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davidmaureen1's review
5.0
Excellent story telling. Held my attention . Will buy books 3 @ 4.
Excellent story telling. Held my attention my
though out books 1 & 2. Will definitely buy book 3 & 4.
Excellent story telling. Held my attention my
though out books 1 & 2. Will definitely buy book 3 & 4.
tahernandez's review
5.0
I had seen a couple of other people reading this series, and then shortly after, I saw that the first two books were on sale so I decided to pick them up. I'm so glad I did, because this has quickly become one of my favorite sci-fi series. I'm definitely going to need paperbacks of these.
Let me start by saying that the series doesn't follow the typical pattern where you start out with one set of characters in book 1, and then follow them into book 2 and so on. Rather, The Heretic and Defiance follow two completely different sets of characters in the same universe. I was warned about this before I started reading, but based on other reviews I've seen, some readers were a little shocked by this when they started reading Defiance. Don't worry. I know it's a little scary to leave the original cast of characters behind, but Bale is a masterful storyteller, and the characters in Defiance are just as captivating as the ones in The Heretic. It's an unusual way to write a series, but I have no doubt that it will all make sense by the end.
The Heretic
I couldn't put this down. It has everything I love in a good sci-fi story: an intriguing premise, captivating characters, great pacing, and settings described so perfectly that they felt real. The writing is clean and articulate with descriptions that are vivid without becoming excessive. The characters jump off the page (or, you know, whatever electronic reading device you happen to be using). The story moves along at a brisk pace without any extraneous events or details. Bale doesn't give us a bunch of information right up front, so you have to pay attention to figure out what's going on, but it was fun to pull out pieces of background info as the story went along and piece it all together.
One thing I really appreciated about this book was not being overwhelmed with an insane number of characters. I've seen that a lot in some of the science fiction I've read recently, which is fine, but this was a refreshing change. I would much rather have a small cast of important characters we get to know well throughout the course of the story, and that's exactly what I got here with Jordi, Shepherd, and the preacher. Another thing I appreciated: not having a bunch of science thrown in my face. I have always freely admitted that I don't like a ton of science in my sci-fi, probably because it's all way over my head and overwhelming. (I know - I'm a terrible science fiction fan. Sue me.) The science is explained well enough here that you get an idea of what's going on and how things work, but it's not analyzed in excruciating detail. By the time I finished this book, I couldn't wait to read the next one.
Defiance
It's hard for me to decide which of the two books I liked better, but after reading through the last few chapters of Defiance last night, I have to say this one is my favorite. First of all, I loved the characters. I wasn't a big fan of Weaver from the start as he seemed like kind of a stiff, overly-analytical, unemotional jerk. As the story progressed, however, the layers began to peel away and he became much more relatable. I've always loved characters with layers (ogres are like onions and all that), and Weaver was brilliantly written. So was Natasha, though I liked her a little better right from the get go. Elias was also an interesting character and, once again, I appreciated not being overwhelmed with a bunch of extra characters I didn't care about.
The story told here is a little more bleak than in The Heretic, but I liked that. We learned a little more about the setting here and the way the society works here, too. I'm a social work student, so I'm kind of a nerd about learning how different societies (even fictional ones) work - their organization, problems, dysfunctions, and so on. I love that this series provides such a believably grim picture of humanity and then touches on so many different societal and personal issues that arise for the people as a result of living in such a world.
The last probably 1/3 of the book - particularly the chapters from Natasha's point of view - had me cowering under my blankets, jumping at every little sound. Be ready to be terrified. Seriously, don't read the last parts of the book when you're home all alone in a dark apartment at midnight. The suspense was ridiculous.
I can't wait to find out what happens next. I love Bale's writing style and the complex characters and setting he has created. I am honestly so thrilled to have discovered this series. I haven't been this excited about a story in a while and it feels wonderful.
Let me start by saying that the series doesn't follow the typical pattern where you start out with one set of characters in book 1, and then follow them into book 2 and so on. Rather, The Heretic and Defiance follow two completely different sets of characters in the same universe. I was warned about this before I started reading, but based on other reviews I've seen, some readers were a little shocked by this when they started reading Defiance. Don't worry. I know it's a little scary to leave the original cast of characters behind, but Bale is a masterful storyteller, and the characters in Defiance are just as captivating as the ones in The Heretic. It's an unusual way to write a series, but I have no doubt that it will all make sense by the end.
The Heretic
I couldn't put this down. It has everything I love in a good sci-fi story: an intriguing premise, captivating characters, great pacing, and settings described so perfectly that they felt real. The writing is clean and articulate with descriptions that are vivid without becoming excessive. The characters jump off the page (or, you know, whatever electronic reading device you happen to be using). The story moves along at a brisk pace without any extraneous events or details. Bale doesn't give us a bunch of information right up front, so you have to pay attention to figure out what's going on, but it was fun to pull out pieces of background info as the story went along and piece it all together.
One thing I really appreciated about this book was not being overwhelmed with an insane number of characters. I've seen that a lot in some of the science fiction I've read recently, which is fine, but this was a refreshing change. I would much rather have a small cast of important characters we get to know well throughout the course of the story, and that's exactly what I got here with Jordi, Shepherd, and the preacher. Another thing I appreciated: not having a bunch of science thrown in my face. I have always freely admitted that I don't like a ton of science in my sci-fi, probably because it's all way over my head and overwhelming. (I know - I'm a terrible science fiction fan. Sue me.) The science is explained well enough here that you get an idea of what's going on and how things work, but it's not analyzed in excruciating detail. By the time I finished this book, I couldn't wait to read the next one.
Defiance
It's hard for me to decide which of the two books I liked better, but after reading through the last few chapters of Defiance last night, I have to say this one is my favorite. First of all, I loved the characters. I wasn't a big fan of Weaver from the start as he seemed like kind of a stiff, overly-analytical, unemotional jerk. As the story progressed, however, the layers began to peel away and he became much more relatable. I've always loved characters with layers (ogres are like onions and all that), and Weaver was brilliantly written. So was Natasha, though I liked her a little better right from the get go. Elias was also an interesting character and, once again, I appreciated not being overwhelmed with a bunch of extra characters I didn't care about.
The story told here is a little more bleak than in The Heretic, but I liked that. We learned a little more about the setting here and the way the society works here, too. I'm a social work student, so I'm kind of a nerd about learning how different societies (even fictional ones) work - their organization, problems, dysfunctions, and so on. I love that this series provides such a believably grim picture of humanity and then touches on so many different societal and personal issues that arise for the people as a result of living in such a world.
The last probably 1/3 of the book - particularly the chapters from Natasha's point of view - had me cowering under my blankets, jumping at every little sound. Be ready to be terrified. Seriously, don't read the last parts of the book when you're home all alone in a dark apartment at midnight. The suspense was ridiculous.
I can't wait to find out what happens next. I love Bale's writing style and the complex characters and setting he has created. I am honestly so thrilled to have discovered this series. I haven't been this excited about a story in a while and it feels wonderful.
ejfisch's review
5.0
When this 2-in-1 book was first released, I thought it was a little odd to only include the first two books when there were already 3 in the series. But at the time, I'd only read Book 1, and now I totally understand. Books 1 and 2 feature two totally different groups of characters doing totally different things, but the further you read, the more you realize the different stories are eventually going to come together and become one, and I certainly can't wait to find out what happens when that time comes! Overall rating is 4.5 stars but I'm rounding up because the rest this series is bound to be awesome.
MY REVIEW OF THE HERETIC (4 STARS)
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First off, wonderful cover art. It totally encapsulates the story!
