“Venator” by Jaden Ghaffari. tells the story of the Venatorians, a civilization of pre-Earth humans with a vast empire spanning five galaxies, and their enemies, the Orik, a brutal lizard race driven only by conquest and violence. As the Orik bring devastation to planet after planet, the Venatorians continue to fight back, resulting in a 3,000-year war with no end in sight.

This action-packed novel draws influence from the author’s love of popular media like Star Wars and Game of Thrones, as well as video games (and their related stories) like Halo, Destiny, and Titanfall. With futuristic technology, hints of magic, and massive battles, this adventurous tale is a thrilling read for sci-fi and fantasy lovers, and subverts common themes by positioning the Venatorian Empire as a force for good.