Simon MacDonald
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I tried really hard to like this book. There were some interesting ideas here, but there did not seem to be much of a story around them.
I think the author was trying for humour in the story, but the unnecessary violence at the start of the book cancelled out any attempt at humour that I found.
The characters in the story were, in a word, characterless. Apart from Vain who was intensely irritating; perhaps that was the intention.
The plot was so flat and vapid as to be almost nonexistent. I struggled to read the book, but finally got to the ending, which was anticlimactic.
In summary, I have read many great SF and Fantasy books over the years and this isn't one of them. It's not the worst I've read, but close to it. 2* for effort.
I was given an ebook review copy by the publisher.
Factus is bleak, desert moon, out on the edges of human exploration.
It provides the setting for this rollercoaster paced space opera that has shades of Mad Max crossed with a Western style Dune.
Ten Low (aka Doc) is a medic with a mysterious past who wanders the lawless, barren wastes of this moon helping the sick and injured in the desolate communities .
Low comes across the wreck site of a military space ship and she helps the only survivor - an injured teenage girl. However, Gabriella Ortiz is no ordinary teenage girl. She is a genetically modified warrior, a General in the army of the Accord, winners of a recent bloody war, in which Low was on the opposing side.
Low decides to forget the past and help Ortiz, but it soon becomes apparent that the crash was an assassination attempt by the Accord against one of their own. They must flee across the lawless wastes to find safety for Ortiz, avoiding military hit squads, smugglers, robbers, black market organ dealers, and a strange alien presence. She enlists the help of crime boss Malady Falco and her all female gang of G'hals, and between them they fight their way across the moon.
A terrific cast of characters of which Malady Falco and her G'hals deserve their own book.
One of the most fun books I've read this year - can't wait for the next installment
I was pleased to receive an uncorrected proof.
I have been a fan of space operas for many years and this is one of the best that I have ever read. It's on a par with some of my favourite authors; Iain M Banks, Alistair Reynolds, John Scalzi.
Enter the world of Marca Nbara as she flees the Orphanage to become a junior officer aboard the massive, hundreds of years old, Greatship, Athens.
A roller-coaster journey across the Galaxy on a routine trading mission, that suddenly becomes fraught with danger and enemies.
Miles Cameron has created a unique, believable, universe. Great characters and their relationships are core to making this story enthralling.
I can't say more without giving too much away. Bring on the next volume of the story.
Just buy it!
I gave this a 4, but bits of the book seemed disjointed - some flash backs - can't say more without giving too much away. Also a lot of philosophical introspection and self justification.
Having said that the plot and story were good. Can't quite work out if there is mote to come.
Probably a 4.
If you are a computer nerd, a gamer, or a conspiracy theorist, then you will most likely love this book.
The story line is convoluted and intricate following the main character K, playing (or maybe not playing) what may or may not be a world spanning game.
Read the publishers blurb, because we are not allowed to talk about the game.
My first foray into the world of Malaz, and I guess it lived up to my expectations. I was prepared to be confused, and I was right. Steven Ericsson, like William Gibson, makes his readers work for their enjoyment. I did not pre-judge the book, and the more I read the clearer everything became. A thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.
Absolutely excellent - one of the best books I've read this year.
Superb world building, fantastic characters, terrific story line, amazing action. I've run out of superlatives; possibly the best book the author has written.
Bring on part two now
Glorious!
A journey through the highs and lows of the author's life from the viewpoint of food, and how it has influenced and moulded him.
I had to keep putting the book down so I could go and cook something!
2.5 - the writing style is disjointed and needs a good edit. Some interesting ideas, but the characters are flat. Is this a YA book, maybe.
Reading the first book I had Grant Fletcher down as a Reacher clone. He's not; much better written and more realistic in other ways.
I really enjoyed this book.
A quirky, humorous view of time travel, and what happens (or doesn't happen) when it gets out of control.
Set at the end of time, where Time has been decimated by the Causuality War. The nameless hero, the last survivor in this era, is trying to live a peacful life farming, and playing with his pet dinosaur. However the quiet life is about to be disturbed ...
Adrian Tchaikovsky at his best.
Dark undercurrents of dread and fear. Escalating violence as Tomas Piety begins to realise what he has actually got himself into, and what he is going to have to do
for he, and his friends and family, to survive.
Bring on the final installment.
Great story, well written. Great characters and world building, and a unique plot. Bring on the next installment.
Initially I had difficulty engaging with this book but about halfway through it started to grip me. The World building and science are excellent, but I found that there was often too much detail in the descriptions. The characters were interesting, and the Quebecoise slang they use is great. I've learned new ways to swear! The plot is both and a physical and emotional storm. Bring on the second part.
An epic and gritty story that pulls together the strands of Snakewood, and The Winter Road, and brings the tale to a tumultuous conclusion.
Best book I've read so far this year.
Long, complex, and grim. You will need stamina to get through all the alliances, betrayals, plotting, and chicanery.
A few times I had to stop and review who was currently on whose side (and if they were still alive!)
A great stormy read.
