Review: Good opening story...interesting ideas...Good read...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 20, 2013
I liked this book. Bought it on a whim from suggested titles.First let me say, if you're looking for gripping combat novel...this ain't exactly it. Some have given this lower reviews because of that. I find the story, which is about the beginning of the war, detailing the build up, training, and weapon development (none of it very technical though) to be believable on certain levels. The interaction of the protestors is a little wooden but their motivations are believable. What's funny is one person who rated this 3 stars said he found how a pacifist society jumped into a military training program and it wasn't very believable. I actually found it more believable because they did go about it in the way someone who has no experience with the horror or true cost of war would. Their build up is all about transports, warships, logistic, and combat training. Which the reader is reminded several times, is discussed, planned, and carried out by people with no combat training. There are also several first person mental debates by characters over what is right and wrong in war. The author even gets into the minds of the characters, showing the internal debates and thoughts. Though I will freely admit the book IS a little on the touchy-feely side (which is sometimes counter-intuitive in a war series) but this is the first book (there is a book 2 out already) and without reading the 2nd one I can't decide if it's his regular writing style or a lead up to the rest of the series. I read tons of kindle books and, like many, I used to pan 1st-in-a-series book as being long winded or for over explaining but I have since come to appreciate the foundation that authors can use later.The book is a good read. Well worth the price and I would easily suggest this to a friend...If you want a little more action look at some of the other series I have reviewed. (Crimson Worlds, Lost Fleet, A Galaxy Unknown...are all great series which build the action well).