Reviews

Blood Reunion by J.C.M. Berne

tuftymctavish's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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? Yes

3.5

This is a tale of family, friendship and finding another way. It advises that we don’t need to be straightforward and regretful, perhaps there is another way after each approach fails to resolve the problem.

Many of the set pieces are hugely interesting, if often left hanging or unresolved, hopefully for future events in other books to revisit. There’s often an awful lot of gentle banter that feels familiar and comfortable, which I’m in two minds about because it fills in the many gaps between the fascinating set piece scenes and the detailed fight scenes.

Unfortunately the most interesting aspects of the story are also fleetingly short, quick but tantalising visits before we veer away back to familiar stomping grounds, with grub runs, tellybox shows, and some punching.

kevinscorner's review against another edition

4.5

Blood Reunion is the third book in JCM Berne’s superhero/space opera scifi series Hybrid Helix about a retired superhero/ex-soldier Rohan as he settles for a quiet life in distant independent space station Wistful. Once again, a crisis comes to Wistful and Rohan is dragged back in. An ancient vampire is holding the entire space station and its 2 million citizens hostage, and Wistful is strangely allowing it to happen. It is up to Rohan to step up again before the Empire is forced to intervene.

This is once again another fun and action-packed entry into the series. The addition of vampires was a surprise, but it really worked in this space setting. We also delve deeper into the history of this world and we are starting to see the ultimate endgame of the series (I hadn’t even realized this was where the story was headed). All the while it still manages to deliver an earnest and heartfelt story in between all the fighting and action set pieces.

This is still a story of redemption. Rohan develops further as our reluctant protagonist who is forced time and again to return to his old violent ways, and he must find it in himself to strike a balance between doing what he feels he should (or should not) and doing what must be done. He just keeps getting better and better as he becomes the man he wants to be alongside a found family he somehow becomes a part of.

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kayshiddenshelf's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense 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? N/A

5.0

 5/5 Stars 

Blood Reunion doesn’t skip a beat, balancing great action, storytelling, and incredible character development. Turn Three of the Hybrid Helix is a self-published Superhero Space Opera and marks another great read in the series. 

A killer roams Wistful leaving corpses behind, drained of blood. All signs point to vampires, except they shouldn’t be able to sneak around Wistful undetected. When Wistful herself becomes uncooperative, Rohan and Wei Li are left to try and protect the inhabitants of the station. As danger looms millions of lives are on the line, and Rohan is forced to fight to protect those he loves. 

It was great to be back with Rohan and the gang. After spending some time on Earth in Return of the Griffin, I was excited to spend more time with Wistful and many of the characters I’ve come to love. Being thrown right into action and mystery made it easy to fall into the pages. JCM Berne does not waste any time pulling readers in as suspense builds from the first chapter. 

Despite how much we have explored Rohan’s character, he still receives great development here. Further building on the superhero we’ve come to love. Where the situations and choices he must make demonstrate how human Rohan is. He is complex and continually strives for improvement regardless of how others see him. As Rohan navigates old and new adversities, he is not alone through these struggles. In getting more time with the side cast, we not only learn more about them, but it added a great balance to the story. 

The worldbuilding continues to grow with a deeper look into a long-forgotten history. This is where the foreshadowing from the previous books begins to pay off, while still building for the next book in the series. 

The pacing of Blood Reunion felt the best out of the series so far. From pivotal moments, intrigue, character development to mystery, everything felt perfectly timed. 

I also can’t forget to mention the great fight scenes, vampires, space bears, political tensions, family issues, and epic space battles. 

For me, Blood Reunion takes everything that made Wistful Ascending and Return of the Griffin great and packs it into this stellar installment in the series. 

If you haven’t already, I’d highly recommend picking up this series! 

 

2ndchance_chad's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

szeththeassassin's review against another edition

5.0

Please read my review at the link below:

https://escapistbookcompany.com/2022/10/11/review-blood-reunion-hybrid-helix-3-by-jcm-berne/

Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!

nerdyboy's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

5.0

Blood Reunion has great characters, great world building , great action and is also quite funny.

If I could actually write this is what I’d want to be writing.  After three books this in the upper echelons of book series I have read or am reading.  

JCM Berne is now and forever an auto buy author.