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Cobra War #3
Cobra Gamble
Cobras warriors, technologically enhanced and implanted with an arsenal of covert weaponry, are the most dangerous guerilla fighters humanity has ever produced. For Jin Moreau Broom, the war is the culmination of a lifetime of Cobra service. But it is also the height of danger for herself and her family as they struggle to survive a war that none of them ever expected to see.
The Troft invasions of Qasama and the Cobra Worlds has had at least one result: it has turned long-time antagonists into uneasy and unwilling allies. As the aliens battle to consolidate their conquered territories, a small group of Cobras and Qasaman Djinn work together to create a victory that will rock the invaders to the core, a victory designed to bring other Troft demesnes into the conflict on the humans' side.
Now one young Cobra must forge a new political order as a devastating alien enemy strikes—an enemy more deadly than any humanity has ever faced.
About Timothy Zahn: “Zahn keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace, maintaining excitement [in Dragon and Thief].”—Publishers Weekly“[Conqueror’s Heritage] is another finely wrought space adventure . . . [with] social, political and emotional complications, all of which Zahn treats with his usual skill.”—Booklist“Zahn paints every detail [in Angelmass] with gleamy realism . . . scientific dialogue that streams with starship hardware and military trooper talk . . . immensely appealing.”—Kirkus Review
The Troft invasions of Qasama and the Cobra Worlds has had at least one result: it has turned long-time antagonists into uneasy and unwilling allies. As the aliens battle to consolidate their conquered territories, a small group of Cobras and Qasaman Djinn work together to create a victory that will rock the invaders to the core, a victory designed to bring other Troft demesnes into the conflict on the humans' side.
Now one young Cobra must forge a new political order as a devastating alien enemy strikes—an enemy more deadly than any humanity has ever faced.
About Timothy Zahn: “Zahn keeps the story moving at a breakneck pace, maintaining excitement [in Dragon and Thief].”—Publishers Weekly“[Conqueror’s Heritage] is another finely wrought space adventure . . . [with] social, political and emotional complications, all of which Zahn treats with his usual skill.”—Booklist“Zahn paints every detail [in Angelmass] with gleamy realism . . . scientific dialogue that streams with starship hardware and military trooper talk . . . immensely appealing.”—Kirkus Review
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Timothy Zahn
483 books8,550 followersTimothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 8, 2012
Third in the Cobra Wars military science fiction series; sixth in the Cobra series overall. This one again features the Broome family on Caelin and Qasama.
My Take
Yup, this'll get yer heart rate up as the Broomes are still jumping from the frying pan into the fire as this story brings the initial Qasaman and Cobra Worlds problems to a conclusion.
(Think of these three books in this second Cobra trilogy as one story---Cobra Gamble simply carries on from Cobra Guardian which itself carried on from Cobra Alliance .)
Zahn sets up more impossible situations that require impossible solutions. I so enjoy reading the tactics and maneuverings he deploys!
The Brooms' allegiance to their own world is constantly under fire even as they prove their loyalties over and over again. It's the fact that they see the bigger picture that causes them such problems.
Yeah, Cobra Gamble does provide an ending, however Zahn provides some compelling teasers for the next Cobra trilogy that will deal with Merrick's pact with Anya and Ukuthi of the Balin and the Brooms' troubles on Aventine which continue as Grendeves carries out her threats.
The Story
Most of the Brooms, Tlossies, and Qasamans have managed to escape Caelian only to land in greater trouble on Qasama---the second invasion has begun. And there is nowhere to hide the Isis machine that holds all their hopes for saving Qasama and the Cobra Worlds.
Meanwhile, Daulo is trapped in Sollas which is under a destructive bombardment by the Troft. It will take strong arguments, trickery, and a wheelchair to get him out. Only to be met with a greater betrayal. It's one internal lie after another as one side of the Qasamans attempt to preserve honor while the other side is more interested in its own bigotry.
Merrick, too, is trapped in Milika where a Troft ship is demanding the villagers surrender him or die. A demand that results in escape and capture followed by an offer Merrick cannot refuse.
