Invasion

Best book of the year so far. Time to move on and read the second book in the series, [book:Contact 25059430].

Sean Platt's Invasion, the first book in the series, lays the groundwork for what promises to be a middle-of-the-road alien apocalypse narrative. It's the kind of sci-fi opener that hints at potential without fully delivering on its promises.

The initial setup is intriguing enough - humanity facing an unexpected alien threat, the first moments of a global crisis unfolding. Platt provides just enough world-building to keep readers curious, but stops short of creating truly memorable characters or a groundbreaking narrative arc. It's a serviceable start to the series, but lacks the spark that might elevate it from routine to remarkable.

The pacing feels somewhat uneven, with moments of tension interspersed with stretches that struggle to maintain momentum. Characters are drawn in broad strokes - recognizable types rather than fully realized individuals facing an extraordinary situation. While there's enough here to keep a sci-fi fan reading, it doesn't break any new ground in the alien invasion genre.

As a series opener, Invasion does its basic job - it sets up the world, introduces the threat, and leaves enough dangling threads to make readers potentially curious about the next installment. But it's a cautious, somewhat pedestrian approach to what could be an explosive premise.

For die-hard alien invasion fans, it might be worth a read. For everyone else, it's a take-it-or-leave-it first chapter that neither impresses nor completely disappoints.

A tentative three-star beginning that suggests the series might - just might - develop into something more interesting down the line.

Book 1 is well-paced and does a good job of introducing the characters. The extraterrestrial threat is vague, but the world seems suitably terrified. It's enough to frame what should be an interesting series.