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N. C. Scrimgeour
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Those Left Behind: An epic first contact space opera (The Waystations Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by N. C. Scrimgeour (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 277 ratings
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A dying planet. A desperate mission. A crew facing impossible odds. Humanity’s last hope lies with them…

Time is running out for the people of New Pallas. Nobody knows that better than Alvera Renata, a tenacious captain determined to scout past the stars with nothing but a handpicked crew and a promise: to find a new home for humanity.

But when a perilous journey across dark space leads to first contact with a galactic civilisation on the brink of war, Alvera soon realises keeping her word might not be as easy as she thought.

Her only hope lies with the secrets of the ancient alien waystations scattered across the galaxy. The mysterious technology could be the key to humanity’s survival—or bring unwanted attention from the long-forgotten beings who built them.

But remaining united is a lot to ask from a crew already splintering under the weight of their differences. A jaded pilot looks for a place he can start over. A young translator searches for meaning out in the galaxy’s lawless frontier. And Alvera reckons with the aftermath of betrayal as she fights for a way to save them all.

As they break apart to forge their own paths, Alvera and her crew all face the same question: what are they willing to sacrifice to save those left behind?

Those Left Behind is an epic, galaxy-spanning space opera full of exploration, adventure, and ancient alien mysteries. Fans of Mass Effect, The Expanse and Star Wars will love this character-driven science fiction novel—the first instalment in the Waystations Trilogy.

"Those Left Behind is nothing short of epic."– Indies Today,★★★★★

“Intelligently plotted and makes you embrace the impossible […] Those Left Behind has an emotional strain that hooks you in from start to finish.” – Readers' Favorite, ★★★★

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Waystations Trilogy
  2. Print length
    405 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 16, 2021
  5. File size
    3.8 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Scrimgeour has managed to craft an entirely unique and thoroughly engrossing literary macrocosm that will wholly transport readers. [...] Complete with power struggles, psychotic family drama, small and large scale ethical dilemmas and vivid intergalactic imagery, Those Left Behind is nothing short of epic" - Indies Today, ★★★★★

"Intelligently plotted and makes you embrace the impossible [...] Those Left Behind has an emotional strain that hooks you in from start to finish." - Readers' Favorite, ★★★★

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09JB7FG6F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alcruix Press (November 16, 2021)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 405 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 277 ratings

About the author

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N. C. Scrimgeour

N. C. Scrimgeour

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N. C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.

After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and marketing and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.

When she’s not working on her books, she enjoys playing story-driven RPGs, watching and reading all things science fiction and fantasy, and getting outdoors with the dog for a good walk!

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
277 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and immersive. They appreciate the well-developed characters and clear writing style that makes the story easy to read and visualize. The plot is complex with multiple threads and action scenes. Readers enjoy the underlying mystery and surprises, as well as the clean prose style that makes it easy to visualize the world. Overall, customers describe the book as an enjoyable and fun read that they look forward to reading again.

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PacingCharacter developmentReadabilityPlotMysteryWriting style
8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging. They describe the plot as captivating and immersive, with complex worlds that unravel as the story progresses. The world-building is exceptional, and the story is strongly inspired by video game worlds.

"...The story that follows is told from multiple points of view: Alvera herself, the son of her worst enemy, a colonist girl with unusual skills, a..." Read more

"...Very interesting. I'm picking up The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...very soon." Read more

"This is a sci fi novel that reminds me of the sci fi that I loved as a kid. Before my love of fantasy, there was sci fi and I am here for this one...." Read more

"...There is such a richness to the background that there is no way everything touched on will ever be explored...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters engaging and clearly drawn.

"...Even so, the characters are clearly drawn and engaging, and I found myself compulsively turning pages to see what would happen to them next...." Read more

"...Medium-paced Plot or character-driven? A mix Strong character development? Yes Loveable characters? Yes..." Read more

"...The characters interact within this in a natural way, leading to a great pace and fantastic read...." Read more

"...it when I'm done, which won't be long because this is a good story filled with characters that could be human." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability and pace. They find it a good first book, enjoyable, and a nice escape into immersive alien worlds.

"...All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Those Left Behind, and I’m going to be watching for the next book in the series. Very highly recommended." Read more

"...interact within this in a natural way, leading to a great pace and fantastic read...." Read more

"...I thought this prequel was good, but this book was GREAT. The author makes these characters flawed and sympathetic and beautiful...." Read more

"I loved the book and can't wait to continue with the series! It has everything that accounts for a great space opera...." Read more

5 customers mention "Plot"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot. They find it exciting and captivating, with fantastic action scenes that keep them hooked. The multiple POVs work well for the story, and the characters are complex and realistic. Readers also mention the free short story, To Flee a Starless Sky, which sets up the plot.

