Review of Conquest

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Overview

📖 Book Review: Conquest by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard

Part of the Chronicles of the Invaders Trilogy

I just finished reading Conquest, the first novel in the Chronicles of the Invaders trilogy by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard. Set in the near future, the story chronicles the invasion and conquest of Earth by the Illyrian Empire—an expansive alien civilization that has mastered wormhole technology and dominates hundreds of solar systems.

The Illyrians are the most powerful empire in the galaxy, but they encounter unexpected resistance when they reach Earth. Humanity proves to be the most advanced and defiant species they’ve ever faced. While the Illyrians control major cities, vast regions remain lawless, and resistance to their occupation is widespread.

🛸 The Illyrian Empire: A Fractured Dictatorship

The Illyrian world is an authoritarian military dictatorship divided among several factions, including the Military and the Diplomats. Although the Military nominally governs Earth, the Diplomats frequently interfere, believing the Military is too lenient and too enamored with Earth’s culture. This internal tension undermines the empire’s ability to maintain control.

The Securitate Services, a secret police force, operate largely outside the authority of both the Military and the Diplomatic Corps. They oversee the Scientific Office, which is rumored to conduct illegal experiments on humans and other species.

At the top of the hierarchy is the President of the Imperial Council, a senior military general. Behind the scenes, the Nazarene Sisterhood—a semi-secret society—wields significant influence. Through strategic marriages to prominent figures in the Military, Diplomatic Corps, and Securitate, they manipulate power structures. Skilled in mind control techniques, the Nazarenes are widely feared and operate in the shadows of the empire’s political machinery.

💔 Love and Rebellion in Occupied Edinburgh

The story unfolds as a love story between Syl and Anni—daughters of the governor and senior military leaders, and the first Illyrians born on Earth—and two resistance fighters they encounter during a walk through Edinburgh, the European headquarters of the Illyrian occupation.

When the two young men are arrested on terrorism charges, Syl and Anni intervene with the help of Meija, a mysterious spy who works for the governor. The newly arrived Diplomat, eager to crush the resistance, pushes for their execution. The girls defy imperial authority, and with the help of the resistance, they rescue the prisoners and flee.

While on the run with the captured Consul, they uncover a terrifying truth: a mysterious alien force known only as “the Other” is secretly infiltrating the senior leadership of the Illyrian Empire. These parasites are taking over minds and spreading through the empire, threatening its very foundation.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Conquest is a fast-paced, intriguing coming-of-age novel set against the backdrop of interstellar empire and rebellion. It blends political intrigue, dystopian tension, and emotional depth with a compelling narrative about identity, resistance, and the cost of loyalty.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series and highly recommend it to fans of sci-fi, dystopian fiction, and stories that explore the collision of cultures and the fight for autonomy.

 

Co-Pilot provided the following additional synopsis

📘 Series Overview: Chronicles of the Invaders

1. Conquest (2013)
   Earth has been conquered by Illyria, a beautiful but ruthless alien race. Syl Hellas, the first Illyria born on Earth, is the daughter of the planet’s governor. When she saves a young human rebel, Paul Kerr, she becomes a fugitive of her own people. Together, they uncover a deeper threat behind the invasion—one that could destroy both species.
2. Empire (2014)
   Syl and Paul flee to the stars, pursued by the Nairene Sisterhood and hunted by both Illyria and humans. As they uncover Sisterhood’s secrets, they must decide whether to fight for a new future or be consumed by the old empires.
3. Dominion (2016)
   The final installment sees Syl and Paul leading a rebellion that spans galaxies. Loyalties fracture, ancient powers awaken, and the fate of Earth—and the Illyria homeworld—hangs in the balance.

👥 Key Characters

• Syl Hellas – The first Illyria born on Earth; gifted, conflicted, and courageous.
• Paul Kerr – A young human Resistance fighter who becomes Syl’s ally and love interest.
• General Hellas – Syl’s father and Earth’s Illyria governor.
• The Nairene Sisterhood – A secretive and powerful faction within Illyria society.
• Steven Kerr – Paul’s younger brother, also involved in the Resistance.
• Dr. Brandt – A human scientist with knowledge of Illyria technology.

