Karen

I enjoy this series, but the prose is beginning to get exceedingly repetitive and it really takes me out of the story. I'm only a quarter of the way in and I've already lost count of how many times they've mentioned the fact that Raphael's mother left him bleeding in a field. I'm also pretty sure that if I put this book through a word cloud generator, the biggest one would be the word warrior. I'm listening to it on audio book right now and it feels like every 2 minutes something or someone is described as a warrior.

I really wanted to like this book. I like the premise. But when you have a computer program rewriting human beings DNA in split seconds, over Wi-Fi, halfway across the globe, with no explanation of how, no nanites, no actual mechanism to do so, I just can't hold it suspension of disbelief long enough to enjoy the story. There were too many things like that, times I threw my hands up in the air and shouted that's not how that works! if you have no technical or computer science background, you may be more comfortable with how these things are glossed over and be able to immerse yourself in the story. But I just couldn't do it.

I think that some people will really love this book. It is a very specific style of prose that will probably appeal to some, but it's just not my cup of tea. There was a lot of ruminating and philosophizing in a very slow, sleepy way. (Listening to it on audiobook may have exacerbated this for me.) There was also a lot of talk (and I mean, a LOT) about the wonder and miracle of being a parent. Just to the point of feeling like it was repeating itself. It makes sense for that to be part of a story that includes characters who are new parents - but it was like reading an Anita Blake book where every four pages there's another steamy group sex scene and you just get to the point where you roll your eyes and think, “again?!”

I found myself feeling like this book was very light on the action and heavy on the poetry and wandering descriptions. And if you like that - and lots of people do, nothing wrong with it - then you'll love this book. I personally just wanted more action.

Ehhh. Started out really strong and then just sort of veered off into “wuh?” territory. I felt the ending was a bit of a cheat.

I think I would have liked this series... if they didn't constantly talk about how every single great figure in human history was actually one of these aliens. I started rolling my eyes every time they mentioned another one. It was getting pretty tedious. Surely, at least ONE influential person in the entire length of history could have actually been great because of their own genius or abilities?

It really, really bothers me that there are readers who find this kidnapping scenario romantic.

Fantastic book. I felt a little iffy at the beginning, but it was just a bit of a rough start. By the middle I couldn't put it down. Extremely engaging and a fun world.

I was disappointed in the ending. It was a well written book, but I felt a bit let down.

I couldn't really get into the first book in this series. I could look at it objectively and say, “That's a well written book,” but it just didn't do it for me. This one? Holy crap, what a difference. I was engaged in this story from the start. Highly recommend.

I was expecting so much more from this book. It's well written, it's an interesting premise, and I really liked the characters,especially the kids. But the reveal and then the ending just left me wanting something a with a bit more meat to it. (No pun intended.)

Disturbing. But good.

Holy crap. In a good way.

Honestly? Meh. I think I continue to read this series purely out of a sense of nostalgia.

This book wasn't the best fantasy I've read all year - but I think it has potential, and it's not unusual for the first book in a series to need a little settling in. It was enjoyable on its own, and I'm interested enough to see how the next one feels.

I am seriously digging this series.

Meh. No strong feelings either way.

The first time I sat down to read this book, I stopped a few chapters in and put it away. The plot seemed too obvious and the characters too flat. I picked it back up a few weeks later and enjoyed it much more. It's still a pretty simple book and the supposed plot twist was obvious from miles away; the characters don't have much of an arc and the love story is pretty bland, but despite all that it was an entertaining read. If you're looking for something deep and thought provoking, this isn't your book. But if you'd like something that's fun and a quick, easy read, this is a good choice.

I don't know why I keep coming back to religious thrillers. I keep hoping that this time, just maybe, it will live up to the promise. The problem is that they're so anxious to pack in constant action scenes that they lose out on the story telling. And like most religious thrillers, the ending leaves so much to be desired. I found the twist in this one actually quite interesting - if they had continued with it and explored what it meant, rather than ending the book. It seems like such a revelation should have consequences or create some kind of impact, so it's incredibly disappointing when they act as though all the loose ends have been tied up and nothing has really been changed. Frankly, I feel cheated. I think if the ending of the book had actually been the premise at the beginning, and a completely different story had emerged, I would have liked it better.

That being said, this is only the first book in a trilogy. Perhaps this book was just the build up and the next will deliver something more. Not sure yet if I'm going to read it to find out.

I really wanted to like this series. I'm a big fan of his Emberverse books; unfortunately these just don't quite match up. It's still an entertaining read, but I think it's missing something. Like a previous reviewer said, the bad guys are too bad and the good guys are too good.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one. I like the idea, but I'm on the fence about the main character. It was interesting enough that I'll read the next one, and see how it progresses.

Lots of telling, not enough showing. And the main character is quite a Mary Sue - young, beautiful, knows everything about everything, also a badass karate master, etc etc. Just a bit too over the top, and the writing style bugs me.

Had a lot of promise, but never really delivered.

Absolutely fantastic.

Fantastic...

Finished this in a day. Come on, book #4!