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fran_fran_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
bbrien's review against another edition
4.0
The picture of humanity that this book paints is pretty bleak. Living in a vastly overcrowded earth, continuing to fight wars with each other, and getting beaten by a larger technologically superior alien race, humanity appears to be in its final days. A recurring comparison in the book is to liken humanity to swarms of bugs, and the aliens to exterminators.
And yet, the main character, Staff Sergeant Andrew Grayson does not give up; he keeps living his life, fighting enemies, loving his mom, his friends and his fiance. Throughout the book Grayson is slightly fatalistic, but still hopes for the best possible outcome. He gets engaged and keeps fighting despite impossible odds. And somehow he is still alive at the end of the book.
And yet, the main character, Staff Sergeant Andrew Grayson does not give up; he keeps living his life, fighting enemies, loving his mom, his friends and his fiance. Throughout the book Grayson is slightly fatalistic, but still hopes for the best possible outcome. He gets engaged and keeps fighting despite impossible odds. And somehow he is still alive at the end of the book.
hyenas's review against another edition
3.0
This is not my genre. Military sci-fi that's light on the sci-fi? No thanks. But somehow, this is compelling stuff. I can't even pinpoint why. I liked Andrew much more in this book than the first one, he's still growing up but at least he spent some time appreciating his mother. There are some casual racism moments (eight) on the part of the author. But really, this is very unobjectionable fare. I'm chasing the 4.8 potential of the fifth book due to FOMO.
storyscribe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
chriswoodywoodruff's review against another edition
4.0
Good entertaining read
I enjoyed the story and reading it was snappy. If you like SciFi this is a very good series and book
I enjoyed the story and reading it was snappy. If you like SciFi this is a very good series and book
amitra's review against another edition
5.0
Military sci-fi from an enlisted POV
Having been enlisted myself, I have often wished that my favorite sci-fi books would be from that POV. Don't get me wrong....I love Honor Harrington, Kris Longknife, and even the Star Trek captains. But I always wanted to see what the lower ranks were doing. This series manages that admirably. He has few good choices in a universe that is depressingly plausible. The science is fascinating, and the world-building gritty but thorough. Well written, with tons of action as well as thought provoking dialogue. Can't wait to read the next one.
Having been enlisted myself, I have often wished that my favorite sci-fi books would be from that POV. Don't get me wrong....I love Honor Harrington, Kris Longknife, and even the Star Trek captains. But I always wanted to see what the lower ranks were doing. This series manages that admirably. He has few good choices in a universe that is depressingly plausible. The science is fascinating, and the world-building gritty but thorough. Well written, with tons of action as well as thought provoking dialogue. Can't wait to read the next one.
pulpmonkey66's review against another edition
4.0
I'm having a hard time with the rating on this. For me the start of the book kind of dragged, but then (much like his first book) it suddenly twisted and took off. I will be reading the third in this series when it is finished.
rocabarraigh's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
charliebvnj's review against another edition
4.0
I’d call these books a guilty pleasure but the only thing I’m feeling guilty about is not feeling guilty. There’s enough nuance to balance out the full throttle action that the whole is somehow greater than the sum of the parts.