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ralhassan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lazy0718's review against another edition
4.0
A fast-paced techno-thriller, this book is a product of its time. As the author notes in his Author's note, if this book had come out after Snowden's leaks, this would seem way more fictional than it does now. Eisler takes the revelations we've learned about the NSA and its domestic surveillance apparatus, and shows what it could be like just a few steps further down the road.
I enjoyed some of the characters, which has some nice depth to them. I think the one real misstep here is the main villain, who comes off a bit too one-dimensional and "mustache-twirling" to be convincing. The villain's selfish motivation is clear, though, which helps keep the plot moving along at a brisk pace.
Right before I read this book, I watched the documentary Citizenfour, which let me understand most of the backstory and the concerns of all the characters. If you're like me and didn't follow the Edward Snowden leaks (or worse, just assumed Snowden and Chelsea Manning were leaking the same info), then check out the Citizenfour documentary as a good primer for the world this book inhabits.
I enjoyed some of the characters, which has some nice depth to them. I think the one real misstep here is the main villain, who comes off a bit too one-dimensional and "mustache-twirling" to be convincing. The villain's selfish motivation is clear, though, which helps keep the plot moving along at a brisk pace.
Right before I read this book, I watched the documentary Citizenfour, which let me understand most of the backstory and the concerns of all the characters. If you're like me and didn't follow the Edward Snowden leaks (or worse, just assumed Snowden and Chelsea Manning were leaking the same info), then check out the Citizenfour documentary as a good primer for the world this book inhabits.
dburgbacher's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
doug1's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
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? No
3.25
wrdtrvlr's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome! I couldn't stop reading it, even though at one point I wasn't even sure the author was on my side.
Eisler includes pages of references on the research he did in order to write this only-too-believable novel.
Eisler includes pages of references on the research he did in order to write this only-too-believable novel.
verafran's review against another edition
4.0
4 and half stars
This was a hard book to read, not because it's not well written - it really is very well done - but because of the subject matter and some characters. The plot, to me, is scarier than many horror books and movies out there.
Too much power concentrated at the hands of one single person who turns out to be a megalomaniac sociopath it's terrifying.
I had to read it in small doses, cringing at the insanity of one of the main characters, scared for others. They were all well written, real and scarily believable.
Not all characters are crazy sociopaths and psychopaths, but all of them are broken one way or another.
This book has some graphic violence and graphic sex scenes. If you're comfortable with those, you're good to go. If you're not, you get enough warning that let you skip these parts and not miss the great plot.
The main plot is solved in a way that makes sense, but the ending.... I won't spoil you.
This is a book worth reading but not for the faint of heart. There are enough twist, turns and surprises to make a fan of great thrillers very happy.
Maybe you'll finish this book a little bit paranoid, but that's not really a bad thing, right?
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and author [a:Barry Eisler|603|Barry Eisler|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1271016603p2/603.jpg] for sending me an ARC of The God's Eye View in exchange for an honest review.
miane's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A very interesting read. The writer made sure that we felt action form the start. The book is very entertaining, but because of the very fast plot there usually isn’t any time to actually ponder the thematics and think about the topic at hand, which is in no way something that should be disregarded and forgotten straight after finishing. Nonetheless, i would definitely recommend as a casual read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
simsian's review against another edition
3.0
A thriller actually indebted to the Snowden revelations, rather than simply willing to throw bromides to those who would expose surveillance overreach. Ultimately a popcorn read, but one I returned to eagerly every day. I'm looking forward to reading some of Eisler's series novels.
akahn26's review against another edition
4.0
Barry Eisler you've finally done it. You've made a book that doesn't feature John Rain and I've actually enjoyed it thoroughly. While the character depth is still minimal in comparison, (TBF John has 8 books worth of development) the differing perspectives of how much each character knows regarding the main plot keeps the story moving.
We've got the director of the NSA who holds the key to a ridiculously expansive surveillance system known as the God's Eye. What ensues is your basic character archetypes of the lonesome antihero and the love interest that functions as the whistleblower to the God's Eye. The action scenes got a bit gory at times with lots of blood and detailed actions completed with an axe. The thing that really got me was how close to home this story feels, especially in regards to the Snowden leaks. Definitely a story that makes you ponder a bit afterwards.
Thank you sir for finally breaking the chain of mediocre thrillers that never measured up to the great John Rain (I'm looking at you Treven.) While this doesn't give off the vibe of a series book, it wouldn't surprise me to see a sequel in the future.
We've got the director of the NSA who holds the key to a ridiculously expansive surveillance system known as the God's Eye. What ensues is your basic character archetypes of the lonesome antihero and the love interest that functions as the whistleblower to the God's Eye. The action scenes got a bit gory at times with lots of blood and detailed actions completed with an axe. The thing that really got me was how close to home this story feels, especially in regards to the Snowden leaks. Definitely a story that makes you ponder a bit afterwards.
Thank you sir for finally breaking the chain of mediocre thrillers that never measured up to the great John Rain (I'm looking at you Treven.) While this doesn't give off the vibe of a series book, it wouldn't surprise me to see a sequel in the future.