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katyanaish's review against another edition
2.0
***2.5***
Well, this one honestly nearly killed the series for me. The two biggest recurring plot threads - Kitty being sidelined, Jeff being a douche - moved into the main plot arc for this book. That coupled with Reader's character being, quite frankly, ruined meant I came pretty close to DNF in the first half.
I hate this transition, with Kitty, Jeff and Christopher being powerless in the Diplomatic Corps and Reader (in particular), Serene and Tim being these egomaniacal douches that order everyone to obey them. Aside from not liking what this does with the characters, I just don't feel like it makes any logical sense. Firstly, because we had been told previously that Diplomatic Corps is a separate branch of the A-C government, serving as a check and balance against the military wing (Centaurion Division). So Reader SHOULD NOT have authority over them, in the same way that Jeff and Christopher did not have authority over the DipCorps when they were Team Evil. The fact that he seems to have that authority now is not only inconsistent, it is concerning. Because... that means the military runs A-C on Earth? They are a military dictatorship - because that's what it is called when your guy in charge is the head of your military division. So, really? Because that's fucked. And it undermines so much of their overall arc. Why are they concerned about being War Division? I mean, who cares, if they are a people already under military rule, right?
Secondly, this makes no sense because it kneecaps the power players. Like, hey, you used to be able to go out and handle stuff, but now you can't without getting a hall pass. And getting snarked at.
In this book, particularly, it just felt like there was boatloads of TSTL stuff happening. Like, hey guys, it is clear the bad guys have manipulated events to keep Kitty out of the loop. Oh well, guess we just do what the bad guys want. Also, who is the one who randomly decided - RIGHT NOW - that Kitty's high security clearance was revoked pending this test? Because she's been working with high security intel for LITERALLY 3 years at this point, and 6-8 months of that was here in DipCorps, so NO, it's not just a thing that had to happen when she transitioned to DipCorps. Frankly, if I wanted to look for the Head Bad Guy, I'd be looking for the guy who revoked her security clearance and set this whole chain of events in motion. But no one - literally no one - even thinks about that at any point in this book.
It wasn't much saved by the coming together of stuff at the end of this book, either, because it felt ... I don't know, jumbled. Like pieces never fit really well, and there was lots of random stuff, and ... at the end of the day, I don't really feel like Kitty - or anyone on the team, really - contributed much to the foiling of the plan. It was very odd to feel like ... honestly, Kitty and team were largely incidental to what was going on. It felt like a heck of a lot of wheel-spinning, and then... *shrug*
I've already bought the next 3 books, so I'm reading on, but not hopeful. This one was pretty dismal. I'd give it 1 star for the first half, 3 stars for the last half as pieces started coming together, but only 2 stars for the resolution.
Well, this one honestly nearly killed the series for me. The two biggest recurring plot threads - Kitty being sidelined, Jeff being a douche - moved into the main plot arc for this book. That coupled with Reader's character being, quite frankly, ruined meant I came pretty close to DNF in the first half.
I hate this transition, with Kitty, Jeff and Christopher being powerless in the Diplomatic Corps and Reader (in particular), Serene and Tim being these egomaniacal douches that order everyone to obey them. Aside from not liking what this does with the characters, I just don't feel like it makes any logical sense. Firstly, because we had been told previously that Diplomatic Corps is a separate branch of the A-C government, serving as a check and balance against the military wing (Centaurion Division). So Reader SHOULD NOT have authority over them, in the same way that Jeff and Christopher did not have authority over the DipCorps when they were Team Evil. The fact that he seems to have that authority now is not only inconsistent, it is concerning. Because... that means the military runs A-C on Earth? They are a military dictatorship - because that's what it is called when your guy in charge is the head of your military division. So, really? Because that's fucked. And it undermines so much of their overall arc. Why are they concerned about being War Division? I mean, who cares, if they are a people already under military rule, right?
Secondly, this makes no sense because it kneecaps the power players. Like, hey, you used to be able to go out and handle stuff, but now you can't without getting a hall pass. And getting snarked at.
