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jseargeant's review
Originally published at Novel Escapism
For these soldiers snatched out of time, death is just the beginning of the fight. Faced with total destruction from a relentless foe, the inhabitants of the planet Arden created a rip in space-time to bring in reinforcements. A sophisticated AI system scours the history of Earth finding skilled fighters on the brink of death. Granted a second-chance, these warriors must find a way to save the failing Arden. When the ninth intake, comprised of Rome’s lost Ninth Legionnaires, U.S. Calvary from the 1860s and the Cree nation people they were fighting, and a special forces group trying to thwart environmental terrorists, arrives on Arden, an opportunity arises to finally take the fight to their enemy, the Horde. But the outcome turns out to be something neither side could anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was original and action-packed. Andrew Weston has created a gripping sci-fi world. There was a lot of jumping around to different characters and places but I never felt lost. I could have used a map of Arden because I had trouble visualizing where some of the action was in relation to the main city but overall, the planet of Arden was both alien and familiar. Mr. Weston’s writing was above average with only a few errors and punctuated with some beautiful, elegiacal descriptions. I recommend The IX as an engrossing, sci-fi adventure.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
For these soldiers snatched out of time, death is just the beginning of the fight. Faced with total destruction from a relentless foe, the inhabitants of the planet Arden created a rip in space-time to bring in reinforcements. A sophisticated AI system scours the history of Earth finding skilled fighters on the brink of death. Granted a second-chance, these warriors must find a way to save the failing Arden. When the ninth intake, comprised of Rome’s lost Ninth Legionnaires, U.S. Calvary from the 1860s and the Cree nation people they were fighting, and a special forces group trying to thwart environmental terrorists, arrives on Arden, an opportunity arises to finally take the fight to their enemy, the Horde. But the outcome turns out to be something neither side could anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was original and action-packed. Andrew Weston has created a gripping sci-fi world. There was a lot of jumping around to different characters and places but I never felt lost. I could have used a map of Arden because I had trouble visualizing where some of the action was in relation to the main city but overall, the planet of Arden was both alien and familiar. Mr. Weston’s writing was above average with only a few errors and punctuated with some beautiful, elegiacal descriptions. I recommend The IX as an engrossing, sci-fi adventure.
*Disclosure: I was provided a free copy of this novel with a request for an honest review.*
simonea's review against another edition
2.0
Military sci-fi is not really my thing. This book had everything I normally want: a good, original story. Very well written. Full of surprises. And yet it could not grasp me. I don’t know why, but I just did not find it interesting. All the discussions and details about various weapons, strategies and military affairs made the story quite slow and unnecessarily complex for someone who doesn't know too much about the topic.
I have come to the conclusion that if you like Military Science Fiction, you will absolutely love this book. But as it is not mine, I had to drag myself through the pages and I felt an enormous relief when I finally finished it.
I have come to the conclusion that if you like Military Science Fiction, you will absolutely love this book. But as it is not mine, I had to drag myself through the pages and I felt an enormous relief when I finally finished it.
canadajanes's review against another edition
3.0
Just ok. I really liked the premise and there were some good bits, but other parts dragged on or felt like the author was trying too hard or trying to include too much. I enjoyed the ending though, well wrapped up.
djhobby's review against another edition
1.0
1.6 stars out of 10
I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn't finish it. After 3/4 of the way through I gave up. I liked the premise, but I didn't care for the execution.
Very minor spoiler following:
One thing really bothered me, couldn't they just put barbed wire around everything and be safe? Did the iron have to be kinetic to affect the demons? Put on some chain mail and maybe a few spikey shoulder pads, and poof, demon proof. Maybe the author addressed this near the end?
I really wanted to love this book, but I couldn't finish it. After 3/4 of the way through I gave up. I liked the premise, but I didn't care for the execution.
Very minor spoiler following:
One thing really bothered me, couldn't they just put barbed wire around everything and be safe? Did the iron have to be kinetic to affect the demons? Put on some chain mail and maybe a few spikey shoulder pads, and poof, demon proof. Maybe the author addressed this near the end?
pjfiala's review against another edition
5.0
This book contains it all; military history, science fiction, heros, warriors, adventure. The IX is deep, thought provoking and insightful Weston is a gifted story teller and has a fabulous career ahead of him. The world he created was described in such as way it felt real and like I was right there in it. Bravo.
quiraang's review against another edition
4.0
What's not to like! Romans and Picts, cowboys and Indians, special forces and eco-terrorists all on a planet, far, far away, all fighting alien nasties.
patrick6367's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this book on the strength of some outstanding reviews by others, here and in some other places. I stopped reading about 30% through it. I think I'm just going to have to stop buying books based upon reviews on Amazon, and maybe even here. I've been disappointed far too many times in the last year, especially with Amazon relentlessly pushing their self-published Kindle authors.
