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sam_ayem's review against another edition
1.0
I can handle books that take existing science to ludicrous levels, but this book even got the basics of DNA totally wrong. For a book that focuses on genetics, that is a deal breaker.
arqog's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
imzadirose's review against another edition
4.0
In my quest to find more books like Matt Reilly's Scarecrow series (starts with [b:Ice Station|144790|Ice Station (Shane Schofield, #1)|Matthew Reilly|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388185756s/144790.jpg|289833]) and Andy McDermott's Wilde & Chase series (starts with [b:The Hunt for Atlantis|2445116|The Hunt for Atlantis (Nina Wilde & Eddie Chase, #1)|Andy McDermott|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330094121s/2445116.jpg|2452310]), I tried Jeremy Robinson and this first book of his Chess Team series.
I didn't find it in the same level as Reilly/McDermott. There were a lot of down times where they were discussing things, which in the other series I mentioned the down time is minimal then it's right back to the action and while the story was steeped in fantasy, I didn't feel the over the top type action those other authors give me.
But, I really liked the Chess Team itself, so I did still enjoy the book and look forward to reading more about them.
I didn't find it in the same level as Reilly/McDermott. There were a lot of down times where they were discussing things, which in the other series I mentioned the down time is minimal then it's right back to the action and while the story was steeped in fantasy, I didn't feel the over the top type action those other authors give me.
But, I really liked the Chess Team itself, so I did still enjoy the book and look forward to reading more about them.
geleeregina's review against another edition
3.0
It was a decent escapist read. Will put the next book on my TBR Mountain.
trike's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It is silly and preposterous and completely over-the-top in a comic book way.
There's the ancient hydra, Wolverine-like regeneration from any wound, some sort of ridiculous super handgun that Hellboy would love to own... just all sorts of craziness. Then there's the secret bad guy base on a volcanic island, because of course there is.
It took me a few chapters to reset my internal compass from "technothriller" to "comic book story", but once I did everything was fine. People coming back to life after being injected with a special serum derived from the hydra, the quest for immortality, the cult of Hercules, it all goes into the blender and then Robinson sets up a super-elite team of Delta Force operatives to uncover and fight this stuff.
There's also plenty of globetrotting to be had. Siberia, Peru, the Amazon, Greece, New Hampshire... all kinds of exotic locales.
I will give Robinson bonus points for actually spending half a page to detail exactly how Thor the Golden Retriever got home safe and sound. Not killing the dog = big ups from me.
It's an easy read and goofy fun. The writing is decent, and the characters are more than just one-dimensional supersoldiers. A lot of stuff explodes, though, some of it gratuitously, so if you're in the mood for that sort of thing, go for it.
There's the ancient hydra, Wolverine-like regeneration from any wound, some sort of ridiculous super handgun that Hellboy would love to own... just all sorts of craziness. Then there's the secret bad guy base on a volcanic island, because of course there is.
It took me a few chapters to reset my internal compass from "technothriller" to "comic book story", but once I did everything was fine. People coming back to life after being injected with a special serum derived from the hydra, the quest for immortality, the cult of Hercules, it all goes into the blender and then Robinson sets up a super-elite team of Delta Force operatives to uncover and fight this stuff.
There's also plenty of globetrotting to be had. Siberia, Peru, the Amazon, Greece, New Hampshire... all kinds of exotic locales.
I will give Robinson bonus points for actually spending half a page to detail exactly how Thor the Golden Retriever got home safe and sound. Not killing the dog = big ups from me.
It's an easy read and goofy fun. The writing is decent, and the characters are more than just one-dimensional supersoldiers. A lot of stuff explodes, though, some of it gratuitously, so if you're in the mood for that sort of thing, go for it.
katmarhan's review against another edition
3.0
[a:Jeremy Robinson|12328|Jeremy Robinson|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1198858200p2/12328.jpg]'s [b:Pulse|7117930|Pulse|Jeremy Robinson|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|7378594] is my first encounter with this author, and I will admit that Special Ops adventures are not my usual fare. But Pulse was a quick and action-packed read--I finished it in two sittings!
