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oswallt's review against another edition
The author seemed to be going down a checklist of mistakes amateurs make. The book starts with melodramatic introspection, moves to an info dump of irrelevant world building, and then starts telling (and telling and telling) instead of showing.
graff_fuller's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I had a hard time getting through this book. I will say, that I liked certain portions of this book, but the whole is forgettable (unfortunately).
I am slated to read the sequel, too. I will...and I think I should do it soon, since at least the characters are fresh in my mind (as much as they can be).
I wanted this to be so good, but it really wasn't.
I'm reading this book for the Magical Readathon put on my G. of the Book Roast YouTube channel.
The prompt was to read a book with "Shadow" in the title. I'd had this book for a while...and was really interested in reading another Space Opera. The Calling that it is for, is the second that I'm doing for the readathon...The Alchemist.
So...with that complete...I'll move on to book two, Enemy in the Dark. I'm hoping that I enjoy this book, better.
I am slated to read the sequel, too. I will...and I think I should do it soon, since at least the characters are fresh in my mind (as much as they can be).
I wanted this to be so good, but it really wasn't.
I'm reading this book for the Magical Readathon put on my G. of the Book Roast YouTube channel.
The prompt was to read a book with "Shadow" in the title. I'd had this book for a while...and was really interested in reading another Space Opera. The Calling that it is for, is the second that I'm doing for the readathon...The Alchemist.
So...with that complete...I'll move on to book two, Enemy in the Dark. I'm hoping that I enjoy this book, better.
tome15's review against another edition
2.0
Allan, Jay. Shadow of Empire. Far Star No. 1. Harper Voyager, 2015.
I picked this up and put it down many times. Many times. Finally, my long labors are done. All I can say is that it reads like the novelization of a bad Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Don’t bother.
I picked this up and put it down many times. Many times. Finally, my long labors are done. All I can say is that it reads like the novelization of a bad Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. Don’t bother.
bcinkoske's review against another edition
5.0
L like the book a lot. It was a rollicking good space opera type of book. However, it did remind me of the old Batman TV show. Blackhawk was captured three times during the book but got away every time. Also his crew disobeyed orders to help him escape. Overall a great fun read.
snowcrash's review
2.0
I like space opera and all its variations. I wanted to like _Shadow of Empire_, but in the end it was simply dull.
The characters are simply flat. They all have one trait that is magnified and that's it. I got tired of the repeating of character motivation explanation. It's as if the reader was expected to forget why the hero's crew is loyal to him. Or that he is dangerous in a fight. In the end I really didn't care, even with the hints dropped about the hero's backstory (that he is genetically enhanced was repeated a lot, too).
Some things didn't make sense. It took one general 30 years to subjugate his entire planet, removing all of the weaker warlords. But it seemed the planet, being quite advanced, wasn't affected in any way. No economy wrecked or that some of the people wouldn't like being taken over. Then the same Marshal who took 30 years for one planet, then believes he can build a multi-system confederation in a handful of years. Even to the point of invading places where tyrants ruled. It didn't add up.
At best the book and potentially the series is Space Opera Lite. (Also, the hero made the mistake of using clip instead of magazine, one of my biggest pet peeves of military flavored sci-fi).
The characters are simply flat. They all have one trait that is magnified and that's it. I got tired of the repeating of character motivation explanation. It's as if the reader was expected to forget why the hero's crew is loyal to him. Or that he is dangerous in a fight. In the end I really didn't care, even with the hints dropped about the hero's backstory (that he is genetically enhanced was repeated a lot, too).
Some things didn't make sense. It took one general 30 years to subjugate his entire planet, removing all of the weaker warlords. But it seemed the planet, being quite advanced, wasn't affected in any way. No economy wrecked or that some of the people wouldn't like being taken over. Then the same Marshal who took 30 years for one planet, then believes he can build a multi-system confederation in a handful of years. Even to the point of invading places where tyrants ruled. It didn't add up.
At best the book and potentially the series is Space Opera Lite. (Also, the hero made the mistake of using clip instead of magazine, one of my biggest pet peeves of military flavored sci-fi).
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