Review: A Great Second Act
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 3, 2012
I loved this second installment of the Refuge saga.  I cannot stress enough how cool this story has turned out to be, and how deftly the author has managed to juggle a vast cast of characters without a missed step.  We go from a bird's eye view of the command staff of the NATO forces to the grunt in the field to the throne room of the evil "half liche" without missing a beat.  Such a method can be confusing if not managed correctly, but here we get a true appreciation of the character motivations in this ongoing conflict.In addition, I appreciate the way the author has laid out the way things work in this new world without relying on the "bad blood" simplicity that bothered me in Tolkien's work.  For example, the bad elves are dispicable, the good elves are noble, and the difference has to do with personal choice, not their innate nature.  Some of the "lesser" races serve the army of the evil elves not because they buy into their dogma or follow the death gods, but driven at the point of a blade.  I am hesitate to make any additional examples for fear of giving spoilers, but rest assured that the second installment in this story is as thrilling as the first.  If you like military science fiction and good old fantasy, then check out this series.