Finally, the humans left behind on Caelian in Stronghold must cope with captured Troft and the imminent threat of more ships coming to attack.
But just when you thought it was safe back in Aventine...
The Characters
TThe Broom family is at it again…oh, what it is to have a reputation! Jin, Paul, and Lorne Broom, Everette Beach, Wendell McCollom, and Jennifer McCollom are all Cobras and have come to Qasama to rescue Merrick Broom, fulfill their vows to help their enemies, the Qasamans, and get medical treatment for Jin's brain tumor and re-grow Paul's leg.
The Djinnis are the Troft version of the Cobra warrior. Of the Qasaman Djinn who have returned with Jin Broom, Siraj Akim is a commander with Carsh Zoshak a warrior while Ghofl Khatir is an ambassador.
The Qasamans:
Moffren Omnathi is a senior advisor to the Shahni and has promised Jin her son's safety in return for her bringing Cobras back to help his people. Daulo Sammon is Fadil's father and the leader of Milika who was injured earlier during the first invasion and is being set up as a ploy. Shahni Dariuz Haafiz is one of the Qasaman rulers and, oh man, does he ever despise everyone who's not him. In a very blinkered sort of way. Miron Akim is overall commander of the planet's Djinni combat force, the Marid-commander. Other specifically named Djinn warriors include Ifrit Kaml Ghushtre and Ifrit Narayan.
Qasamans in the village of Milika:
Gama Yithtra is very anti-Cobra and constantly setting barbs; Fadil Sammon is paralyzed from the mind-enhancing drug therapy; and, Dr. Davi Krites is overseeing Merrick's recovery---if he'll ever stay still long enough to heal!
Jody Broom is a scientist and has stayed behind on Caelian with Rashida Vil, one of the Tlossies, who turns out to be not so much of a pilot as expected. Geoff Boulton and Freylan Sonderby were part of Jody's science team investigating the plant and animal life of Caelian, now they're trying to survive along with everyone else. Governor Rom Uy was gravely injured in the attack and their son Harli, also a Cobra, has taken over for his dad. Other Cobras on Caelian include Kemp, Smitty, Danny, Kirstin, Propescu, Brady, and others.
Nissa Gendreves is the secondary assistant to Governor-General Chintawa on Aventine and was granted the power to treat with the enemy in Cobra Guardian. Only, she's a true hidebound politico and she's threatening treason charges.
Ingidi-inhiliziyo, a.k.a., Warrior, is the second heir of the Tlos'khin'fahi and drops off Isis, a very unhappy Dr. Glas Croi (the inventor of Isis), and the Brooms near a village on Qasama.
Anya Winghunter is a Troft slave with a problem. A problem for which her owner, Commander Ukuthi of the Balin, wants help from Merrick.
Troft is a rather generic term for a number of different demesnes---think of it as Troft equaling Earthling and a demesne equaling a country. The Tlossies are Troft on the side of the Cobra Worlds. The Tua'lanek'zia hired the Drim'hco'plai, the Gla'lupt'flae, and the Balin'ekha'spmi to invade Qasama and the Cobra Worlds. And there's no love lost.
The Drim have been selling human slaves to other Troft and Ukuthi suspects that the Drim's plans will be very bad for the Troft. A strange alliance will require Merrick's aid for an even stranger goal.
The Cover
It's a Baen cover with bright colors---oranges and reds with a menacing gray-blue of a Drim ship in the middle of the burning city while ships circle it in the orange skies and Qasamans and Cobras hunker down in the ruins.
My Take
Yup, this'll get yer heart rate up as the Broomes are still jumping from the frying pan into the fire as this story brings the initial Qasaman and Cobra Worlds problems to a conclusion.
(Think of these three books in this second Cobra trilogy as one story---Cobra Gamble simply carries on from Cobra Guardian which itself carried on from Cobra Alliance .)
Zahn sets up more impossible situations that require impossible solutions. I so enjoy reading the tactics and maneuverings he deploys!
