Lanti, aka Robert Lowden, had already missed two inflection points that would prevent Earth from careening down the path to self-destruction. But his latest mistake had ensured that the First Realm knew someone was interfering in the still somewhat uncertain future of this planet. Of course, the First Realm couldn't hit the reset button, as they had with the comet that took out the dinosaurs - a more surgical approach was needed if they wanted to regain control of the expanse. Lanti had barely made it back in one piece. Broken and bloody, he pulled himself onward toward his duty. He was a guardsman, a member of the elite Seventh guard. It would be an honor to give his life and soul for his realm, and he may just have to do that if his mission is to succeed.

In Francis Halpin's The Seventh Guard: Inflection Points, the stakes have never been so high. With evidence of their interference in the planet's future, sending more guardsmen to correct a path already turned askew seems impossible. But that doesn't stop those of the First Realm from their own schemes. Having read the first book, it is amazing to see the alteration in characters, and even an understanding between why certain relationships came into being. Written in the same gripping style as the first, you'll find yourself pulled along with the flow, eager to find out what happens next. The injection of humor amidst the chaos serves to enhance the reading experience and adds to the flow of the plot, adding depth, flaws, and charm to the characters. Allies and adversaries clash, and deception, planning, and interference are the hope to salvage things from the quickly approaching wreckage. Intense, gripping, and fun, the story's tension builds until an ultimate conclusion which is sure to please.

The Seventh Guard: Inflection Points by Francis Halpin is the second entry in The Seventh Guard series, featuring an unforgettable character. In book one of this series, Robert appears as an anti-social man who lacks people skills and whose passion for removing malware from clients' computers eventually leads him into a wonderful adventure. This time round, he has finally figured out who he is and what his compulsions imply. He is sure about what he has to do; however, his mission comes with high risks. Earth is facing a serious threat from a powerful enemy and time is running out. Robert could be the only hope of rescue, but can the inflection points he’s designed be enough and does his motley team of guardsmen possess enough fight in them against so powerful an enemy?

Francis Halpin's science fiction story is a trailblazer, a narrative with a unique setting, well imagined realms and the reality of artificial intelligence. We are introduced to a new form of government, maintaining the balance between the realms, a semblance of order, but there is intrigue and a powerful quest for control between the realms. "The prized worlds all had humanoid-like creatures with varying degrees of intelligence." Earth had become a top infuser and the last stop to bringing the Seventh Realm to the finish line. The characters are well-imagined and developed with skill. While Robert, also known as Lanti, is a sophisticated and enjoyable character, the narrative features compelling characters and creatures that are interesting to watch. The conflict is phenomenal and it moves the story ahead and into surprising places. The Seventh Guard: Inflection Points is balanced, a rollicking adventure sprinkled with humor and intelligence.

Robert has always been a weird, compulsive person who sticks to himself, a character we encounter in the first book in The Seventh Guard series as lonely, absorbed in his job at Best Buy, Portland, as a repairman. But then he writes a harmless program and introduces it to 100 computers. But was this program really harmless? In Inflection Points, the second book in the series, he has finally found his mission. Running a ragtag team of guardsmen, he has established the inflection points to ward off the advance of the enemy. Now it’s too late and the danger grows even bigger and closer to home. Robert and his team are the only hope of survival for their world, but can they stop an enemy as powerful as the one before them?

The Seventh Guard: Inflection Points by Francis Halpin is a compelling science fiction tale. First, the author creates an imaginary universe that has its own rules, segmenting it into different sections and creating powers that are locked in the struggle to create balance. Francis Halpin has the gift of character and Inflection Points is the fruit of a vivid imagination. Robert is a genius, a character who doesn’t easily fit in, someone who lives in their own world. It is interesting how he evolves, following a dream and fighting for a purpose that pushes him to put his life in danger to protect Earth. The prose is beautiful, laced with powerful images, neologisms that capture scientific realities and that derive from the world the author has created. Action-packed and fast-paced, this sci-fi story is real entertainment. Read on non-stop!

The Seventh Guard Series, Book 2: Inflection Points is an action/adventure, science fiction, fantasy tale written by Francis Halpin. Robert was a guard from another dimension sent to protect the earth from foreign and domestic violence, along with his trusted partner, Beth. Together they both end up going on an adventure of a lifetime. Fighting against all odds, trying to escape beings that were sent from a different dimension, Robert and Beth find out the hard way that nothing is ever as it seems, and no one is who they say that they are. Will Robert and Beth be able to save the world from certain death, or will they end up losing the great and beautiful planet that the human race calls home?

What a thrilling, nail-biting, edge of your seat story! The suspense-filled plot started and ended intact, while the characters were well groomed to take on their individual roles of making the story come alive. I enjoyed how the author incorporated some of the main characters from the first book in the series, while adding new characters to amplify the story line yet still keeping to the main theme. The good guys were good while the bad guys made themselves known by their evil deeds. This book is well written and has a very well balanced theme. An inspiring and exciting story! I loved the whole book from its very beginning to the fantastical ending. Since this book has strong language and sexual scenes, I would suggest a more mature audience.