Wistful Ascending Audiobook By JCM Berne cover art

Wistful Ascending

Hybrid Helix, Book 1

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Wistful Ascending

By: JCM Berne
Narrated by: Wayne Farrell
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The il’Drach have conquered half a galaxy behind the civilization-ending powers of their mixed-species children.

Half-human Rohan, exhausted by a decade fighting for their Empire, has paid a secret and terrible price for his freedom.

Now retired, he strives to live a quiet life towing starships for the space station Wistful. His most pressing problems are finding the perfect cup of coffee and talking to a gorgeous shuttle tech without tripping over his own tongue.

A nearby, long-dormant wormhole is opened by a ship full of angry refugees, and the many eyes of the Empire focus uncomfortably on Wistful.

As scientists, spies, and assassins converge, reverting to the monster the Empire created is the surest way to protect his friends. And the surest way to lose them.

©2020 Joseph Berne (P)2025 Joseph Berne Adventure Fantasy Science Fiction Space Opera Superhero Funny Witty

Editorial reviews
Fascinating Worldbuilding • Engaging Characters • Likable Protagonist • Exciting Action Sequences • Diverse Alien Species
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my only issue was on the draft. why don't the women leave the planet and make hybrids?

clear descriptions relatable aliens.

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Wistful Ascending by JCM Berne might be one of the more surprising books I’ve enjoyed reading this year. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Wayne Farrell, who did an excellent job bringing every character to life and teasing out a bit more likeability in each of them.

First, I want to mention the tone and delivery. I think it’s worth noting that the story is delivered via character interactions over various lunches and dinners between Rohan and the friends he meets along the way. If readers were expecting high-octane action the entire time, they might miss it here. However, we get very thoughtful conversations between action that help the characters develop more naturally as the story progresses. It’s also delivered in a way that I somewhat consider “episodic,” where Rohan doesn’t have an overarching problem to solve, but a few problems to solve while dealing with his daily life. I’ll admit, once or twice, I found it a little interrupting to cut away from a scene to a lunch when I was expecting more to happen. Still, the overall story and characters make it work. I only mention this because it’s nice to know it beforehand to set the mood for maximum enjoyment.

The space station Wistful is a wonderful place to hang out. JCM Berne has made an area I felt like I was living in with Rohan, a lot of it due to the slice-of-life moments with Rohan making the whole place feel more natural. I loved hearing about the il’Drach and Rohan’s powers and how he struggles to redefine himself from his past as a super-powered soldier. A true monster lurks behind his gentle, charming exterior, and the fight to remain true to himself is genuine and well-written.

When the action hits, it SLAMS. The juxtaposition between Rohan during lunch and Rohan destroying warships is intense and amazing. It didn’t feel like I was just reading about “superhero but in space.” It felt unique and exciting. (I’ve worked on a few superhero films in my day, and this felt very fresh to me! Bravo!)

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Wistful Ascending! It was nothing like anything else I had read this year.

Nothing like anything else I've read this year!

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This is Hybrid Helix book 1, and I was sent a download code for the audiobook, and I’m now pissed I didn’t get to it sooner!

This. Story. Is. So. Much. Fun.

Ever wonder what you’d get if you added science fiction with superheroes? Ever wonder what a story would be like if you took out the kind of corny undertones of caped crusaders? Rohan is half human and half il’Drach. The combination gives him superhuman abilities, and responsibilities. After years of fighting, he just wants to retire from it all. Nothing, the universe included, seems to be accepting that.

Sentient space stations and ships, alien races and wormholes, wars being fought by superhuman armies, this novel has some pretty awesome plot points. I really enjoyed the hard science beats in the book, as well as some of the more mysterious things spread throughout. It’s funny that a book about superheroes off of earth could make me want a prequel about them on earth so badly.

I enjoyed that the superhuman power was being pulled from somewhere and it wasn’t entirely bottomless. The main character can be hurt, even killed, and he does have to dig deep each time he faces a fight. Rohan’s home of the space station Wistful feels like a full and fast world, the author has written in multiple alien cultures to give it depth. I’ve never been so immersed while in the dead of space.

For fans of Guardians of the Galaxy with some real grit like Watchmen or The Boys. These ‘superheroes’ will save the galaxy, but they will also snap your neck for looking at them wrong.

Personally a 5/5* for me. I have the ‘prequel’ Zero Twist, but I can’t wait to get into book two as well. Wish the audio was out for it! Wayne Farrell did an amazing job with narration.

Such a fun story and narration!

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Deep Space 9 meets Dragon Ball Z but make the space station older than the empire and sentient and make the saiyans alien hybrids who's power is fuelled by rage. Laugh out loud funny, action-packed and full of heart. The most fun read I've had in a long time.