The Brooms' allegiance to their own world is constantly under fire even as they prove their loyalties over and over again. It's the fact that they see the bigger picture that causes them such problems.
Yeah, Cobra Gamble does provide an ending, however Zahn provides some compelling teasers for the next Cobra trilogy that will deal with Merrick's pact with Anya and Ukuthi of the Balin and the Brooms' troubles on Aventine which continue as Grendeves carries out her threats.
The Story
Most of the Brooms, Tlossies, and Qasamans have managed to escape Caelian only to land in greater trouble on Qasama---the second invasion has begun. And there is nowhere to hide the Isis machine that holds all their hopes for saving Qasama and the Cobra Worlds.
Meanwhile, Daulo is trapped in Sollas which is under a destructive bombardment by the Troft. It will take strong arguments, trickery, and a wheelchair to get him out. Only to be met with a greater betrayal. It's one internal lie after another as one side of the Qasamans attempt to preserve honor while the other side is more interested in its own bigotry.
Merrick, too, is trapped in Milika where a Troft ship is demanding the villagers surrender him or die. A demand that results in escape and capture followed by an offer Merrick cannot refuse.
Finally, the humans left behind on Caelian in Stronghold must cope with captured Troft and the imminent threat of more ships coming to attack.
But just when you thought it was safe back in Aventine...
The Characters
TThe Broom family is at it again…oh, what it is to have a reputation! Jin, Paul, and Lorne Broom, Everette Beach, Wendell McCollom, and Jennifer McCollom are all Cobras and have come to Qasama to rescue Merrick Broom, fulfill their vows to help their enemies, the Qasamans, and get medical treatment for Jin's brain tumor and re-grow Paul's leg.
The Djinnis are the Troft version of the Cobra warrior. Of the Qasaman Djinn who have returned with Jin Broom, Siraj Akim is a commander with Carsh Zoshak a warrior while Ghofl Khatir is an ambassador.
The Qasamans:
Moffren Omnathi is a senior advisor to the Shahni and has promised Jin her son's safety in return for her bringing Cobras back to help his people. Daulo Sammon is Fadil's father and the leader of Milika who was injured earlier during the first invasion and is being set up as a ploy. Shahni Dariuz Haafiz is one of the Qasaman rulers and, oh man, does he ever despise everyone who's not him. In a very blinkered sort of way. Miron Akim is overall commander of the planet's Djinni combat force, the Marid-commander. Other specifically named Djinn warriors include Ifrit Kaml Ghushtre and Ifrit Narayan.
Qasamans in the village of Milika:
Gama Yithtra is very anti-Cobra and constantly setting barbs; Fadil Sammon is paralyzed from the mind-enhancing drug therapy; and, Dr. Davi Krites is overseeing Merrick's recovery---if he'll ever stay still long enough to heal!
Jody Broom is a scientist and has stayed behind on Caelian with Rashida Vil, one of the Tlossies, who turns out to be not so much of a pilot as expected. Geoff Boulton and Freylan Sonderby were part of Jody's science team investigating the plant and animal life of Caelian, now they're trying to survive along with everyone else. Governor Rom Uy was gravely injured in the attack and their son Harli, also a Cobra, has taken over for his dad. Other Cobras on Caelian include Kemp, Smitty, Danny, Kirstin, Propescu, Brady, and others.
Nissa Gendreves is the secondary assistant to Governor-General Chintawa on Aventine and was granted the power to treat with the enemy in Cobra Guardian. Only, she's a true hidebound politico and she's threatening treason charges.
Ingidi-inhiliziyo, a.k.a., Warrior, is the second heir of the Tlos'khin'fahi and drops off Isis, a very unhappy Dr. Glas Croi (the inventor of Isis), and the Brooms near a village on Qasama.
Anya Winghunter is a Troft slave with a problem. A problem for which her owner, Commander Ukuthi of the Balin, wants help from Merrick.
