Review of Battletech — Lethal Heritage The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy Book 1.

Review of Battletech – Lethal Heritage The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy Book 1. Before you understand the series Battletech — The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy, you must first understand the beloved tabletop game and the many subsequent popular video games. Battletech is a universe. It’s a Sci-Fi, Space-Opera with a rich history.

BattleTech is a war gaming and military science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2001, which was acquired by Topps in 2003; and published in 2007 by Catalyst Game Labs. The trademark is currently owned by Topps and, for video games, Microsoft‘s Xbox Game Studio; Catalyst Game Studio licenses the franchise from Topps.

The series began with FASA’s debut of the board game BattleTech (originally named Battledroids) by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III and has since grown to include numerous expansions to the original game, several board games, role-playing games, video games, a collectible card game, a series of more than 100 novels, and an animated television series.

Lethal Heritage—Book 1 of the Trilogy, by Michael Stackpole.

Lethal Heritage is perhaps the best book of the series as it helps to set up the peril of the Clan Invaders to The Inner Sphere. The Inner Sphere represents the star-systems surrounding Tera, Earth, that once belonged to the Star League but now are in a constant star of war between the 5 ruling houses.

A DANGEROUS NEW ENEMY APPROACHES…

Two decades after the events that nearly brought the Successor States to the brink of all-out war, the Great Houses exist in an uneasy peace.

But from out beyond the Periphery comes a new threat. A swift-moving military force of unknown origin. Nothing the Inner Sphere has can stop them. Their power, speed, and ferocity are unparalleled. Some of the finest warriors and ablest units have challenged them and been crushed. No force has faced them and won.

They are the Clans! A military juggernaut whose sole reason for existence is battle. A race that selectively breeds itself for combat.

Humanity’s only hope is an alliance of mortal enemies. The Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine, interstellar empires at war for 300 years, must now stand side-by-side—or face certain destruction.

THE CLAN INVASION!

This series introduces the Battletech universe to the Clans. The Clans are the evolved culture and society of the fleeing remanets of Star League, lead by General Kerensky. While The Successor States saw their technological advancement dwindle and regress, the Clans did not. The Clans area warrior society, not based on any ethnicity but a warrior code. The Clans Weapons Systems and training seems to be superior to the Inner Sphere Houses and mercenary military factions.

Phelan Kell and his transition to a Clan Mechwarrior.

Much of the exciting action of this story happens from Phelan Kell’s viewpoint. Phelan Kell is Mechwarrior with a mercenary lance named the Kellhounds. The Kellhounds are led by Phelan’s father Morgan Kell. It’s important to note that a mercenary lance has no real allegiance to any individual successor state, but most have their leanings. When Phelan is captured by the invading clans, Khan Ulric Kerensky takes him in. He has the right bloodline to be chosen for the Warrior cast but must prove himself in trials of combat. Through a rite of combat, he earns a place in The Wolf Clan.

The rest of The Blood of Kerensky Trilogy.

Everything else about this series is the five successor states of the Innsphere banding together to fight the Clans. They hate each other, but they see that if they do not fight together, they will be conquered. Then there is the phone company, Com-Star. they are playing both sides. But Com-Star’s vast untapped military strength could be the turning point in the war. There are so many viewpoints in these three books it can get confusing. Some cartoonish villains and petty grudges, but it as a whole is a fun read. The first book in the series was the best.

What makes this book series really entertaining?

I found this book series even more entertaining because of the tabletop game which I recently started playing. There is something about playing an old-school tabletop game that makes this more fun to me. The world of Battletech is massive. The technology being complete science fiction with some facts sprinkled in makes for a very immersive game play.

Check out my review of The Decision at Thunder Rift.

Here’s another great Battletech series and I would highly recommend you check it out.