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mary_soon_lee's review
3.0
This is the third book in "The Galactic Cold War" series(*), featuring espionage in a science fiction future. Mild spoilers ahead. I found it a quick, fun read with likable main characters and a satisfying dose of action. My reservation, such as it is, is that the book was merely fun. The characters were likable, but I don't think they will linger with me. The humor, intrigue, and action entertained me, but I never found myself moved deeply. To try a series that is similarly entertaining, but that matters more to me, I would recommend either Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Liaden Universe books or Martha Wells's Murderbot stories. Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.
(*) Goodreads records the opening book, "The Caledonian Gambit," as Book 0, "The Bayern Agenda" as Book 1, and this as Book 2.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
Spoiler
The point of view switches between three characters, two of them familiar from earlier books -- Kovalic, a long-time operative, and Eli Brody, far newer -- and introduces Addy Sayers, a woman who has just flunked out of an elite special ops school.(*) Goodreads records the opening book, "The Caledonian Gambit," as Book 0, "The Bayern Agenda" as Book 1, and this as Book 2.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
amcintosh's review
5.0
This was a great read. I really enjoyed the previous two books, but I think this one is my favourite. Each has been an improvement on the last.
The most heisty of the three, and very well done. The twists are twisty enough; not too convoluted, but not be exceedingly obvious. I was surprised a couple of times when the characters are fully aware of of a setup, as was I, but there was still an element of the unknown.
The technology and the spy-craft are both thought-out and very well executed.
Can't wait for another!
The most heisty of the three, and very well done. The twists are twisty enough; not too convoluted, but not be exceedingly obvious. I was surprised a couple of times when the characters are fully aware of of a setup, as was I, but there was still an element of the unknown.
The technology and the spy-craft are both thought-out and very well executed.
Can't wait for another!
techxplorer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
electricburgers's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
itheory's review
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fun!
thenajo's review
4.0
Still thrilling, with humanist character arcs. Some of the twists I see coming, and feel proud to have figured them out, and some I don't, and feel impressed. However, some of the physical fighting descriptions get a little repetitive.
beardedbooknut's review against another edition
4.0
A tiny bit better than the last one, The Aleph Extraction surprised me in a good way. I'm a sucker for a heist story, and this turns into a rather good one halfway through. We got character progression for most of our spy friends, and Eli finally gets a real spine. The new girl, Addy, was a mixed bag for the first half, but she grew on me after a while. If this series keeps this up, it'll soon approach “personal favourite” land.
tyrshand's review
3.0
I wonder if I'd have enjoyed this one better if I had read the first novel. The story stands pretty well on its own, but it consistently had me wondering how the rest of the universe worked. The spy hijinks are fun, though the team members are a bit vague in appearance and personality. The world building is slight, as is setting -- to me, the difference is that use of setting could have given the novel a sci-fi feel apart from the world building. I felt like the first half of the book could have taken place anywhere. Yes, they say they are going to a city sized spaceship... But they just end up there. And they meet a contact in a coffee shop. They go to a casino. They hang out in a hotel. What technology is mentioned could have been in a James Bond film. They may as well have been in Monte Carlo. The latter half does ramp up the sci-fi usage, though, even then, without the world building there's no way to anticipate how the technology will actually work in the caper.
jbrooxd's review
4.0
I am thoroughly enjoying this scifi series. (Be sure to start with the Caledonian Gambit.) This particular book is suspenseful. The team is dealing with past missions (so read these in order) and their impact on this one, breaking in a new team member, etc. This one really left me hanging in the end - I can't wait for book 4! (Language, fighting/violence)