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A review by frankvanmeer
The Machines of Bellatrix by Cary Caffrey
4.0
Let me get this out of the way first:
Fuck cliffhangers. I know you want your readers to buy the next book. But leaving me with so many things unsolved for god knows how long, that's just bad writing, in my opinion. Minor plots left open, I don't mind, but this one was so major, the author better makes sure he has a very good explanation for the next book. (waves pitchfork)
Now, the fact that I was so angry, is actually a testament to how much I liked this book. It's a non stop action rollercoaster, with Sigrid and her sisters wreaking havoc everywhere they go. Thousands of people die, entire complexes blown to smithereens. The girls go above and beyond, trying to save New Alcyone. And, props to the author, even though they are stronger than everything else, they screw up too. I think that was a good thing, because it's too easy to go all out and emerge unscathed, just because they can. The girls are very vulnerable, and that brings out a nice balance to all the sci-fi technology saving the day. This book is quite the page turner, albeit a bit short.
But, there's flaws too.
I am a sucker for books that have "little engines that could" characters. A Sigrid Novak. A NM-DEV-1. Characters that no one would think twice about, but step up to the challenge and rise above all expectations, and become pivotal to succes in whatever is thrown at them. But the problem with this, especially in series, is that there is a risk that the character development is in danger to take a backseat in the story. It's too easy to let the main character become all too powerfull, or just take over the place, the situation or whatever they're doing, just because you want an action story.
And I think that is what exactly happened here. The shy, timid, average Sigrid takes the lead here, no questions asked. Suddenly she is the leader. Agreed, this scenario happened also in The Girls from Alcyone, but there it was spread out over 10 years. Several times it is mentioned, in both books, they've picked her because she is special. But there is never an explanation as to why that is. Sure, she kills and maims without hesitation, but so do the other girls. Yet she is more special. Dr. Garett shows Hitami a read out that points out something, saying Sigrid is changing, but no explanation for what exactly is changing .
The growth from shy Sigrid to leader Sigrid was a bit too fast, in my opinion. It happened in a span of weeks. Yet she screws up more than the previous book. Why is that? There is so much action here, there wasn't any room for further exploration into who and what Sigrid exacly is and why she is the chosen one. The book would have been much better with that, I think. But if you don't care about that, and just want action and then some, this book is a blast.
Another point that nagged me was the abundance of tech. No matter what the situation is, the girls carry it. They throw bombs and grenades like there is an infinte supply. Same with the combat ships: they can fire millions of several types of rounds, but seriously, where do they store it? (although props up for never using laserbeams. Physical rounds in space are so much better, no crap with shields absorbing and such. Nothing beats a piece of metal going half the speed of light, imho)
So, as an action book, definitly 5 stars. As a characterdriven book, 3 stars.
But fuck that cliffhanger.
Fuck cliffhangers. I know you want your readers to buy the next book. But leaving me with so many things unsolved for god knows how long, that's just bad writing, in my opinion. Minor plots left open, I don't mind, but this one was so major, the author better makes sure he has a very good explanation for the next book. (waves pitchfork)
Now, the fact that I was so angry, is actually a testament to how much I liked this book. It's a non stop action rollercoaster, with Sigrid and her sisters wreaking havoc everywhere they go. Thousands of people die, entire complexes blown to smithereens. The girls go above and beyond, trying to save New Alcyone. And, props to the author, even though they are stronger than everything else, they screw up too. I think that was a good thing, because it's too easy to go all out and emerge unscathed, just because they can. The girls are very vulnerable, and that brings out a nice balance to all the sci-fi technology saving the day. This book is quite the page turner, albeit a bit short.
But, there's flaws too.
I am a sucker for books that have "little engines that could" characters. A Sigrid Novak. A NM-DEV-1. Characters that no one would think twice about, but step up to the challenge and rise above all expectations, and become pivotal to succes in whatever is thrown at them. But the problem with this, especially in series, is that there is a risk that the character development is in danger to take a backseat in the story. It's too easy to let the main character become all too powerfull, or just take over the place, the situation or whatever they're doing, just because you want an action story.
And I think that is what exactly happened here. The shy, timid, average Sigrid takes the lead here, no questions asked. Suddenly she is the leader. Agreed, this scenario happened also in The Girls from Alcyone, but there it was spread out over 10 years. Several times it is mentioned, in both books, they've picked her because she is special. But there is never an explanation as to why that is. Sure, she kills and maims without hesitation, but so do the other girls. Yet she is more special.
The growth from shy Sigrid to leader Sigrid was a bit too fast, in my opinion. It happened in a span of weeks. Yet she screws up more than the previous book. Why is that? There is so much action here, there wasn't any room for further exploration into who and what Sigrid exacly is and why she is the chosen one. The book would have been much better with that, I think. But if you don't care about that, and just want action and then some, this book is a blast.
Another point that nagged me was the abundance of tech. No matter what the situation is, the girls carry it. They throw bombs and grenades like there is an infinte supply. Same with the combat ships: they can fire millions of several types of rounds, but seriously, where do they store it? (although props up for never using laserbeams. Physical rounds in space are so much better, no crap with shields absorbing and such. Nothing beats a piece of metal going half the speed of light, imho)
So, as an action book, definitly 5 stars. As a characterdriven book, 3 stars.
But fuck that cliffhanger.