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shu_long's review against another edition
3.0
I almost didn't make it through the long descriptions that fill the first 35% of the book, but thoroughly enjoyed the last 35%.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
2.0
I received a copy of this book from Booklikes in exchange for an honest review.
In no way was this a bad book. If anything I was a bad reader for this particular book. I hate reviwing books that were well written but not my style. Here it goes.
McFarlane's writing is very matter-of-fact, straight forward, and technical. If you really like sci-first mechanisms and machinery and how they work, this is a great book for you. Unfortunately, I'm not such a huge fan and was a little bored with the in-depth descriptions. Also, these descriptions read more like a technical manual, which is not a bad thing, but again, not what I really enjoy reading. There is no flowery language in this book, so if you are like me and need a little fluff in your descriptions, look elsewhere. Said descriptions due have a tendency to get a little long as do those describing mundane events. I definitely could have skipped over the cleaning scenes (I get it, you're still cleaning. It's still gross. If it's not interesting to you, it sure as hell isn't interesting to readers.)
My only real criticism was that I hated the descriptions of female characters. There was some really creepy 'male gaze' stuff going on. While men were described as being short with brown eyes, every curve of the female bodies were analyzed and when the main character was caught admiring them, most of the time the women responded by giggling, winking, smiling, or shooting back a flirtatious line. If some guy was gawking at me in such a way, I can tell you none of those would be my first reaction. As far as females went in the book, most didn't do anything. Tabby definitely had potential, but Liam's fascination with her anatomy distracted me from her as an actual character. The same holds true for Marny. She was pretty awesome and led most of the action at the end of the book, but Liam's repetitive descriptions of her curves rely emphasized the whole 'what a great fighter (for a woman)". And to keep the spoilers to a minimum, I was disappointed in the compulsive need to pair off strong females. I need a little more out of my characters.
Overall, not bad, mostly just not a good match for me. If you like straight forward writing with no flowery descriptions, check this book out. It's an interesting story with lots of twists and turns.
In no way was this a bad book. If anything I was a bad reader for this particular book. I hate reviwing books that were well written but not my style. Here it goes.
McFarlane's writing is very matter-of-fact, straight forward, and technical. If you really like sci-first mechanisms and machinery and how they work, this is a great book for you. Unfortunately, I'm not such a huge fan and was a little bored with the in-depth descriptions. Also, these descriptions read more like a technical manual, which is not a bad thing, but again, not what I really enjoy reading. There is no flowery language in this book, so if you are like me and need a little fluff in your descriptions, look elsewhere. Said descriptions due have a tendency to get a little long as do those describing mundane events. I definitely could have skipped over the cleaning scenes (I get it, you're still cleaning. It's still gross. If it's not interesting to you, it sure as hell isn't interesting to readers.)
My only real criticism was that I hated the descriptions of female characters. There was some really creepy 'male gaze' stuff going on. While men were described as being short with brown eyes, every curve of the female bodies were analyzed and when the main character was caught admiring them, most of the time the women responded by giggling, winking, smiling, or shooting back a flirtatious line. If some guy was gawking at me in such a way, I can tell you none of those would be my first reaction. As far as females went in the book, most didn't do anything. Tabby definitely had potential, but Liam's fascination with her anatomy distracted me from her as an actual character. The same holds true for Marny. She was pretty awesome and led most of the action at the end of the book, but Liam's repetitive descriptions of her curves rely emphasized the whole 'what a great fighter (for a woman)". And to keep the spoilers to a minimum, I was disappointed in the compulsive need to pair off strong females. I need a little more out of my characters.
Overall, not bad, mostly just not a good match for me. If you like straight forward writing with no flowery descriptions, check this book out. It's an interesting story with lots of twists and turns.
capellan's review against another edition
3.0
I want to like this book more than I actually did. I can see how it is all supposed to hang together and zip along as a fun little space opera adventure, but the author doesn't quite have the writing chops to pull it off. The foreshadowing and exposition are often a bit too obvious, and the characters are a bit on the thin side. Still, it makes an earnest effort, and it's cheap to pick up the next few, so I'll read book two and see if he gets better with practice.
sfian's review against another edition
4.0
I'm assuming this is a "young adult" novel, so I'm quite a bit older than its target audience. That didn't stop me enjoying it, though.
It's a space adventure that brought to ind Asimov's Lucky Starr series (although don't ask me why - it's a long time since I read them) with a lead character who starts off as a sort of Skywalker (stuck in a mining job, wanting to get out) and who circumstances lead to being similar to Hiccup (from Dragnriders) in that he loses a foot. Like both those characters, as the story progresses, he seems to have more smarts and abilities than he should have at such a young age, although carrying one character forward throughout the story and adding another later on gives him his Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi. No that this is a Star Wars derivative - it is set in our own solar system during an undefined future in which ore mining among the asteroids is common and both India and China are big (although background players).
The characters are likable, the action reasonably fast and frantic and the story goes along at a decent enough pace - until, that is, the two main characters set off on their first journey, at which point there is too much emphasis on cleaning the ship's toilets and you begin to think you need a spreadsheet to keep up with the spending required to keep the ship, and newly formed business, in space.
