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hirvimaki's review
4.0
Fast-paced, full of snark, and a host of beloved characters. A good follow-up to RTI1. (I'm still mad about the ending of RTI1, but this does some atonement work.)
kkomo's review
4.0
Whew! That was quite the ride.
I wasn’t a fan of the whole “darkness” tangent- but otherwise loved the book. I like the military style team action with a sprinkling of the paranormal.
I wasn’t a fan of the whole “darkness” tangent- but otherwise loved the book. I like the military style team action with a sprinkling of the paranormal.
lynguy1's review
5.0
Relentless by Jonathan Maberry is the second book in Rogue Team International (RTI) series featuring Joe Ledger. He is no longer with the Department of Military Sciences, but leading a team of independent troubleshooters, Havoc Team that is part of RTI. This is one of the darkest military thrillers that I have read in a long time. Suppose multiple people important to you were murdered. What would that do to your psyche which was already damaged? Read this novel and you will find out how Joe handles the situation.
While this novel focuses on Joe and his dog Ghost, Havoc Team and other colleagues play important roles that give the reader character continuity. The killers are known. The key is how to find them and that journey takes the reader to Europe, Indonesia, South Africa, Antarctica, and North America. Joe is well-developed, compelling, and damaged. His motivation is believable and well-drawn, but I had a hard time with many of his actions in this book. The secondary characters enhance the story and the relationships are believable.
Chapter one hooked me. Chapter two and beyond was so vivid and compelling I felt like I was with the characters, but grateful that I was safe in my home. The story immediately pulls the reader in and never lets him or her off the rollercoaster of action and emotion.
For an action / military thriller, I loved the style that Maberry used. While there are comprehensive descriptions of clothing, people, places and gear involving black market weapons sales, private military contractors, cybernetics, body armor, chemical enhancements, and bioweapons, it doesn’t go into minute detail. I believe this approach will make this novel appeal to a wider audience.
Overall, this novel is a shockingly dark, disturbing, and emotional ride. Be aware that there is plenty of violence and emotional turmoil in this story. An old arch-enemy reappears as well setting up possible threads in future novels. Themes include revenge, anger, grief, murder, PTSD, greed, good versus evil, cyber terrorism, and cyber espionage as well as friendship, love, compassion, honesty, loyalty, and brotherhood/sisterhood relationships.
This is the only the third book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as going back and reading the original Joe Ledger series. This author’s books are well-written with characters that have depth and there is an interesting plot where the story line pulls the reader in immediately. I believe those readers that enjoy action thrillers and military thrillers that are dark will want to read this book.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Jonathan Maberry provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 13, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
While this novel focuses on Joe and his dog Ghost, Havoc Team and other colleagues play important roles that give the reader character continuity. The killers are known. The key is how to find them and that journey takes the reader to Europe, Indonesia, South Africa, Antarctica, and North America. Joe is well-developed, compelling, and damaged. His motivation is believable and well-drawn, but I had a hard time with many of his actions in this book. The secondary characters enhance the story and the relationships are believable.
Chapter one hooked me. Chapter two and beyond was so vivid and compelling I felt like I was with the characters, but grateful that I was safe in my home. The story immediately pulls the reader in and never lets him or her off the rollercoaster of action and emotion.
For an action / military thriller, I loved the style that Maberry used. While there are comprehensive descriptions of clothing, people, places and gear involving black market weapons sales, private military contractors, cybernetics, body armor, chemical enhancements, and bioweapons, it doesn’t go into minute detail. I believe this approach will make this novel appeal to a wider audience.
Overall, this novel is a shockingly dark, disturbing, and emotional ride. Be aware that there is plenty of violence and emotional turmoil in this story. An old arch-enemy reappears as well setting up possible threads in future novels. Themes include revenge, anger, grief, murder, PTSD, greed, good versus evil, cyber terrorism, and cyber espionage as well as friendship, love, compassion, honesty, loyalty, and brotherhood/sisterhood relationships.
This is the only the third book that I have read by this author but I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as going back and reading the original Joe Ledger series. This author’s books are well-written with characters that have depth and there is an interesting plot where the story line pulls the reader in immediately. I believe those readers that enjoy action thrillers and military thrillers that are dark will want to read this book.
St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin and Jonathan Maberry provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via Net Galley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for July 13, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
badseedgirl's review
5.0
All the stars. This. Book. Gets. All. The. Stars.
Joe and Ghost go through so much during this book. Almost more than I can stand. There is no way to explain my unconditional love of Joe Ledger and his dog Ghost.
Johnathan Maberry, consider yourself put on notice. If anything ever happens to Ghost other than he dies peacefully in bed you will be officially invested in the "Order of the Steel Toed Boot."
By the way, what ever happened to Cobbler? He has not been around in several books.
Joe and Ghost go through so much during this book. Almost more than I can stand. There is no way to explain my unconditional love of Joe Ledger and his dog Ghost.
Johnathan Maberry, consider yourself put on notice. If anything ever happens to Ghost other than he dies peacefully in bed you will be officially invested in the "Order of the Steel Toed Boot."
