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mkpatt's review
4.0
An action filled page turner
A very fast read. A little predictable but the plot was just good guys vs. bad guys. The motivation of the bad guys was too simple and not really credible. Still, it was a fun time waster.
A very fast read. A little predictable but the plot was just good guys vs. bad guys. The motivation of the bad guys was too simple and not really credible. Still, it was a fun time waster.
jstjst's review against another edition
1.0
Should have been titled Noble "Never Began" after reading 30% of this book. This is a total waste to time.
cadyly's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book mainly because I'm really interested in the military thriller genre. However, this book lacked the complexity and character development of the earlier Tom Clancy novels.
There was a lot of action, but not all of it felt realistic. Jack got into a conflict in *every* scene he was in and got out of them too unscathed. A bullet wound was stitched up and then that person was running around almost like nothing happened just hours later.
That said, I'm still likely to read the rest of the series. I have a feeling that I'll rank it below Clancy, and below the Mitch Rapp series, but I have hope that some of the initial flaws will be worked out as the series continues.
There was a lot of action, but not all of it felt realistic. Jack got into a conflict in *every* scene he was in and got out of them too unscathed. A bullet wound was stitched up and then that person was running around almost like nothing happened just hours later.
Spoiler
And the situation with his ex, Jessie? Something to do with his job broke them up 5 years before this story and she was like, "Oh well, he's here now, let's pick right back up with no discussion whatsoever!" That just doesn't ring true. Also, that she'd just leave her job, house, and all of her possessions without a single backward look? Not likely.That said, I'm still likely to read the rest of the series. I have a feeling that I'll rank it below Clancy, and below the Mitch Rapp series, but I have hope that some of the initial flaws will be worked out as the series continues.
rik_sixx's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing. I'd heard of the Jack Noble series and was glad out the opportunity to pick up the first one cheap, until I got started.
It turns out I've heard this story before. Most people have. Take all the spec ops style tropes you can think of, much them together and you have this book.
Neither the story or characters are original, none of the twists or reveals came as a surprise and all of the fight scenes are copy-pasted from middling action movies. Even the writing is unspectacular.
One thing that did surprise me is how Noble Beginnings uses female characters. That's a bit of a stretch really - there is only one and she's the most generic ex/love interest/damsel in distress possible. Until around halfway, the only women in the book are waitresses, and their only defining characteristics are hair colour and make-up style.
Noble Beginnings is a short, dumb holiday book - no thought required. If that's the kind of read you're after then there are so many better options. There's no chance that I'll bother to give any more time to this series.
It turns out I've heard this story before. Most people have. Take all the spec ops style tropes you can think of, much them together and you have this book.
Neither the story or characters are original, none of the twists or reveals came as a surprise and all of the fight scenes are copy-pasted from middling action movies. Even the writing is unspectacular.
One thing that did surprise me is how Noble Beginnings uses female characters. That's a bit of a stretch really - there is only one and she's the most generic ex/love interest/damsel in distress possible. Until around halfway, the only women in the book are waitresses, and their only defining characteristics are hair colour and make-up style.
Noble Beginnings is a short, dumb holiday book - no thought required. If that's the kind of read you're after then there are so many better options. There's no chance that I'll bother to give any more time to this series.
stevem0214's review against another edition
4.0
It took it a little while to get to a point. Action from the start, but it seemed for a while that was going to be the whole story. About 1/2 way through it took off. I'll read the others in the series now.
sangelo17's review against another edition
3.0
The book was written, pretty poorly, but as someone enjoyed it. Pretty much a typical hero, needing to save the day.
bookstobarbells's review against another edition
2.0
Forced read
This book was just not good. It was very basic in its style of writing, had an extremely predictable plot line, under developed characters, and a forced love story. The only reason it earned two stars instead of one was because the action scenes were interesting. They did get repetitive by the end though.
This book was just not good. It was very basic in its style of writing, had an extremely predictable plot line, under developed characters, and a forced love story. The only reason it earned two stars instead of one was because the action scenes were interesting. They did get repetitive by the end though.
apryde6226's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty weak story & what wasn't was a cliche. For example the evil master mind being someone Noble trusted, the girl going off to find herself, etc.
I may give the next one a shot but still debating it.
I may give the next one a shot but still debating it.
gbdill's review against another edition
3.0
Read in one day. Fun and entertaining read. Fast-paced. Constant action. But, shallow characters and hardly a plot. In the end, we really don't know a solid reason why the "bad guys" were after Noble. Don't look for a lot of depth in this book, but if you like an easy-to-read novel with non-stop action, then you'll enjoy this one.
r_lind's review against another edition
4.0
Great start, kind of anti climatic ending. I will definitely read the next.