🖋️ About the Authors

John Connolly

• Born: 1968, Dublin, Ireland
• Known for: The Charlie Parker crime series, The Book of Lost Things, and supernatural thrillers
• Awards: Edgar, Shamus, Barry, Agatha, and Anthony Awards
• Other notable works:

• Every Dead Thing (1999)
• The Book of Lost Things (2006)
• The Children of Eve (2025)
• Nocturnes (short stories)
• The Samuel Johnson vs. the Devil trilogy

Jennifer RidyardBorn: 1971, England; raised in South Africa

• Background: Journalist and lifestyle editor for The Citizen
• Other work: Weekly editorial columnist, freelance writer
• Chronicles of the Invaders is her primary fiction series, co-authored by Connolly

📚 Complete List of Chronicles of the Invaders Books

1. Conquest (2013)
2. Empire (2014)
3. Dominion (2016)

💬 Notable Quotes from Conquest

• “The real invasion has not yet even begun.”
• “She was born of stars, but Earth had made her human.”
• “Sometimes the greatest rebellion is to choose kindness.”

🪐 The Illyria: Political & Social Structure

• Authoritarian Rule: The Illyria operate under a centralized, hierarchical system. Syl Hellas’s father is a high-ranking official, suggesting a ruling elite with significant control over colonies like Earth.
• Expansionist Agenda: Their conquest of Earth is part of a broader imperial strategy. They claim to bring order and technological advancement, but their methods are coercive and manipulative.
• Social Stratification: Illyria society values purity and tradition. Syl, born on Earth, is viewed as different—almost taboo—highlighting rigid cultural norms and xenophobia within their ranks.
• Internal Conflict: The Illyria are not monolithic. Factions like the Nairene Sisterhood—a secretive and powerful group—suggest deep ideological divides and political intrigue within their civilization.

👽 Other Alien Races & Factions

• Nairene Sisterhood: A mysterious and dangerous sect within Illyria, known for their ruthlessness and hunger for control. They represent a darker, more fanatical side of Illyria politics.
• Human Resistance: While not alien, Earth’s youth-led resistance is central to the story. Their guerrilla tactics and defiance contrast sharply with Illyria order.
• Unrevealed Threats: The novel hints at a greater cosmic danger beyond the Illyria—suggesting that the real invasion may not have even begun.

The Illyrian Empire has been taken over by the “others” a mysterious parasite species that is slowly taking over the senior leadership of the Illyrian Empire.  This is of course a long standing Sci-Fi meme as seen in the movies, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”

Co-Pilot provided additional background info on this theme of the novel.

🧠 Core Theme: Alien Parasites & Mind Control

Alien parasites in fiction often symbolize:

• Loss of autonomy and identity
• Fear of infiltration and societal collapse
• Paranoia and distrust of others
• The fragility of human consciousness

📚 Featured Works & Their Parasitic Themes

1. Conquest by John Connolly & Jennifer Ridyard

• Premise: Earth is ruled by Illyria, a beautiful but ruthless alien race. Beneath their civilizing veneer lies a darker truth—parasites that take over human brains and spread through the empire.
• Themes:
  • Colonialism and resistance
  • Hidden biological warfare
  • Youth rebellion and moral ambiguity
• Unique Twist: The parasites are not just invaders—they represent a deeper rot within the Illyria empire, suggesting that conquest is not just territorial but biological.

• 

2. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, 1978, 1993, 2007) – one of my favorites, the 1978 is the best.  

• Premise: Alien seed pods replicate humans while they sleep, replacing them with emotionless duplicates.
• Themes:
  • Conformity vs. individuality
  • Cold War paranoia and fear of communism
  • Loss of emotional depth and human essence.
• Notable Scene: The chilling scream used by pod people to alert others—a metaphor for mass hysteria and surveillance.

3. Parasyte: The Grey (2024 K-Drama)

4. Parsite the Gray

• Premise: Based on Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga, alien parasites fall from space and infect humans by taking over their brains. One woman, Su-in, survives a failed takeover and coexists with her parasite.
• Themes:
  • Dual identity and coexistence
  • Government suppression and secret task forces
  • Philosophical questions about humanity and survival.
• Unique Element: The parasite “Heidi” lives in Su-in’s subconscious, creating a Jekyll-and-Hyde dynamic that challenges the binary of host vs. invader.

