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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
In a gloriously surprising and welcome twist, Burn Cycle is as good if not better than Cry Pilot. And this is coming from someone who loved every single page of the first book. Kaytu and his squad are back fighting the terrifying lampreys with the odds increasingly against them. And there's also the many secrets that could tear it all down. Plus, there are tons of what I'm calling GASP! moments because I straight up gasped in disbelief as I was reading.
Everything that made me love Cry Pilot is back and improved, the tension, the adrenaline, the military tactics, the secrets, the relationships. It's all here. There is even a return of the slightly insouciant way that Dane loves to torture his readers when it comes to what happens to some of the characters you've learned to love.
Seriously, read this. Even if you're not particularly a fan of sci-fi or military fiction, this is a book that you won't be able to put down.
Everything that made me love Cry Pilot is back and improved, the tension, the adrenaline, the military tactics, the secrets, the relationships. It's all here. There is even a return of the slightly insouciant way that Dane loves to torture his readers when it comes to what happens to some of the characters you've learned to love.
Seriously, read this. Even if you're not particularly a fan of sci-fi or military fiction, this is a book that you won't be able to put down.
This was violent, touching, exciting and horrifying. And better than book one.
Anvil squad is tasked with fighting more lampreys, while the techs are trying to create a CAV squadron to fight lampreys by pairing more squaddies with CAVs.
As We’re familiar with the characters, the author didn’t have to spend a lot of time explaining the situation. At this book’s start we find out there’s trouble with the pairing, along with an increased risk of someone discovering Tingting’s secret, there are increasing numbers of lamprey attacks, and lots of moments of Cali being both brutal and hilariously to the point. Ting’s discovering how important she’s becoming to Maseo, and both Maseo and Cali continue to pine for Rana. And the stakes just keep getting bigger and more dangerous. This book was lots of swift, violent fun!
Anvil squad is tasked with fighting more lampreys, while the techs are trying to create a CAV squadron to fight lampreys by pairing more squaddies with CAVs.
As We’re familiar with the characters, the author didn’t have to spend a lot of time explaining the situation. At this book’s start we find out there’s trouble with the pairing, along with an increased risk of someone discovering Tingting’s secret, there are increasing numbers of lamprey attacks, and lots of moments of Cali being both brutal and hilariously to the point. Ting’s discovering how important she’s becoming to Maseo, and both Maseo and Cali continue to pine for Rana. And the stakes just keep getting bigger and more dangerous. This book was lots of swift, violent fun!
I really hate it when the author thinks so little of his audience that he completely changes the universe to try to make a story interesting from a tactical point of view. The first book repeatedly said that the AI designed the CAV's so that a pilot was absolutely required. That continued in the first half of this one. Suddenly, though, they start remote control moving empty CAV's with no problem.
The plot is fairly basic and the characters aren't enough to save the book from that major flaw. The attacks on people are more serious, the government (businesses) is admitting the attacks have an intelligent actor, and it moves to a confrontation and then a cliff hanger for another book. I won't be reading it.
The plot is fairly basic and the characters aren't enough to save the book from that major flaw. The attacks on people are more serious, the government (businesses) is admitting the attacks have an intelligent actor, and it moves to a confrontation and then a cliff hanger for another book. I won't be reading it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Finished last night at owl-eyes o'clock.
This is one of the few series in which first person present tense works for me so well I wasn't really aware of the tense until a certain shocker, wherein it was absolutely right.
The series continues at a frenetic pace, testament to Joel Dane's tight writing. The foe is seriously creepy, absolutely lethal to the survival of humanity, and fascinatingly realized. There are few books in which I am deeply engaged with the antagonist's origins and evolution, but this is one. The violence level is quite high, the body count as well; this is a series in which we lose characters we've gotten to know, and it stings. No one is safe in a battle zone without an established perimeter, as we learn over and over.
The pacing is so fast that the danger of losing characterization hovers always at the back of my head, but then Dane yanks the reader right back in with impeccably realized (sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking) group dynamics. As well as personal character moments that resonate throughout. Those moments are what keeps the book from heartlessness, which would lose me entirely.
I am in it for the amazing world, but I want our guys to win--because I am invested in the characters. Dane does a superlative job with the dysfunctional, tightly bonded Anvil Squad, giving us moments with their struggles to remain human, their loyalty and sense of family. Keep an eye on that loyalty, because . . . . well, because.
