I never felt engaged with the characters

I listened to this book because it was recommended by Ilona Andrews, a fantasy author whose books and recommendations I always enjoy. Ilona found it to be accurate to military life, appreciated the writing style and humour and loved the series.

I did not love it. I never became emotionally invested in the characters. Torin, the main character, is very good at her job. Her cool competence made it hard for me to relate to her or feel like I got to know her. Perhaps due to the narration or perhaps due to the writing style, I felt that distance with all the characters.

In terms of the narration, I often became confused with who was speaking and when the scenes shifted. I wouldn’t choose another book because of the narrator, but I also wouldn’t reject a book because she’s narrating it.

I prefer character-driven sci-fi and fantasy. I really enjoyed “The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet” and the “Linesman” series. This book felt like a reimagining of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift (1879): a good choice if you want more of a military procedural than soft sci-fi. I doubt that I will ready the rest of the books in the series.

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