I've seen this book/series floating around for awhile and finally decided to give it a try. I found it to be very well-written and really enjoyed the descriptions of the environments the characters were living in. All the various environments are one of my favorite things about reading sci fi - almost every author has some sort of unique idea for the settings in their stories. This wasn't your typical far-future sci fi where everyone lives in these sparkling, intricate cities with cutting-edge technology. The technology is still there to an extent, but if anything, this seemed like a more realistic representation of what life could potentially be like if humanity was ever able to expand into other planetary systems. People struggle to get by out on the edges of space, all while living in almost constant fear of the governing entity that rose to power by questionable means.
In that sense, the story reminded me a lot of Firefly (and I laughed when I saw the show mentioned in the acknowledgements at the end). But there were other elements that reminded me of other sci fi I've come to love over the years. Shepherd was essentially Han-Solo-meets-Mal-Reynolds (and let it be known that I've fan-cast a slightly-taller Sam Worthington to play him). I'm excited to find out a little more background information about both his ship and the preacher!
And can I just say that the diagrams of Soteria at the end of the book were super awesome?
MY REVIEW OF DEFIANCE (5 STARS)
---------------------------------------
I've had the entire Beyond the Wall series gathering dust on my Kindle for a while now. I finally got around to reading Book 1, The Heretic, back over the summer and was impressed enough that I knew I'd eventually want to continue the series. Many readers have likened it to Firefly (may it rest in peace) and I couldn't agree more.
I was inspired to pick the series back up and start Defiance after reading Bale's installment in the recent speculative fiction anthology, Crime and Punishment. I was pleased to find that the book started out with a recap of everything that had happened in The Heretic, since it had been long enough since I'd read it that I was afraid I'd forgotten some of the important details. Then my eyes narrowed a little when I read the disclaimer that this book would be featuring an entirely new cast of characters and would not be a direct continuation of Book 1. No, I thought, I wanted to find out what happens. But I shrugged and pressed on anyway.
And I'm glad I did.
Those of you who know me and my writing could probably guess that I have a soft spot for bounty hunter/assassin-type characters and characters with red eyes, so when Defiance introduced us to two new characters with these traits, I got really excited. I was still a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to find out what was happening with Shepherd, the preacher, and the other characters from the first book, but Weaver and Natasha both captured my attention right off the bat. I should also mention that I have a soft spot for stories where characters -- especially equally-skilled characters -- are hunting each other (yeah, I'm kind of a morbid freak), so I found that dynamic really interesting. Natasha is intelligent and resourceful. Weaver is jaded and calculating. Both are inherently human and are therefore captivating and likable.
The story begins as sort of a classic cat-and-mouse detective story, with Weaver searching for Natasha after she committed a murder. He's always been very by-the-book, but the more he learns throughout his investigation, the more he begins to question everything he believes in. I found that interesting, having him be a member of the group that was (and still is) essentially the "bad guys" in the first book; you still find yourself rooting for him, but you're not necessarily hoping he fulfills his mission. You're hoping he learns the truth. Similarly, while evading her relentless pursuer(s), Natasha realizes she got more than she bargained for. Both characters end up attempting to uncover deadly secrets -- the same deadly secrets -- and their very lives depend on their ability to do so.
(I also have a soft spot for deadly secrets)
As with Book 1, Defiance leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger as these two characters' worlds finally collide (almost, anyway). Bits and pieces of information were revealed that hint at tie-ins with The Heretic and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the whole story ends up coming together. But being as there's a fourth book in the works, I'm not sure if that's going to happen in Book 3 or not. I guess I just need to go find out ;)
This series was crafted very much like Hugh Howey's Silo trilogy, with the first two books introducing two seemingly separate stories that are finally connected in the final installment -- or in this case, installments. That definitely takes a lot of care and discipline on Bale's part. And now, since I have to work the word "spiffing" into this review just to annoy him.... Spiffing plot structure, sir!
MY REVIEW OF THE HERETIC (4 STARS)
---------------------------------------
First off, wonderful cover art. It totally encapsulates the story!
