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tenthrow's review against another edition
3.0
This one is a little rougher around the edges. There are several plot lines here that I suspect will be dropped. Probably without mentioning them again in any capacity. Still an enjoyable read but the worst of the trilogy I'd say.
shonari's review against another edition
4.0
This was an OK installment in the expansion wars trilogy. It was as entertaining as flipping through Netflix trying to find something to watch.
righteousridel's review against another edition
3.0
The Lone Wolfe Returns
The Black Fleet universe has been an entertaining source of spaceship combat wrapped into a tightly plotted package, but after five novels, I’ve finally grasped a fundamental difference between what I expect, versus what the author wants to deliver. The author wants to focus about a tale of a single spaceship during historic events. Unfortunately, the prose often oversteps its bounds and promises more than it’ll deliver.
With a title like “Expansion Wars”, I’m expecting fleet combat consuming star systems, an empire ablaze and the fate of billions callously ignored by corrupt politicans. What Joshua Dalzelle delivers instead are singular ship actions and the galactic equivalent of border skirmishes. There’s a thematic disconnect between what’s promised and the actual events. The author tells a tale about an Age of Sail-style Captain having to operate far from comms and support, but I’m sold on humanity’s last stand against “the enigmatic Darshik.”
This leads to Jackson Wolfe’s return, who takes up so much of the page count that the previous ensemble cast is back to their supporting roles. Instead of having their own subplots that expand the scope of the space opera, everything done ultimately impacts Wolfe’s story. It feels like only one thing is happening in the universe. This is in contrast to New Frontiers, where Wolfe took a step back and Wright, Pike, and Markham had to up their game.
Iron & Blood is a return to the author’s safe place: writing about Wolfe overcoming enemies foreign and domestic. It’s entertaining and well-paced. But the author can do better, just look at the last novel.
Recommended with reservations.
After two novels, the only antagonist of note is the Darshik space-submarine “Spectre”. We really need characterization for the enemy. As well, the entire Expansion Wars series has been focused on two fleet actions and a single border planet, which even for the much reduced United Terran Federation, is insignificant. We’ve seen maybe ten ships total throughout the entirety of the series. Admiral Markham constantly talks about how they’re only tossing mothballed vessels at the invasion.
The infantry angle is an interesting sideplot as it introduces some new narrators, but reminds us that the stakes are actually pretty low. The planet is unimportant per the politicos, and the author spends zero time making us care about the people of said planet. The mystery around the terraforming project is never revealed, and I suspect it was forgotten since I’m currently halfway through the sequel.
Meanwhile, allegedly these events have seen the old Commonwealth fall, a new President arise, and power blocks created between the UTF and the remaining human planets. No! This skirmish is barely relevant. It’s really a step down from the scope of narration in Call to Arms. It’s like the author is all setup, but little in the way of delivery.
The most frustrating part is that Wright is written out of the story. Wolfe is clearly top billing, since Wright disappears for the majority of the book flying back and forth, until it’s time for her to bring enough firepower to open the way for Wolfe. I wonder if fans revolted at New Frontier's change in main characters, and the author decided to put Wolfe back into the spotlight in response. I’m convinced that the author would be better off getting rid of Wolfe.
The Black Fleet universe has been an entertaining source of spaceship combat wrapped into a tightly plotted package, but after five novels, I’ve finally grasped a fundamental difference between what I expect, versus what the author wants to deliver. The author wants to focus about a tale of a single spaceship during historic events. Unfortunately, the prose often oversteps its bounds and promises more than it’ll deliver.
With a title like “Expansion Wars”, I’m expecting fleet combat consuming star systems, an empire ablaze and the fate of billions callously ignored by corrupt politicans. What Joshua Dalzelle delivers instead are singular ship actions and the galactic equivalent of border skirmishes. There’s a thematic disconnect between what’s promised and the actual events. The author tells a tale about an Age of Sail-style Captain having to operate far from comms and support, but I’m sold on humanity’s last stand against “the enigmatic Darshik.”
This leads to Jackson Wolfe’s return, who takes up so much of the page count that the previous ensemble cast is back to their supporting roles. Instead of having their own subplots that expand the scope of the space opera, everything done ultimately impacts Wolfe’s story. It feels like only one thing is happening in the universe. This is in contrast to New Frontiers, where Wolfe took a step back and Wright, Pike, and Markham had to up their game.
Iron & Blood is a return to the author’s safe place: writing about Wolfe overcoming enemies foreign and domestic. It’s entertaining and well-paced. But the author can do better, just look at the last novel.
Recommended with reservations.
Spoiler
The following is in spoiler tags, and I say so since some Goodreads clients may not respect it. You’ve been warned:After two novels, the only antagonist of note is the Darshik space-submarine “Spectre”. We really need characterization for the enemy. As well, the entire Expansion Wars series has been focused on two fleet actions and a single border planet, which even for the much reduced United Terran Federation, is insignificant. We’ve seen maybe ten ships total throughout the entirety of the series. Admiral Markham constantly talks about how they’re only tossing mothballed vessels at the invasion.
The infantry angle is an interesting sideplot as it introduces some new narrators, but reminds us that the stakes are actually pretty low. The planet is unimportant per the politicos, and the author spends zero time making us care about the people of said planet. The mystery around the terraforming project is never revealed, and I suspect it was forgotten since I’m currently halfway through the sequel.
Meanwhile, allegedly these events have seen the old Commonwealth fall, a new President arise, and power blocks created between the UTF and the remaining human planets. No! This skirmish is barely relevant. It’s really a step down from the scope of narration in Call to Arms. It’s like the author is all setup, but little in the way of delivery.
The most frustrating part is that Wright is written out of the story. Wolfe is clearly top billing, since Wright disappears for the majority of the book flying back and forth, until it’s time for her to bring enough firepower to open the way for Wolfe. I wonder if fans revolted at New Frontier's change in main characters, and the author decided to put Wolfe back into the spotlight in response. I’m convinced that the author would be better off getting rid of Wolfe.
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