Rumors of War

It’s good a good set up book.

This story is good not a masterpiece but the pacing is good and the characters are likable. If you want something that will keep you captivated from beginning to end this is probably not it. But it’s a good set up for what could be a great series. The first 3/4th of the book is character development. But it was done well and the banter mixed with the internal thoughts made the story good.
I think there is potential for a good series here, I will buy the next one.

6 people found this helpful

okay

it was okay and I would have probably picked up the second one if it weren't for the narration. one of the worst I've ever heard. I couldn't hear some lines because of the narrator's propensity to whisper. irritating beyond measure.

5 people found this helpful

Meh

The voice actor constantly puts emphasis on the wrong syllable. It is very distractinseparateg from the story. Also he changes accent midsentence with the different characters. The story is OK, but it doesn’t really make a lot of sense at times. Why is there a thin spine separating two halves of a warship? Why does the ship have actual windows? And the main character is annoying. I’ll probably finish the series because I have spare audible credits but meh.

10 people found this helpful

Not my favorite...

In my opinion, this book started slow and had rare moments of action. I was also put off with the lead character's painful development.

I am debating on whether or not to get the next book. Maybe the author will hit his stride!

2 people found this helpful

fun books

kind of like wagon train the old western show where they never get anywhere ..but enjoying it all the same on third book now...

1 person found this helpful

It's a Good story, but...

The concept of the story is good and for the most part it's entertaining, but a little bit too much drama queen dialog for my liking.

1 person found this helpful

promising concept

I struggled through this. firstly the main character ter is... not endearing or likable and not understandable. His reactions are extreme cold (dont care) or extreme hot (murder them all). Their is no supporting characters and dont get me started on how the supposed space faring "military" which has supposedly lasted hundreds of years in space is apparently totally incompetent at being a military and at being in space.

Then the sciencey bullshit that's thrown out with the very long and odd attempt to romanticize that bs ( I'm talking about the 7th dimension travel with "spirits") at the same time made me want to fast forward. nothing made me excited to continue the story at all.

That brings me to *Spoilers* ( although not that much ). A ship has nuke detonated "near" it not a direct hit and it kills everyone on the ship. this again buys up against the supposedly being space faring for hundreds of years. You are in space surrounded by radiation... constantly. But hey power loss from EMP (which also makes me wonder how weapons development hasnt advanced at all except lasers) and a nuke that takes out an entire ship... that is also not obliterated by enemy afterward because hey might as well let an enemy crew die slowly with potential to send a message. oh wait communications also apparently has made absolutely no advancements either... the future the author paints is not very imaginative... or fun. sigh I'm sad that this makes me not want to go on with these series.

Mostly backstory but very realistic

One of the more enjoyable part of this novel is the care that was taken in making the whole military indoctrination and training parts, from boot camp, to AIT, to noob half lieutenant (aka butter bar lieutenant) lack of command responsibilities, &c. The MC is also a realistic representation of a young man, forced into command of a frigate space craft on entry into war, who is overwhelmed with fear, uncertainty and doubt and the trials that end up making him a credible commander.

Also, another item I found interesting was the description of warp speed (aka slip space, slipstream space, &c.) Most SciFi explain it in terms of some, almost magical, spaceship device. Here, it was explained as entering into 7th dimensional space being the means in which they are capable to traverse the galaxy at superluminal speed. As one can imagine a wormhole allowing one to travel vast distances by traveling through folded 3D space, being able to do so via 7D space makes sense (in a nonsensical way, of course).

Jake Elwood is a good writer and Johnathan McClain makes even the tedious parts of training very listenable.

I have high hopes for Book 2.

1 person found this helpful

good

I really enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to hearing the next one!!

1 person found this helpful

Great Start

I enjoyed the this first book very much. The narration is excellent. The characters are well filled out and understood. The plot is great. I have also finished the second book. Great also.

The only complaint is these series book are about 7-8 hours each and cost a single credit. I just finished a Great book that was 21 hours. So i paid two credits for two books with a total of 14 hours and now there is a third book coming.. This story should be all in one book! Come on guys.. I am not sure I will continue unless #3 is the end..

Over all good book