “Brink”. An incident at Pyro Canyon is linked to their retirement. Trillion and Baltacha must discover the real story before they can prepare for the expected attack.

I enjoyed the 4 hours I spent reading this 167-page science fiction novel. The story started slow but got better as it progressed. I give this novel a rating of 3.8 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

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I loved the whole ":Two lost heroes from the past are the only hope for our future" I thought that was a unique premise for the book and the characters were well done.

While the background story wasn’t terribly new, humans fighting off alien invasions, experiencing it through a character who is trying to use propaganda to get humans to enlist and join the fight was unique, at least for me. And the question of what really happened at Pyro Canyon was enough to keep me reading until the end. It was a decent little sci-fi read but ultimately left me underwhelmed.

Pyro Canyon by Robert Appleton
I got this as an ARC. I’m not paid to give 5 Star reviews. Thanks #NetGalley. I haven’t read the rest of the series.
A galactic invasion by the Sheikers... Fifth Wing Conder Squadron’s last 2 living pilots, retired from duty many years ago... But where did they go?
What will happen? Who will die? And, what happened at Perihelion- and Pyro Canyon? The only survivors were Jane “Cardie” and Gus, and they haven’t said anything.
A story kinda like the Star Wars X-Wing books. If you liked those, you might like this book.
I give this book 4 Stars for a tale of interstellar war and redemption. The ending is good and doesn’t feel rushed, unlike some books.

I recieved a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well the book didn't live upto my expectation, seeing it was the fourth in a series but a standalone and not connected I felt it would be work a look. Frankly the story premise was good, a good war , old heroes returning to help in recruitment and possibly fighting again, a possible bionic enabled hero.. But it all feel flat. I couldn't get the excitement a sci-fi book should throw,