Lots of favorite bits outside of Maseo Kayto being awesome, such as the scene in which Anvil Squad picks their permanent name. It's a short scene, barely a couple of pages, but it had me laughing out loud, startling the three dogs curled up against me.
The characters are vividly rendered, the diversity both wonderful and so matter-of-fact there is no flag-waving in your face.
Copy provided by publisher.
This is one of the few series in which first person present tense works for me so well I wasn't really aware of the tense until a certain shocker, wherein it was absolutely right.
The series continues at a frenetic pace, testament to Joel Dane's tight writing. The foe is seriously creepy, absolutely lethal to the survival of humanity, and fascinatingly realized. There are few books in which I am deeply engaged with the antagonist's origins and evolution, but this is one. The violence level is quite high, the body count as well; this is a series in which we lose characters we've gotten to know, and it stings. No one is safe in a battle zone without an established perimeter, as we learn over and over.
The pacing is so fast that the danger of losing characterization hovers always at the back of my head, but then Dane yanks the reader right back in with impeccably realized (sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking) group dynamics. As well as personal character moments that resonate throughout. Those moments are what keeps the book from heartlessness, which would lose me entirely.
I am in it for the amazing world, but I want our guys to win--because I am invested in the characters. Dane does a superlative job with the dysfunctional, tightly bonded Anvil Squad, giving us moments with their struggles to remain human, their loyalty and sense of family. Keep an eye on that loyalty, because . . . . well, because.
Lots of favorite bits outside of Maseo Kayto being awesome, such as the scene in which Anvil Squad picks their permanent name. It's a short scene, barely a couple of pages, but it had me laughing out loud, startling the three dogs curled up against me.
The characters are vividly rendered, the diversity both wonderful and so matter-of-fact there is no flag-waving in your face.
Copy provided by publisher.
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this book definitely stepped up from the last. The characters finally feel like characters and not shallow stereotypes; I was especially impressed with Ting and M'Bari's character developments, becoming someone who you could actually understand being here. There's still a lot to work on with that side of things, definitely, but they're a heck of a lot more tolerable than they were in [b:Cry Pilot|43514595|Cry Pilot|Joel Dane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546995891l/43514595._SY75_.jpg|67677661].
The story, for what's it's worth, is making logical progression; small bases, to taking down the home field, to space. It makes sense as a way to up the ante without feeling forced. I'm also a fan of the fact that we know this is a trilogy along that line. It doesn't feel like the author is forced to up the ante again after the next book.
Ending each book with a relief moment also helps the story flow; tension is definitely built with every final line, but prior to that we get to actually wind down, have a moment of what feels like genuine rest before the characters are thrown into another major moment, something that's necessary and lacking in a lot of current longstanding series.
All in all, can't wait for the next one! The author is getting better book by book and I'm excited to continue this series.
I have to say, this book definitely stepped up from the last. The characters finally feel like characters and not shallow stereotypes; I was especially impressed with Ting and M'Bari's character developments, becoming someone who you could actually understand being here. There's still a lot to work on with that side of things, definitely, but they're a heck of a lot more tolerable than they were in [b:Cry Pilot|43514595|Cry Pilot|Joel Dane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546995891l/43514595._SY75_.jpg|67677661].
The story, for what's it's worth, is making logical progression; small bases, to taking down the home field, to space. It makes sense as a way to up the ante without feeling forced. I'm also a fan of the fact that we know this is a trilogy along that line. It doesn't feel like the author is forced to up the ante again after the next book.
Ending each book with a relief moment also helps the story flow; tension is definitely built with every final line, but prior to that we get to actually wind down, have a moment of what feels like genuine rest before the characters are thrown into another major moment, something that's necessary and lacking in a lot of current longstanding series.
All in all, can't wait for the next one! The author is getting better book by book and I'm excited to continue this series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Burn Cycle is the excellent follow up to the first book in the Cry Pilot trilogy. In a future earth that has experienced Armageddon because of bio-weapon wars we are left with a few large corporations trying to rebuild the world through terraforming. Unfortunately, sentient A.I. has other things in mind and continues to attack the world with eel like creatures called Lampreys.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated