Steve Manke
The plot is a little bipolar in that it starts out seemingly inspired by the likes of National Treasure, only to take a ninety-degree turn near the last third and land somewhere between paying homage to, and blatantly apeing, the Star Gate franchise. I have mixed feelings about this since I'm a fan of both. It's just an odd mashup that failed to smoothly transition from a plot perspective. It's the literary version of shifting without using the clutch.
That criticism aside, as with the first book in the series, Philips does a great job of getting the reader invested in the characters. Their motivations are reasonable, at least within the confines of the series. And perhaps most impressive, the author seems particularly well versed in Egyptian subject matter. The nuances of the research were interesting and thought-provoking.
To be clear, I deducted a star for the strangely disjointed plot mashup, but then gave a star back to the rating for the nuances and intricacies surrounding the Egyptian research. I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoyed the first in the series.
The dangers in this book are out of this world. Alex Hunter is up against more than just agents of a hostile nation as he faces something sent from the Void. Beck flexes his creative muscles with the creepy crawlies spawned by his imagination and birthed in this book. Readers are in for as many chills as they are thrills. And as always, we're left wanting more. On to book #8!
This book takes the characters back to where it all began: beneath the dark ice. It's a fantastic adventure with high international stakes and unrivaled peril for the heroes of the series. I'm putting this down as my favorite book in the series so far. High praise given I'm a big fan of the series overall.
I'm usually one of those people who like the book better than the movie. In this case, I have to admit to liking the movie more. This book was good, but the movie had more creative symmetry... and ended on more of an up note. I don't think that hint about the end gives too much away. In fact, I think folks should be a little warned. You kind of know where things are headed, but you hope for something different.
All of that said, the concept on which Limitless is based, or Dark Fields as the book was originally titled, is creative, fascinating, and had the potential to spawn an entire franchise. I know there's a second book in the series but it's certain to be based on a different character. It's something of a prequel from what little I have read about it. And of course the movie and subsequent TV series speak to the imagination Gynn inspired in other writers.
Read the book if you don't expect it to be a clone of the movie and if you're looking for a conclusion different from everything you know if Limitless in its visual forms. If you go into the book with these expectations, you're likely to enjoy the book for what it is: creative, visceral, and often thought-provoking.
I like time travel stories and thought I had read at least a sampling of every take on the concept. Split Second managed to bring something new to the sub-genre and wrap it in a compelling adventure at the same time. This was a fun book, a fantastic adventure, and a fresh look at what time travel could mean to the modern world.
The books seem to have ever more moving pieces as the characters no longer need to be grouped into a single large team to manage their objective. This shows the strength of the characters, as well as the plot development as both become more well defined and engaging. The series is a winner. I'm on to the next in the catalog.
Quinn has to fix his relationship with Nate and that's only the start of the problems the team faces in this book. I'll admit to being worried that the Quinn/Nate feud would drag out over several books but this seems not to be the case. Nate will likely have his own ongoing problems, but direct friction with Quinn, hopefully, won't be among them. I suppose time will tell.
The Fractured is #12 in this series and I'm as invested as ever. I can't wait for #13!
Book 2 in the series doesn't disappoint. It's a rampaging thrill-ride with some outstanding characters. Not only are the best characters back from the first novel, but some amazing new good guys join the cast. Just as important, some outstanding new antagonists join the fray... folks who are likely to make appearances in the future.
While the book touches on the phenomenon of the Bermuda Triangle, and the source of its mysterious history, the plot never digs into the guts of the matter. Maybe the next book will pick up where this one leaves off. I hope so. So much fertile, unexplored ground is left waiting for readers to experience.
With a title like “The Gates of Hell,” a fairly high bar is set. It's hard for a book to deliver on expectations once the book starts with a phrase like. Still, Leadbeater pulls it off. Another compelling thrill ride that not only continues to deliver on character development but builds on the plot arc spun up in the first two books.
This said, there were some gaps that, if they were addressed, I missed them. The tomb known as the Gates of Hell resides at a location that requires more explanation as to why no one has ever stumbled upon it in the time since the famous pirate Cook did back in his time. It's hard to explain more without treading in the realm of spoilers so I have to leave it there.
The first book touched on the McGuffin of a time travel device reminiscent of the Philadelphia Experiment. When this happens, one has expectations of having said device play a pivotal role in the story. The old adage of storytelling where if the author hangs a gun over the mantel at the beginning of the tale, that damn thing better go off by the end. The pivotal devices in question never actually become functional in any way in books 1 or 2. Worse yet, one of the devices drives the plot forward in this book, only to have the antagonist discard it before heading to the final objective. It's unclear why he needed it to find the Gates of Hell, or why he spent book 1 and 2 killing so many people to get his hands on it.