So this isn't a horrible book by any means, and it did remind me a little of some of the Eric Flint stuff I have read so if you are into him you might enjoy this. But I struggled mightily with immersion issues and suspension of disbelief - the author clearly had an idea of what he wanted to put together in the way of a conflict, which sounded interesting, but all the science and plotting to create that situation was contrived and unbelievable. The world building was flat and nothing made much sense at all. Thus I struggled with immersion and suspension of disbelief. The characters were also a little cartoonish and one dimensional, and I didn't identify with them nor care about their storyline. IMHO this book simply doesn't merit the level of praise it has received, nor the ratings it is clocking. This isn't GRRM, Rothfuss, Abercrombie, Cornwell, or Sparrow level prose. It's not even Eric Flint level prose. Will you enjoy it? You might very well enjoy it, but you'll probably have a better chance of enjoying if you are expecting a David Drake or Eric Flint style book going into it and not expecting "eight stars out of five" like I read elsewhere.
So this isn't a horrible book by any means, and it did remind me a little of some of the Eric Flint stuff I have read so if you are into him you might enjoy this. But I struggled mightily with immersion issues and suspension of disbelief - the author clearly had an idea of what he wanted to put together in the way of a conflict, which sounded interesting, but all the science and plotting to create that situation was contrived and unbelievable. The world building was flat and nothing made much sense at all. Thus I struggled with immersion and suspension of disbelief. The characters were also a little cartoonish and one dimensional, and I didn't identify with them nor care about their storyline. IMHO this book simply doesn't merit the level of praise it has received, nor the ratings it is clocking. This isn't GRRM, Rothfuss, Abercrombie, Cornwell, or Sparrow level prose. It's not even Eric Flint level prose. Will you enjoy it? You might very well enjoy it, but you'll probably have a better chance of enjoying if you are expecting a David Drake or Eric Flint style book going into it and not expecting "eight stars out of five" like I read elsewhere.
klieber's review against another edition
2.0
Great premise. Middling execution. I loved the idea of people being pulled from different periods of time and forced to work together towards a common goal. However, I felt the author took WAY too much artistic license by asking us to believe that the different people/units came together so quickly, especially considering the adversarial nature many of them started from. He also left key plot threads hanging, such as: He also used some tired tropes, such as . But, most frustratingly, the story just doesn't come together very tightly. Hanging plot threads aside, he tries to force pieces of the puzzle together in ways that just don't fit. Not in a "the interpretation is left up to the reader" sort of way, but in a "this just doesn't make logical sense" sort of way.
It was OK, but certainly not my favorite.
Spoiler
(who pushed the guy over the wall? And why?)Spoiler
the god-like figure only speaking in allegories and leaving it up to the characters to sort outIt was OK, but certainly not my favorite.
readwithmoniqua's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay read. There were way too many characters to keep up with who is who and who is doing what. As for the story, I think it would suck to die in a battle and then wake up to another battle in another world, just to possibly die again. It was a well written piece but there was just too much going on at one time that it was hard to keep up and stay focused.
cherime's review
5.0
First, let’s get this out of the way. I was given a review copy of this book for a fair and honest review. Anyone who reads my reviews, know I usually only post the ones where I can give a 5 or 4 star. Anything else I contact the author and attempt to explain why I can’t do better. That said, this is not just another 5 star review. I would give this one at least an 8 if it were possible. I stayed up way too late to finish the book. It not only had me on the edge of my seat, it twisted me into knots at the end. Whoa! This is a science fiction story to get and hold on to. It is an amazing work with a mind boggling conclusion. Frankly, I’m still processing it. Excellent, fantastic story! The author’s imagination leaves me gasping.
Warriors snatched at the moment of death from Earth, find themselves in a struggle on another planet. The enemy is one that does not mind dying to obtain their ends. But what is the goal? How did they get to this point in time?
This 9th group of warriors holds the fate of the entire world in their hands. They are the last the world can bring to bear on the enemy. Wow! What a tale.
Warriors snatched at the moment of death from Earth, find themselves in a struggle on another planet. The enemy is one that does not mind dying to obtain their ends. But what is the goal? How did they get to this point in time?
This 9th group of warriors holds the fate of the entire world in their hands. They are the last the world can bring to bear on the enemy. Wow! What a tale.
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