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A review by kraigmhill
Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia
1.0
This rating might seem rough, but if I’m going by the scale definitions it matches - I didn’t like this book which matches a 1 Star.
Does it have redeeming qualities? Absolutely. The action is good (except the dialogue in action). The premise is very interesting (monster hunting!) and pretty well researched. By all accounts the gunplay is spot on.
The first chapter of the book is a great introduction - the initial action scene is very well choreographed, believable, and brings you right into the world where monsters actually exist through the eyes of someone that has to take one on out of the blue.
After that, the book largely fell apart for me. In-action dialogue was worse than hokey. The best of that dialogue was comparable to the worst comic book dialogue.
The protagonist seems interesting at first, until you dig into his background and find out he’s not just some accountant - he’s a sniper and a master of hand to hand combat. But, poor guy, he couldn’t take these skills to the army because he has asthma that literally never rears it’s head again. Convenient. Also, apparently he’s the chosen one. But he’s ugly and fat. OH RIGHT he’s not fat he’s just stalky and actually super strong. He also magically becomes not ugly by the end (literally) and none of this matters because the dame likes him how he is.
Speaking of the damsel - she was totally wooden, but she is the super hot girl with glasses who happens to be extremely proficient with guns dating a super model/super monster killer...but she likes the rough ugly guy even when he (ugly) dumps her then boyfriend into shark infested waters. Makes sense right?
The interpersonal relationships were terrible. The romance between Owen and Julie was, at best, creepy. The remaining characters had some defining characteristics (the virgin, the stripper, the nerd) and they’re probably the best part of the book (minus the action scenes). It would give me hope until we got back to Owen lusting after Julie.
The plot itself was fine, but execution left a lot to be desired. I liked the premise but the book was probably 200 pages too long simply because the old man inside Owens head had to be cryptic for...reasons. As a result we have to scream at Owen to realize he’s the chosen one while he’s told repeatedly that he’s super special, but apparently he’s too dumb to think about this. After all, there are guns to caress and Julie to must after.
To sum it up - I completely understand why people like this book but it’s just not my cup of tea. When I read a book with an interesting premise that I feel has poor execution it tends to sour it on me quickly, and that’s what happened here. I’d happily recommend this to someone who quite likes guns and wants an entertaining read. It’s essentially the male power fantasy equivalent of a bodice ripper, and that’s fine, just not my cup of tea.
Does it have redeeming qualities? Absolutely. The action is good (except the dialogue in action). The premise is very interesting (monster hunting!) and pretty well researched. By all accounts the gunplay is spot on.
The first chapter of the book is a great introduction - the initial action scene is very well choreographed, believable, and brings you right into the world where monsters actually exist through the eyes of someone that has to take one on out of the blue.
After that, the book largely fell apart for me. In-action dialogue was worse than hokey. The best of that dialogue was comparable to the worst comic book dialogue.
The protagonist seems interesting at first, until you dig into his background and find out he’s not just some accountant - he’s a sniper and a master of hand to hand combat. But, poor guy, he couldn’t take these skills to the army because he has asthma that literally never rears it’s head again. Convenient. Also, apparently he’s the chosen one. But he’s ugly and fat. OH RIGHT he’s not fat he’s just stalky and actually super strong. He also magically becomes not ugly by the end (literally) and none of this matters because the dame likes him how he is.
Speaking of the damsel - she was totally wooden, but she is the super hot girl with glasses who happens to be extremely proficient with guns dating a super model/super monster killer...but she likes the rough ugly guy even when he (ugly) dumps her then boyfriend into shark infested waters. Makes sense right?
The interpersonal relationships were terrible. The romance between Owen and Julie was, at best, creepy. The remaining characters had some defining characteristics (the virgin, the stripper, the nerd) and they’re probably the best part of the book (minus the action scenes). It would give me hope until we got back to Owen lusting after Julie.
The plot itself was fine, but execution left a lot to be desired. I liked the premise but the book was probably 200 pages too long simply because the old man inside Owens head had to be cryptic for...reasons. As a result we have to scream at Owen to realize he’s the chosen one while he’s told repeatedly that he’s super special, but apparently he’s too dumb to think about this. After all, there are guns to caress and Julie to must after.
To sum it up - I completely understand why people like this book but it’s just not my cup of tea. When I read a book with an interesting premise that I feel has poor execution it tends to sour it on me quickly, and that’s what happened here. I’d happily recommend this to someone who quite likes guns and wants an entertaining read. It’s essentially the male power fantasy equivalent of a bodice ripper, and that’s fine, just not my cup of tea.