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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
I wasn't a fan of Blackwood's previous Jack Ryan Jr. book and hadn't exactly been looking forward to diving into Duty and Honor as a result. Frankly, this book was about what I expected, which is to say it's pretty damn basic all around.
Blackwood doesn't inject much excitement or tension into the proceedings, which sees Jack targeted by assassins for unknown reasons while he's on sabbatical from The Campus following the events in Under Fire. Of the two Tom Clancy estate authors writing in the Jack Ryan Universe - Blackwood and Mark Greaney - I've found Blackwood's entries to be the lesser installments, and Duty and Honor is no exception.
This is a surprisingly dull read, and Blackwood does little to convince me here that Jack Jr. is an interesting enough character to headline his own series, let alone operate as a solo agent independent of The Campus and more seasoned spec ops veterans like John Clark and Ding Chavez. In Blackwood's hands, Jack Jr. is the epitome of a cardboard cutout - thin, flimsy, and bland.
The good news is, Duty and Honor marks the last time Blackwood gets to play in the Jack Ryan Universe sandbox, as the Jack Jr. series get handed off to fresh blood for the next installment. Hopefully Mike Maden proves more adept at crafting a better thriller when we next meet up with Jack again in Point of Contact.
Blackwood doesn't inject much excitement or tension into the proceedings, which sees Jack targeted by assassins for unknown reasons while he's on sabbatical from The Campus following the events in Under Fire. Of the two Tom Clancy estate authors writing in the Jack Ryan Universe - Blackwood and Mark Greaney - I've found Blackwood's entries to be the lesser installments, and Duty and Honor is no exception.
This is a surprisingly dull read, and Blackwood does little to convince me here that Jack Jr. is an interesting enough character to headline his own series, let alone operate as a solo agent independent of The Campus and more seasoned spec ops veterans like John Clark and Ding Chavez. In Blackwood's hands, Jack Jr. is the epitome of a cardboard cutout - thin, flimsy, and bland.
The good news is, Duty and Honor marks the last time Blackwood gets to play in the Jack Ryan Universe sandbox, as the Jack Jr. series get handed off to fresh blood for the next installment. Hopefully Mike Maden proves more adept at crafting a better thriller when we next meet up with Jack again in Point of Contact.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have a love hate relationship with this book.
Jack Jr is basically doing what got him suspended in his time of suspension. He had many opportunities to call the campus for help. I know he's all matcho and wants to solve everything himself but seeing as being matcho and going off by himself is what got him in this situation doesn't show his boss that he's a team player. It's not looking good for his future with the campus.
Jack Jr is basically doing what got him suspended in his time of suspension. He had many opportunities to call the campus for help. I know he's all matcho and wants to solve everything himself but seeing as being matcho and going off by himself is what got him in this situation doesn't show his boss that he's a team player. It's not looking good for his future with the campus.
3.5 rounded up. Quick read, although sometimes I wanted to kick Jack for being stupid.
Choppy, formulaic - Jack Ryan Jr doing undisciplined things with another protege. Not as awful as the last JR Jr book but not Clancy-level quality
I liked the book. Not really in the league of a Tom Clancy book cause it doesn't have that amount of detail. But for what it is, an action adventure book, it was entertaining.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Black ops, political dramas can be quite derivative. Even though that's not all bad, I appreciated the complexity and newness of the plot line in this book. Tom Clancy is one of my favorites and I think Grant Blackwood handled Clancy's tone, values and characters respectfully. This is the third in this Jack Ryan Jr saga and I hope there'll be more.
Jack Jr is no Jack Ryan and Grant Blackwood is no Tom Clancy.
Jack Jr. is too impulsive, doesn't think things through the way his Dad does and always seemed to do; he isn't level headed. Apparently, that's what led to his break with The Campus. Maybe he learned, maybe he didn't. This behavior is what leads to an adrenaline rush from start to finish - with no chance to catch breath, for the reader or the main characters. Stopping to think would have saved a lot of trouble and is something Dad would have done.
Mr. Blackwood seems desperate to prove to be as knowledgeable and 'in the know' as Mr. Clancy was - and the desperation shows. The word 'AK' is probably used more than any other. We get it, Jack Jr. was using an AK-47. I understand that Mr. Clancy gave Mr. Blackwood his blessing as Heir Apparent, but there is a reason that hardcover Jack Ryan/Rainbow Six/John Clark are on my shelf and I borrow Jack Jr. from the library.
Jack Jr. is too impulsive, doesn't think things through the way his Dad does and always seemed to do; he isn't level headed. Apparently, that's what led to his break with The Campus. Maybe he learned, maybe he didn't. This behavior is what leads to an adrenaline rush from start to finish - with no chance to catch breath, for the reader or the main characters. Stopping to think would have saved a lot of trouble and is something Dad would have done.
Mr. Blackwood seems desperate to prove to be as knowledgeable and 'in the know' as Mr. Clancy was - and the desperation shows. The word 'AK' is probably used more than any other. We get it, Jack Jr. was using an AK-47. I understand that Mr. Clancy gave Mr. Blackwood his blessing as Heir Apparent, but there is a reason that hardcover Jack Ryan/Rainbow Six/John Clark are on my shelf and I borrow Jack Jr. from the library.
Although I've seen many movies adapted for the screen from Tom Clancy's books, I have never read any of his books.
I realize that Clancy died in October of 2013, and this book was written by a credited ghost writer, but I would hope that the books that Clancy actually wrote were better than this one.
This book is just more of the same spy/thriller genre escapades. There was nothing new or exciting in this book, & I wish I hadn't spent my time reading it.
I realize that Clancy died in October of 2013, and this book was written by a credited ghost writer, but I would hope that the books that Clancy actually wrote were better than this one.
This book is just more of the same spy/thriller genre escapades. There was nothing new or exciting in this book, & I wish I hadn't spent my time reading it.