Part of what attracted me to the story is the science fiction element of an artifact that may endow one with immortality. Another attraction was the connection to ancient Greek history and mythology. And I actually found myself caring about some of the characters. Robinson does a good job of making each member of the Delta team an individual.
There was a bit too much bloody mayhem for my taste, but I found that if I thought of the story as a video game, it was easier for me to swallow.
And the misuse of the word "site" for "sight" (more than once) made me wince and wish for better editing.
All in all, a book I enjoyed more than I expected, but still not something I would normally buy. This was a First Reads win for me.
Part of what attracted me to the story is the science fiction element of an artifact that may endow one with immortality. Another attraction was the connection to ancient Greek history and mythology. And I actually found myself caring about some of the characters. Robinson does a good job of making each member of the Delta team an individual.
There was a bit too much bloody mayhem for my taste, but I found that if I thought of the story as a video game, it was easier for me to swallow.
And the misuse of the word "site" for "sight" (more than once) made me wince and wish for better editing.
All in all, a book I enjoyed more than I expected, but still not something I would normally buy. This was a First Reads win for me.
krysley's review against another edition
2.0
Looking for a little action/adventure, my usual go-to author is Matthew Reilly but having read everything he has written I was ready for a new author. I decided to try Pulse by Jeremy Robinson because it had exactly what I was looking for--essentially a blow-em-up, action flick-type of book. Well, I sort of got what I was looking for.
Overall I don't think the plot was that horrible but I think the writing could have been a little better. Robinson liked to throw in similes every chance he could get and it tended to really put me off my rhythm. At times, the similes seemed to be very juvenile and all I could think was, "Really?" This really drove me nuts. By the end of the book I couldn't wait to finish it--and not in the good I-can't-wait-to-find-out-what-happens-next way.
I also thought that Robsinson's main characters were very one-dimensional. I wanted to get to know them better--especially Bishop because I felt that he had a great backstory. But for me King fell a little flat and very few of the characters seemed to have any depth to them. I would like to see more of Anna Beck and get to know the Chess Team better. I'm reading a Chess Team book, I want to know about them without having cheesy lines getting in the way.
I ended up giving this book two stars because though I wasn't crazy about this book, it also wasn't horrible for me. There were a few moments when I really enjoyed it and was hanging on every word but toward the end those were few and far between. An average book for me would rate three stars but this was slightly below average for what I was looking for.
Overall I don't think the plot was that horrible but I think the writing could have been a little better. Robinson liked to throw in similes every chance he could get and it tended to really put me off my rhythm. At times, the similes seemed to be very juvenile and all I could think was, "Really?" This really drove me nuts. By the end of the book I couldn't wait to finish it--and not in the good I-can't-wait-to-find-out-what-happens-next way.
I also thought that Robsinson's main characters were very one-dimensional. I wanted to get to know them better--especially Bishop because I felt that he had a great backstory. But for me King fell a little flat and very few of the characters seemed to have any depth to them. I would like to see more of Anna Beck and get to know the Chess Team better. I'm reading a Chess Team book, I want to know about them without having cheesy lines getting in the way.
I ended up giving this book two stars because though I wasn't crazy about this book, it also wasn't horrible for me. There were a few moments when I really enjoyed it and was hanging on every word but toward the end those were few and far between. An average book for me would rate three stars but this was slightly below average for what I was looking for.
beckylej's review against another edition
3.0
A discovery in Peru could lead to a genetic breakthrough, but at what cost?
The first Jack Sigler thriller is like a video game in novel form. Exciting and fast paced, but a little more story wouldn't have hurt. Interested in reading the two follow up titles.