In this book, particularly, it just felt like there was boatloads of TSTL stuff happening. Like, hey guys, it is clear the bad guys have manipulated events to keep Kitty out of the loop. Oh well, guess we just do what the bad guys want. Also, who is the one who randomly decided - RIGHT NOW - that Kitty's high security clearance was revoked pending this test? Because she's been working with high security intel for LITERALLY 3 years at this point, and 6-8 months of that was here in DipCorps, so NO, it's not just a thing that had to happen when she transitioned to DipCorps. Frankly, if I wanted to look for the Head Bad Guy, I'd be looking for the guy who revoked her security clearance and set this whole chain of events in motion. But no one - literally no one - even thinks about that at any point in this book.
It wasn't much saved by the coming together of stuff at the end of this book, either, because it felt ... I don't know, jumbled. Like pieces never fit really well, and there was lots of random stuff, and ... at the end of the day,
Spoiler
given that it was a big giant alien invasionSpoiler
Really, Alpha Four had been monitoring the situation, and when they were needed, Alpha Four came in and handled the situation. Even having figured out the plan and wrangled her people, Kitty and the team didn't have much impact. At best, they stalled things a little, until the cavalry showed up.I've already bought the next 3 books, so I'm reading on, but not hopeful. This one was pretty dismal. I'd give it 1 star for the first half, 3 stars for the last half as pieces started coming together, but only 2 stars for the resolution.
blodeuedd's review
4.0
As I have reviewed many Kitty books before I will try not to go into details I just feel I have said it all already. But I will try.
The book is crazy, but if you have read Koch's books before you already know this. If you haven't then what are you waiting for? Crazy stuff is happening all over the place, Kitty is as smart (in her weird way) as ever. She has a new talent that you will get to see in action. Non stop action.
I do not know what to say, I enjoyed it. There was quite a mystery about who is bad, who is after them, what the &%& is happening? There will be aliens, androids and new freaky things to get to know. Things does not cool down in Kitty's world.
The romance, well someone will find romance. Martini seems to be cooling down on the jealousy (lol, well sort of). I missed Reader. Christopher and Amy are happy. Not much of Mama Katt. White, yay (he is so cool), Chuckie..eh, sorry but I just do not like him. Oh and there is someone..."bitchy", oh you will laugh when you see what I mean.
Conclusion:
Crazy action, hidden secrets and evil baddies. Koch never fails to surprise.
The book is crazy, but if you have read Koch's books before you already know this. If you haven't then what are you waiting for? Crazy stuff is happening all over the place, Kitty is as smart (in her weird way) as ever. She has a new talent that you will get to see in action. Non stop action.
I do not know what to say, I enjoyed it. There was quite a mystery about who is bad, who is after them, what the &%& is happening? There will be aliens, androids and new freaky things to get to know. Things does not cool down in Kitty's world.
The romance, well someone will find romance. Martini seems to be cooling down on the jealousy (lol, well sort of). I missed Reader. Christopher and Amy are happy. Not much of Mama Katt. White, yay (he is so cool), Chuckie..eh, sorry but I just do not like him. Oh and there is someone..."bitchy", oh you will laugh when you see what I mean.
Conclusion:
Crazy action, hidden secrets and evil baddies. Koch never fails to surprise.
vikcs's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
diaryofthebookdragon's review
4.0
She blinked. "What's going on?"
"Oh, the usual crap. Only more of it."
"Oh." She shrugged. "So, routine."
"Yep."
"Oh, the usual crap. Only more of it."
"Oh." She shrugged. "So, routine."
"Yep."
brunettewithbooks's review
4.0
Gotta love the snark. Alien vs. Alien was entertaining, fast paced and fun! There's new AC pets! Kitty actually gets jealous (of an attention whore parrot no less)! Big things happen! Alien vs. Alien picks up a months months later. Due to a series of (unfortunate?) events, Kitty doesn't have the security clearance to actually know what's going on, so in typical Kitty fashion--she wings it.
It was refreshing to see Kitty without her normal partners in crime as she figures the plots out and relies on her "random tendencies" to get the job done. Again, I love this series. Koch has delivered again and I can't wait for more.
4/5 stars
“Can I get a bird amen?” Peregrine wings all flapped, there were several coos, and even a couple of hoots. “Can I get a real bird amen?” Peregrines hooted and flapped. They enjoyed the impromptu revival meeting. I looked around the room. Apparently only the Peregrines and I were finding this amusing.
“Wow,” Chuckie said finally, breaking the horrified human and A-C silence in the room. “You’ve become Doctor Doolittle.”
