Andrew
I enjoyed it overall. Great world building and character development in the first two thirds, but found the last part a little predictable.
The first two thirds were different from what I usually read and entertaining. But then when it got to aliens an alternate dimensions I was really put off. Not what I was looking for, and barely jived with the earlier part of the book. The ending was acceptable even after the last third went off the deep end.
Once I got into this, it was a very fast read, a lot of good action and plot twists. It had a good X Files vibe. But when it was over I was left feeling like it was all flash and not much substance. I like a good conspiracy story, but this felt rushed. I have not read any of the other books in this series. There were a lot of characters and I think they could have been more developed. Sure, a few of them were from earlier in the series, but many were not.
Loved the series, great characters and good humor. Book 3 was a good conclusion, but it a bit short. Really only 200 pages of new material here, rather lengthy intro of 50 pages was largely a review of the first two books. Would have liked more than one chapter with the two (kind of) AI's Jiyi and Chenevert getting to know each other.
Does Kiva Lagos remind anyone else of Ro Laren from STTNG a little?
Ch 7
Getting bored for a few chapters now. Beginning to wonder if I will finish this. Lots of detail (too much) about who is in Hazel's family and small details about their person. Who cares? Is there a story here? Will ONE of these boring details turn into foreshadow of an important plot twist? We finally learned about the hidden clue in the letter, but then that also fizzled out. Ch 10 stopped
45% though I still didn't feel like I really knew either of the 2 main characters beyond a minimal level.
The setup was interesting enough. Building that was enough for a while. But after that was established, there's not much character development going on here. The sentient spiders on the new world are more interesting than the humans. Lots of conflict & fighting with both the humans and the spiders. Started wondering if this was worth sticking with at 20%, gave up at 33%.
I really like a couple of Reverte's earlier novels (Flanders/Dumas). However POB moved so very slowly I just couldn't get into it. He does still paint such intricate & detailed scenes like few other authors can, but and I gave up about half way through.
I was very happy with Black Maps and looking forward to reading this. It started well, but I was getting a little bored about half way through the story. Thankfully the pace picked up right after this feeling set in, and the conclusion was done very well. I look forward to reading more by Spiegelman about John March.
I got half way through this, and for most of that enjoyed it. But as I approached half way, it just became so boring and repetitive. Soooo much of the story is fluff that is repeated too often and does not develop the story.
Every few paragraphs talks about one or more of the following:
1. Which cocktail they're drinking
2. What the dog is doing
3. Current setting of Tesla's DBPS device (deep brain pain suppressor)
Extremely rare for me to bail that far into the book.
I read this because I have started to enjoy the syfy series Haven. It's short and was quick read, did it on the plane. But the book only and the show only have the town in common. There is not a single character or other element the two share. It was well written, and I somewhat enjoyed the characters, but overall I was disappointed because the book is really only half of a story.
The Repairman Jack character is a cross between Indiana Jones and Robert McCall (from the 1980 television “The Equalizer” with Edward Woodward). I enjoyed the first three quarters of this book. It had good pace, adventure, and plot development that crossed generations going back to the British colonies in India. However, I was very disappointed how the last quarter turned into a bad scary monster story.
I had not heard of the “urban fantasy” genre before reading this, but I really enjoyed it. I was very entertained and found myself laughing often at the clever scenes with faerie an human. I considered giving this 4 stars, but I was a little disappointed with how the story concluded in regards to (#1) some of the final acts taken by Eddi's counterpart, Stuart. I mean really, who brings a gun to a faerie fight? and (#2) there was a reasonable amount said by the Phouka about Eddi's future within faerie... and.. then... nothing... Maybe there's another book where this happens, but there should have been something more to it in this one. I though the conclusion was somewhat abrupt, that I deserved a better ending, and the author had demonstrated they were capable of providing one. I think I will try an read more of this genre, and something else from this author.
Stopped after Ch 4, 20% was bored.
I didn't find any of the characters interesting and feel like I should by 20%.
Several unexpected things happening but no real mystery or tension.
They way this company plans and runs the expedition often left me asking why? Kind of like decisions from the higher ups at my day job.
Really enjoyed this book. Read Bourne #1 (before the tvmovie) and it was okay. I will explore more of Ludlum's earlier books now.
I liked it, but it seemed like half a story. As others have said abrupt confusing ending. I felt he could have done more with some of the character story lines and the politics. It's been many years since I read Androids Dream, but I would have to say I enjoyed this more.
This sounded so promising! Sadly, I found it to be a meandering pretentious mess with some impressively irritating characters and endless atmospheric scenes that went nowhere.
The quality of the writing was average, but the second half was over the top fantasy. I wish there would have been more of a hint of this in the first half, I probably would have not spent the time finishing this.
The first half was a good detective story. But the later was a far fetched conspiracy. Was unsatisfied at the finish. Conspiracy needed better development, or at least more indicators earlier in the story so I could have bailed before getting invested.
Gave up after chap 19. Mystery crime novels can be good, but enough with the abducted woman story line.
Hoped for more, thought this could have been better. 2.5 stars. Character development was a little light, cold have been better. Nothing that really surprised me.
Read this because someone else told me they read that this appealed to adults as well as the younger audience. I felt it was more suitable for younger, not so much adults.
3.5 stars. I mostly enjoyed Dolan's first work, and was having trouble finding something to read recently. Something reminded me he had another, and there's a lot about his writing I do like, and I felt that way up until about half way through this book. The plot is complex with twists and turns, the descriptions are vivid and real, and it moves a long at a good pace. But all good things in moderation. A little past half way I began to feel overwhelmed. At that point he could have caught the guy, crafted some explanations for loose ends and been done. But then he had to go on making the other half of the family suspect, and nearly every other character that had not been a suspect in the first half. I really liked the book, it's better than average. But just a little too much in some respects to get that 4th star.
I like the style of writing but couldn't tolerate the slow pace. A third of the way through this I just couldn't continue.