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Titan Hoppers #2
Spire Climbers
Even titans can bleed.
Iro and Emil have opened their first Gates, unlocked new talents, and proved the fleet’s Hoppers aren’t stalled. Despite leaving the rank of trainee, they find their training is just beginning.
Thrown into a new squad with an explosive Mage, a cursed Surveyor, and a Vanguard with shady motives, Iro and Emil will delve deeper into the titan than ever before. There are bizarre things in the depths; pitch black oceans, nests of swarming monsters, and Spires that rip through the hull of the titan.
But what purpose do the Spires serve and can Iro and Emil reach the top in time?
A progression sci-fantasy perfect for fans of Cradle and Iron Prince.
Iro and Emil have opened their first Gates, unlocked new talents, and proved the fleet’s Hoppers aren’t stalled. Despite leaving the rank of trainee, they find their training is just beginning.
Thrown into a new squad with an explosive Mage, a cursed Surveyor, and a Vanguard with shady motives, Iro and Emil will delve deeper into the titan than ever before. There are bizarre things in the depths; pitch black oceans, nests of swarming monsters, and Spires that rip through the hull of the titan.
But what purpose do the Spires serve and can Iro and Emil reach the top in time?
A progression sci-fantasy perfect for fans of Cradle and Iron Prince.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2023
152 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
45 books1,915 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 20, 2024
I believe this is Rob J Hayes best book so far!
December 30, 2024
Spire Climbers by Rob J. Hayes was definitely an improvement over book one.
While I enjoy the quick and easy progression fantasy stories every so often, with Hayes I just have higher expectations than just a exchangeable, if fun read.
And this second book definitely improved on the character depth and dialogue! Yes. It's still easy to read and full of action, but there's just more "voice" to it, so it feels more engaging to me.
This time I was unable to put the book down, and was always looking forward to explore more of the Titan, and see how the characters would get out of tricky situations.
I also really liked seeing the team of misfits starting to actually grow together and become a unit, instead of each trying to do their own thing. Friendship and banter are always a strong draw for me!
I breezed through this in no time at all.
While I enjoy the quick and easy progression fantasy stories every so often, with Hayes I just have higher expectations than just a exchangeable, if fun read.
And this second book definitely improved on the character depth and dialogue! Yes. It's still easy to read and full of action, but there's just more "voice" to it, so it feels more engaging to me.
This time I was unable to put the book down, and was always looking forward to explore more of the Titan, and see how the characters would get out of tricky situations.
I also really liked seeing the team of misfits starting to actually grow together and become a unit, instead of each trying to do their own thing. Friendship and banter are always a strong draw for me!
I breezed through this in no time at all.
April 29, 2023
A solid entertainment and an ok read, though I preferred the first one.
April 12, 2023
We continue the story where Titan Hoppers left us. Eclipse Iro, along with some familiar faces and many new ones, are back out hopping onto another Titan to try and salvage supplies for their Home Fleet while avoiding monsters and traps, rogue Hoppers and mysterious beings all trying to kill them.
This is a Progression Sci-Fi story. If you haven't ever read anything within this genre, it is essentially where the characters in the story can 'level-up' their abilities and gain new powers, abilities, access to weapons. Think of it like the videogames, Destiny or Borderlands but in book format. Or many other videogames. Characters can literally find chests with loot in them and so if you've played anything like Destiny or Borderlands, you will appreciate this genre.
When I first read Titan Hoppers I really wasn't sure if Progression stories were for me but I actually enjoyed it. I think I've enjoyed Spire Climbers more. I think the key to enjoying them is to not take them too seriously. Once you understand that Progression stories are fun, character driven stories and are not aiming to be the next big epic fantasy bestseller then you remove the expectations you may place on the book itself.
As I mentioned, this is a character driven story. If you've ever read any of Rob's work you will know he is great at creating funny, quirky and memorable characters. Spire Climbers is no exception to this and the various characters, most of whom are new in this book, all hold their own when competing with Eclipse Iro for page time. Each of them has their own goals, their own style, mannerisms, habits and it's very easy to imagine their personalities early on. I really liked them all, even the antagonists, one of whom gets their own bonus chapter at the end of the story and hope to see the Four Home squad return together for more Titan Hopping in the rest of the series. It just wouldn't be the same without this ragtag group of Hoppers together.
