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teaandlibri's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing middle entry. After reading the first book ('The Lives of Tao') I was super excited. An urban sci-fi (maybe?) book about a slobby nobody who becomes a Jason Bourne type character with the help of an alien influence! Wooo! Although that book was not amazing I appreciated what felt like an actual planned story with the set up of the main character (Roen), the setting of these aliens trying to get home, a little romance and more.
Unfortunately...this book doesn't meet my expectations. I'll be discussing some plot points so if you don't want to read, avoid this review!
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Are you ready?
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The book picks up a few years after 'Lives' and I'll have to say I was disappointed. Roen has married Jill and they have a son, Cameron. The initial start of the story was slow and focused on their marriage/family. I don't care for Jill (initially thought she'd be a side character at best, never cared for the romance, was essentially elevated in the story by killing off another woman, she just doesn't get the same development as Roen did). Part of it is that I don't care for romance as a whole in my media. I just didn't care about their marriage troubles and unfortunately it was difficult to care for her as a character. She goes through some of the same trials Roen does in her up-training. The story was just done with Roen and done better.
She also has a bit of a side-plot working on Capitol Hill and in the US government. Even though I normally like that it was difficult to care for her plot and some of the complications that it entails. This particular plotline is important for the end and (I assume) the setup for the final entry of this trilogy though.
That said, the other parts of the book were better. The war is still going on and we have a big bad. Enzo seems a bit trope-y and I have strong suspicions as to where his character is going. I'm hoping I'm wrong so I'll wait to see what goes down in Book 3. That said, the book felt a bit like a mishmash. The Tans' marriage, the ongoing war, this new Big Bad, etc. It could be that this book suffers from the "middle entry must bridge the first and last books" disease though. But it was a bit of a letdown from the first book.
However, the ending totally caught me by surprise. I'm not shocked by these particular developments in themselves, although I would have assumed some of this would have been more suited to the end of Book 3 as a cliffhanger (the war) or as the ending (the death...maybe?). It should be interesting to see where Chu takes this story and should make the end an epic ride. I will say that one of the developments made me really wince with current events at the moment.
It did make me glad that I've been mostly avoiding information about these books because I'm aware there's a "sequel" trilogy (at least one book) of sorts and that might have spoiled my reading.
So while perhaps the book did not meet my expectations, I'm still intrigued. And it may be just it's the middle book plus the author perhaps not being very good with the beginnings of his books (I was put off by the first chapter of the previous book and initially held off reading it). I'm looking forward to the end of this ride.
Unfortunately...this book doesn't meet my expectations. I'll be discussing some plot points so if you don't want to read, avoid this review!
...
...
...
Are you ready?
....
....
....
The book picks up a few years after 'Lives' and I'll have to say I was disappointed. Roen has married Jill and they have a son, Cameron. The initial start of the story was slow and focused on their marriage/family. I don't care for Jill (initially thought she'd be a side character at best, never cared for the romance, was essentially elevated in the story by killing off another woman, she just doesn't get the same development as Roen did). Part of it is that I don't care for romance as a whole in my media. I just didn't care about their marriage troubles and unfortunately it was difficult to care for her as a character. She goes through some of the same trials Roen does in her up-training. The story was just done with Roen and done better.
She also has a bit of a side-plot working on Capitol Hill and in the US government. Even though I normally like that it was difficult to care for her plot and some of the complications that it entails. This particular plotline is important for the end and (I assume) the setup for the final entry of this trilogy though.
That said, the other parts of the book were better. The war is still going on and we have a big bad. Enzo seems a bit trope-y and I have strong suspicions as to where his character is going. I'm hoping I'm wrong so I'll wait to see what goes down in Book 3. That said, the book felt a bit like a mishmash. The Tans' marriage, the ongoing war, this new Big Bad, etc. It could be that this book suffers from the "middle entry must bridge the first and last books" disease though. But it was a bit of a letdown from the first book.
However, the ending totally caught me by surprise. I'm not shocked by these particular developments in themselves, although I would have assumed some of this would have been more suited to the end of Book 3 as a cliffhanger (the war) or as the ending (the death...maybe?). It should be interesting to see where Chu takes this story and should make the end an epic ride. I will say that one of the developments made me really wince with current events at the moment.
It did make me glad that I've been mostly avoiding information about these books because I'm aware there's a "sequel" trilogy (at least one book) of sorts and that might have spoiled my reading.
So while perhaps the book did not meet my expectations, I'm still intrigued. And it may be just it's the middle book plus the author perhaps not being very good with the beginnings of his books (I was put off by the first chapter of the previous book and initially held off reading it). I'm looking forward to the end of this ride.
boredpanda's review against another edition
5.0
I don't really have much to say about this book. Except that it's awesome. I wonder if the author got some inspiration from a race called Trill from the Star Trek universe. A book full of action, a brilliant explanation of the world's history and humor. My only regret is that I'm going to have to wait for the next Tao book.I was more than a little shell shocked when I reached the end of this book! And there better be many more books in the future... :)
bbboeken's review against another edition
3.0
Minder goed dan het eerste deel, maar (gelukkig) wel opnieuw met een spetterend einde. De verrassing van het gegeven is natuurlijk uit het verhaal verdwenen, maar op het einde komt het weer helemaal terug. Ik ben benieuwd hoe het met het derde deel (publicatie voorzien voor december) zal zitten.
jaymeks's review against another edition
3.0
It was a good book, but it was depressingly more serious than the previous book. I still liked the action and humor, but it took me a bit longer to get through.
I cannot wait for the next book, but I'm still unsure about how this book has left me feeling. Very interesting.
EDIT: While I do love the combo of spinach and bacon ( =) ), I wasn't expecting that for a the second course. While I understand that there's this whole alien war thing going on, I just missed the lightheartedness of the previous. I guess that's what I get for marathoning these books (a credit to how much I actually liked them). It was more Temple of Doom, less Empire Strikes Back.
And it's not like I didn't like the book... I loved the prose, the dialogue, and primarily the characters - I just came off a Lives of Tao high (one of the better, most original novels in 2013). Oh, and I will still buy the subsequent novels.
I cannot wait for the next book, but I'm still unsure about how this book has left me feeling. Very interesting.
EDIT: While I do love the combo of spinach and bacon ( =) ), I wasn't expecting that for a the second course. While I understand that there's this whole alien war thing going on, I just missed the lightheartedness of the previous. I guess that's what I get for marathoning these books (a credit to how much I actually liked them). It was more Temple of Doom, less Empire Strikes Back.
And it's not like I didn't like the book... I loved the prose, the dialogue, and primarily the characters - I just came off a Lives of Tao high (one of the better, most original novels in 2013). Oh, and I will still buy the subsequent novels.
feyn's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
soawesomeness's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
lizbusby's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was jolting. Not sure why the author decided to skip over their courtship and marriage. The ending is also jolting. What?! In between, it was just okay.
matosapa's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this one as well as the first one. Maybe I'm already bored of the premise and certain characters (and their attitudes towards the separation of the husband-wife team) are quite irritating. It looks like the next book wraps up this trilogy but I could be wrong. There doesn't seem to be a lot left to reveal.
lefonix's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't love it as much as the lives of tao due to having multiple points of view which diluted the suspense of the narrative, but still a fun read.