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A review by vikingwolf
Shattered Hourglass by J. L. Bourne
3.0
This book takes the form of a straight novel instead of a diary from the outset which gave me hope that we would see more of my favourite characters-John and Annabelle. However the author then decides to add more new characters and use multiple POVs which I did not think was required. We follow Kil and Saien on their mission to China, survivors at a remote station in the frozen north, soldiers trying to reach Hotel 23, Admiral of the Fleet, Remote 6, a seal team on Hawaii etc. We do get the odd thought of John and Tara but not anywhere near enough.
What did I like? Well the mission of the seal team on Hawaii was the best thing in the book. There was a real purpose to it, it was exciting and nerve shredding, just like Kil and John's initial adventures in the first book. Really enjoyed that. The few bits we got of John kicking ass with Annabelle and the Hotel 23 survivors was good but not enough of it. The marines going to Hotel 23 was also a decent subplot.
What I didn't like? The whole Arctic outpost story was not necessary and it slowed the entire story down. With that and the alien plot, I felt as if this was a fanfic version of The Thing rather than a zombie novel. Tara whining and sobbing all the time made me want to throw her overboard. Going to the ship outbreak after the event and telling us what happened instead of the excitement of showing us John and the others in the battle. I can't even tell you how disappointing that was. The ease of the mission to China and the actual point of it. I just didn't find any of that interesting.
I didn't find the ending greatly satisfying other than the Remote Six outcome. It all felt a bit rushed and a bit of an anti-climax really. The story is left open for a possible follow up but unless it was based fully on the Hotel 23 people, I wouldn't be that interested in following it. A bit of a tame end to a series that started so well.
What did I like? Well the mission of the seal team on Hawaii was the best thing in the book. There was a real purpose to it, it was exciting and nerve shredding, just like Kil and John's initial adventures in the first book. Really enjoyed that. The few bits we got of John kicking ass with Annabelle and the Hotel 23 survivors was good but not enough of it. The marines going to Hotel 23 was also a decent subplot.
What I didn't like? The whole Arctic outpost story was not necessary and it slowed the entire story down. With that and the alien plot, I felt as if this was a fanfic version of The Thing rather than a zombie novel. Tara whining and sobbing all the time made me want to throw her overboard. Going to the ship outbreak after the event and telling us what happened instead of the excitement of showing us John and the others in the battle. I can't even tell you how disappointing that was. The ease of the mission to China and the actual point of it. I just didn't find any of that interesting.
I didn't find the ending greatly satisfying other than the Remote Six outcome. It all felt a bit rushed and a bit of an anti-climax really. The story is left open for a possible follow up but unless it was based fully on the Hotel 23 people, I wouldn't be that interested in following it. A bit of a tame end to a series that started so well.