At the end of Titan Hoppers I was left with a lot of questions about the world within the story. Who built the giant Titans? What is their purpose? Where do the monsters come from? I got the answers to some of my questions in Spire Climbers and I felt that this was delivered in a very natural way to aid story progression. At the same time I found myself with more unanswered questions as Rob continues to create a mystery within the universe in which this series is set. He does it really well too, providing little bread crumbs but never leading us all the way to the end game (yet).
I really liked how Spire Climbers didn't take itself too seriously. As I said previously, this is a genre I don't feel you can take too seriously as it's a fun story and Spire Climbers provides lots of engaging action and fun conversations between the main characters. There is almost a zero-to-hero trope going on with not just Iro but the majority of the main characters as they each try to open their gates and raise their power levels, unlocking cool new abilities along the way.
Touching on abilities, and not giving anything away, I think Rob has done a really good job of incorporating every piece of geeky media he has absorbed and brought aspects of it to life within this series. If you've consumed even just a little bit of geeky or nerdy tv or videogames you will easily appreciate the unique parts of this story for the cool, fun ideas they are.
If I had to place this in an age category I would say this slots nicely into the Young Adult one. It's got primarily teen protagonists but without a romance sub-plot throughout and with some adult themes. If you don't normally read YA I wouldn't let that put you off personally.
Overall, I really enjoyed Spire Climbers and couldn't put it down once I'd started it. I was really engrossed in Iro and co's story, flipping e-pages quickly so I could get answers to my questions. This isn't just a fun Progression Sci-Fi story with no meat on the bone, this has heart, mystery, character development, excitement and intrigue. If you're looking for a light-hearted but engrossing read then I can't recommend the Titan Hoppers series enough.
This is a Progression Sci-Fi story. If you haven't ever read anything within this genre, it is essentially where the characters in the story can 'level-up' their abilities and gain new powers, abilities, access to weapons. Think of it like the videogames, Destiny or Borderlands but in book format. Or many other videogames. Characters can literally find chests with loot in them and so if you've played anything like Destiny or Borderlands, you will appreciate this genre.
When I first read Titan Hoppers I really wasn't sure if Progression stories were for me but I actually enjoyed it. I think I've enjoyed Spire Climbers more. I think the key to enjoying them is to not take them too seriously. Once you understand that Progression stories are fun, character driven stories and are not aiming to be the next big epic fantasy bestseller then you remove the expectations you may place on the book itself.
As I mentioned, this is a character driven story. If you've ever read any of Rob's work you will know he is great at creating funny, quirky and memorable characters. Spire Climbers is no exception to this and the various characters, most of whom are new in this book, all hold their own when competing with Eclipse Iro for page time. Each of them has their own goals, their own style, mannerisms, habits and it's very easy to imagine their personalities early on. I really liked them all, even the antagonists, one of whom gets their own bonus chapter at the end of the story and hope to see the Four Home squad return together for more Titan Hopping in the rest of the series. It just wouldn't be the same without this ragtag group of Hoppers together.
At the end of Titan Hoppers I was left with a lot of questions about the world within the story. Who built the giant Titans? What is their purpose? Where do the monsters come from? I got the answers to some of my questions in Spire Climbers and I felt that this was delivered in a very natural way to aid story progression. At the same time I found myself with more unanswered questions as Rob continues to create a mystery within the universe in which this series is set. He does it really well too, providing little bread crumbs but never leading us all the way to the end game (yet).
I really liked how Spire Climbers didn't take itself too seriously. As I said previously, this is a genre I don't feel you can take too seriously as it's a fun story and Spire Climbers provides lots of engaging action and fun conversations between the main characters. There is almost a zero-to-hero trope going on with not just Iro but the majority of the main characters as they each try to open their gates and raise their power levels, unlocking cool new abilities along the way.
Touching on abilities, and not giving anything away, I think Rob has done a really good job of incorporating every piece of geeky media he has absorbed and brought aspects of it to life within this series. If you've consumed even just a little bit of geeky or nerdy tv or videogames you will easily appreciate the unique parts of this story for the cool, fun ideas they are.
If I had to place this in an age category I would say this slots nicely into the Young Adult one. It's got primarily teen protagonists but without a romance sub-plot throughout and with some adult themes. If you don't normally read YA I wouldn't let that put you off personally.