By the way, what ever happened to Cobbler? He has not been around in several books.
ofearna's review
When I got an email from Jonathan Maberry asking if I'd like to review the latest Joe Ledger novel I scared my dog (squeeeee). Of course I would (silly question!).
So it arrived on a Thursday and stared at me. Till Saturday when I could start it. Then I got poisoned at work (I told the stupid restaurant I was allergic to mushrooms!), so barely got the book started. But I did get it started!!!
So, I chipped away at this wonderful novel for the week and finished it after work on Friday. Couldn't go to bed until I finished it. And had a great surprise to see cameo appearances from Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard!
This novel will serve as a GREAT lead-up to Church and Joe facing off against Sunday and it's great to see that for now Joe's love life doesn't make me want to curl up into a fetal ball and cry.
So, if you liked any of the previous Joe novels or anything else written by Jonathan go pre-order this novel for when it's officially release. ARC or not, I've got mine ordered!
So it arrived on a Thursday and stared at me. Till Saturday when I could start it. Then I got poisoned at work (I told the stupid restaurant I was allergic to mushrooms!), so barely got the book started. But I did get it started!!!
So, I chipped away at this wonderful novel for the week and finished it after work on Friday. Couldn't go to bed until I finished it. And had a great surprise to see cameo appearances from Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard!
This novel will serve as a GREAT lead-up to Church and Joe facing off against Sunday and it's great to see that for now Joe's love life doesn't make me want to curl up into a fetal ball and cry.
So, if you liked any of the previous Joe novels or anything else written by Jonathan go pre-order this novel for when it's officially release. ARC or not, I've got mine ordered!
books_dogs_lexi's review
5.0
Happy release day, Maberry fans!
Picking where we left off in Rage (JOE LEDGER/RTI #1), Maberry takes Joe Ledger down a dark path, up to the door, then Sparta kicks him right through it, slams it, leans against it and giggles madly. First it’s a Joker giggle. Then it becomes a full on Pennywise giggle.
5/5 dark and bloody little penguins seeking vengeance.
Picking where we left off in Rage (JOE LEDGER/RTI #1), Maberry takes Joe Ledger down a dark path, up to the door, then Sparta kicks him right through it, slams it, leans against it and giggles madly. First it’s a Joker giggle. Then it becomes a full on Pennywise giggle.
5/5 dark and bloody little penguins seeking vengeance.
jackcryan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fast paced and excited, but feels like nothing happens or changes at end.
roksyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mercenaries enhanced with cutting-edge cybernetics and chemical enhancements may not be enough to stop Joe, as the death of those closest to him has fractured his already fragile psyche. Relentless follows Joe as he descends into darkness to hunt the killers responsible – the attempt to destroy him has only morphed him into a more fearsome weapon.
This is by far the darkest of the Joe Ledger books; it is visceral and heart-breaking, yet also enthralling. Some might assume it’s captivating in the way that witnessing an accident can be, where a viewer cannot look away, but that’s not what I mean in the slightest. I’ve been emotionally invested in all of the Joe Ledger books, even the ones that weren’t 5 star reads for me, but this one takes the intensity up about 300 notches. I often listen to audiobooks whilst I do things – dishes, folding the washing – but the fear I felt for Joe was so palpable that I often abandoned a chore so I could focus on the unfolding story.
I’ve often encouraged those of you who read my reviews to pick up this series, especially if you’re a fan of thrillers. This review is no different. To emphasise my meaning, I will leave you with this: I am left with only one regret after finishing Relentless, and that is the painful knowledge that the next book in the series, Cave 13, is not due out until the end of August. And yes, my pre-order is in.
Note: This review is for the audiobook version. I rate audiobooks purely on the content rather than the performance, but as always I do need to give a shout out to Ray Porter (@the.ray.porter), whose narration is first class.
This is by far the darkest of the Joe Ledger books; it is visceral and heart-breaking, yet also enthralling. Some might assume it’s captivating in the way that witnessing an accident can be, where a viewer cannot look away, but that’s not what I mean in the slightest. I’ve been emotionally invested in all of the Joe Ledger books, even the ones that weren’t 5 star reads for me, but this one takes the intensity up about 300 notches. I often listen to audiobooks whilst I do things – dishes, folding the washing – but the fear I felt for Joe was so palpable that I often abandoned a chore so I could focus on the unfolding story.
I’ve often encouraged those of you who read my reviews to pick up this series, especially if you’re a fan of thrillers. This review is no different. To emphasise my meaning, I will leave you with this: I am left with only one regret after finishing Relentless, and that is the painful knowledge that the next book in the series, Cave 13, is not due out until the end of August. And yes, my pre-order is in.
Note: This review is for the audiobook version. I rate audiobooks purely on the content rather than the performance, but as always I do need to give a shout out to Ray Porter (@the.ray.porter), whose narration is first class.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Cursing
innae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To say I enjoyed this story seems wrong..it was a painful tale. I worries about Joe the entire book, much like Junie. I don’t quite feel satisfied with the ending and I truly can’t wait for the next in the series.
foodberries's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Been reading since Patient Zero and there's been a definite drop in quality but still a good read.