Her captain is furious at her. She wasted company resources getting herself killed, and it’s coming out of her paycheck. Now, she’s sitting across from the first other human being she’s seen in six years. His name is Adnan. He claims to come from Earth—but that’s impossible. Earth died a long time ago. If Adnan’s telling the truth, he and the decaying ship the captain pulled him off are nearly a thousand years old.
Wherever he’s from, he’s Shaara’s responsibility now. Which is the last thing she needs. But it’s either that, or the captain sells Adnan into slavery. Shaara knows what that would mean. Most humans do. And something inside her won’t let her abandon Adnan to it: revenant memories, stabbed awake by the look in his eyes.
Facing those memories won’t be easy. It’d be far easier to ignore the feeling driving her forward. Far easier to let it all go to hell, and drift back to sleep.
Until a shadowy new faction starts stoking the fires of war. They’re looking for Adnan; Earth’s last survivor holds the key to unleash a terrible, indiscriminate vengeance on the galaxy that wronged them. Who they are is a mystery—to everyone but Shaara. Hard as she’s tried to forget, she knows them all too well. Which means she’s the only one who can stop them.
The question is: does she want to? Maybe the galaxy’s earned a little vengeance.
Oblivion’s Cloak took First Place in the Space Opera category at the 2023 CIBAs!
“SHAARA WAS DEAD. Tell me that a story that starts out with this way doesn’t cause a little bit of curiosity? I’ve read many books that have great first paragraphs, then devolve into nonsensical banter. This is NOT one of those books. Dylan’s book is one where I tell myself I’ll just read to the next break and then go to sleep. I say that to myself six or eight times[…] This is the first book in a trilogy. In reading it, I feel like it’s a trilogy in itself. If you only have time to read one Sci-Fi book this year, this is the one you should choose.”
— Elliot Jackman, https://elliotjackman.com/2023/01/09/oblivions-cloak/
“A beautifully written story, full of poetry, action, texture, color and striking, sometimes shocking darkness. Structured perfectly in digestible scenes which play out vividly in the mind.
Oblivion's Cloak renders a galaxy that is full of familiar humanity and totally novel alienness, with a story that plays out so effortlessly on the page, weaving stories from the smallest personal experience out into an expansive plot with shocking implications of violence and upheaval.
The characters are unique and memorable, the world building clear and internally consistent. Nothing detracts from the expertly written prose and the tale it tells. Phenomenal novel by McFadyen.”
— Derek Kent, Amazon
“This is a long and intricate book, which I didn't expect when I snagged it during a freebie promo, but it's enthralling and kept me reading - sometimes to the exception of everything else I was supposed to be doing. There are harsh bits in it, but they fit. The characters are hard people living hard lives, but the author still managed to make them sympathetic.”
— Author B.E. Sanderson, Goodreads
“Oblivion's Cloak weaves a captivating tale that hooks you from its very first chapter. Dylan[...] crafts a Sci-Fi world where humans are seen as little more than inconsequential beings by other races in the universe.
The novel deftly explores themes of trust, friendship, and the lengths one will go to for survival. As Shaara and Adnan are thrust into harrowing situations, their bond deepens, even as Adnan grapples with the inherent challenges of relating to someone from a place so distant. A gripping dynamic is created that keeps the reader engrossed.
Amidst intense conflicts, the narrative unravels the complexities of Shaara's character. Her unyielding determination to succeed and her unspoken compassion are intricately revealed as the plot takes unexpected turns. The story escalates when Shaara stumbles upon a sinister plot to annihilate non-human sentient life forms, leaving her with an agonizing dilemma. The question becomes whether she will prioritize humanity's liberation over the catastrophic destruction of countless lives.
Book one in [the] Oblivion’s Galaxy trilogy serves as a complete story in itself, packing depth within its pages. The suspenseful storytelling coupled with well-developed characters elevates Oblivion's Cloak beyond a typical space opera. If you're looking for a Sci-Fi novel that marries intricate world-building with an engaging plot, this is the one to choose. Oblivion's Cloak is an absolute must-read for fans of the genre.”
— Two Nerds with Words, Amazon