Overall, I really enjoyed Spire Climbers and couldn't put it down once I'd started it. I was really engrossed in Iro and co's story, flipping e-pages quickly so I could get answers to my questions. This isn't just a fun Progression Sci-Fi story with no meat on the bone, this has heart, mystery, character development, excitement and intrigue. If you're looking for a light-hearted but engrossing read then I can't recommend the Titan Hoppers series enough.
April 27, 2023
It's ok, I guess. The story has potential and Rob Hayes's writing is still capable of immersing the reader. But the book felt a bit shallow and insipid.
May 8, 2024
Follow me on X: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again, I’ve been a fan of Rob’s since I first got my hands on Mortal Techniques in 2021, so I know that Rob is going to deliver an unforgettable story, and that’s exactly what he did with this sequel to Titan Hoppers that I gave a 4.75 to, and obviously since I gave this 5 stars, I found it even better than its predecessor. This was such an incredibly fun story mixed with a bit of horror to keep me glued to my seat, ready to see what was going to happen next and how the crew was going to deal with whatever they faced on the new Titan.
Rob continues to build the mysteriousness of the Titan, while also giving bits and pieces of information to help fill in some gaps of what is really going on in the world he’s created. The action was cinematicly fantastic, and just felt it was wild and every battle felt like it could be their last. There is so much going on within the story, with the Titan being so massive and every turn feeling like something could be lurking around the corner, with the characters leveling up, fighting off old and new monsters while also dealing with the threat of other jumpers. Everything just felt intensified the entire time they were on the Titan and it made the scenes just feel that much more insane.
“”I’ve made my decision,” Iro interrupted her. He’d been doubting himself too much of late. This was his decision. He’d live with the consequences. Or die with them.”
The characters continue to be so special, Iro is the main character of this story but the co-stars really shined. Toshiko and her cannon, Steel Lotus, just might be my favorite of this right now, I really love her tenacity and the personality that she brings to the team, I think it’s what really makes the trio so much better. North might actually be my second favorite of this with the humor that his character brings, he reminds me a little bit of Dross, from Will Wight’s, Cradle. There’s also a new character that’s introduced named Mufar, and I giggled way too much, in just the short time he’s there, but with all that said… I still love Iro and Emil, it’s just, Toshiko and North are really, really hard not to like more.
I really think people should do the audiobook or the whispersync version of this story, like me, because Michael Gallagher put on another great performance narrating this story. There’s narrating a story by reading the words, and there’s narrating a story by getting into the characters and emotions of them and the story. Gallagher did such a phenomenal job of getting into each character, giving them a voice and showing off their personalities. The only real “criticism” I have is that I do wish he got a little more into the yelling parts, he does a sorta whisper like thing, and though it gets the job done, it did feel like he was holding back, and maybe there’s just not a good way to do a yell without it being too much and I’m just overanalyzing it, but regardless of that his narration made the experience even more immersive, and that much better.
For more reviews, go to: https://wolfmantula.com/recent-posts/
MY ⭐️ RATING: 5/5
FORMAT: Kindle Whispersync
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again, I’ve been a fan of Rob’s since I first got my hands on Mortal Techniques in 2021, so I know that Rob is going to deliver an unforgettable story, and that’s exactly what he did with this sequel to Titan Hoppers that I gave a 4.75 to, and obviously since I gave this 5 stars, I found it even better than its predecessor. This was such an incredibly fun story mixed with a bit of horror to keep me glued to my seat, ready to see what was going to happen next and how the crew was going to deal with whatever they faced on the new Titan.
Rob continues to build the mysteriousness of the Titan, while also giving bits and pieces of information to help fill in some gaps of what is really going on in the world he’s created. The action was cinematicly fantastic, and just felt it was wild and every battle felt like it could be their last. There is so much going on within the story, with the Titan being so massive and every turn feeling like something could be lurking around the corner, with the characters leveling up, fighting off old and new monsters while also dealing with the threat of other jumpers. Everything just felt intensified the entire time they were on the Titan and it made the scenes just feel that much more insane.
“”I’ve made my decision,” Iro interrupted her. He’d been doubting himself too much of late. This was his decision. He’d live with the consequences. Or die with them.”
The characters continue to be so special, Iro is the main character of this story but the co-stars really shined. Toshiko and her cannon, Steel Lotus, just might be my favorite of this right now, I really love her tenacity and the personality that she brings to the team, I think it’s what really makes the trio so much better. North might actually be my second favorite of this with the humor that his character brings, he reminds me a little bit of Dross, from Will Wight’s, Cradle. There’s also a new character that’s introduced named Mufar, and I giggled way too much, in just the short time he’s there, but with all that said… I still love Iro and Emil, it’s just, Toshiko and North are really, really hard not to like more.
