The new series begins a few months after the end of Owner's Share. Ishmael is still dealing with the events of the previous book and returns to Port NThe new series begins a few months after the end of Owner's Share. Ishmael is still dealing with the events of the previous book and returns to Port Newmar to try to heal. Some familiar faces return to the series and a new adventure begins.
This whole trilogy are probably my favorite Ishmael books, so far. This whole series is pretty solid. It brings the best parts of the original series and leaves out the things that didn't work so well. The only real issue I have is that Lowell changes some of the terminology introduced here in future books, so it always throws me a little when reading this one. I keep hoping for an update to correct it....more
Since this is my fourth or fifth time reading this, I suppose I should write a review. This is one of my absolute favorite series of books. These are Since this is my fourth or fifth time reading this, I suppose I should write a review. This is one of my absolute favorite series of books. These are my comfort reads; my happy place. If I'm feeling down or in a rut, I come back to this series.
Now, after that intro I have to warn you: these books probably aren't for everybody. From the reviews, people seem to love them or hate them. There's little to no plot, its all just following a character in their day to day life. Some people would consider it boring. There's no hostile aliens or starship battles, just a guy finding his place in the world and the friends he makes along the way. There's humor and heartbreak, love and redemptions. Basically, its just life, that happens to take place on a starship a few hundred years in the future....more
Book 2 starts off a couple of days after book 1 left off. If you liked the first book, then you're probably going to like this one. There's one part tBook 2 starts off a couple of days after book 1 left off. If you liked the first book, then you're probably going to like this one. There's one part that gets a little absurd, but its still a fun read.
Okay, let's be honest...that part is a lot absurd and more than a little cringey. I imagine the author intended for this to be where Ishmael gains some self confidence and goes from being a lost boy to a capable man, but it's an odd way to do it.
The first book focused a lot on the day to day of shipboard life, and this does to a certain extent, as well. Ishmael gets a promotion to a different division, so we see a different side of what happens on the ship.
We also see more of Ishmael's relationships with the people outside of the mess crew. Where book 1 focused more on the job, this book goes a bit more into the lifestyle of those who working on a ship.
The world building is one of my favorite parts of the series. Each book adds a little more to the history and culture of this world....more
Again, this book pretty much starts where the previous book left off. This is the last book that takes place on the Lois Mckendrick and marks the lastAgain, this book pretty much starts where the previous book left off. This is the last book that takes place on the Lois Mckendrick and marks the last time in the series that we see most of the supporting characters we've come to know.
This book is the beginning of a change in tone in the series. In the first two books, the worst thing to happen is someone gets mugged. From this point on, we start to see that this universe isn't all sunshine and rainbows....more
This is the first time that we see a time jump between books. Four years later, Ishmael has just graduated from the academy and is now a third officerThis is the first time that we see a time jump between books. Four years later, Ishmael has just graduated from the academy and is now a third officer on a new ship in a new quadrant. Unfortunately, this ship is the polar opposite of what Ishmael is used to.
This book is quite a bit darker than the previous books in the series. It deals with some of the things that have been discussed in previous books, but we've not actually seen before.
After thinking about it, I dropped it to four stars. It never sat right with me that one of the antagonists gets off scott free and is immediately "reformed" after his protector goes away. There should have been some kind of consequence for his actions....more
This one starts off with the biggest time jump in the series and takes place 13 years later. This is my favorite book of the original six. The early bThis one starts off with the biggest time jump in the series and takes place 13 years later. This is my favorite book of the original six. The early books were fun, but I like the older, more mature Ishmael better.
This book actually lays a lot of the groundwork for the next series, besides just leading in to the next book....more
I'm glad the sequel series was already started when I first read these. This one ends on a pretty big downer, so it's nice to know that there's more tI'm glad the sequel series was already started when I first read these. This one ends on a pretty big downer, so it's nice to know that there's more to come.
Overall, this is one of my favorites for the series. There's some issues at the beginning with Ishmael being a little out of character and oblivious, but I see why the author did it. It was kind of necessary to get the ball rolling for some of the story.
If you made it thru the first six books and liked them, then I highly recommend the sequel series. I like them even more than the original series....more
This series is a guilty pleasure of mine; the writing isn't the best, it can get repetitive at times and there are a lot of typos, but it's a good stoThis series is a guilty pleasure of mine; the writing isn't the best, it can get repetitive at times and there are a lot of typos, but it's a good story. The second volume still has some issues, but the number of cringey scenes are down a bit. ...more
Despite its flaws, I love this series. I have a Firefly shaped whole in my heart, and this series helps to fill it. For me, it fits perfectly into thaDespite its flaws, I love this series. I have a Firefly shaped whole in my heart, and this series helps to fill it. For me, it fits perfectly into that sci-fi/action/comedy niche.
The story is about a ragtag crew aboard the starship Celia, trying to make a living shipping cargo between planets. Despite their best intentions, trouble seems to find them. The fact that multiple members of the crew have a mysterious, hidden past doesn't help on that front.
There are a couple rough bits, plot-wise, in the first half, but they serve to get the characters and story where they need to go. By the midpoint, things have settled and the story continues flawlessly from there.
The series clearly draws some inspiration from Firefly, but is still its own unique story. These books don't get as much notice as Reed's other series, but I think they're just as good.
My only real complaint is that there are too many typos for a book with a publisher. They aren't nearly as bad as what you see in self-published works, but there are enough to throw off your rhythm when reading. Not a fan of the crow and lightning cover, either. It's a nice image, but tells nothing of the story. If you're going to take a cut of the profits from the author, then pull your weight and do more than just run spellcheck....more
Love this book. I'd almost have to classify it as post-post-apocalyptic fiction. Modern day has passed into legend and humanity has rebuilt, although Love this book. I'd almost have to classify it as post-post-apocalyptic fiction. Modern day has passed into legend and humanity has rebuilt, although it's closer to the middle ages than modern day. Some few books remain and their are remnants from the modern world, but people have to find them first, then figure out how to use them. War is on the horizon and the key to winning may be in unlocking the past. ...more
