Welcome back to First Chapter Reads, the podcast where I read the first chapter of an indie book and hope you might find your next favourite author. After a hiatus from the podcast, I have made some changes for 2025. The podcast will now air on a monthly basis to make it a bit more manageable and will now exclusively feature Science Fiction and Fantasy indie books. Last week my Novella was released and you can check out an editorial review from Readers Favourite below. Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite Cold Blooded by Rohan O'Duill is a gripping tale of war, survival, and corporate dominion in the depths of space. The narrative follows Mint, a battle-hardened Marine facing crucial moral decisions when summoned back to combat, while teenage Frida struggles for survival aboard her father's pirate vessel. O'Duill's masterful storytelling weaves together intense military science fiction with profound character dilemmas, creating a raw and compelling narrative that exposes the dark reality of corporate greed and systemic corruption. The world-building creates a believable future where corporate interests have superseded traditional power structures, leading to complex moral territories that the characters must navigate.Author Rohan O'Duill's cast of characters feels authentic and multifaceted, particularly in Mint's internal struggles as he is thrown back into dangerous combat. The visceral descriptions of battle and space warfare create a sense of immediate danger that had me holding my breath through many scenes. The attention to detail in both the military aspects and the human elements creates a rich tapestry that draws readers into this complex and morally ambiguous universe with totally immersive detail. O'Duill's interesting critique of corporate power structures is especially relevant to our times but never overwhelms the central narrative. I always felt like I was at the heart of the action, glancing around nervously for the next sudden twist. The pacing maintains this constant tension without ever resorting to melodrama, driving the story forward through both action sequences and quieter character moments that are emotionally grounded and realistic. I loved the relationship dynamics between Mint, Frida, and those they meet along the way who shape and challenge their beliefs. Overall, Cold Blooded is a powerful example of military science fiction that succeeds both as an action-packed adventure and a thoughtful critique of power and corruption, and I would definitely recommend it. In Other News Things haven’t got off to a great start for 2025. Conflicts are still raging around the world as wildfires tear through LA, destroying people's homes and taking lives. The response from Mexican and Canadian firefighters in helping to control the fires has been a heartening story of how important having good neighbours is in a time of need. I hope this isn’t totally lost on some people. Meta discontinuing its 3rd party fact checking in América leads to further enshitification of our social media platforms. Because as we all know true facts are something we have to much of on socials. This has led to a further migration of creatives towards Bluesky as they round up the wagons and get back on the trail. I am still active across most social media sites, but Bluesky is really starting to feel like it is going to be the creatives gathering place in the future. Latest release news This week also saw the launch of the McMurdo Disaster, book 4 in the McMurdo rift series. A shipwrecked survivor. A forgotten colony. A new, deadly enemy. Six months after travelling through an uncharted wormhole, Mark Franklin and his ex-wife, Sarah, find themselves stranded on a distant, desolate planet. Cut off from the universe by a mysterious dampening field that renders most technology useless, they’ve survived with grit and determination. When they finally disable the field, their chance to return home is within reach—until they intercept a distress call.The signal, over fifty years old, leads them to a long-lost human colony, but what they find there is far from a sanctuary. A deadly new threat lurks in the shadows, more dangerous than anything Franklin and Sarah have ever faced, even in the depths of the McMurdo Rift. The galaxy’s survival may depend on what they uncover. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rohanoduill.substack.com