"...This book sets up a complex, multi-threaded story, and it resolves very few of the conflicts it starts...." Read more

"...To top it all off, there are some fantastic action scenes that will get the heart moving at a faster pace than normal...." Read more

"...The world is engrossing and immersive, the plot is exciting and captivating, unraveling more intricacies as it moves forward...." Read more

"...There’s a lovable cast and exciting action and exploration on each page. The second book is great, too!" Read more

3 customers mention "Mystery"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's mystery. They find it engaging with an underlying mystery, alien artifacts, and high stakes. The plot has many twists and surprises, including technology and a mystery about the Waygates.

"...With new creatures, crazy technology, and a mystery about the Waygates, there’s something for everyone...." Read more

"...There are so many twists and surprises...." Read more

"...interplanetary tensions, contradictory interests and powers, mysterious alien artifacts and high stakes...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style clean and easy to visualize.

"...Her prose style is very clean, too – I had a hard time finding any copy-editing or line-editing problems in the text...." Read more

"...Their descriptions of the landscape and the people make it super easy to visualize, and that's coming from someone who sometimes gets a little..." Read more

"...It's written in a clear way that makes following along effortless...." Read more

I got hooked from the start!
5 out of 5 stars
I got hooked from the start!
The book is a sci-fi, space opera and it was really good! I usually don't get into the aliens and space type books, but I got hooked. I really needed an easy-reading pallet cleanser, and this was perfect! Basic overview: Human planet is dying/overcrowding. They search the universe for another planet. They find humans and aliens in another system. There are four mysterious space stations connecting the different space systems and no one knows where they came from - the past, the future, who knows!? There's mutiny, fleeing for your life, weird alien worlds, survival, etc. All the best stuff lol!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jon F. Zeigler
    5.0 out of 5 stars High-octane space opera in the vein of the Mass Effect games
    Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The human world of New Pallas is on the brink of destruction due to internal strife, overpopulation, and environmental collapse. Its only hope lies in the hands of Alvera Renata, a revolutionary turned starship captain. She intends to command a state-of-the-art ship, the Ranger, on a desperate mission to find a new home for her people.

    When Ranger flies through a “waystation” on the edge of the New Pallas system, Alvera and her crew find themselves amid a galaxy-wide civilization called the Coalition, governed by a loose alliance of humans and several other species. In theory, the Coalition could provide new homes for all New Pallas’s billions. In practice, the alliance has troubles of its own. Aggressive outsiders, the Idran-Var, threaten the peace. Even worse, there are signs that some completely unknown entity is preparing to attack the Coalition – a force which may have eradicated whole civilizations in the past.

    At first, the Coalition cautiously welcomes Alvera’s mission. Then a shocking betrayal scatters her crew and threatens to end her mission before it can even begin.

    The story that follows is told from multiple points of view: Alvera herself, the son of her worst enemy, a colonist girl with unusual skills, a deadly young woman who refuses to be a warrior, and a soldier who comes to suspect he is fighting the wrong war. As we follow these five characters, we get a tour of Coalition space and the sense of a terrible conflict that is about to begin.

    Those Left Behind is very clearly the first novel in a series. This book sets up a complex, multi-threaded story, and it resolves very few of the conflicts it starts. Even so, the characters are clearly drawn and engaging, and I found myself compulsively turning pages to see what would happen to them next. I usually dislike ensemble stories told from multiple viewpoints, but N. C. Scrimgeour has the skill to make it work. Her prose style is very clean, too – I had a hard time finding any copy-editing or line-editing problems in the text. This is a very professional job.

    If I had a concern about Those Left Behind, it’s that the setting and plot felt a little derivative. The author’s ad copy mentions that “fans of Mass Effect . . . will love this,” and she is not kidding in the slightest. If you’re acquainted with the Mass Effect universe, then a lot of elements of the setting and plot are going to feel familiar here. It’s not a matter of copying – the most I would say is that this story is strongly inspired by the world of the video game series. N. C. Scrimgeour has done a superb job of remixing and reworking familiar tropes, building a compelling story atop them.

    All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Those Left Behind, and I’m going to be watching for the next book in the series. Very highly recommended.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Graff Fuller
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read also the FREE short story, To Flee a Starless Sky...which sets up the story really well.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The Waystations Trilogy 01 Those Left Behind by N.C. Scrimgeour

    challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense

    Medium-paced

    Plot or character-driven? A mix
    Strong character development? Yes
    Loveable characters? Yes
    Diverse cast of characters? Yes
    Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes

    4.0 Stars

    I really enjoyed this book, and the start of the trilogy, but I have to say...that at the beginning to the middle of the story, I was lost.

