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mrconrad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tealedfleet's review against another edition
2.0
I gave this book a re-read because I dropped it the first time. My rating has not changed in the meantime, even though I hoped I would be proven wrong. For such a prominent name in the Battletech Lore, this book almost does the Gray Death Legion a disservice.
There is a disconnect between the type of book Mercenary's Star wants to be: It wants to be Hard Military Science Fiction, a Pulpy adventure novel, and a Romance all at the same time. The result is that it fulfills a mediocre role at best, while being downright poorly written at worst. Female characters in the book are either: a) in love with a man, b) lost a man, c) jealous about a man being in love with another woman. How about sharing some deeper motivations and personalities to those characters instead of bringing them back around to their feelings for the male characters?
If you want to dive deeper into the Battletech universe, it's ok at best - but don't go expecting greatness here.
There is a disconnect between the type of book Mercenary's Star wants to be: It wants to be Hard Military Science Fiction, a Pulpy adventure novel, and a Romance all at the same time. The result is that it fulfills a mediocre role at best, while being downright poorly written at worst. Female characters in the book are either: a) in love with a man, b) lost a man, c) jealous about a man being in love with another woman. How about sharing some deeper motivations and personalities to those characters instead of bringing them back around to their feelings for the male characters?
If you want to dive deeper into the Battletech universe, it's ok at best - but don't go expecting greatness here.
kynan's review against another edition
3.0
William J. Keith Jr. really stepped it up a notch with Mercenary's Star! This is book two of the Gray Death trilogy and although it easily stands alone, I think you definitely benefit from following the overarching story line that started in Decision at Thunder Rift.
This time around Grayson Carlyle has managed to scrounge together a minimal mercenary unit (the Gray Death Legion) and is trying to find something to do with it before he runs out of cash. He ends up in a very similar position to the one he found himself in in Decision at Thunder Rift and the story follows the trials and tribulations of Grayson and co as they attempt to reproduce their rabble-rousing magic from Trellwan.
The plotting of Mercenary's Star felt less stilted than Decision at Thunder Rift. There's a very Bondian (James Bond) style to the story actually, it reminded me of Casino Royale in fact! There's the the basic infodump, the megalomaniac baddie and his depraved sidekick, the graphic violence, the furious action and, of course, the ultimately unstoppable protagonist! There are also giant fighting robots again, and this time there's some pretty awesome hand-to-hand mech fighting to go along with the lasers and missiles. Also, fancy prose:
"The Stinger's right foot came down in minor chords of thunder."
In conclusion: a really fun read!
This time around Grayson Carlyle has managed to scrounge together a minimal mercenary unit (the Gray Death Legion) and is trying to find something to do with it before he runs out of cash. He ends up in a very similar position to the one he found himself in in Decision at Thunder Rift and the story follows the trials and tribulations of Grayson and co as they attempt to reproduce their rabble-rousing magic from Trellwan.
The plotting of Mercenary's Star felt less stilted than Decision at Thunder Rift. There's a very Bondian (James Bond) style to the story actually, it reminded me of Casino Royale in fact! There's the the basic infodump, the megalomaniac baddie and his depraved sidekick, the graphic violence, the furious action and, of course, the ultimately unstoppable protagonist! There are also giant fighting robots again, and this time there's some pretty awesome hand-to-hand mech fighting to go along with the lasers and missiles. Also, fancy prose:
"The Stinger's right foot came down in minor chords of thunder."
In conclusion: a really fun read!
klambson's review
4.0
It took me a while to get into this book, but it definitely had it's moments (particularly the final battle scene). Had some head scratchers from a plot standpoint that I struggled with a bit. Solid book, just not my favorite of the trilogy.
isd's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, and Murder
magnumdanger's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
kavinay's review against another edition
3.0
+1 for the scene featuring a spilled Agromech screaming "should I punch out sir?" and the Dervish behind correcting the CO that he had no hands to help.
hydrangea's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one much better than the first. I found the planet and setting to be a much more interesting and appealing place than Trellwan, and the minor characters were more dynamic and developed. Grayson benefited from starting as a fairly admirable character, whereas in the prior book he hadn't learned a lot of his life lessons yet.
I found the battle scenes and military maneuvers compelling and interesting, and the mix of action and quieter developing scenes was well done.
Kagumo and the rest of the antagonists were believable and fleshed out, worthy characters in their own right.
I found the battle scenes and military maneuvers compelling and interesting, and the mix of action and quieter developing scenes was well done.
Kagumo and the rest of the antagonists were believable and fleshed out, worthy characters in their own right.
inferiorwit's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Kidnapping
Minor: Confinement, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Colonisation
brian's review against another edition
4.0
Following on from Decision at Thunder Rift, this looks at the Gray Death mercenary unit as they take their first contract.
The population of a planet under the rule of the Draconis Combine need help to get their people able to fight back.
What starts as a training mission soon becomes a lot more as the Gray Death are moved to the front of the action.
The characters are well done, and carry baggage from the first book. Grayson Carlyle has to learn about commanding disparate units that make up his army.
The book suffers from a few "that was lucky" moments (things happening just in the nick of time to avoid defeat) but overall is a good look at early era Battletech universe.
The population of a planet under the rule of the Draconis Combine need help to get their people able to fight back.
What starts as a training mission soon becomes a lot more as the Gray Death are moved to the front of the action.
The characters are well done, and carry baggage from the first book. Grayson Carlyle has to learn about commanding disparate units that make up his army.
The book suffers from a few "that was lucky" moments (things happening just in the nick of time to avoid defeat) but overall is a good look at early era Battletech universe.
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