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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So, while I liked Ascension for the biotic lore, and the backstory on Cerberus and the Quarians (Tali’s attitude in ME2 makes so much more sense now.) Kahlee Sanders’ treatment of Gillian really bothers me. It’s the 22nd century. By then educators should know better than to disrupt an autistic student’s schedule. I agreed with Hendel the whole time, and kind of wish Kahlee apologized. Also, her dream of making Gillian “normal” made me want to rip the book in half.
This book being both an in-between for the video games "Mass Effect" 1 and 2 as well as the follow up to the book "Mass Effect: Revelation" sadly feels like a stand-alone book more than anything else. This book has no real connection to the previous book besides us just following the main character. This book also does not expand anything that has already been established from the video game series.
What this book does do well is humanize these characters and makes us care more about these characters than we did in the previous book. The story in this book is definitely more engaging than the previous book.
I still recommend this book for anyone who wants to continue the series.
What this book does do well is humanize these characters and makes us care more about these characters than we did in the previous book. The story in this book is definitely more engaging than the previous book.
I still recommend this book for anyone who wants to continue the series.
From what I read so far, the Mass Effect book series has the interesting gift of making the best possible endings. Don't worry, I won't spoil anything about this book, but I'll tell you something: I LOVED the Epilogue of this book. And another thing that makes this book pure awesomeness: ELCORS. Who on this universe would possible NOT like Elcors??
Now speaking more seriously, this book is pretty neat. Once again, we're following Kahleen Sanders in her journey, this time as a teacher at Grissom Academy (and boy, it feels so good to read such familiar names in this book. It feels like home). Like in the previous book, Ascension is not directly related to the game, though it does have a couple of references. Even Shepard has his/her cameo in the book, plus a couple of brand new characters we'll never hear about again. Ascension also focuses strongly on the quarian culture, which is pretty cool because these extra information are not shown in the game, or are shown, but a little more vaguely. I do recommend playing Mass Effect 2 before grabbing this book, though (Mass Effect 3 would be nice, but the story can be understood even if you didn't play it). Most of the story happens at Grissom Academy and in Omega, so you might want to get familiar at least with Omega and the way it works.
Anyways, great book. If you liked Revelations, Ascension is not very different from it. It has pure action from the beginning until the end.
Now speaking more seriously, this book is pretty neat. Once again, we're following Kahleen Sanders in her journey, this time as a teacher at Grissom Academy (and boy, it feels so good to read such familiar names in this book. It feels like home). Like in the previous book, Ascension is not directly related to the game, though it does have a couple of references. Even Shepard has his/her cameo in the book, plus a couple of brand new characters we'll never hear about again. Ascension also focuses strongly on the quarian culture, which is pretty cool because these extra information are not shown in the game, or are shown, but a little more vaguely. I do recommend playing Mass Effect 2 before grabbing this book, though (Mass Effect 3 would be nice, but the story can be understood even if you didn't play it). Most of the story happens at Grissom Academy and in Omega, so you might want to get familiar at least with Omega and the way it works.
Anyways, great book. If you liked Revelations, Ascension is not very different from it. It has pure action from the beginning until the end.
This was a good story, and I think will be enjoyable for those who have played the game and/or read the first book ([book: Mass Effect: Revelation]). Revelation works well as a prologue to the game, but Ascension is not an epilogue. Either there will be more books to follow the story of Ascension, or like Revelation, this will act as a prologue to the next game in the series.
Disappointing. I had hoped for more insight into TIM, but alas...
After finishing Mass Effect 3, I found myself wanting to immerse myself in all things Mass Effect, I suppose because the trilogy is now over, and the ending was rather disappointing. I first picked this book up in the library two years ago or so, and found it very dull. But I thought I'd try it again, and I somehow made it through.
It reads like a fanfiction. Not an awful one, but not a great one either. Karpyshyn's writing style is merely mediocre. The only reason the story was remotely interesting to me is because it is set in the Mass Effect universe, and involves Grissom Academy and Kahlee Sanders, who appears in Mass Effect 3. The book is very, very simply written and there is almost a complete lack of character development.
I would give this 1 star, but I've given it another simply for being Mass Effect related. Although Karpyshyn tries to explain terms to people who haven't played Mass Effect, I get the feeling that if you've never touched the games, some elements of the story might be confusing.
I think a Mass Effect book series following Commander Shepard, or at least the Normandy would be great - but then there is the issue with being able to create your own custom character, both in appearance and personality. Although there are the default Shepards, they would not be Shepard to those people - like myself - who create our own versions.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
It reads like a fanfiction. Not an awful one, but not a great one either. Karpyshyn's writing style is merely mediocre. The only reason the story was remotely interesting to me is because it is set in the Mass Effect universe, and involves Grissom Academy and Kahlee Sanders, who appears in Mass Effect 3. The book is very, very simply written and there is almost a complete lack of character development.
