A Quiet Rebellion: Guilt (Numoeath series Book 1) by M. H. Thaung

In a society that lives in fear of beasts and the curse they carry, imprisoning victims is the only thing to do.

Convoy captain Jonathan has a guilty secret: he killed a traveller who was cursed while under his protection. The killing wasn’t to defend the innocent, but to hide governmental employment of curse victims — like Jonathan — who have developed paranormal powers.

To assuage his guilt, he bends the rules to help another, younger victim. His growing fatherly affection for her leaves him vulnerable to pressure from an unethical researcher. Can he navigate the bureaucratic web, do his duty and still keep his conscience intact?

This is the first book in the Numoeath trilogy.

Karen Meyer’s Review: 4-Stars

Captain Jonathan Shelley is the main character and the one who carries the most guilt. Guilt because he killed a man who had been bitten by the beast while traveling under his watch. It was Jonathan’s job to see that the civilians made it to their destination safely, but instead, he used his extraordinary powers to do away with this one old man.

Annetta, another traveler with the group, also felt guilt because she tried to save the old man with her herbs, but was unsuccessful. She is traveling just part of the way and bringing along a boy named Samuel, who is rather mischievous. She is delivering him to a man Adrian Pavey as an apprentice. Later on in the story, Samuel accidentally poisons Adrian and gets bitten by a beast.

Jonathan takes the rest of the travelers to their destination and goes home for a few months. The reason he had special powers was because he was bitten by a beast and was cursed. He learned how to control his powers and use them properly. When he gets home he finds a new researcher named Silver has been hired and he doesn’t trust him.

In one of his convoys was a young girl named Jessica who lost her mother and he had her sent to the research facility. He visits her upon his return and develops a fatherly affection for her. He knows somehow that Silver is trying to manipulate her into using her powers for evil. She had been bitten also. Jonathan wanted to train her how to control her powers.

While he was sent off to bring a live beast back for research, Silver did try to influence her and she liked him. So when Jonathan left he took her with him.
When he returns he teaches her for six months.

The book was a little too drawn out for my taste. There really wasn’t enough action for me. The beasts were small, and I would like to make them bigger and more relevant. Although they were supposed to be the nemesis, I didn’t feel they really were.

RA Winter’s Review: 4.3-Stars

Guilt is the first book in The Quiet Rebellion series. Johnathan Shelly has a secret. As an officer tasked with escorting travelers and seeing to their safety, you’d think that he wouldn’t be hiding a horrible truth.

When you jump into the first chapter, the beast has attacked the caravan, Shelly must save his charges without revealing his secret.

Shelley’s secret and his drive to care for others with the same affliction is the driving force behind the novel. But, by his own kindness, he has broken the law and ends up in jail.

A lovely herbalist, Annetta, uncovers Shelley’s secret and witnesses its powers. Who is safe? What about the others who are afflicted? And murder? Who should be protected?

I give this book a 4.3. I really enjoyed the story, the premise, characters, and setting. Written in Omni, the reader needs to be able to stay grounded and in the scene. Thaung writes well. My only issue is the scene changes and how it related to the plot. It would take me a moment once the scene changed to orient myself. This may be because I listened to the novel on my phone instead of reading it.

I really enjoyed the story and wonderful writing.

For more reviews and book, please run as fast as you can to The Naked Reviewers. Feel free to share your review.