imzadirose's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyable. Good characters and story. Didn't like what happened at the end, nor that I saw it coming half the book. Disappointing, but the rest was good and I'll read more.
geleeregina's review against another edition
4.0
I really like Joe Ledger! While this was a good installment, it did not grab me like the first one did. Still, it kept me entertained. :) I do have to say that for anyone wanting to read this series, you MUST LISTEN to it on audiobook. Ray Porter's narration IS Joe Ledger! I can't imagine experiencing this series any other way.
Re-read, liked it better this time around, perhaps because I spaced my readings/listenings out. Dunno, but this was better the second time around.
Re-read, liked it better this time around, perhaps because I spaced my readings/listenings out. Dunno, but this was better the second time around.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting/terrifying premise. Fast moving plot.
But... If you're a ruthless best-of-the-best soldier, why do you keep trying to capture the crazy people (and ruining your element of surprise) instead of just killing them (and thereby significantly decreasing the chances of them shooting you)? And not just once. I get the appeal of pithy one-liners, but still...
And that it was a female making the dumb moves made it worse. She was supposed to be as smart and as tough and as elite.
It made me too cranky to enjoy the rest of the book.
But... If you're a ruthless best-of-the-best soldier, why do you keep trying to capture the crazy people (and ruining your element of surprise) instead of just killing them (and thereby significantly decreasing the chances of them shooting you)? And not just once. I get the appeal of pithy one-liners, but still...
And that it was a female making the dumb moves made it worse. She was supposed to be as smart and as tough and as elite.
It made me too cranky to enjoy the rest of the book.
pbro42's review against another edition
3.0
Pulpy, but entertaining.
The plots keep escalating into more and more ridiculous territory. And Joe Ledger isn't much of a cipher. He's too inhuman. The characteristics that make him the best soldier in the world also make him a pretty boring character. You know he's going to go all Wolverine, he'll save the day, and he'll deal with any failures after the job gets done.
He supposedly has all these scars from the death of Helen and from Grace, but his reactions seem "tacked on" to make him seem more human.
He has a pet cat that might as well be a lamp. How about we delve into that a bit? Did Rudy suggest this as therapy? Joe seems to have no attachment to it.
When the DMS signs him up, they bring his cat and things from home and he shows minimal emotion.
Neuroses make characters interesting. And all the trauma Joe's been through should be a rich source to mine. Here it just seems like wallpaper to make him seem less like a robot.
I got more character development out of Church winking than two books of Joe Ledger kicking ass.
It's popcorn reading but it serves its purpose. I'll read 'em all, even if I say "Oh come on!" out loud a few times.
Also because NAZIS!
The plots keep escalating into more and more ridiculous territory. And Joe Ledger isn't much of a cipher. He's too inhuman. The characteristics that make him the best soldier in the world also make him a pretty boring character. You know he's going to go all Wolverine, he'll save the day, and he'll deal with any failures after the job gets done.
He supposedly has all these scars from the death of Helen and from Grace, but his reactions seem "tacked on" to make him seem more human.
He has a pet cat that might as well be a lamp. How about we delve into that a bit? Did Rudy suggest this as therapy? Joe seems to have no attachment to it.
When the DMS signs him up, they bring his cat and things from home and he shows minimal emotion.
Neuroses make characters interesting. And all the trauma Joe's been through should be a rich source to mine. Here it just seems like wallpaper to make him seem less like a robot.
I got more character development out of Church winking than two books of Joe Ledger kicking ass.
It's popcorn reading but it serves its purpose. I'll read 'em all, even if I say "Oh come on!" out loud a few times.
Also because NAZIS!
dhasenkampf's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
I didn't like this one as much as the first Joe Ledger novel. It moved along at a fast pace, and I wasn't bored, but it was a little too similar to the first. And it felt like the author was trying to do too much. There were too many groups of bad guys and competing villains. I wanted more dialogue between Joe and his men (one of my favorite aspects of the first in the series) and less unraveling of ridiculously complicated story lines.
I also wish the editing of this novel had been stronger. One chapter takes place at 1:27 am and the characters are watching the sun set. Nope, that's not right. Another time the characters begin a conversation on the phone and end it by shaking hands. There are multiple instances of the wrong word being used, than instead of then, he instead of her, etc.
Not a bad installment in the series but I'm hoping for more with the next one.
I also wish the editing of this novel had been stronger. One chapter takes place at 1:27 am and the characters are watching the sun set. Nope, that's not right. Another time the characters begin a conversation on the phone and end it by shaking hands. There are multiple instances of the wrong word being used, than instead of then, he instead of her, etc.
Not a bad installment in the series but I'm hoping for more with the next one.
victhenasty's review against another edition
4.0
A techno/bio-warfare/horror thriller that is better written then it has any right to be. 2nd book in a series and better than the very good first book. Highly highly recommended.
elementchaos's review against another edition
4.0
First zombies and now eugenics! Can't wait for the next one!!