Review: Juvenile but fun military science fiction - just don't think too hard it will make your brain hurt
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 19, 2013
I read both books in this series and can only excuse some of the leaps in logic as alien thinking. But they are very fast paced, entertaining and the author gives you a good solid read for the money. Not great literature, but come on, who expected that when dealing with aliens and children soldiers. The action scenes provide enough testosterone excitement for the juvenile warrior in all males while the sexual innuendos are subtle enough that parents should not be bothered. These first two books should be read together, even then they leave a slightly unfinished taste with the reader, waiting for the next book to truly conclude the series. Unfortunately the next book in the series is a prequel leaving all the unanswered questions on where the series is going.Possibly spoilers but some of the logic leaps I disliked:A two million year old civilization that recruits young of newly discovered race as their soldiers? WHY?Creatures who are so strong and indestructible that technology cannot create a weapon that readily kills them?Using creatures natural armor and claws as superior to guns and explosives?The entire earth surrendering without am organized fight first destroying leaders of the world military?Transferring untrained recruits across hundreds of light years to kill most of them in training?An advanced race who regularly feed on sentient beings, just because they get mad?Races who dominate the power structure of a huge old empire who act like testosterone filled thirteen year oldboys shoving each other in the school yard?Unfair treatment of "heroes" that never gets checked by next level of supervision?The series makes a big deal of Zero's loyalty to the congress empire. What it fails to explain (unless it is mind altering drugs) is why? They killed his father, stole him away from his planet, took everyone he loved and stomped on it. Why should he care, unless he is literally insane? But it is fast paced, lots of action make up for the massive logic gaps. Ignore the lack of reasoning and just go along for the ride.