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belleoftheb00ks's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
itheory's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Fun, breezy read.
majkia's review
4.0
Well written and enjoyable space opera. Eli, survivor of a space battle has been a prisoner for 5 years, when suddenly his world is rocked by the arrival of a spy who wants his help averting another war.
Characterization is good, as is world building. The plot has a few surprises.
Characterization is good, as is world building. The plot has a few surprises.
additionaddiction's review
4.0
I'd say this is a solid 3.5, but I always round up when I'm between stars.
This book started strong and ended strong but felt a little sluggish to me in the middle. I was never fully invested with Eli Brody (the main character) mostly because he didn't seem to have any convictions with the decisions he made. It seemed like he was just along for the ride with wherever the plot took him. There were a lot of interesting side-details in the story but I felt like they weren't really explored enough to add much substance. Similarly, I think the prologue / opening would have made for an interesting story on it's own (the initial 5 years).
Overall I felt like the story had flavors of Firefly and [b:Consider Phlebas|8935689|Consider Phlebas|Iain M. Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327951890s/8935689.jpg|14366]. There was also something about the interactions between the characters (mostly Tapper and Page) that reminded me a bit of [b:Boneshaker|1137215|Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century, #1)|Cherie Priest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433161048s/1137215.jpg|1124460] (even though that's a very different story). And speaking of, I think Tapper and Page were actually my two favorite characters. The story is never told from their point of view, so they were both somewhat mysterious yet still felt very believable as characters. Maybe that's my biggest critique, I think the first-person writing felt a bit lacking, but the third-person/general narration was great.
It sort of felt like there was a slight setup for a sequel. If so, I'll probably be checking it out.
This book started strong and ended strong but felt a little sluggish to me in the middle. I was never fully invested with Eli Brody (the main character) mostly because he didn't seem to have any convictions with the decisions he made. It seemed like he was just along for the ride with wherever the plot took him. There were a lot of interesting side-details in the story but I felt like they weren't really explored enough to add much substance. Similarly, I think the prologue / opening would have made for an interesting story on it's own (the initial 5 years).
Overall I felt like the story had flavors of Firefly and [b:Consider Phlebas|8935689|Consider Phlebas|Iain M. Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327951890s/8935689.jpg|14366]. There was also something about the interactions between the characters (mostly Tapper and Page) that reminded me a bit of [b:Boneshaker|1137215|Boneshaker (The Clockwork Century, #1)|Cherie Priest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1433161048s/1137215.jpg|1124460] (even though that's a very different story). And speaking of, I think Tapper and Page were actually my two favorite characters. The story is never told from their point of view, so they were both somewhat mysterious yet still felt very believable as characters. Maybe that's my biggest critique, I think the first-person writing felt a bit lacking, but the third-person/general narration was great.
It sort of felt like there was a slight setup for a sequel. If so, I'll probably be checking it out.
knackerbrot's review
1.0
I struggle to understand how this was published. It's awful. I'm very disappointed in goodreads for recommending this.
beardedbooknut's review against another edition
3.0
For a first effort, The Caledonian Gambit is not bad, but it suffers under a few things that somewhat limits my enjoyment of it.
I was expecting a sci-fi, and got a spy thriller masquerading as a sci-fi. Most of this could have been set in present time here on earth, and you wouldn't have batted an eye. The other thing I want to mention is that the main character is a bit bland. I found I liked the parts of the book that followed the other characters more than the ones with the protagonist.
Don't get me wrong! I like this book, and have already bought the rest of Morens efforts, but when I sat down to read The Caledonian Gambit, I was expecting something else...
I was expecting a sci-fi, and got a spy thriller masquerading as a sci-fi. Most of this could have been set in present time here on earth, and you wouldn't have batted an eye. The other thing I want to mention is that the main character is a bit bland. I found I liked the parts of the book that followed the other characters more than the ones with the protagonist.
Don't get me wrong! I like this book, and have already bought the rest of Morens efforts, but when I sat down to read The Caledonian Gambit, I was expecting something else...
omantienlukija's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
Dan Moren is a familiar voice to me from podcasts but this is the first time I picked up on of his novels. And I'm glad I did. This story is full of speed and suspense, and has many twists and turns.
I enjoyed how the book had its two main characters at the same time on the same side and yet kinda antagonistic towards each other. And I do think the description of how this relationship and the trust between Kovalic and Brody is developing is one of the best parts of the story. This even when it took me some time to start really like either of them. For quite a bit Kovalic felt somewhat ruthless while Brody felt very naive in some ways. But they both got more layers and depth later on.
The suspense aspect of the story was good but not great in the sense that I did figure out several twists before the story got to those. But I think it still was a pretty good, not too familiar plot. I would have also liked to have more and more prominent female characters (tough there are some). But these were probably the biggest "issues" I had with the book. I think all in all it was a pretty good debut novel.
This book is kinda book 0 in Moren's Galactic Cold War series as it was done by different publisher than the following books. But I'm happy there is more stories set in this world with these characters and look forward to reading those.
I enjoyed how the book had its two main characters at the same time on the same side and yet kinda antagonistic towards each other. And I do think the description of how this relationship and the trust between Kovalic and Brody is developing is one of the best parts of the story. This even when it took me some time to start really like either of them. For quite a bit Kovalic felt somewhat ruthless while Brody felt very naive in some ways. But they both got more layers and depth later on.
The suspense aspect of the story was good but not great in the sense that I did figure out several twists before the story got to those. But I think it still was a pretty good, not too familiar plot. I would have also liked to have more and more prominent female characters (tough there are some). But these were probably the biggest "issues" I had with the book. I think all in all it was a pretty good debut novel.
This book is kinda book 0 in Moren's Galactic Cold War series as it was done by different publisher than the following books. But I'm happy there is more stories set in this world with these characters and look forward to reading those.
jbrooxd's review
4.0
I read The Bayern Agenda first because it was listed as "Book 1" when I discovered it. And I felt all the way through like there was backstory I was missing. It turns out I was. This is book "0" in the series. I think there was a publisher change. I had no trouble enjoying Bayern without having read this before hand, but now that I have read this, I'd like to read Bayern again. I think I will enjoy it more because the politics and characters are a little clearer in my head.
I am thoroughly enjoying this spies-in-space series. The characters are fascinating and the galactic politics - while not as intense as say The Consortium Rebellion series - are interesting. I have also now read the two e-book short stories that follow this book (Pilot Error) and Bayern (Showdown) and I have The Aleph Extraction waiting in my TBR pile. If you enjoy mystery thriller spy stories and science fiction, don't miss this series!
I am thoroughly enjoying this spies-in-space series. The characters are fascinating and the galactic politics - while not as intense as say The Consortium Rebellion series - are interesting. I have also now read the two e-book short stories that follow this book (Pilot Error) and Bayern (Showdown) and I have The Aleph Extraction waiting in my TBR pile. If you enjoy mystery thriller spy stories and science fiction, don't miss this series!
rpmiller's review
4.0
This was actually a story about a two people involved in investigation and covert operations. One changed, mostly because he was not initially part of the operation, while the other merely became known to the first and to the reader. Other characters played a part only in how the related to these two. There was very little science, and that was mostly about propulsion and traveling enormous distances through the universe. Of course, there was plenty of fiction!