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pjonsson's review
2.0
So I finally got through all four books in this series.
If you do not mind the somewhat ridicolous back-story that the Roman Empire have been resurrected in modern times with all the things that go with it like latin, emperors, lieing down when eating etc. etc., if you do not mind plotting and scheming old rome style, if you do not mind that the author is totally clueless both in science and in military matters, then this book might please you.
I didn't really like it. It doesn't deserve a one star but it's not getting more than two from me for sure.
If you do not mind the somewhat ridicolous back-story that the Roman Empire have been resurrected in modern times with all the things that go with it like latin, emperors, lieing down when eating etc. etc., if you do not mind plotting and scheming old rome style, if you do not mind that the author is totally clueless both in science and in military matters, then this book might please you.
I didn't really like it. It doesn't deserve a one star but it's not getting more than two from me for sure.
wealhtheow's review
3.0
The tenuous alliance between the reborn Roman Empire and the United States has been broken, and war breaks out between them once more. Farragut, the American captain of the USS Merrimack, is forced to fight the Romans on one flank and the continuing menace of the Hive on the other. Meanwhile, his head Marine, TR Steele, is forced into gladiatorial games on Palatine, and must fight his way to freedom. The battles between Rome and the US are thrilling, if a bit slapdash. In the last three books, Caesar Romulus was nearly a genius--abruptly, he becomes a sister-schtupping fool. It is only *because* he suddenly starts making idiotic choices that the US manages to win. I found the other half of the plot even more annoying, because I tired of Steele after the first book. He is the most annoying, sexist, macho cliche ever, and I hate having to read his adventures, in which everyone is always astounded at his physical power and manliness. Whatever, Meluch.
In the end, all the plots are resolved and all the characters marry their designated partner of the opposite sex and it's all very cheery.
Non-plot but still spoilery annoyances:
For four books, Meluch made a great deal of the unresolved sexual tension between Farragut and his colleague, the very married Lieutenant Hamilton. Every book, Hamilton's marriage broke a little more and her intimacy with Farragut progressed a little further. And then, randomly, in the last chapter,Farragut meets some 20 year old in a bar and marries her 9 hours later. Everyone thinks this is a great choice. The author seems to think this is a great choice. Why spend *so* much time building up Farragut/Hamilton, only to introduce a random new character in the last few pages?
I wasn't emotionally invested in Farragut/Hamilton, but it seemed so obvious that the author would get them together eventually. What I knew would never deepen, but nevertheless felt entranced by, was the relationship between Farragut and the brilliant undead patterner, Augustus. The uneasy alliance between their governments forced them to work together, but it was Farragut's unending goodness and Augustus's wary but receptive intelligence that made them bestest friends. They knew that at any moment their governments could declare war and they would be forced to kill each other, but they clung to the little shreds of friendship they had while they had them. And then (HUGE SPOILERS AHOY)Augustus randomly dies, off-screen? And Farragut marries some chick? It's very anticlimactic! Augustus was a main character for three books--why kill him in such an off-handed manner? Very weird.
In the end, all the plots are resolved and all the characters marry their designated partner of the opposite sex and it's all very cheery.
Non-plot but still spoilery annoyances:
For four books, Meluch made a great deal of the unresolved sexual tension between Farragut and his colleague, the very married Lieutenant Hamilton. Every book, Hamilton's marriage broke a little more and her intimacy with Farragut progressed a little further. And then, randomly, in the last chapter,
I wasn't emotionally invested in Farragut/Hamilton, but it seemed so obvious that the author would get them together eventually. What I knew would never deepen, but nevertheless felt entranced by, was the relationship between Farragut and the brilliant undead patterner, Augustus. The uneasy alliance between their governments forced them to work together, but it was Farragut's unending goodness and Augustus's wary but receptive intelligence that made them bestest friends. They knew that at any moment their governments could declare war and they would be forced to kill each other, but they clung to the little shreds of friendship they had while they had them. And then (HUGE SPOILERS AHOY)
brownbetty's review
3.0
Augh! So conflicted! Everyone was perfectly themselves, which was what I wanted from this book, but no one ended up where I wanted them to! Which is probably my fault for reading military S.F. because I fall in love with the characters.
Apparently this is the last book? Boy, that ended all of a sudden for me.
Apparently this is the last book? Boy, that ended all of a sudden for me.
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