These glitches fail to diminish from the overall impact of the book for anyone interested in a compelling character-driven adventure/thriller. Thus I still rate the book at 4 stars.
Very timely subject matter. Setting that aside, I'm glad to see Russia become the villains of recent novels again. I'm beyond tired of religious extremists being the go-to antagonists of the genre. Maybe I'm showing my age—maybe it's just time to mix things up again.
In any case, Rapp is back. He's more of a team player than ever before. That seems like an evolution for the character as well. Some of the recent character shifts and turns become absolutely pivotal in this book. Mills manages this with a skill that demonstrates his intimate understanding of characters, some of which were his and some who predate his work on the series by many years. This is an interesting challenge for an author and I'm continually impressed.
Another 5-star release for the series!
This book concludes in a way that suggests there might be a book 4 in the series. But given how long it has been since this edition was released, that appears questionable. Either way, this was a fantastic addition to the series. If we only get a trilogy, it's a fantastic set of books that I'm happy to recommend to any even remotely interested in the summary provided on Amazon. Each book delivers the goods.
This author is new to me, and if the first book is any indication, I'm going to enjoy the series. It reminds me of the Chase & Wilde characters in Andy McDermott's long running serial. It's not just the English author feel, either. There's a similarity that will feel very comfortable to fans of McDermott's books.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say this is a crossover book that links the Jack West books to another of Reilly's amazing series. Adding that to an already incredible plot makes for a profoundly action-packed thrill-ride that keeps running strong until the very last page.
According to an author interview at the end of the book, this book helps setup the next 2 (or was it 3?) novels in the West series. That's a lot of prep work. And the next book comes out soon. Can't wait!
There are a lot of moving pieces in this release in the Oregon series. Some complex potting, a lot of action, and some great character work. I'm not the least bit surprised with a team like Cussler and Morrison. The Oregon series continues to impress!
One point stands out in this book. Every Cussler book starts with a prologue. Some have very little to do with the events of modern time when all is said and done. This book struck me as having the most impactful of those in recent memory. The events of ancient time had a profound impact on the characters of today.
A clever and fun concept: a brain implant that gives the user instant internet access and the ability to read minds. Who wouldn't want that? You can see where this might make the protagonist's life a little complex. Particularly when he didn't volunteer to become the world's first test subject.
The story is largely character driven, which is a big win in my opinion. The protagonist is likable, even if even he doesn't know his own name at the start of the story. I was excited to jump right to the next book in this series.
Sadly, my least favorite book in the series. Still entirely worth reading... just a little uninspired when compared to the rest of the series. I kept coming back to the simple fact that I couldn't unthink: The Jon Reznick I know from the first 4 books would never have spent so much time screwing around before he rolled up his sleeves and busted his buddy out of the nuthouse. The series is based on a character who is a man of action. There is a long history of him flying in the face of federal authority to do what he believes is right. So why would he spend the majority of a book trying to make up his mind about walking into a hospital even if it meant banging a couple of heads together in an effort to spring his war-time buddy?
The rating loses an entire star for being based on a faulty plotting premise. I could overlook it, had it not been the thread holding the entire story together.
Again, entirely worth reading... just try to put this problem out of your mind, if you can.
This book was much more to the character's rogue traits, and therefore a return to the personality he was introduced as in the first book. When his friend at the FBI is abducted, he's willing to work with the FBI to help get her back. He's also just as willing to tell them all where to go if it means getting her back. Investigating on his own is entirely acceptable in his mind, and that's the character I've wanted to read more about since I finished reading the first book in this series. This release brought that character back. I hope we see more of the anti-team player in the future. He's far more interesting.
This was a great action-thriller. Exactly the sort of book I look for given its twist of sci-fi and high energy. There's a great twist near the end. The way the book is concluded, it reads like no part-two was planned. I'm excited to see there is a second release already out there. I'm anxious to read that later this month.
I loved the twists and turns this book took along the way. From the extreme relevance of the prologue right on through to the graveyard scene at the end. There was a lot to enjoy. I wouldn't have expected a new spin on the Last Airbender to be this compelling. Thirteen books in and The Event Group is still going strong.
It's hard to explain what I liked without touching on spoilers. One character interaction comes to mind. I enjoyed the return of the sharpshooter from Legacy. The guy who came out of nowhere to be this crazy dead-shot. I always wondered what happened to him. He was such a unique character. In this book, he's given a new opportunity to shine. And they touch on their lost friend Matchstick again in a peripheral way. That minor plot point was both touching an interesting.
If you're a fan of the series, check it out.