Other than that, though, it's an enjoyable and satisfying romp and one that might just drag me back to find out what happens to the characters next.
It's a space adventure that brought to ind Asimov's Lucky Starr series (although don't ask me why - it's a long time since I read them) with a lead character who starts off as a sort of Skywalker (stuck in a mining job, wanting to get out) and who circumstances lead to being similar to Hiccup (from Dragnriders) in that he loses a foot. Like both those characters, as the story progresses, he seems to have more smarts and abilities than he should have at such a young age, although carrying one character forward throughout the story and adding another later on gives him his Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi. No that this is a Star Wars derivative - it is set in our own solar system during an undefined future in which ore mining among the asteroids is common and both India and China are big (although background players).
The characters are likable, the action reasonably fast and frantic and the story goes along at a decent enough pace - until, that is, the two main characters set off on their first journey, at which point there is too much emphasis on cleaning the ship's toilets and you begin to think you need a spreadsheet to keep up with the spending required to keep the ship, and newly formed business, in space.
Other than that, though, it's an enjoyable and satisfying romp and one that might just drag me back to find out what happens to the characters next.
anatoli's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. It started out with an interesting plot, but then quickly became "American". What I mean by that is it transformed into something violent and self-serving. The plans became more audacious, but you knew they were going to succeed against all odds, which made the story become shallow and predictable.
harryr's review
2.0
I picked this up because it was free and the serious literary novel I’m theoretically reading is really hard work.
This at least was not hard work: the story and world-building are pretty engaging. Unfortunately the prose, characterisation and dialogue are all workmanlike at best. In fact, I nearly gave up after the first few pages, but in the end it passed the time pleasantly enough. It just could have done with pass by a fairly ruthless editor.
This at least was not hard work: the story and world-building are pretty engaging. Unfortunately the prose, characterisation and dialogue are all workmanlike at best. In fact, I nearly gave up after the first few pages, but in the end it passed the time pleasantly enough. It just could have done with pass by a fairly ruthless editor.
lindz's review
5.0
If you are looking for a good space adventure. Rookie Privateer is one for those young adults to teens. It about a group of kids. Well one teen that is looking for his future. He is currently stuck working with his father. He know not much to making money.
He seem to attract attention when something happens when he with is friends. What happens then goes not to be an adventure for him and his friend. Liam want freedom will get it? His friend Nick is set up for life. They are becoming Earth Mars Citizens. Someone or something is attacking their home. Will Liam reach the stars or will he not. He and Nick will they find out what the real world has to offer. Things begin to change and it changes them as well.
Find out how this book end. The authors does really well on the plot of this story. It bring you along for the ride. I could not stop reading and wanted more. What will happen to Nick James and Liam Hoffen? I hope to find out more by reading the next book. I just got to find out when it will be out. Great for teens and young adult readers. If you are into space or thrillers this really good for you as well.
He seem to attract attention when something happens when he with is friends. What happens then goes not to be an adventure for him and his friend. Liam want freedom will get it? His friend Nick is set up for life. They are becoming Earth Mars Citizens. Someone or something is attacking their home. Will Liam reach the stars or will he not. He and Nick will they find out what the real world has to offer. Things begin to change and it changes them as well.
Find out how this book end. The authors does really well on the plot of this story. It bring you along for the ride. I could not stop reading and wanted more. What will happen to Nick James and Liam Hoffen? I hope to find out more by reading the next book. I just got to find out when it will be out. Great for teens and young adult readers. If you are into space or thrillers this really good for you as well.
ean5533's review
3.0
I... I don't know why I liked this book, but I did.
Seriously, there's several things in this book that I _shouldn't_ like. Extremely direct prose lacking nuance and metaphor. Creepy descriptions of female characters. Long, detailed descriptions of things that *do not matter*.
No, really, I read several pages' worth of descriptions of the main character cleaning dried feces from all surfaces of a disgusting bathroom. Why did I do that?
Despite all this I found myself wanting to keep reading. I wanted to know more about the universe these kids are living in and, to a smaller extent, I wanted to hear more about the technology that exists. And the book kept giving me little doses of that information, just enough to keep me going.
All that said: I'm going to try reading the next book, but I suspect it's going to take more than an IV drip of world development to keep me sustained through another book of the same writing style.
Seriously, there's several things in this book that I _shouldn't_ like. Extremely direct prose lacking nuance and metaphor. Creepy descriptions of female characters. Long, detailed descriptions of things that *do not matter*.
No, really, I read several pages' worth of descriptions of the main character cleaning dried feces from all surfaces of a disgusting bathroom. Why did I do that?
Despite all this I found myself wanting to keep reading. I wanted to know more about the universe these kids are living in and, to a smaller extent, I wanted to hear more about the technology that exists. And the book kept giving me little doses of that information, just enough to keep me going.
All that said: I'm going to try reading the next book, but I suspect it's going to take more than an IV drip of world development to keep me sustained through another book of the same writing style.
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