Crucible of the Gods

More characterization, rather than any actual fighting, although a part of it has some good actual fights, the Author is never afraid to sacrifice even a good character for the sake of continuation and a better storyline....

Whenever I read this particular universe, the song from Top Gun starts playing, and I can actually see the formation of the fighters, the suits used, somehow it should be Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica or even Star Trek(sorry Trekkies, I just fail to see your ships fighting like the others), we have action, romance(although always with our main protagonist, hence the Top Gun vibe), we have dogfights, Independence Day like aerial formations.......

But it always boils down to the Shamanistic part, if we take away this part, will it make the narration better??? So far I have not seen any indications to the contrary, yes maybe it will make the story run faster, better, but it also has it's own niche(I guess), maybe if his abilities manifest more, used more, impacts the story more, then I would say it works, for now it just lags, it creates a division, one part space opera in full swing, another a sort of just add in the stuff to make it longer(???!!!).....

Still, all said and done, the story is picking up, hopefully we can see the actual combination of Sci-Fi and Mysticism, and here's hoping it will make it fly higher!!!!