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yvarg's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
dawn_marie's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the fifth volume, Croma Venture of Joel Shepherd's entertaining Spiral Wars; it offered many of the same elements that I enjoyed in previous volumes - high stakes, interesting alien worlds, political intrigue, and Phoenix crew kicking butt and taking names.
As was true in the other volumes, I had some minor nits to pick . . . the most notable that this volume read like two different novels smushed together: the first dealing with all things Defiance and then that plot being dropped for the second which dealt with croma space - almost as if Mr. Shepherd did not have enough "story" to write a full novel for each plot line, so he stuck them together in one novel. Each half of the novel was different in tone - while both were mostly enjoyable, that tone shift was jarring, disconnecting me from the story for a bit.
Mr. Shephard's universe continues to expand as we are introduced to worlds and aliens. I wish the reader was afforded more time with the croma, they appeared interesting. This volume had fewer of the long, long technical-babble expositions dumps that littered the previous offerings making for a quicker, more pleasant read.
Captain Erik Debogande and Major Trace Thakur continue to be the most developed (and evolving) and interesting characters in the series. Everything Lispeth continues to annoy; she is such a Mary Sue of a character, always having everything go her way - while I understand the need to view the parren world, why must it be through her? I wish the page time devoted to her was spent on some of the more interesting supporting characters (Hiro, Dale, Stan, Pram).
Even with the annoyance of Lispeth (can she just go away?) and a cliff hanging ending (why?) I enjoyed the novel and look forward to the next.
As was true in the other volumes, I had some minor nits to pick . . . the most notable that this volume read like two different novels smushed together: the first dealing with all things Defiance and then that plot being dropped for the second which dealt with croma space - almost as if Mr. Shepherd did not have enough "story" to write a full novel for each plot line, so he stuck them together in one novel. Each half of the novel was different in tone - while both were mostly enjoyable, that tone shift was jarring, disconnecting me from the story for a bit.
Mr. Shephard's universe continues to expand as we are introduced to worlds and aliens. I wish the reader was afforded more time with the croma, they appeared interesting. This volume had fewer of the long, long technical-babble expositions dumps that littered the previous offerings making for a quicker, more pleasant read.
Captain Erik Debogande and Major Trace Thakur continue to be the most developed (and evolving) and interesting characters in the series. Everything Lispeth continues to annoy; she is such a Mary Sue of a character, always having everything go her way - while I understand the need to view the parren world, why must it be through her? I wish the page time devoted to her was spent on some of the more interesting supporting characters (Hiro, Dale, Stan, Pram).
Even with the annoyance of Lispeth (can she just go away?) and a cliff hanging ending (why?) I enjoyed the novel and look forward to the next.
toddbert's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lizziegracereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
colossal's review against another edition
4.0
After the climactic battle that secured the Drysine moon-base of Defiance for the Phoenix and the Parren, there's a whole lot of consolidation that needs to be done. Not to mention repairs/reconstruction for the badly damaged UFS Phoenix itself. With Parren politics swirling around him Erik Debogande must decide whether to return to human space or continue to even more unknown space to pursue the battle with the mysterious Deepynines and their allies. After the return of old friends and a tentative rapprochement with the human fleet, a new threat is made clear that leaves Erik no choice but to continue into Croma space and an encounter with the malevolent Reeh.
The various spacer races from previous books get mostly left behind here, or at least after the first half of this book which is all about the Parren (again) and Defiance. The expedition into Croma space immediately puts two new players on the board, the Croma'Rai and the Croma'Dokran as well as some refugees from a Reeh-occupied world called Corbi. But the Reeh are more dangerous than anyone was aware of and their mastery of a devastating technology leaves the UFS Phoenix in dire trouble.
New faces, new cultures, mostly the same old crew but with some new faces their as well. At the end of this series it wouldn't surprise me to see the UFS Phoenix as the head of a new multi-species fleet.
This series continues to be great with what appears to be many books to come.
The various spacer races from previous books get mostly left behind here, or at least after the first half of this book which is all about the Parren (again) and Defiance. The expedition into Croma space immediately puts two new players on the board, the Croma'Rai and the Croma'Dokran as well as some refugees from a Reeh-occupied world called Corbi. But the Reeh are more dangerous than anyone was aware of and their mastery of a devastating technology leaves the UFS Phoenix in dire trouble.
New faces, new cultures, mostly the same old crew but with some new faces their as well. At the end of this series it wouldn't surprise me to see the UFS Phoenix as the head of a new multi-species fleet.
This series continues to be great with what appears to be many books to come.
murraycampobianco's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
eisn's review against another edition
4.0
Good continuation of the series and makes want to read more of it.
snowcrash's review
5.0
Here is the latest installment of The Spiral Wars from one of my favorite Sci-Fi authors. It was a delight to return to the adventures of the Phoenix. The author does a great job getting the reader back in sync.
In each book, the author has expanded the view of who lives in the Spiral. Each time we are given a new sentient empire to explore, another is hinted to be even bigger & more frightening. That continues here. The reeh are simply evil (when their evil is described & you are not moved, then I can't help you). Plus lots of intrigue, conflicting loyalties and wonderfully alien civilizations.
That is one theme that is done so well in the Spiral Wars books. The attention to detail, the ideas of how everything works. It all makes sense and fits together. The world building is one of the series' great strengths.
So are the characters. They are always learning, always evolving. Also making mistakes and dealing with the consequences. New characters are introduced to the mix. But it never feels as if the narrative is crowded or the number overwhelming. A lot happens within these pages. All I'll say is that if you are a fan, you may be reading the last 100 pages late into the night. I care about the crew of Phoenix. I can't wait until book six is available.
In each book, the author has expanded the view of who lives in the Spiral. Each time we are given a new sentient empire to explore, another is hinted to be even bigger & more frightening. That continues here. The reeh are simply evil (when their evil is described & you are not moved, then I can't help you). Plus lots of intrigue, conflicting loyalties and wonderfully alien civilizations.
That is one theme that is done so well in the Spiral Wars books. The attention to detail, the ideas of how everything works. It all makes sense and fits together. The world building is one of the series' great strengths.
So are the characters. They are always learning, always evolving. Also making mistakes and dealing with the consequences. New characters are introduced to the mix. But it never feels as if the narrative is crowded or the number overwhelming. A lot happens within these pages. All I'll say is that if you are a fan, you may be reading the last 100 pages late into the night. I care about the crew of Phoenix. I can't wait until book six is available.
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