    There are FIVE pov characters, and there are lots of moments while reading the story, that I do NOT know who the bad guys are, and who the good guys are. That in and of itself does not disqualify this from being a good story...for I voraciously read it.

    It just means that I had to focus on the story, and how the characters interacted with the story, while trying to figure out the ground that I was standing on (worldbuilding).

    It helps that most of the characters that we enter this story with, are also learning as they go. Ridley, ALvera and Kojan are from New Pallas, while Niole and Rivus are from the place they just arrived at.

    Also, the races of the characters was interesting to visualize (especially for me), for I'm NOT good at that (not at all).

    I think my favourite character throughout the story...was Ridley.

    I wanted to like Alvera (and Chase), but there seemed to always be a cloud of doubt within her, and how others felt about her.

    I also liked Rivus (for some reason). He's a tortured soul, for which Alvera will learn about, too. The realization that there IS an unknown, is candy. It upsets everthing that we've just learned, and now it has to recontextualize how they (all the POV characters) have to see the future...as it approaches.

    Also, the Legionnaires versus the Idran-Var is captivating. The idea of the Flares, and how they are used in battle, and why they are on opposing sides. Very interesting.

    I'm picking up The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...very soon.
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  • JordReadsBooks
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing SciFi tale
    Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a sci fi novel that reminds me of the sci fi that I loved as a kid. Before my love of fantasy, there was sci fi and I am here for this one. It introduces us to new worlds, fantastic characters (not all human), AI, and more. All of this is on top of a plot that will keep the reader wondering what will come next. To top it all off, there are some fantastic action scenes that will get the heart moving at a faster pace than normal.

    The strength of this novel was the overall plot of the book with it’s underlying mystery. There are several answers given, just enough to satisfy, but also leaves the reader plenty of opportunity to come up with their own hypotheses of what could happen. The characters interact within this in a natural way, leading to a great pace and fantastic read. It also boasts some great moments of magic and technology blending into some great action scenes involving them. There are some times that it feels very familiar to some popular sci fi, but it does a lot to stand on its own.

    Those Left Behind will be the sci fi novel that will keep readers reading late into the night. With new creatures, crazy technology, and a mystery about the Waygates, there’s something for everyone. This is a series that I look forward to continuing and discovering more of what it has to offer. This will be a sci fi that can be treasured with some of the great ones.

    Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer kathryn rhodenizer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
    Reviewed in Canada on June 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This story is fast paced, the different species and world building is top notch. I like so much I ordered the complete trilogy. Very very good work!
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  • Blackstock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story telling, and an epic adventure starts here!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 3, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book of the Waystations Trilogy, although there is also a prequel called "The Exodus Betrayal" which gives a great backstory to the main characters in book 1.

    I thoroughly enjoyed all four books and read them as soon as they were released. The characters go through significant development over the course of the four books, and the story arc is epic, with lots of twists and turns to keep you engaged.

    Can't wait to see what the author does next.
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  • John W. Kingma
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not great.
    Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Overall I liked the book, however character development was a bit thin. New characters introduced with little background. It was hard to stay on top of who is who and how all their stories and pieces all fit together. And it almost felt like the author was trying to create another "Expanse" type story.
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  • Wurst
    1.0 out of 5 stars Ein Abklatsch von Vielem
    Reviewed in Germany on July 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Die Autorin bedient sich reichlich bei Star Wars, The Expanse, Star Trek, Dune usw. Nichts Originales, nichts Originelles. Schablonenhafte Figuren, lahme Dialoge. Kein Wunder, dass das Buch selbstverlegt worden ist.
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  • HollowJ
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok, but I don't think I could recommend it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Is this space opera? Well, maybe. It's certainly not hard sci fi if that's what you've looking for.

    The character development and general detail is extremely shallow. The first few chapters read like teen fiction, with events unfolding far too quickly and many holes in the science. For instance traveling through the way station is central to the plot, but is over in a couple of pages with no build up or emotional drive, and afterwards they immediately meet an "alien" whose ship can dock with theirs. Really?

    The aliens suffer from the old Star Trek problem of basically being humans in a costume. Perhaps in book two we will find that they are all human stock afterall, but I might not get there.

    But the book has some good sides. The plot keeps moving, and later on the book actually gets better, with some of the characters developing enough depth to want to follow, and to wonder what will happen to them.
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