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mrdanman2's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
One of the worst books I've ever read.
Muddled, boring and repetitive plot, with a deus ex machina twist at the ending that did not feel earned in any way.
Muddled, boring and repetitive plot, with a deus ex machina twist at the ending that did not feel earned in any way.
moiram's review against another edition
3.0
This is never going to be one of my favourite Weber books, but it does have it its moments.
ptothelo's review
3.0
I liked that these characters inhabit a world closer to ours. For example, the alien invasion leads one of the pilots to think about that opening scene of Independence Day. There is also an interesting take on human psychology regarding our loyalties and stubbornness. It jumps around too much and kind of falls apart at the very end, but it's still an enjoyable read.
But if you only read one of his aliens arrive on Earth books, the Empire from the Ashes series was more enjoyable.
But if you only read one of his aliens arrive on Earth books, the Empire from the Ashes series was more enjoyable.
jonmontgo's review
1.0
This book is, simply, terrible. Any interesting ideas are buried underneath poor writing, flat/self-insert characters, racism, jingoism, and a fetishistic obsession with the military.
Weber wastes the readers time with page after page of technical manual like descriptions of weapons which eventually you just start skipping. His characters never really development, and exist only to further the plot or to hold the guns that Weber really cares about.
The worst part is that there is a good idea here, that a more competent writer could have made entertaining at least. Even the ludicrous twist can't redeem this book.
Weber wastes the readers time with page after page of technical manual like descriptions of weapons which eventually you just start skipping. His characters never really development, and exist only to further the plot or to hold the guns that Weber really cares about.
The worst part is that there is a good idea here, that a more competent writer could have made entertaining at least. Even the ludicrous twist can't redeem this book.
iamtuaig's review
adventurous
tense
fast-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
iddylu's review
2.0
I wasn't very into this book (as evidenced by how it took me well over two years to read it - I don't DNF books, but I do delay them), but honestly, I didn't hate the ending as much as everyone else seemed to. It was completely ridiculous, but it was still kind of interesting, and I'd probably enjoy a book about quite a bit more than I did this one.
Spoiler
the continuing adventures of Stephen and Vlad rebuilding the world by being heroic vampires togetheryochana27's review
5.0
Reading Method: Audiobook
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Narrator Rating: 5/5
Female Lead rating: N/A
Male Lead rating: N/A
Genre: SciFi
Genre Rating: 4.5/5
Thoughts:
The only reason I’m taking .5 away is because I agree with the other reviewers stating that the level of detail about the weapons was A LOT and I don’t think it was needed. Other than that, I actually enjoyed it and I didn’t expect that ending but I really liked it.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Narrator Rating: 5/5
Female Lead rating: N/A
Male Lead rating: N/A
Genre: SciFi
Genre Rating: 4.5/5
Thoughts:
The only reason I’m taking .5 away is because I agree with the other reviewers stating that the level of detail about the weapons was A LOT and I don’t think it was needed. Other than that, I actually enjoyed it and I didn’t expect that ending but I really liked it.