Troft is a rather generic term for a number of different demesnes---think of it as Troft equaling Earthling and a demesne equaling a country. The Tlossies are Troft on the side of the Cobra Worlds. The Tua'lanek'zia hired the Drim'hco'plai, the Gla'lupt'flae, and the Balin'ekha'spmi to invade Qasama and the Cobra Worlds. And there's no love lost.
The Drim have been selling human slaves to other Troft and Ukuthi suspects that the Drim's plans will be very bad for the Troft. A strange alliance will require Merrick's aid for an even stranger goal.
The Cover
It's a Baen cover with bright colors---oranges and reds with a menacing gray-blue of a Drim ship in the middle of the burning city while ships circle it in the orange skies and Qasamans and Cobras hunker down in the ruins.
March 20, 2016
2016 grade B
I was slightly disappointed in this novel. Still it is worth reading and pretty easy to read and I will save it for reading again some day.
The novel has less action and more intrigue and politics than the first two novels. But it does not have a corresponding increase in character development and world building.
I was also unhappy with the open ended nature of the final chapter and its three unfinished themes. (Is the Broom family still in trouble with the government or are they now OK given the unsurprising twist ending? What about the one Broom Cobra still off planet, which appears to be a more interesting storyline anyway. The first two books of that series have been published BTW. I'd give the title but it is a spoiler.)
Overall the story is not particularly engrossing and can be put down pretty easy. Some of the POV changes were initially confusing, probably because it was forgettable so I forgot the other POV even existed by the time I got there.
I was slightly disappointed in this novel. Still it is worth reading and pretty easy to read and I will save it for reading again some day.
The novel has less action and more intrigue and politics than the first two novels. But it does not have a corresponding increase in character development and world building.
I was also unhappy with the open ended nature of the final chapter and its three unfinished themes. (Is the Broom family still in trouble with the government or are they now OK given the unsurprising twist ending? What about the one Broom Cobra still off planet, which appears to be a more interesting storyline anyway. The first two books of that series have been published BTW. I'd give the title but it is a spoiler.)
Overall the story is not particularly engrossing and can be put down pretty easy. Some of the POV changes were initially confusing, probably because it was forgettable so I forgot the other POV even existed by the time I got there.
April 10, 2013
I have enjoyed some of timothy Zahn's other novels more than the Cobra series. Here's a summary:
Challenges
- You really can't read this without reading the first two
- If you don't have a great memory, you may be overwhelmed by the extensive characters and politics
- The story action and sequences are good, but feel...cold. I really didn't identify with or like any characters enough to really be invested.
Likes
- It's not a new genre - sci fi with human biotech enhancements, but I think Zahn imbues the story with good uses of the enhancements that make it feel more 'every day'
- Some snappy, no-nonsense, and humorous dialogue
This isn't a series that I'd recommend to the vast majority of my friends, because I know only a few of them would enjoy this.
Challenges
- You really can't read this without reading the first two
- If you don't have a great memory, you may be overwhelmed by the extensive characters and politics
- The story action and sequences are good, but feel...cold. I really didn't identify with or like any characters enough to really be invested.
Likes
- It's not a new genre - sci fi with human biotech enhancements, but I think Zahn imbues the story with good uses of the enhancements that make it feel more 'every day'
- Some snappy, no-nonsense, and humorous dialogue
This isn't a series that I'd recommend to the vast majority of my friends, because I know only a few of them would enjoy this.
February 12, 2013
A decent, if predictable, conclusion to the trilogy, that sets a hook for another Cobra series to come. Nothing earth-shattering here. Cobras and Qasmans have tensions; Cobras and Qasmans fight Trofts; yada-yada-yada. There weren't even that many battles or other sequences that really made this feel like a Cobra worlds book more than just a generic military scifi, and I think that's why the book fell a little flat for me.
April 10, 2012
Was ok.