The first Jack Sigler thriller is like a video game in novel form. Exciting and fast paced, but a little more story wouldn't have hurt. Interested in reading the two follow up titles.
nikkijazzie's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not as good as a I thought it would be... the science didn't seem particularly well researched and most of the characters fell flat for me, I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't like them, however they were a little cliched. Having said that I would like to read the other books in this series
trish204's review against another edition
3.0
My first Chess Team book, my second novel by Jeremy Robinson. And I'm not impressed with either. The first book I read had almost the same problem as this one: good basic idea, thrilling, gripping, but at a certain point it just becomes too aloof.
In this case I was already slightly annoyed at the start when reading about the oh-so-perfect-and-formidable special operators of the US Delta Force and all the justifications for how and why they do what they do and why it is OK when they do it but not when others do the very same thing. It was rather spooky to read about their charakters (anger issues, suicidal tendencies, love for hurting other things or people, numerous phobias that can only be controlled by applying violence on something or someone ... to only name a few) and to think that maybe, just maybe, some pychos like that could actually be used for military operations. I hope not.
What I also don't like is when authors take very real situations (in this case diving for a hobby, meeting hammerhead sharks that are being fed) and turn them into nightmares just to thrill the reader, thereby creating a completely wrong impression. Sharks are the prime example in many thrillers (movies and books alike) and it's simply annoying - especially when one takes into account the devastating damage that has been and still is caused by these false images!
Then the action started and I was content for a while, trying to enjoy the adventure and not to think too much. But again, at a certain point it just became too ridiculous, too fancy, too twisted. I mean I knew it would have some mythological, maybe even supernatural elements but not like this. Way too much (I'm not going into detail as to not spoil it for potential readers, if you want to know details, just say so).
Moreover, I couldn't actually bond with anybody in the book. Usually, when I read one of Matthew Reilley's novels for example, I'm emotionally distraught when someone dies or I'm anxiously hoping for someone's survival. Here, nothing.
I wanted to know where the villains took the idea with the Hydra but I didn't care if they succeeded or not. In the end I was even disappointed with the villains' "end game".
For this reason and because I've read on amazon that the sequels will be even more twisted / aloof, I will probably not continue with the series.
The third star is for the passable action alone and to mark it as at least equal to "Island 731"; usually I wouldn't give more than 2stars for this.
In this case I was already slightly annoyed at the start when reading about the oh-so-perfect-and-formidable special operators of the US Delta Force and all the justifications for how and why they do what they do and why it is OK when they do it but not when others do the very same thing. It was rather spooky to read about their charakters (anger issues, suicidal tendencies, love for hurting other things or people, numerous phobias that can only be controlled by applying violence on something or someone ... to only name a few) and to think that maybe, just maybe, some pychos like that could actually be used for military operations. I hope not.
What I also don't like is when authors take very real situations (in this case diving for a hobby, meeting hammerhead sharks that are being fed) and turn them into nightmares just to thrill the reader, thereby creating a completely wrong impression. Sharks are the prime example in many thrillers (movies and books alike) and it's simply annoying - especially when one takes into account the devastating damage that has been and still is caused by these false images!
Then the action started and I was content for a while, trying to enjoy the adventure and not to think too much. But again, at a certain point it just became too ridiculous, too fancy, too twisted. I mean I knew it would have some mythological, maybe even supernatural elements but not like this. Way too much (I'm not going into detail as to not spoil it for potential readers, if you want to know details, just say so).
Moreover, I couldn't actually bond with anybody in the book. Usually, when I read one of Matthew Reilley's novels for example, I'm emotionally distraught when someone dies or I'm anxiously hoping for someone's survival. Here, nothing.
I wanted to know where the villains took the idea with the Hydra but I didn't care if they succeeded or not. In the end I was even disappointed with the villains' "end game".
For this reason and because I've read on amazon that the sequels will be even more twisted / aloof, I will probably not continue with the series.
The third star is for the passable action alone and to mark it as at least equal to "Island 731"; usually I wouldn't give more than 2stars for this.