I've seen this book/series floating around for awhile and finally decided to give it a try. I found it to be very well-written and really enjoyed the descriptions of the environments the characters were living in. All the various environments are one of my favorite things about reading sci fi - almost every author has some sort of unique idea for the settings in their stories. This wasn't your typical far-future sci fi where everyone lives in these sparkling, intricate cities with cutting-edge technology. The technology is still there to an extent, but if anything, this seemed like a more realistic representation of what life could potentially be like if humanity was ever able to expand into other planetary systems. People struggle to get by out on the edges of space, all while living in almost constant fear of the governing entity that rose to power by questionable means.
In that sense, the story reminded me a lot of Firefly (and I laughed when I saw the show mentioned in the acknowledgements at the end). But there were other elements that reminded me of other sci fi I've come to love over the years. Shepherd was essentially Han-Solo-meets-Mal-Reynolds (and let it be known that I've fan-cast a slightly-taller Sam Worthington to play him). I'm excited to find out a little more background information about both his ship and the preacher!
And can I just say that the diagrams of Soteria at the end of the book were super awesome?
MY REVIEW OF DEFIANCE (5 STARS)
---------------------------------------
I've had the entire Beyond the Wall series gathering dust on my Kindle for a while now. I finally got around to reading Book 1, The Heretic, back over the summer and was impressed enough that I knew I'd eventually want to continue the series. Many readers have likened it to Firefly (may it rest in peace) and I couldn't agree more.
I was inspired to pick the series back up and start Defiance after reading Bale's installment in the recent speculative fiction anthology, Crime and Punishment. I was pleased to find that the book started out with a recap of everything that had happened in The Heretic, since it had been long enough since I'd read it that I was afraid I'd forgotten some of the important details. Then my eyes narrowed a little when I read the disclaimer that this book would be featuring an entirely new cast of characters and would not be a direct continuation of Book 1. No, I thought, I wanted to find out what happens. But I shrugged and pressed on anyway.
And I'm glad I did.
Those of you who know me and my writing could probably guess that I have a soft spot for bounty hunter/assassin-type characters and characters with red eyes, so when Defiance introduced us to two new characters with these traits, I got really excited. I was still a little disappointed that I wouldn't get to find out what was happening with Shepherd, the preacher, and the other characters from the first book, but Weaver and Natasha both captured my attention right off the bat. I should also mention that I have a soft spot for stories where characters -- especially equally-skilled characters -- are hunting each other (yeah, I'm kind of a morbid freak), so I found that dynamic really interesting. Natasha is intelligent and resourceful. Weaver is jaded and calculating. Both are inherently human and are therefore captivating and likable.
The story begins as sort of a classic cat-and-mouse detective story, with Weaver searching for Natasha after she committed a murder. He's always been very by-the-book, but the more he learns throughout his investigation, the more he begins to question everything he believes in. I found that interesting, having him be a member of the group that was (and still is) essentially the "bad guys" in the first book; you still find yourself rooting for him, but you're not necessarily hoping he fulfills his mission. You're hoping he learns the truth. Similarly, while evading her relentless pursuer(s), Natasha realizes she got more than she bargained for. Both characters end up attempting to uncover deadly secrets -- the same deadly secrets -- and their very lives depend on their ability to do so.
(I also have a soft spot for deadly secrets)
As with Book 1, Defiance leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger as these two characters' worlds finally collide (almost, anyway). Bits and pieces of information were revealed that hint at tie-ins with The Heretic and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how the whole story ends up coming together. But being as there's a fourth book in the works, I'm not sure if that's going to happen in Book 3 or not. I guess I just need to go find out ;)
This series was crafted very much like Hugh Howey's Silo trilogy, with the first two books introducing two seemingly separate stories that are finally connected in the final installment -- or in this case, installments. That definitely takes a lot of care and discipline on Bale's part. And now, since I have to work the word "spiffing" into this review just to annoy him.... Spiffing plot structure, sir!
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