Straits of Hell

Published at Fantasy Literature: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/straits-of-hell/

My reviews for Taylor Anderson???s DESTROYERMEN series are getting shorter and shorter. That???s because, with each book, I have less to say.

Here???s the bottom line: Taylor Anderson has created a wonderful world full of loveable characters. It???s fun just to hang out with them. However, at this point, it feels like that???s all what we???re doing: just hanging out. Sure, there are battles and a bit of personal drama, but it???s all stuff we???ve seen before. In Straits of Hell, book 10, Matthew Reddy and his crew and their allies are once again fighting Don Hernan???s Dominion on one side while they fight the second battle for Grik City on the other. Meanwhile, enemies ??? including the Japanese ??? continue to plot and shift alliances. Also, a mysterious new power enters the field. We got a glimpse of them at the end of the last book. Will they be friend or foe?

Long ago I likened the DESTROYERMEN series to Robert Jordan???s WHEEL OF TIME and, as it goes on, the two series become even more similar. By the analogous point in Jordan???s series (book 10, Crossroads of Twilight), the plot had come to a near stand-still. I hate to say this, because I love Taylor???s world and characters, but Straits of Hell is a lot like Crossroads of Twilight, just with ships instead of horses. I want to know what happens to the Destroyermen in the end, but I???m growing weary and thinking about just skipping ahead to the eventual last book.

William Dufris, again, does a fabulous job with the narration in Tantor Audio???s version of Straits of Hell. If it weren???t for his delightful performances, I probably would have already given up on this series. I especially love his interpretations of Silva and Petey. If you???re planning to read DESTROYERMEN, I definitely recommend the audio versions.