grandgranini's review
3.0
Easy to breeze through but didn't leave a lasting impression. Takes a number of well-known tropes (Body Snatchers, Spy vs. Spy) and puts them together to mildly entertaining ends. Funny in places and suspenseful in others, but would recommend only for light summer reading. Best cover of the year though.
megoverman's review
3.0
The concept and first 34 chapters are almost enough to warrant 4 stars. The hook was gripping, the story built well, and action was interesting.
While the last few chapters were the major source of star loss, it wasn't simply that the book went down hill. It was more that the resolution revealed issues in the framework.
***Spoilers start here.***
The moment Roen's love interest arrived at the end of ch.34 was the moment the spiral began. I'd given the benefit of the doubt regarding her initially. She was barely characterized, given excuses to be off page the majority of the time, and there was more telling interaction between Roen and her father than between Roen and HER. She was a blank slate. So when what was supposed to be the emotional climax depended on Roen's feelings for her, I...wanted to skim. It just wasn't there. Not even in a "she represents normalcy" kind of way, with a few characterizing moments to pin that on. I didn't buy his feelings, so I didn't buy any of the emotion surrounding his save-her-or-die-trying decisions.
Sonya was a lot better, characterwise. But the "love triangle" felt contrived, and didn't ring true. Even if it had, the least satisfying (and, it seems, most common) way to end a love triangle is to kill off one of the competitors. I dreaded this going there, and sure enough, Roen never had to make any sort of choice or decide anything. It neatly resolved itself--and, like with other similar triangles, he even gets to keep a bit of the unlucky gal to hold onto. Meh.
Aside from the lady troubles, the dialogue was clunky in places (though, not unreadable--just noticeable enough that I wouldn't call it a strength), and the same with prose. Specifically, the tendency to unnecessarily plot movement ("he walked over to her") and describe action with "began to" in front. These are the things writers tend to figure out over time, so here's hoping.
I still plan to read more in the series. W. Chu is pretty great, and the book had a lot of potential. Fingers crossed each book improves on the last.
While the last few chapters were the major source of star loss, it wasn't simply that the book went down hill. It was more that the resolution revealed issues in the framework.
***Spoilers start here.***
The moment Roen's love interest arrived at the end of ch.34 was the moment the spiral began. I'd given the benefit of the doubt regarding her initially. She was barely characterized, given excuses to be off page the majority of the time, and there was more telling interaction between Roen and her father than between Roen and HER. She was a blank slate. So when what was supposed to be the emotional climax depended on Roen's feelings for her, I...wanted to skim. It just wasn't there. Not even in a "she represents normalcy" kind of way, with a few characterizing moments to pin that on. I didn't buy his feelings, so I didn't buy any of the emotion surrounding his save-her-or-die-trying decisions.
Sonya was a lot better, characterwise. But the "love triangle" felt contrived, and didn't ring true. Even if it had, the least satisfying (and, it seems, most common) way to end a love triangle is to kill off one of the competitors. I dreaded this going there, and sure enough, Roen never had to make any sort of choice or decide anything. It neatly resolved itself--and, like with other similar triangles, he even gets to keep a bit of the unlucky gal to hold onto. Meh.
Aside from the lady troubles, the dialogue was clunky in places (though, not unreadable--just noticeable enough that I wouldn't call it a strength), and the same with prose. Specifically, the tendency to unnecessarily plot movement ("he walked over to her") and describe action with "began to" in front. These are the things writers tend to figure out over time, so here's hoping.
I still plan to read more in the series. W. Chu is pretty great, and the book had a lot of potential. Fingers crossed each book improves on the last.
rachel_from_cambridge's review against another edition
3.0
Good premise, and I liked the start, but then I didn't think the characters developed very far.
Wont be buying the sequel.
Wont be buying the sequel.
itsjustbran82's review against another edition
3.0
So this isn't typically the type of book I would read. I'm not a big SciFi guy, nor am I really into alien beings. But I picked this book up for two reasons. One, it was .99 cents, and two, Wesley Chu seems to be good friends with Brian McClellan, whom I thoroughly enjoy. So I figured, what the heck, I'll pick it up and read it.
I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the premise of the book (maybe because I'm not used to these types, so it was fresh to me?) The only thing I could think of while reading it though was Brandon Sandersons "Kandra". A part of me wonders if this is where Wesley Chu drew his inspiration. It was easy to read, although a bit amateur. I don't hold that against Chu though, as this was his first novel and like any other skill, it takes time to grow. So no issues there.
The biggest complaint I have with this book is the simple cliche' ridden and shallow characters. There was no effort built into the back stories of anyone. Roan had essentially zero backstory, and all we know about him is that he's a fat, out of shape, pizza loving person with self esteem issues. Nothing unique or special. We keep hearing that there is "more to Sonyas backstory than Roan knows" but well, we never learn about it. There is even less with Jill. Or any of the protagonists either. And I can't help but wonder....is anyone feeding his cat? Or how is he paying his rent? His roommate is essentially there as a prop, serving no real purpose.
Overall, THE LIVES OF TAO was a fun, quick read. But if you're looking for a deep, plot-twisting story filled with twists and turns, this is not the book for you. I'll probably continue on with this series as I did enjoy the concept, and I'm curious how it will all end. But my expectations have been set with this series being nothing more than a fun, quick read that I will use as filler material as I wait for more anticipated novels from Authors I enjoy more (Sanderson, McClellan, Rothfuss, etc).
I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the premise of the book (maybe because I'm not used to these types, so it was fresh to me?) The only thing I could think of while reading it though was Brandon Sandersons "Kandra". A part of me wonders if this is where Wesley Chu drew his inspiration. It was easy to read, although a bit amateur. I don't hold that against Chu though, as this was his first novel and like any other skill, it takes time to grow. So no issues there.
The biggest complaint I have with this book is the simple cliche' ridden and shallow characters. There was no effort built into the back stories of anyone. Roan had essentially zero backstory, and all we know about him is that he's a fat, out of shape, pizza loving person with self esteem issues. Nothing unique or special. We keep hearing that there is "more to Sonyas backstory than Roan knows" but well, we never learn about it. There is even less with Jill. Or any of the protagonists either. And I can't help but wonder....is anyone feeding his cat? Or how is he paying his rent? His roommate is essentially there as a prop, serving no real purpose.
Overall, THE LIVES OF TAO was a fun, quick read. But if you're looking for a deep, plot-twisting story filled with twists and turns, this is not the book for you. I'll probably continue on with this series as I did enjoy the concept, and I'm curious how it will all end. But my expectations have been set with this series being nothing more than a fun, quick read that I will use as filler material as I wait for more anticipated novels from Authors I enjoy more (Sanderson, McClellan, Rothfuss, etc).
lizbusby's review
3.0
Enjoyable little sci-fi romp. Most of the plot isn't super earth-shattering, but the ending is pretty brutal. I like that it dealt with the main character's lack of confidence in a realistic way. He didn't just have to train his body: his mind also needed work.
levysauce's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. I was anticipating having a hard time with it, since it's not my normal genre, but I'm glad I sat down with it. I managed to finish it in 3 days! Plus the day after I finished it i got to meet the author Wesley at a Scifi convention in Minneapolis, where I picked up the other 2 books in the Tao series AND was able to get his new book a few days before it's official release and got all of them autographed!!!! Already half way through the second book(Deaths of Tao) and I'm delighted to say this one is even better. Now when I met Wesley he told me that the 3rd book is his favorite of the 3, so I'm so excited to start that one here soon :) humor, aliens and a new vision of earth's history make these books unique and very satisfying.