This story and series get better as its complexity and scope expand. Characters grow into their roles, painfully at times, as Joe describes and demonstrates how different war will be from anything in the history and experience of the clans. ( )

I am in love this series. Outstanding world building and a great main character with lots of development make this one of my favorite Sci-Fi (more like Space Opera) series. Lots of action and adventure in this book as with all the books in this series. There is a lot of military strategy and battle scenes that are not my favorite but were well written and did not take away from the main plot.

I flew through this one. I listened to the audio book and enjoyed the narrator. He has a good speaking voice and tone. I would give the narration a 4.5. I love this series so much I would like to own the physical books. ( )

Well worth the lost sleep and midnight oil! I couldn't put it down.

When last we saw our hero, Yozef Kolsko, in The Pen and the Sword (Destiny’s Crucible, Book 2) he had returned home slightly injured from the major battle of Moreland fought between the Narthani aggressors and the Caedellian defenders; a battle victory claimed by the Caedellian clansmen, but with both sides understanding that a strategic retreat from a losing battle is not an ultimate victory. Now, the Nathani forces will seek to keep the Caedellian forces off balance with strategic attacks while the Caedellian forces strive to build their fighting forces and keep the Nathani guessing as to their real military capabilities. The stakes are rising as Maera gives birth and as the Narthani plot strategic treachery; but are the stakes high enough for the separate clans to overcome their independence and mutual animosity and work together to prevent their defeat by the Narthani?

Heavier than a Mountain is a serious read for anyone who is invested the Destiny’s Crucible series and is cheering for Yozef Kolsko and the Caedellians in the face of an overwhelming enemy. It is well worth the loss of sleep and the midnight oil to see what will happen next. As with the preceding two books, the main characters continue to be developed into lifelike images with human emotions and fears. New characters emerge, both good-buys and bad. In any event, a satisfying story of nail-biting entertainment.

Any lover of action adventures, war drama, political intrigue, or science fiction should do themselves a favor and check out the Destiny’s Crucible Series, beginning with Cast Under an Alien Sun, The Pen and the Sword…and now, Heavier Than a Mountain ( )