Just Okay

I think better character development and a deeper world history would go a long way to improving this series. I only read the second book because the character was heading to Mars for "training" and I thought we'd learn more about the history of the Mage King and the rune magic and how Humans got to where they are in this world. Instead, the second book starts after the training and plunges the reader right back into another fast-paced action sequence with one chase, and near miss after another. It's like the books are all third acts with no first or second acts. . I found it repetitive after a while and just wanted it to end. There's no story arc. The villains repeatedly underestimate heroes and lose again, and again.

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So disappointing

SPOILERS
I loved the first book. I was so excited to start this and see Damien's training under the mage king, only to find out it just skips his three years of training to end up in such a stupid situation. They knew that for an explosion that big had to come from the navy so why didn't they suspect them at all until it was too late? You're telling me that a bad to the bone very experienced hand of the mage king that knew the guy she was meeting with was a dirty rat willing to do anything but yet didn't think he would try to poison her which is literally the most common way to assassinate someone? a powerful mage trained by the mage king himself and a huge highly trained marine gets beaten by a pencil pusher who was handcuffed?? This is too ridiculous and I can no longer read such nonsensical writing. Thanks for reading my rant.

2 people found this helpful

A little too simple

The basic plot is fair. The writer then seems to belittle the readers intelligence. The main character and his mentor are working for the King of Mars. The mentor is a Hand, the roaming judge, jury and executioner of the king. The main character starts story as an envoy. Envoys and especially the Hands are viewed by the general population with fear, mistrust and often hate. Envoys aren't treated much better. They go into volatile situations. The Hand is older and has survived many attempts on her life. She has had internal organs replaced from said attacks. At the beginning of the story, the main character and the Hand go to the planet in question with a warrant for the arrest of the villain. They know who he is. They are aware that he has been alternating facts in his favor. He is not just a local bad guy. He is governor of the planet. He is in position of much power. So why do they go into the situation with their eyes closed? Why isn't their star ship captain on alert? Why does the hand go towards the lions den and have a near fatal assassination attempt? Why does the hand then go into the lions den and get killed? Why are their supposedly protective troops unalert to the point they all get killed? Why is their starship captain and crew unalert to the same degree? If you can tolerate these poor facts in the beginning of the book, then you can tolerate the book. The reader does a good job. His tone in the narration portions are a little flat. But to me this makes the character impersonations easier to follow. His voice is clear and easy to understand. I enjoyed book 1 and was glad to see many books in this series available. But the quality of the plot has me not interested in the remaining books.

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Great story

This was a great follow up to the previous title, my one and only complaint would be the lack of emotion by the reader, although with some characters like the Mage King, it works well.

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Paul Manning

In the realm of Si-Fi it is rare that someone comes up with a faster-than-light drive that isn't based on some mechanical device. Not only does our hero able to travel pass the limits of our solar system, it's through his sheer willpower and ability to do so. Yet the character remains humble and keep second guessing himself. I thoroughly enjoyed our hero stepping up to the challenge.

1 person found this helpful

real good book

Its only let down was that it got predictable furing the last third of book.

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Another Masterful Installment to this Series

This second book continues a few years following Damien's starship Blue Jay's exploits, just after he completed his personal education and further training by the mage-king of Mars. He has been promoted to an Envoy rank and is set off on another mission under the tutelage of Alaura Stealey, the Hand of Mars. The mission is to investigate and protect Ardennes from terrorist elements that are wrecking havoc on the government and citizens of the planet.

It will come to no surprise that it soon becomes obvious that things are not as straightforward as the Protectorate had been led to believe and both the Hand of Mars and Damien have their work cut out for them as they encounter multiple sources of subterfuge from a number of player elements in their attempt to sort out where all the fault lines exist.

While the writing continues with the fine blend of backstory and action, a special note of appreciation goes to the narrator for making the story unfold in an entertaining fashion.

Without being specific, I was saddened to find that one of the more interesting characters from Book 1 exits from this series. I would have enjoyed having that character continue on. Perhaps Glynn may decide to write another series that focuses on this person's expanded story.

{Light spoiler follows}
The only area where I was dismayed was where the villain turns out to be capitalist nut job who was every bit the robber baron but on a planetary scale. As my mind's eye ruminates upon Earth history, most of the large scale inhumane atrocities have come not from capitalists but from religious or secular ideologue regimes. Even so, that was only a wee bit of disappointment.

1 person found this helpful

Good story narrated by Joe Friday

Another good story. Narration is a bit better than the first book, but is still delivered in a deadpan style.

Solid story and good naration

Solid story and good narration. A little scattered at times and a little shorter than it could be, but it does not repeat itself as much as the first book,

Couldn't stop listening

Series has me hooked for now. Author needed to chill out with certain phrases and rehashing the same information over and over. By the 10th time in the book I indeed already know the simulacrum doubles as the bridge on a Martian Navy warship. Wish there was more exploration of the characters and time spent on the jump between books 1 and 2