October 10, 2020
Cobra Gamble by Timothy Zahn, Cobra War Book 3
Cobra’s are cybernetically enhanced warriors. Decades after they save humanity they are regarded as a tax burden. Then the Cobra worlds are invaded by the Trofts. The Moreau family takes the brunt of defense dispersing over two planets. Qasama, an old enemy needs help but can they accept help from the hated Cobras? Alliances are tenuous and are also dependent on the success of the Cobras and the Djinns.
The anguish of sending love ones into combat and the willingness to sacrifice for one’s children is clearly shown by this book. Zahn makes a lot of statements about prejudice and sacrifice. There is plenty of action and the plot has enough nuances to keep you engrossed.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it. This series ends but it sets up the next trilogy, The Cobra Rebellion.
Cobra’s are cybernetically enhanced warriors. Decades after they save humanity they are regarded as a tax burden. Then the Cobra worlds are invaded by the Trofts. The Moreau family takes the brunt of defense dispersing over two planets. Qasama, an old enemy needs help but can they accept help from the hated Cobras? Alliances are tenuous and are also dependent on the success of the Cobras and the Djinns.
The anguish of sending love ones into combat and the willingness to sacrifice for one’s children is clearly shown by this book. Zahn makes a lot of statements about prejudice and sacrifice. There is plenty of action and the plot has enough nuances to keep you engrossed.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it. This series ends but it sets up the next trilogy, The Cobra Rebellion.
November 15, 2020
A good read and a good ending to the series. Leads directly onto the next series. Constant POV changes and maybe a few too many characters does confuse things a little here and there but I still really enjoyed it.
I was so pumped when the Dominion Of Man showed up! I actually thought that was going to happen this trilogy. Anyway not perfect but a fun read that kept me interested even if it wasn’t a total page turner.
I was so pumped when the Dominion Of Man showed up! I actually thought that was going to happen this trilogy. Anyway not perfect but a fun read that kept me interested even if it wasn’t a total page turner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2021
Cobra Gamble – Cobra War Book 3 – 2012 - ***1/2 – Book 3 of the Cobra Wars was more of the same as in Book 2 – okay but not really as exciting or fun to read as Book 1. Very little new and a lot of the same old stuff which is okay but not exciting. Hopefully in Book 3 Zahn does in the bad guys – read it and find out.
July 4, 2025
Not this author's best work. Felt like I was in some sort of holding pattern the entire way. Not an unusual feeling in a overly long series. So much jumping around among viewpoints is fairly distracting to the flow of the story. Yet despite the numerous viewpoints, I find it odd when a planetary war is confined to a relatively small geographic area.
May 3, 2023
I couldn't finish this one, I spent the whole time I was reading it really bored. The characters are extremely flat, so much so that you can't really tell them apart from each other easily. The story seemed to drag on and on. Life is too short and my want to read list is too long. DNF at 10%
November 2, 2017
Plenty of action but the ending? (more questions than answers)
November 20, 2017
I will read another of these. Kept my interest
April 26, 2015
Cobra Gamble (2012) 425 pages by Timothy Zahn.
Book three of the Cobra Wars trilogy. In the first two books we find the Trofts invading Qasama, Aventine and Caelian. The Qasamans with the help of Cobras Jin Moreau Broom, Paul Broom and their son Merrick beat back an invasion. In book two we find that Aventine, the home planet of the Cobras, has been invaded and subjugated. Lorne Broom and a couple other escape the planet and go to Caelian, a Cobra colony world, only to find that planet under siege as well. Jin, Paul and a couple of Qasama Djinni soldiers arrive on Caelian and help Lorne and the Caelians fend off the invading Trofts.
Cobra Gamble starts with Jin, Paul, Lorne, the Qasaman Djinn traveling back to Qasama only to find that the planet has been re-invaded by even more forces than before. On Caelian they are trying to repair the damage done while fighting, supervise the prisoners and figure out what to do in case more invaders come.
There is a back plot of hatred between Qasama and the Cobra worlds dating back to an earlier encounter. The relationship between Qasama and Cobra is evolving. The Trofts are made up of many demesnes and although they sometimes work together they are separate entities. From the start of book one the Tlossies have helped move a few cobras from one planet to another, remaining neutral until the humans can show that they can win.