I would give this 1 star, but I've given it another simply for being Mass Effect related. Although Karpyshyn tries to explain terms to people who haven't played Mass Effect, I get the feeling that if you've never touched the games, some elements of the story might be confusing.
I think a Mass Effect book series following Commander Shepard, or at least the Normandy would be great - but then there is the issue with being able to create your own custom character, both in appearance and personality. Although there are the default Shepards, they would not be Shepard to those people - like myself - who create our own versions.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
This one was way, way better for me than book 1. I loved the mystery surrounding Cerberus and all the twists and turns/backstabbing that happened. It was a good time :)
A few of the lines actually got a chuckle out of me. Though, a few did make me cringe(slight nit pick but…I’d figure with humanity being so advanced in the future, we’d maybe stop using the r-word in context of disabled people but I guess not😅)
By the way, could we please stop using the term “lovemaking” to describe sex? Probably just a personal preference but I always found it silly. I’m asexual and even I am not that prudish to not want to say it lol
I was surprised that Grayson warmed up to me. He’s a very flawed person but a great father and it was touching to see the protectiveness that he had for his daughter (even if it did take him a while to admit Cerberus is pretty shady and not looking out for his daughter’s best interests). This actually got me thinking about the differences between this and the Project Overlord DLC from ME2 (not going to go into that in case of spoilers but it also involves Cerberus, autistic characters and their caretakers—whether or not either is good representation is up for debate. I’m hoping with the last two books, we’ll see more of Gillian growing as a person we’ll see of her personality shine through and not just be this magical, all powerful biotic).
Oh, and seeing quarian culture was neat. I do really like the quanrians as I find their societal structure (and parallels to similarly discriminated against human/nomadic groups) interesting. Especially as they feature heavily in ME2.
A few of the lines actually got a chuckle out of me. Though, a few did make me cringe
By the way, could we please stop using the term “lovemaking” to describe sex? Probably just a personal preference but I always found it silly. I’m asexual and even I am not that prudish to not want to say it lol
I was surprised that Grayson warmed up to me. He’s a very flawed person but a great father and it was touching to see the protectiveness that he had for his daughter (even if it did take him a while to admit Cerberus is pretty shady and not looking out for his daughter’s best interests). This actually got me thinking about the differences between this and the Project Overlord DLC from ME2 (not going to go into that in case of spoilers but it also involves Cerberus, autistic characters and their caretakers—whether or not either is good representation is up for debate. I’m hoping with the last two books, we’ll see more of Gillian growing as a person we’ll see of her personality shine through and not just be this magical, all powerful biotic).
Oh, and seeing quarian culture was neat. I do really like the quanrians as I find their societal structure (and parallels to similarly discriminated against human/nomadic groups) interesting. Especially as they feature heavily in ME2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence
Minor: Ableism
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ascension is the second Mass Effect novel after Revelation. Unlike that book, which was a prequel to the Mass Effect video games, this one takes place after Saren wrecked havoc in the Citadel during the ending of Mass Effect 1, and so it contains game spoilers and all that jazz. It only contains one character from the previous book - Kahlee - who continues as a main character. The rest of the cast are new to this book with there being mentions of game characters, but otherwise, it can be sort of a stand alone where you don't necessarily need the games nor the previous book to understand everything that's going on.
That being said, this book is very much a book for fans of the Mass Effect series and not necessarily something someone who isn't a fan would enjoy. There's certain details that just click faster for you if you have knowledge of the games, and some of the plot doesn't feel as weighted if you don't have that knowledge either. And, you probably don't care about how quarians poop in their enviro-suits.
I, however, am a fan of the Mass Effect series and I really do care about how quarians poop, thank you for asking.
I don't think this book is as good as the previous one, but that might be because Kahlee isn't as interesting as a lead character as Anderson to me because I love Anderson a lot. Like a lot. That man is my space dad. She's still a decent enough to follow and the other characters balance it out enough that it turns out alright.
If you're a fan of sci-fi or Mass Effect or want to know how quarians poop, it's worth at least one read. Otherwise, I'd suggest skipping it as it just won't be the think that will keep your interest.
That being said, this book is very much a book for fans of the Mass Effect series and not necessarily something someone who isn't a fan would enjoy. There's certain details that just click faster for you if you have knowledge of the games, and some of the plot doesn't feel as weighted if you don't have that knowledge either. And, you probably don't care about how quarians poop in their enviro-suits.
I, however, am a fan of the Mass Effect series and I really do care about how quarians poop, thank you for asking.
I don't think this book is as good as the previous one, but that might be because Kahlee isn't as interesting as a lead character as Anderson to me because I love Anderson a lot. Like a lot. That man is my space dad. She's still a decent enough to follow and the other characters balance it out enough that it turns out alright.
If you're a fan of sci-fi or Mass Effect or want to know how quarians poop, it's worth at least one read. Otherwise, I'd suggest skipping it as it just won't be the think that will keep your interest.
An improvement over the previous book as this was more self-contained. Not a great piece of literature by any means but a fun installment in the Mass Effect world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Murder