Deep Space 9 meets Dragon Ball Z

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If I were to pinpoint what I enjoyed most about this book, it was definitely the way it kept portrayed the protagonist Rohan as a nice guy who's just working a blue collar job in a sci-fi world. Part deep space nine, part Invincible and DBZ, Wistful Ascending is a great beginning to a series I plan to devour. I only hope we can get a few more audiobooks because I enjoyed the narrator and o really got me into the world.

Amazing Action and Heart

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The description of this book does not do enough. Yes, it provides some details for some aspects of this story, but it just isn't enough. In fact, after having finished Wistful Ascending, I just don't think any description could possibly do enough to explain the sense of wonder that the reader will feel once they finish it. I am quite simply stunned by the imagination and skill of the author to craft this tale. I just don't know how he was able to combine small, slice-of-life elements with epic battle scenes so seamlessly. There are wonderfully small, intimte moments between friends mixed with supremely powerful beings and monsters. I just don't know how he pulled it off. But, he does and I cannot recommend this story highly enough. It is so much more than a superhero story and you owe it to yourself to dive right into it. You won't regret it.

Regarding the audiobook, the narrator did an excellent job of telling me this epic story. Wonderful all around.

Wonderful in every way

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I can’t add much to what everyone else is saying, but if you’re looking for a space opera with a truly likable yet conflicted protagonist and enjoy slice of life (a la Becky Chambers) with equal measures of action, I heartily recommend this book. I just wish the next two in the series were available on audio. The reader is fantastic!

Just terrific!

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Normally a book that opens with a smart-ass protagonist getting the crap kicked out of him wouldn't be my cup of tea. But then a dwarf was thrown into the mix and I reluctantly thought: Okay, I need to see where this goes.

Where it goes is a spectacularly built world involving a space station and first contact with a species of sentient bears. Yes, you read that right; a dwarf, and sentient bears. But wait, there's more!

Like the space station the novel centers on, full of disparate alien species, the book itself has a smattering of wildly different literary ideas: clever, futuristic tech; engaging personalities; space super heroes; bad-ass women (and bear women); ancient cultures; a love story; checkered pasts; misunderstood scientists. Seriously, it's all in there, and it's seamless, not so forced you get whiplash.

I only have two minor complaints. A lot of the dialog takes place over meals-not in itself bad, but having the food described as thoroughly and often as it does gets distracting. Every time he ate breakfast I found myself wanting farm-fresh eggs. There is also an overabundance of pop-culture references that seem out of place for something so futuristic (though the one dwarf/Thor reference was superbly dropped). But who knows, maybe comic books will survive the centuries!

The audiobook narrator is superb; one of the best I've heard. He brings the character emotions (or flatness for the AIs) to life with a wide range of accents and voices. Slow and heartbreaking when appropriate, and energized and gripping for the action sequences.

An excellent, highly recommended listen or read.

Spectacular performance of a cheeky space fantasy!

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Adventure, love, and a dark past that could destroy his future. Rohan is a hybrid tapping into energy within himself that makes him one of the most dangerous warriors, practically superhero (or villain) like, (Lances, as they are called in this star system) to cross paths with. He's retired to a space station A.I., older than his ancestors, named Wistful working as a Second-class Tow Chief to stay under the radar and escape his past self, and practice his mantra to control his anger and be nice going forward. He's done some things he isn't proud of, but his character is likeable and enjoyable to listen to. His morals are tested when the black hole opens near Wistful throwing his obscure existence back into chaos, and he even meets an attractive love interest that makes his task of keeping his past in the past even more difficult.
I think the prologue is unnecessary, and makes listening to the story quite difficult since it's a bit chaotic to understand what is happening through audio, but ignore those first few minutes, and the rest of the story is engaging and a must listen. You'll find yourself making time you didn't originally allot to listening to your audiobooks a priority, so you find out what happens next. Love this start to Rohan's journey, and can't wait to listen to more!
If you love sci-fi adventure, superhero stories, and even a bit of romance, then you'll devour this audiobook with pleasure. Absolutely a fun listen!
The narrator did a terrific job with this book! He was enjoyable to listen to.

A Must Listen Sci Fi Galactic Superhero Adventure

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*I received a copy of the book from the author for an honest review*
Wistful Ascending was a treat to read from start to finish. The book takes its time to establish bonds between its characters but it not afraid to turn to the grimmer implications of power and trying to change. I struggled to get my own feelings on the character straight by the end as well as some of the consequences in the read, but that made it all the more compelling. I wouldn't consider myself well-read in sci-fi, but there were ideas in the book that were novel to me.
You should probably read it if you like: Bearstronauts, The Iron Druid Chronicles, powers
Consider avoiding if you don't like: Amber Ale, characters with high competency and confidence

A Fun Sci-Fi Read with a lot to offer!

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