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_james_'s review
3.0
The story itself was nice, tying into previous novels and weaving an interesting overall plot for Emperor Georgiou and how she ended up working for Section 31.
Not sure how I feel about one of Dax's previous hosts being here suddenly and putting a whole new story into an existing character. It feels like playing with canon in a way that..... feels too much for me. I had the feeling the author wanted to include any and all series to make one huge neatly packed present with a nice ribbon on top And the continued mentions of young Kirk felt like a poke in the side that started to get annoying at some point. To think, even a young, Kirk would have had problems firing at something endangering a ship seems.... an odd plot point.
I wasn't very fond of the writing. The amount of "telling instead of showing" grated on me. Sometimes a whole page of explaining plans, pointing to clues and what exactly happened previously in great detail was truly annoying. I don't need your whole plot explained in thoughts if there are well placed hints in the story. This was one of the stories where I felt the writer wanted to make sure even the most clueless reader understood every single of his brilliant ideas.
Not sure how I feel about one of Dax's previous hosts being here suddenly and putting a whole new story into an existing character. It feels like playing with canon in a way that..... feels too much for me. I had the feeling the author wanted to include any and all series to make one huge neatly packed present with a nice ribbon on top And the continued mentions of young Kirk felt like a poke in the side that started to get annoying at some point. To think, even a young, Kirk would have had problems firing at something endangering a ship seems.... an odd plot point.
I wasn't very fond of the writing. The amount of "telling instead of showing" grated on me. Sometimes a whole page of explaining plans, pointing to clues and what exactly happened previously in great detail was truly annoying. I don't need your whole plot explained in thoughts if there are well placed hints in the story. This was one of the stories where I felt the writer wanted to make sure even the most clueless reader understood every single of his brilliant ideas.
djwudi's review
4.0
A thoroughly entertaining romp with Emperor Georgiou between seasons one and two of DIS, as she adjusts to her new universe and gets recruited by Section 31. Plus ties to TOS and DS9. Fun!
bdplume's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t want the stars to overwhelm my larger thought that this was mostly an engaging read with solid prose and action. I loved the alien races, particularly the Oast and their ultimate connection to the central contrivances of the plot. The Cascade was very cool old-school sci-fi in that it was a fascinating what-if without too much worry about exactly how and why it works. I do wish the story had explored the concept a little more but that’s a quibble.
I was bothered by just how much was generally known about Section 31 and by how many folks... I suppose they were more out in the open on screen already, but they just don’t feel nearly as covert as they did both before and after in-Universe. The amount that Emony Dax in particular learned just seemed like a hole that didn’t need to be a hole.
But, I’m not a “we must bow to the almighty canon” kind of guy, so that only bothered me a little. I otherwise waffled between three and four stars. I think the thing that really capped the ceiling is that this is a story mostly about a mirror universe character, and while I find the concept of alternate selves fascinating in general, the over-the-top evil of Star Trek’s mirror universe can be fun but is a little self-limiting to me. So as much as I enjoyed the author’s work here it’s not a personal favorite.
I was bothered by just how much was generally known about Section 31 and by how many folks... I suppose they were more out in the open on screen already, but they just don’t feel nearly as covert as they did both before and after in-Universe. The amount that Emony Dax in particular learned just seemed like a hole that didn’t need to be a hole.
But, I’m not a “we must bow to the almighty canon” kind of guy, so that only bothered me a little. I otherwise waffled between three and four stars. I think the thing that really capped the ceiling is that this is a story mostly about a mirror universe character, and while I find the concept of alternate selves fascinating in general, the over-the-top evil of Star Trek’s mirror universe can be fun but is a little self-limiting to me. So as much as I enjoyed the author’s work here it’s not a personal favorite.
mr_sosotris's review against another edition
4.0
JJM is a master at writing sassy repartee. I could read Georgiou being snarky to literally anyone for days, especially Cornwell. Her arc is so well written and it fits in well with what we see of her in S2-3 of Disco. I also liked how this book fit in with a not-oft-discussed TOS episode. Very clever.
Also, the author’s take on Finnegan absolutely redeems the character in my eyes. I love him so much. His android duplicate in “Shore Leave” is THE most annoying Star Trek character, ever, and by the end of this book, you want to hug him and tell him he’s wonderful, if a bit chaotic.
Overall, this is a fun book. The ending is VERY satisfying as all the pieces click into place, but I did find myself getting a bit lost halfway through as all the pieces are set up. The middle section is a bit dense, BUT once you’ve read the ending, re-reading this book in the future will be just as rewarding since you can see how all the moving parts fit together.
Definitely would recommend!
Also, the author’s take on Finnegan absolutely redeems the character in my eyes. I love him so much. His android duplicate in “Shore Leave” is THE most annoying Star Trek character, ever, and by the end of this book, you want to hug him and tell him he’s wonderful, if a bit chaotic.
Overall, this is a fun book. The ending is VERY satisfying as all the pieces click into place, but I did find myself getting a bit lost halfway through as all the pieces are set up. The middle section is a bit dense, BUT once you’ve read the ending, re-reading this book in the future will be just as rewarding since you can see how all the moving parts fit together.
Definitely would recommend!
libraryofrick180107's review
5.0
Review 82 - Die Standing
I always wondered what happened between the end of series 1 of Star Trek Discovery and the beginning of series 2. Now I know.
This book explains what happens to one of the key characters in series 2 and it is a fantastic story.
I was a bit concerned about how a story about a character from the mirror universe would go but I didn't have to worry.
I read this book in a matter of 3 days and by the end was very glad I had bought it to add to my full Star Trek Discovery book collection.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys watching Star Trek Discovery.
The only annoying thing about this book was that there was an error with the printing almost at the end of the book in which several words were missing from the page meaning I had to try to fill the blanks in myself.
Otherwise this is a 5* story.
5*
*****
I always wondered what happened between the end of series 1 of Star Trek Discovery and the beginning of series 2. Now I know.
This book explains what happens to one of the key characters in series 2 and it is a fantastic story.
I was a bit concerned about how a story about a character from the mirror universe would go but I didn't have to worry.
I read this book in a matter of 3 days and by the end was very glad I had bought it to add to my full Star Trek Discovery book collection.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys watching Star Trek Discovery.
The only annoying thing about this book was that there was an error with the printing almost at the end of the book in which several words were missing from the page meaning I had to try to fill the blanks in myself.
Otherwise this is a 5* story.
5*
*****
campbelltaral's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ah, this was good. I really like Phillipa Georgiou, both iterations, and this book fleshes out Emperor Georgiou in her current predicament of being stranded in the Discovery verse. Witty, not in the least bit squeamish in her cruelty, a ruthless and terrible person, but there's a redemptive quality that the "good" verse draws out no matter how hard she fights against the act.
I did not mind the plot but it was a little meh. The full focus on Georgiou smoothes most of that out, for me anyway.
I did not mind the plot but it was a little meh. The full focus on Georgiou smoothes most of that out, for me anyway.
saramg's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book a lot, but it was too confusing. It got off to a really strange start and the story didn't really begin until a quarter of the way in. The aliens were extremely cool.
olegx's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75