3. 🇰🇷 Korean Title of Parasyte: The Grey

   The official Korean name is 기생수: 더 그레이
   Pronounced: Gisaengsu: Deo Geurei

   • 기생수 (Gisaengsu) means “Parasyte” (same as the original manga title)
   • 더 그레이 (Deo Geurei) is a transliteration of “The Grey”

   This title reflects its roots in Hitoshi Iwaaki’s manga Parasyte while signaling its darker, more action-oriented tone.

    

Quotes:

🧠 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Jack Finney, 1955 novel & 1956 film)

• “They’re here already! You’re next!” — Dr. Miles Bennell
  A chilling warning that encapsulates the paranoia and urgency of resisting conformity.
• “Only when we have to fight to stay human do we realize how precious it is to us, how dear.” — Dr. Miles Bennell
  A reflection on the erosion of humanity and the cost of complacency.
• “You have no choice.” — Dr. Dan Kauffman
  The ultimate threat to free will, delivered with eerie calm by a pod-converted psychiatrist.
• “I don’t want to live in a world without love or grief or beauty. I’d rather die.” — Becky Driscoll
  A defiant stand against emotional sterilization and the loss of human depth.

They get you when you sleep.”
— Marti Malone, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1993)

“A moment’s sleep, and the girl I loved was an inhuman enemy bent on my destruction.”
— Dr. Miles Bennell, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

“Your new bodies are growing in there. They’re taking you over cell for cell, atom for atom. There is no pain. Suddenly, while you’re asleep, they’ll absorb your minds, your memories, and you’re reborn into an untroubled world.”
— Dr. Dan Kauffman, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

“We weren’t shooting people, not intentionally; we were shooting parasites.”
— The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein

“Facts can’t be ignored; they’ve got to be destroyed, or faced up to.”
— The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein

“I have been waiting for you humans to come this far.”
— Eve, Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena

“He felt strangely moved by the thought that Toshiaki’s wife had been beautiful down to her liver.”
— Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena

🔬 Parasite Eve (Hideaki Sena, 1995 novel) Japanese Novel

• “Her heart thrilled to mitochondria. But why?”
  A surreal moment of biological awe that hints at the seductive power of transformation.
• “He felt strangely moved by the thought that Toshiaki’s wife had been beautiful down to her liver.”
  A grotesque yet poetic meditation on identity and corporeal memory.
• “I’ll never part from you. Kiyomi, I will never part from you.”
  A haunting declaration of love that transcends death — and perhaps ethics.
• “I have been waiting for you humans to come this far.” — Eve
  A chilling line that suggests humanity’s downfall is the result of its own progress.

pupet master

3. The Puppet Masters (1994) 
   • Release Date: October 21, 1994
   • Directed by: Stuart Orme
   • Based on: Robert A. Heinlein’s 1951 novel
   • Starring: Donald Sutherland, Eric Thal, Julie Warner, Keith David
   • Plot: A covert alien invasion begins in rural Iowa, where slug-like parasites attach to human hosts and control their minds. A government team races to contain the spread before it reaches national leadership.
   • Themes: Mind control, government secrecy, biological horror
   • Reception: Mixed reviews; praised for its tension but criticized for pacing and effects
4. 🎬 The Faculty (1998)

   

   • Release Date: December 25, 1998
   • Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
   • Written by: Kevin Williamson (of Scream fame)
   • Starring: Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, Clea DuVall, Jordana Brewster, Famke Janssen, Robert Patrick
   • Plot: At Herrington High School, students discover their teachers are being taken over by alien parasites. A mismatched group of teens must band together to stop the invasion.
   • Themes: Teen rebellion, conformity, paranoia, body snatching
   • Reception: Cult favorite; known for blending sci-fi horror with teen drama and satire

   🎬 Memorable Quotes from The Faculty (1998)

   Here are some standout lines that reflect the film’s blend of sci-fi horror and teen satire:

   “Everyone’s been acting really weird, especially the faculty.”
   — Casey

   “Tell me about it, it’s like they’ve all turned into fucking pod people or something.”
   — Stokely