It was face paced, fun to read. The characters all played with a sense of honor. I had a bit of trouble imagining the fight scenes and relied heavily on waiting for the outcome. There were a couple of clever maneuvers readily apparent. Other times I had to take their word. One scene the action didn't fit. A couple of characters were rock climbing a chimney, and started sliding down. In my imagination a chimney is vertical and you aren't going to slide down, you're dropping all the way to the base.
Not all of the questions are fully answered, such as why did the Trofts invade? There is a hint of it at the end, but we don't have enough information to follow the logic all the way through. Probably leaving the door open for a sequel.
Book three of the Cobra Wars trilogy. In the first two books we find the Trofts invading Qasama, Aventine and Caelian. The Qasamans with the help of Cobras Jin Moreau Broom, Paul Broom and their son Merrick beat back an invasion. In book two we find that Aventine, the home planet of the Cobras, has been invaded and subjugated. Lorne Broom and a couple other escape the planet and go to Caelian, a Cobra colony world, only to find that planet under siege as well. Jin, Paul and a couple of Qasama Djinni soldiers arrive on Caelian and help Lorne and the Caelians fend off the invading Trofts.
Cobra Gamble starts with Jin, Paul, Lorne, the Qasaman Djinn traveling back to Qasama only to find that the planet has been re-invaded by even more forces than before. On Caelian they are trying to repair the damage done while fighting, supervise the prisoners and figure out what to do in case more invaders come.
There is a back plot of hatred between Qasama and the Cobra worlds dating back to an earlier encounter. The relationship between Qasama and Cobra is evolving. The Trofts are made up of many demesnes and although they sometimes work together they are separate entities. From the start of book one the Tlossies have helped move a few cobras from one planet to another, remaining neutral until the humans can show that they can win.
It was face paced, fun to read. The characters all played with a sense of honor. I had a bit of trouble imagining the fight scenes and relied heavily on waiting for the outcome. There were a couple of clever maneuvers readily apparent. Other times I had to take their word. One scene the action didn't fit. A couple of characters were rock climbing a chimney, and started sliding down. In my imagination a chimney is vertical and you aren't going to slide down, you're dropping all the way to the base.
Not all of the questions are fully answered, such as why did the Trofts invade? There is a hint of it at the end, but we don't have enough information to follow the logic all the way through. Probably leaving the door open for a sequel.
January 23, 2016
Timothy Zahn is an established sci-fi writer, so if you are a Tim Zahn fan, this review isn't going to change your opinion even a little bit, but I couldn't get into this book. I've read some of his other books, and that's why I gambled on picking this off the Vine list even though I hadn't read the first two in the series, and that was a mistake.
Well written from a technical standpoint as far as dialogue, character development, etc. the book is just a bit hard to follow, especially jumping in after missing the first two. There are a LOT of characters in a relatively small book, and the names are not "common" either in spelling or syntax, so that adds some confusion. One of the alien clans is names "Tua'lanek'zia" and there are at least three more like that. I just got a bit lost in all the who's who.
In this book, the Moreau family, most of them bionically enhanced Cobra warriors, are in the middle of a war between the alien race of Trofts and the Qasamans. The later are humanoid, and have their own warrior class called Djinn (another issue, Djinn ranks structure is difficult to grasp), who are capable troops, but not on the level of a Cobra. The Moreau family takes a risk by giving the Qasmans Cobra technology in an effort to defeat the greater evil of the Trofts. There is plenty of sci-fi combat and technology for a sci-fi buff to enjoy, but really think that if you want to get the most out of this series you need to start at the beginning.
Highly recommended for those that have read the first two. Otherwise, start at the beginning with Cobra Alliance: Cobra War: Book I.
Well written from a technical standpoint as far as dialogue, character development, etc. the book is just a bit hard to follow, especially jumping in after missing the first two. There are a LOT of characters in a relatively small book, and the names are not "common" either in spelling or syntax, so that adds some confusion. One of the alien clans is names "Tua'lanek'zia" and there are at least three more like that. I just got a bit lost in all the who's who.
