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kessler21's review
3.0
I had only read The Kingbridge and Century Series (aren't they now the same series?) by [a:Ken Follett|3447|Ken Follett|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1604049089p2/3447.jpg] so I thought I'd give this a try.
[b:Never|57747930|Never|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618507557l/57747930._SY75_.jpg|89250613] is about events leading up to World War III, with the sections of the book broken up into Defcon 5-1. As usual, Follett has many characters from different backgrounds and countries. The first half of the book, which is Defcon 5 and part of Defcon 4, were interesting and engaging. Setting up the characters and the first of the political maneuverings. After, the story became less exciting and lost the depth of the story.
If you want to identify the main characters, its pretty easy since they all have some sort of love interest or relationship issues within the book. And as per Follett, the characters are very linear. Either inherently good/right or inherently bad/wrong. Key players are missing from the book.
Russia, Britian, Spain, France apparently have not interest in a World War, as the conflict is mostly US, Korea, China, and to a small degree, Japan. Also missing is the effect the events are having on the world, on the people.
I do like that these series of events are similar to World War I where is is no real aggressor. Noone trying to take over the world like Germany of World War II. Instead a perfect storm and no one willing to stop and "show weakness".
[b:Never|57747930|Never|Ken Follett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618507557l/57747930._SY75_.jpg|89250613] is about events leading up to World War III, with the sections of the book broken up into Defcon 5-1. As usual, Follett has many characters from different backgrounds and countries. The first half of the book, which is Defcon 5 and part of Defcon 4, were interesting and engaging. Setting up the characters and the first of the political maneuverings. After, the story became less exciting and lost the depth of the story.
If you want to identify the main characters, its pretty easy since they all have some sort of love interest or relationship issues within the book. And as per Follett, the characters are very linear. Either inherently good/right or inherently bad/wrong. Key players are missing from the book.
Russia, Britian, Spain, France apparently have not interest in a World War, as the conflict is mostly US, Korea, China, and to a small degree, Japan. Also missing is the effect the events are having on the world, on the people.
I do like that these series of events are similar to World War I where is is no real aggressor. Noone trying to take over the world like Germany of World War II. Instead a perfect storm and no one willing to stop and "show weakness".
aditig911's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hymian's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
tense
slow-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
4.25
spark5309's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 / 5
An intense thriller. Ken Follet is a master at making you feel for his characters. This book was hard to put down and felt like something ripped out of the news that can happen now or in the near future.
If you’re a fan of his, you won’t be disappointed.
An intense thriller. Ken Follet is a master at making you feel for his characters. This book was hard to put down and felt like something ripped out of the news that can happen now or in the near future.
If you’re a fan of his, you won’t be disappointed.
yd514's review against another edition
5.0
This book is not for everyone. One could find its size daunting. Yet if you go slow, one step at the time, if you commit to a long term relationship with it, you’ll get through and will enjoy it.
Loved the international chess games between countries. China, Chad, US, Korea, etc.
Loved the international chess games between countries. China, Chad, US, Korea, etc.
keetabi_keeda's review
4.0
DEFCON, or, the defence readiness condition, is an alert state used by the US Armed Forces. It increases in severity from DEFCON 5 (least severe) to DEFCON 1 (most severe) to match varying military situations, with DEFCON 1 signalling the outbreak of nuclear warfare.
So, keeping this in mind, when I saw the contents of the book and saw that the first 60% of the book was in the DEFCON 5 phase, and escalated quickly to DEFCON 1, you had to know this is going to be good. (Thrilling and complete fictional story-wise, Nuclear Warfare is OBVIOUSLY not good in real-life).
As you must have read in my book tour post for this book, I'm a Ken Follett Stan. Have been reading his book since high school, especially his contemporary thrillers. Man, they are awesome, and so is this one. Well, kinda. There are some brilliant things about the book, and also some non-so-brilliant things. The book is completely gripping and engaging. The character arcs are superb (albeit, some are unnecessary, I'll get to that part in a moment). Most characters are grey, and not just straight black and white, Chang Kai, who is one of the key members of the story, a sort of "prince" of the communist party of China, is quite Liberal, but hints of his conservative nature do tend to show up from time to time. Now coming to the unnecessary part. The Africa Arc is completely UNNECESSARY. It is FILLER. It doesn't move the story forward at all(forget drive it). If this part was not INCLUDED, the climax would have been the same. I was waiting till the end of the book, that somehow Follett will connect the dots and make sense of this arc. But no. SO MUCH BUILD UP for a not so satisfying climax. Hey, I'm not saying that the arc was not fun to read. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. I personally don't believe that all the arcs in a story have to be plot-driven in a book. It's just I have to point it out as a critic for those who do.
The climax is easily the best part of the book. The Thrill, OH MY GOD! It was like I was right there. The most frightening part is how easily this can become reality, in today's fickle world, where you just need to drop a pin to offend someone somewhere, this is not a question of WHAT? but WHEN?
It is fairly obvious that Follett has developed this for a screen. And I agree, this can be an amazing series if picked up. Fans of the fast-paced thriller genre, who don't mind the 800+ pages, can pick the book up.
So, keeping this in mind, when I saw the contents of the book and saw that the first 60% of the book was in the DEFCON 5 phase, and escalated quickly to DEFCON 1, you had to know this is going to be good. (Thrilling and complete fictional story-wise, Nuclear Warfare is OBVIOUSLY not good in real-life).
As you must have read in my book tour post for this book, I'm a Ken Follett Stan. Have been reading his book since high school, especially his contemporary thrillers. Man, they are awesome, and so is this one. Well, kinda. There are some brilliant things about the book, and also some non-so-brilliant things. The book is completely gripping and engaging. The character arcs are superb (albeit, some are unnecessary, I'll get to that part in a moment). Most characters are grey, and not just straight black and white, Chang Kai, who is one of the key members of the story, a sort of "prince" of the communist party of China, is quite Liberal, but hints of his conservative nature do tend to show up from time to time. Now coming to the unnecessary part. The Africa Arc is completely UNNECESSARY. It is FILLER. It doesn't move the story forward at all(forget drive it). If this part was not INCLUDED, the climax would have been the same. I was waiting till the end of the book, that somehow Follett will connect the dots and make sense of this arc. But no. SO MUCH BUILD UP for a not so satisfying climax. Hey, I'm not saying that the arc was not fun to read. In fact, I quite enjoyed it. I personally don't believe that all the arcs in a story have to be plot-driven in a book. It's just I have to point it out as a critic for those who do.
The climax is easily the best part of the book. The Thrill, OH MY GOD! It was like I was right there. The most frightening part is how easily this can become reality, in today's fickle world, where you just need to drop a pin to offend someone somewhere, this is not a question of WHAT? but WHEN?
It is fairly obvious that Follett has developed this for a screen. And I agree, this can be an amazing series if picked up. Fans of the fast-paced thriller genre, who don't mind the 800+ pages, can pick the book up.
cindysal's review against another edition
4.0
Wavering between 3 and 4 stars. It’s vintage Follett with a sweeping plot full of international intrigue and high stakes drama with some romance between beautiful people thrown in. An enjoyable read that picked up speed in the second half.