   “Body Snatchers is a story somebody made up, dingus. It’s located in the fiction section of the library.”
   — Stokely
   “Yeah, so is Schindler’s List.”
   — Casey

   “If you were going to take over the world, would you blow up the White House ‘Independence Day’ style, or sneak in through the back door?”
   — Casey

   “I always thought the only alien in this high school was me.”
   — Stokely

   “I’d rather be afraid!”
   — Casey, rejecting assimilation by the alien queen Marybeth

🧬 The Puppet Masters (Robert A. Heinlein, 1951 novel/Film)

 

• “Time was when I was immune to emotional shocks. But as I get older, I don’t get tougher; I get softer.”
  A poignant reflection on vulnerability in the face of alien control.
• “Facts can’t be ignored; they’ve got to be destroyed, or faced up to.”
  A call to confront uncomfortable truths — a theme that echoes your own writing style.
• “We weren’t shooting people, not intentionally; we were shooting parasites.”
  A morally fraught line that blurs the boundary between liberation and violence.
• “In the Country of the Blind the one-eyed man is in for a hell of a rough ride.”
  A metaphor for the burden of awareness in a manipulated society.

Other Notable Films & Books on Alien Parasites

Title	Medium	Parasite Type	Key Themes
The Puppet Masters (1994)	Film	Slug-like aliens	Mind control, government conspiracy
The Faculty (1998)	Film	Brain-burrowing aliens	Teen rebellion, assimilation, paranoia
Dreamcatcher by Stephen King	Book/Film	Stomach-born aliens	Friendship, trauma, grotesque body horror
Slither (2006)	Film	Slugs that mutate hosts	Small-town invasion, grotesque transformation
The Thing (1982)	Film	Shape-shifting alien	Identity crisis, isolation, paranoia
The Host by Stephenie Meyer	Book/Film	“Souls” that erase consciousness	Ethical colonization, memory, resistance
Parasite Eve by Hideaki Sena	Novel	Mitochondrial rebellion	Genetic horror, symbiosis vs. parasitism
The Bay (2012)	Film	Isopods from pollution	Eco-horror, body invasion, found footage style

🧬 Why These Stories Resonate

Alien parasite narratives tap into primal fears:

• Loss of control: What if your body isn’t yours?
• Societal collapse: Infected individuals blend in, eroding trust.
• Biological horror: The grotesque transformation of flesh.
• Philosophical depth: What defines humanity—consciousness, emotion, or autonomy?

🔍🕰️ Comparing Parasite Metaphors Across Political Eras

Alien parasite stories often reflect the anxieties of their time. Here’s how:

Era	Example	Political/Social Context	Metaphorical Reading
1950s–60s	Invasion of the Body Snatchers -the classic series	Cold War, McCarthyism	Fear of ideological conformity and loss of individuality
1980s	The Thing, The Puppet Masters	Reagan-era paranoia, AIDS crisis	Distrust of others, fear of hidden infection
1990s–2000s	The Faculty, Slither	Post-Columbine, rise of teen alienation	Rebellion against authority, fear of peer assimilation
2010s–2020s	Parasyte: (K-drama) The Grey, The Bay	Surveillance state, ecological collapse	Government overreach, environmental revenge, blurred identity lines

Conquest fits into a post-9/11 and post-colonial framework:

• The Illyria empire’s parasitic control mirrors imperialism masked as benevolence.
• The youth-led resistance reflects modern movements against systemic oppression.
• The parasite as a metaphor for internal root suggests that empires collapse from within, not just from external threats.

✍️ 🧪 Real-World Biological Parasites That Inspired Fiction

Nature is often more terrifying than fiction. Here are a few real parasites that have inspired alien horror:

Parasite	Behavior	Fictional Parallel
Toxoplasma gondii	Alters rodent behavior to make them attracted to cats	Mind control themes in The Faculty and Parasyte
Cordyceps fungus	Infects insects, controls their movement, bursts from their bodies	Basis for The Last of Us
Leucochloridiumk	Turns snail tentacles into pulsating “worms” to attract birds	Echoes grotesque transformation in Slither
Parasitic wasps

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