It was refreshing to see Kitty without her normal partners in crime as she figures the plots out and relies on her "random tendencies" to get the job done. Again, I love this series. Koch has delivered again and I can't wait for more.
4/5 stars
nitzanschwarz's review
4.0
We're back with the gang a few weeks after the end of Alien Diplomacy.
Jamie is having her teeth grow out, old enemies surprise and turn allies, presents from home planet make a commotion, androids and supersoldiers are popping everywhere and if all that wasn't enough, Jeff and Chuckie have gone AWOL.
The things I really liked about this book were a) Charles finding his true partner. We all knew it can't be Kitty. We all knew he just had to get a girl, and personally, I had my favorites for the job. So I was super happy one of my favs rose to the occasion! ;)
b) I loved the whole enemy-turned-frienemy thing that was going on.
C) Israelis!! LOL, for me, as an Israeli, it was great seeing those Israelis, especially in such a favorable light. Love, love, love!
As usual; lots of action, romance, and comedy.
But, and there is a big but, this book's ending came out as a giant shock for me because it was filled with gore! seriously, be warned, the last bits are kind of traumatizing. This series never had too much trouble with killing things off in horrible ways, but this one wasn't like that.
So, yeah. Be warned.
bewoelkt_aber_heiter's review against another edition
4.0
Wieder viel besser als der Vorgängerband. Kittys Witz, Charme und Spekulationstalent sind hier wieder auf dem absoluten Höhepunkt und sie ist in mehr Action verwickelt, auch wenn dahingehend das Finale noch ein kleinwenig ausbaufähig gewesen wäre.
lalabristow's review against another edition
5.0
Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Reading a Gini Koch Novel is like taking a vacation from a job you didn’t even know isn’t that great until you take a break from it. Gini writes literary crack and I for one and not planning to go into rehab anytime soon.
Alien Vs. Alien is all I could have asked for in a Kitty Katt novel. Non-stop, heart stopping action by kick-ass characters that draw you in more and more with each book. One more time Gini Koch gives all the characters we have grow to love involved in out of this world schemes, plots and drama that make it impossible to put down.
I love seeing Kitty and Martini together and dealing with their enemies as a family. The whole AC extended family is always a treat to read about and I was very glad with their developments, especially regarding Chuck! =D
I do have to say that, I would have had a very hard time enjoying Alien Vs, Alien as much as I did, if I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. There are so many overarching plots, small plots, sub-plots, etc; that makes it hard to keep track if you are not intimate with them all from book one.
All in all, Alien Vs. Alien is everything I have come to expect from a Gini Koch book and more. The words she writes are like drugs, every time I finally get my fix, I can’t help wanting much more!
Reading a Gini Koch Novel is like taking a vacation from a job you didn’t even know isn’t that great until you take a break from it. Gini writes literary crack and I for one and not planning to go into rehab anytime soon.
Alien Vs. Alien is all I could have asked for in a Kitty Katt novel. Non-stop, heart stopping action by kick-ass characters that draw you in more and more with each book. One more time Gini Koch gives all the characters we have grow to love involved in out of this world schemes, plots and drama that make it impossible to put down.
I love seeing Kitty and Martini together and dealing with their enemies as a family. The whole AC extended family is always a treat to read about and I was very glad with their developments, especially regarding Chuck! =D
I do have to say that, I would have had a very hard time enjoying Alien Vs, Alien as much as I did, if I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. There are so many overarching plots, small plots, sub-plots, etc; that makes it hard to keep track if you are not intimate with them all from book one.
All in all, Alien Vs. Alien is everything I have come to expect from a Gini Koch book and more. The words she writes are like drugs, every time I finally get my fix, I can’t help wanting much more!
melodicfate's review against another edition
3.0
This took me forever to finish! There were just so many explanations, all usually given by Kitty, that my interest wavered a considerable amount. Plus, some parts were definitely a bit over-the-top. Still, when things started really happening, I couldn't stop reading. This book had some huge events taking place in it, and I'm really wondering what the rest of the series will be like now. Glad to see Jeff and Chuckie reach a certain understanding, although I thought that a certain thing surrounding Chuckie and another character came out of nowhere. Still, I know I'll eventually read the next book in the series.
whichcraftidk's review against another edition
5.0
Another fun entry. Though Reader was a bit one-note in this one :( But I love the pets.