In this book, the Moreau family, most of them bionically enhanced Cobra warriors, are in the middle of a war between the alien race of Trofts and the Qasamans. The later are humanoid, and have their own warrior class called Djinn (another issue, Djinn ranks structure is difficult to grasp), who are capable troops, but not on the level of a Cobra. The Moreau family takes a risk by giving the Qasmans Cobra technology in an effort to defeat the greater evil of the Trofts. There is plenty of sci-fi combat and technology for a sci-fi buff to enjoy, but really think that if you want to get the most out of this series you need to start at the beginning.
Highly recommended for those that have read the first two. Otherwise, start at the beginning with Cobra Alliance: Cobra War: Book I.
December 5, 2016
This is the finale to the Cobra War trilogy and I cannot say much about he plot without spoiling the two previous parts. But basically, the Qasama is under Troft invasion again and the Cobra World's new weapon - the Isis Machine - is their only hope. The problem is that giving it to Qasamans would be considered high treason for any Cobra Worlds citizen.
The action reaches a high point and even includes a sub-plot with a surprise and a big twist that... never amounts to anything. The whole sequence is basically a hook for the next trilogy in the series - and a device to show a bit more of the invasion from the Troft perspective. Also, the characters remain shallow and fail the basic test of "if the brothers' roles had been switched, what would have changed?" Jin Moreau-Broom's sons simply serve the roles of two cobras and I cannot name a single characteristic that makes them different from each other. The same goes for the rest of the family members.
I enjoyed this part best of the second series, but it should be noted that they are basically one big story and this is merely the final act.
The action reaches a high point and even includes a sub-plot with a surprise and a big twist that... never amounts to anything. The whole sequence is basically a hook for the next trilogy in the series - and a device to show a bit more of the invasion from the Troft perspective. Also, the characters remain shallow and fail the basic test of "if the brothers' roles had been switched, what would have changed?" Jin Moreau-Broom's sons simply serve the roles of two cobras and I cannot name a single characteristic that makes them different from each other. The same goes for the rest of the family members.
I enjoyed this part best of the second series, but it should be noted that they are basically one big story and this is merely the final act.
October 29, 2014
I was disappointed because i have liked other books by this author much more ! It was slow moving and plodding with very little action ! Literally nothing happened for the first 375 pages with the action finally picking up in the last 50 pages ! Maybe this series has run its course or the author is stretching out the story so he can publish more books to make more money ! What happened in this book could have easily been a novella or even a short story ! This is suffering from David Weber syndrome !
August 13, 2012
Due to my Terms of Service agreement with the Amazon.com Vine program, I am unable to put my full review onto any site that provides selling links to anywhere other than Amazon. Therefore, please follow this link to view my full review:
http://katysozaeva.blogspot.com/2012/...
http://katysozaeva.blogspot.com/2012/...
January 17, 2016
Like most of Zahn's work, this is classic military sci-fi, clean, clear, relatively spare prose, with lots of action/drama, at a quick pace. The 3rd book, in his 2nd "Cobra" series, the first of which was a trilogy, this one gets to a relatively happy ending, only to present new, surprising obstacles, that beg for another volume. I, for one, look forward to it.
September 13, 2015
I've found the Cobra books a good read. At least the ones I've been able to get my hands on through the library. I love how Zahn writes and would recommend these books to people who love Military science.
February 26, 2012
Continuing good Sci-Fi
December 29, 2012
Now waiting to the next Cobra trilogy......
March 17, 2013
A fine conclusion to the next Cobra trilogy. Very exciting. Got lost for a moment with all the plot angles in the middle, but as always Zahn puts everything together tightly and logically.
April 12, 2014
ending really left it hanging. now I have to look if there is another series.
July 16, 2016
Delightful read. It is really nice how the various stories of the Cobra series form an arc.
May 17, 2013
Good story, I wish I had found the first two books first so I would have understood the background
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews