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bigleoenergy's review against another edition
2.0
Another solid "meh" read for me. I think the synopsis is misleading/a bit spoiler-y because you don't find out until the end that the craft is looking for help, and it never feels like a desperate cry. I wish the mystery of what it was it and why it came to earth was maintained; I think I would have appreciated that more instead of waiting for what turned out to be the main plot to resolve in order to get to the Help us message.
There were parts that completely engrossed me and I wanted more of (mainly the crews having an emergency in space aspects), but the rest really left me disinterested. I simply didn't care abouta couple of dead people with ties to the crew somehow being alive and I was left unconvinced by the crews' reactions to such a revelation. There were also too many things I felt could have made more compelling reading, but were dropped: No one wants to talk about Natalia killing one of the revenants? The Pogo revenant sabotages the crew with only a weak explanation as to his motives. It felt like his only purpose was to get Yvonne to set off the bomb, which was such a missed opportunity for a frightening antagonist. All the news about the crews and their discoveries are being transmitted or leaked to the public, and there's no time given to how that would affect things on Earth... There were just so many bits in this book that I found more interesting and wished had been explored instead of what actually happened.
And then I disliked the ending.Zach is willing to abandon his daughter as an orphan, but oh, don't worry, it works out because she gets transported to Keanu?? I was left sighing deeply and rolling my eyes.
I'm not bothered by the time I spent listening to it, but now I have a craving for a book that takes place in space and has real tension.
There were parts that completely engrossed me and I wanted more of (mainly the crews having an emergency in space aspects), but the rest really left me disinterested. I simply didn't care about
And then I disliked the ending.
I'm not bothered by the time I spent listening to it, but now I have a craving for a book that takes place in space and has real tension.
royalraspberry's review against another edition
3.0
A well written, fun adventure that was just a touch overwrought at points and a little under developed in others. I would have really enjoyed seeing them firm up the technology and the brief touches of spirituality instead of leaving it all unknown (or leaving it as a set up for the next novel?), but it was still well done and I'd love to read the next book.
saphirablue's review against another edition
3.0
I liked that one. It's thrilling, fast-paced, has some fun moments (and to be honest - a few WTF? in a not good way moments too) and since it's deals with space flight and exploration - ♥
I like that this book is set only a few years into the future (it's 2019 in the book) and that therefore the technology is a bit advanced but not too much. I like the little glimpses into the outside world with the short quotes of postings on websites at the beginning of the chapters. That's a nice touch. I like that there is a second space faring nation/colloberation that has its headquarters in India. I like the characters (yay, for having multiple races/nations up there and an handicapped POV character on Earth!) and I like the overall plot. Yes, there are a few things I'm not fond of (Like Pogo. I can't believe that a hothead like him would ever get the chance of being an astronaut but on the other hand - what do I know about the process of selecting astronauts? *hands*) and some decisions I have trouble to get behind (like, going into the interior of Keanu. Or taking the helmets off. These (and some other) decisions have been a bit "Hmmmm." to me.). Also, there are some repeat infos - be it background on characters or events. I caught myself thinking "I know that because you've told me that already!" a few times. Maybe that's because the book's been written by two authors or due to some other reason.
But all in all, I like this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next part.
I like that this book is set only a few years into the future (it's 2019 in the book) and that therefore the technology is a bit advanced but not too much. I like the little glimpses into the outside world with the short quotes of postings on websites at the beginning of the chapters. That's a nice touch. I like that there is a second space faring nation/colloberation that has its headquarters in India. I like the characters (yay, for having multiple races/nations up there and an handicapped POV character on Earth!) and I like the overall plot. Yes, there are a few things I'm not fond of (Like Pogo. I can't believe that a hothead like him would ever get the chance of being an astronaut but on the other hand - what do I know about the process of selecting astronauts? *hands*) and some decisions I have trouble to get behind (like, going into the interior of Keanu. Or taking the helmets off. These (and some other) decisions have been a bit "Hmmmm." to me.). Also, there are some repeat infos - be it background on characters or events. I caught myself thinking "I know that because you've told me that already!" a few times. Maybe that's because the book's been written by two authors or due to some other reason.
But all in all, I like this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next part.
gerhard's review
4.0
Never judge a book by the occupation of its author. When I read that screenwriter David S. Goyer had 'penned' a novel, with Michael Cassutt, about a dual-nation First Contact space mission to a BDO heading towards Earth, I immediately wondered if it would be the literary equivalent of Armageddon - that is, implausible and melodramatic.
Much to my surprise, Heaven's Shadow is a ripping good read with a lot of thought and detail to the speculation and science -- unlike most Hollywood SF. (It will be interesting to see if the detail survives the inevitable movie adaptation).
The open ending is a bit frustrating, as this is the first novel in a trilogy ... but it is such a WTF ending that I am happily compelled to read the next instalment.
Much to my surprise, Heaven's Shadow is a ripping good read with a lot of thought and detail to the speculation and science -- unlike most Hollywood SF. (It will be interesting to see if the detail survives the inevitable movie adaptation).
The open ending is a bit frustrating, as this is the first novel in a trilogy ... but it is such a WTF ending that I am happily compelled to read the next instalment.
cmckinnon's review
4.0
I won this as a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of cool sci-fi elements, and a great story. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series now.
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