Erik

It's one of the best third books in a fantasy trilogy I can remember reading. The plot twists, the subversion of expectations, and the complexity of his characters were extremely satisfying. Abercrombie is supremely talented at writing characters, which is apparent in just how much I enjoyed Glokta. The commentary on power, and how it's gained, used, and often abused was poignant. I highly recommend not only this book but the whole trilogy. The writing and wit contained therein is razor sharp which leaves you dying to turn the page. I was pleased with the ending, though some will chafe under the final cliffhanger. If you enjoy dark fantasy/grimdark/black comedy then I say it's a "must-read". An easy 5 stars.

Fairly lighthearted with cleverly written dialogue, Redshirts starts off well. Character interaction throughout is amusing and the strongest part of the book. However, the ending fell flat and didn't quite hit for me. Scalzi is clearly a fantastic author, but I feel this one kind of got away from him. It was a fun read though and fans of Scalzi will want to pick it up. Not his best stuff, but some of his funniest.

Interesting debut from Ruocchio will both ups and downs. First act was painfully slow, but does start to pick up after the first couple hundred pages. Ruocchio has a tendency to dwell on a thought, usually through the main character's internal dialogue which can bog the pacing down. Brevity in most cases would be preferred, but he does by the end of the novel seem to figure it out. World building is very good, borderline great, though I have a feeling most of it will not factor into future novels. There is a decent amount of tension throughout, though most of the pay-offs feel a tad underwhelming. Character development is a mixed bag and is mainly due to the first person narrative structure. Overall the plot is solid, particularly the final third. Definitely interested in continuing this series, however I cannot broadly recommend. Interestingly I have it on good authority that subsequent books are much improved and the series as a whole is excellent.

Intense, addictive, a pure thrill ride from start to finish. Not a 5 star due to fridging EO and some very minor pacing squabbles. Easy comparisons to Hunger Games can be made, but I feel this novel is closer to Ender's Game.  Brown does a great job building emotionally fraught scenes between characters and then subverting expectations. I will definitely be reading the next novel in the series. Great fun!!

Brilliant characters, one-of-a-kind world building, and a plot that builds to one of the saddest endings to military campaign in fantasy literature. Absolutely adore the world and characters Erickson created. Highly, highly recommended!!!!