pjonsson's review against another edition
3.0
This is a general review of books 1 to 3 in the series.
These are some of those books that it is a bit hard to rate and review actually. I quite like the story but at the same time it is difficult to overcome that the implementation is not perfect and at time a bit flawed actually.
It is a first contact story. That’s a good start for me already. It is also a story where humanity actually not only learns that they can kick ass but actually gets to do some ass-kicking. My kind of story.
However, the implementation is a bit flawed. The story about aliens asking the human for help to fight for them is quite a bit of a stretch. The aliens, their behavior and their constant withholding of vital information, although the latter gets a bit of an explanation later in the series, is sometimes quite silly. The parts of the story where the humans just goes of helping the aliens by going on various adventures is also bordering on young adult writing.
On the good side it is quite refreshing to read a book series where not every politician is either stupid, egoistic or just total assholes. I know, a honest and intelligent politician is maybe stretching it a bit but I still like it. The heroes are also likable and the adventure and action is quite fun.
I also do like how the author ties these aliens into various historical events and especially to the old mythology of various regions of Earth. Okay, okay, sometimes it is a bit of a stretch but it is still a fun twist.
One thing I would have liked the author to spend more time on are the “surprise moments”. They are not as much wow or elaborated as they could have been. Most of them are just hi-let-me-introduce-you-to-my-buddies-the-aliens and then it is over with. A bit lazy actually.
Still, I had fun reading these books and if more comes out in the same series I’ll probably pick them up.
These are some of those books that it is a bit hard to rate and review actually. I quite like the story but at the same time it is difficult to overcome that the implementation is not perfect and at time a bit flawed actually.
It is a first contact story. That’s a good start for me already. It is also a story where humanity actually not only learns that they can kick ass but actually gets to do some ass-kicking. My kind of story.
However, the implementation is a bit flawed. The story about aliens asking the human for help to fight for them is quite a bit of a stretch. The aliens, their behavior and their constant withholding of vital information, although the latter gets a bit of an explanation later in the series, is sometimes quite silly. The parts of the story where the humans just goes of helping the aliens by going on various adventures is also bordering on young adult writing.
On the good side it is quite refreshing to read a book series where not every politician is either stupid, egoistic or just total assholes. I know, a honest and intelligent politician is maybe stretching it a bit but I still like it. The heroes are also likable and the adventure and action is quite fun.
I also do like how the author ties these aliens into various historical events and especially to the old mythology of various regions of Earth. Okay, okay, sometimes it is a bit of a stretch but it is still a fun twist.
One thing I would have liked the author to spend more time on are the “surprise moments”. They are not as much wow or elaborated as they could have been. Most of them are just hi-let-me-introduce-you-to-my-buddies-the-aliens and then it is over with. A bit lazy actually.
Still, I had fun reading these books and if more comes out in the same series I’ll probably pick them up.
gryffyntea's review against another edition
4.0
A bit of a choppy start, and having not yet read Calvin's backstory, I felt a bit off my footing.
I enjoyed the story, once it got going, and I hope to see more of the new civilizations. It was hard to remember who died, and the deaths didn't get the emotional punch that often appears in other books.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Russians and Chinese in the next books. I'd like to get more about the characters.
I enjoyed the story, once it got going, and I hope to see more of the new civilizations. It was hard to remember who died, and the deaths didn't get the emotional punch that often appears in other books.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Russians and Chinese in the next books. I'd like to get more about the characters.
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