Rob
I liked this one quite a bit more than Nolyn. Farilane is a great character. She has some flaws, but those mostly just serve to round her out. She also seems to grow quite a bit as the book goes along.
The opening chapter was really good at drawing me in. It was almost like a scene out of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
The only issue I have with this is how it ended. It's hard to elaborate without spoilers, but I'll just say it didn't felt earned. It didn't ruin the book for me, because overall I enjoyed it, but it did knock a star off the rating.
I liked this one quite a bit more than Nolyn. Farilane is a great character. She has some flaws, but those mostly just serve to round her out. She also seems to grow quite a bit as the book goes along.
The opening chapter was really good at drawing me in. It was almost like a scene out of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
The only issue I have with this is how it ended. It's hard to elaborate without spoilers, but I'll just say it didn't felt earned. It didn't ruin the book for me, because overall I enjoyed it, but it did knock a star off the rating.
I really enjoyed the original Ryria books so I was pretty excited for the First Empire series when it came out. I enjoyed the first few books in that series, but I felt like it lost steam by the end. So when this series was announced, I wasn't as excited.
I did want to read this eventually, but wasn't in a rush. I finally got around to it, and I found it another strong start to a new series. I thought the new characters were interesting, especially the titular character, Nolyn. Some of the supporting characters were reminiscent of characters in Ryria or First Empire, but the main characters felt more flushed out.
Overall I found this a fun listen and will be continuing right on into the second book. As usual, Tim Gerard Reynolds does a fantastic job with the narration. However there was one chapter where there was a lot of repeated text and it made for an agitating listen. If I had been reading the text instead I would have skimmed over that section.
I really enjoyed the original Ryria books so I was pretty excited for the First Empire series when it came out. I enjoyed the first few books in that series, but I felt like it lost steam by the end. So when this series was announced, I wasn't as excited.
I did want to read this eventually, but wasn't in a rush. I finally got around to it, and I found it another strong start to a new series. I thought the new characters were interesting, especially the titular character, Nolyn. Some of the supporting characters were reminiscent of characters in Ryria or First Empire, but the main characters felt more flushed out.
Overall I found this a fun listen and will be continuing right on into the second book. As usual, Tim Gerard Reynolds does a fantastic job with the narration. However there was one chapter where there was a lot of repeated text and it made for an agitating listen. If I had been reading the text instead I would have skimmed over that section.
I first heard about this book thanks to an article on Ars Technica. What I found strange was it was the time I heard anything about this. Given the timing (2020-21) of the bulk of the story though, it's not too much of a surprise. I had other things on my mind back then.
I've read a lot of computer history and cybercrime books. I find the topic fascinating. This book is really more about more traditional crime (drugs, guns, money laundering) with a technical aspect (encrypted phones). From a technical perspective I didn't enjoy this as much as other books, but it's still a fascinating story.
It poses a lot of issues as technology and specifically encryption techniques continue to evolve how do you balance our right to privacy against the needs to prevent crimes? I don't have any answers and this book doesn't attempt to answer that question. What it does it instead is to tell a fascinating story that seems like it's right out of a movie.
I think this could turn into a great documentary or possible a movie, but it's probably not flashy enough for the latter. Staring at computer screens reading messages is not exactly big screen cinema. Overall though I found this a great read.
I first heard about this book thanks to an article on Ars Technica. What I found strange was it was the time I heard anything about this. Given the timing (2020-21) of the bulk of the story though, it's not too much of a surprise. I had other things on my mind back then.
I've read a lot of computer history and cybercrime books. I find the topic fascinating. This book is really more about more traditional crime (drugs, guns, money laundering) with a technical aspect (encrypted phones). From a technical perspective I didn't enjoy this as much as other books, but it's still a fascinating story.
It poses a lot of issues as technology and specifically encryption techniques continue to evolve how do you balance our right to privacy against the needs to prevent crimes? I don't have any answers and this book doesn't attempt to answer that question. What it does it instead is to tell a fascinating story that seems like it's right out of a movie.
I think this could turn into a great documentary or possible a movie, but it's probably not flashy enough for the latter. Staring at computer screens reading messages is not exactly big screen cinema. Overall though I found this a great read.
Another fun entry in this series. I still don't enjoy it as much as his cradle series, but still a drop everything and read book for me. As someone who has watched a lot of Gundam over the years, I always enjoyed the Raion/giant mech subplot. As the title suggests, this book focuses heavily on him and Varic's relationship to him.
The audio is great. Travis Baldree does his usual excellent job with the narration
Another fun entry in this series. I still don't enjoy it as much as his cradle series, but still a drop everything and read book for me. As someone who has watched a lot of Gundam over the years, I always enjoyed the Raion/giant mech subplot. As the title suggests, this book focuses heavily on him and Varic's relationship to him.
The audio is great. Travis Baldree does his usual excellent job with the narration
Pretty solid ending to a mostly fun series. After his reckoner series, I had decided I was done with any non-Cosmere books. However the first one in this series changed my mind and for the most part it's been a fun holiday road trip book series for me. When this one came out I was busy with other books and am only now getting around to it. I don't like it as much as the Cosmere books, but still worth the listen.
Pretty solid ending to a mostly fun series. After his reckoner series, I had decided I was done with any non-Cosmere books. However the first one in this series changed my mind and for the most part it's been a fun holiday road trip book series for me. When this one came out I was busy with other books and am only now getting around to it. I don't like it as much as the Cosmere books, but still worth the listen.