I really think people should do the audiobook or the whispersync version of this story, like me, because Michael Gallagher put on another great performance narrating this story. There’s narrating a story by reading the words, and there’s narrating a story by getting into the characters and emotions of them and the story. Gallagher did such a phenomenal job of getting into each character, giving them a voice and showing off their personalities. The only real “criticism” I have is that I do wish he got a little more into the yelling parts, he does a sorta whisper like thing, and though it gets the job done, it did feel like he was holding back, and maybe there’s just not a good way to do a yell without it being too much and I’m just overanalyzing it, but regardless of that his narration made the experience even more immersive, and that much better.
April 16, 2023
Fortunately I got the eArc from Rob's patreon-membership to continue this amazing space adventure.
Immediately the book starts off where we left with Titan Hoppers and back with Iro and Emil. I love those two and seeing their dynamic and friendship develop. I also loved the newly introduced characters Justice, Toshiko and Gadise Samir. Emil grew on me particularily. He has wonderful and powerful moments and I don't want to miss him.
Again with the 2nd book we continue to explore the new titan and the world is ever expanding. Along with the characters we learn more about these massive "ships" and get a glimpse of their possible origin. Fascinating to encounter all these different creatures.
The story progresses fast and there is not a dull moment.
Another brilliant movie in your mind. Loved it and cannot wait whats to come for Iro and his Squad.
Immediately the book starts off where we left with Titan Hoppers and back with Iro and Emil. I love those two and seeing their dynamic and friendship develop. I also loved the newly introduced characters Justice, Toshiko and Gadise Samir. Emil grew on me particularily. He has wonderful and powerful moments and I don't want to miss him.
Again with the 2nd book we continue to explore the new titan and the world is ever expanding. Along with the characters we learn more about these massive "ships" and get a glimpse of their possible origin. Fascinating to encounter all these different creatures.
The story progresses fast and there is not a dull moment.
Another brilliant movie in your mind. Loved it and cannot wait whats to come for Iro and his Squad.
April 12, 2023
The pace certainly picked up in this second instalment of Titan Hoppers. In fact it runs at breakneck speed leaving this poor reader with no chance to put her e-reader down and do things like, you know, sleep 😋.
In Spire Climbers hoppers Iro and Emil, having opened their first gate, are no longer trainees and get to join (along with another new hopper - this one a Mage) their first squad and return to the Titan for exploration, adventuring, monster-slaying and a race to the top of the spire.
I love the progression system & would have liked a teeny bit more focus on the attaining of new gates. Was super happy with the World/Titan-building and character development. My curiosity regarding the Titans was aroused in book one and after reading Spire Climbers, it's now raging!
If you don't need sleep, go read this!
In Spire Climbers hoppers Iro and Emil, having opened their first gate, are no longer trainees and get to join (along with another new hopper - this one a Mage) their first squad and return to the Titan for exploration, adventuring, monster-slaying and a race to the top of the spire.
I love the progression system & would have liked a teeny bit more focus on the attaining of new gates. Was super happy with the World/Titan-building and character development. My curiosity regarding the Titans was aroused in book one and after reading Spire Climbers, it's now raging!
If you don't need sleep, go read this!
December 7, 2023
I had set a reminder for the release date the moment it was announced. I randomly discovered Titan Hoppers (TH) through Rob J Hayes’ tweet about eARCs, and it had been a really fun read. Yes, Titan Hoppers had a few issues in terms of pacing and characters, but having read some of Hayes’ books already, I trusted him to take the series in the right direction.
And boy was I right.
Spire Climbers is everything I loved about TH, minus all the problems. Right from the prologue, we’re thrown into the action, and the whole 400+ pages of this novel runs at an epic fast pace that makes the book almost un-put-downable. I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews that I’m a fairly slow reader. Yet, I finished this book in less than a week. It was that good!
One of my bigger complaints with TH was Iro. In this one, however, I actually liked the character. Iro isn’t the whiny loser from the first book, instead learning and adapting to become a better Hopper and a better person. I still liked Emil’s character and growth better than Iro. The dilemma Emil faces and the direction his character is headed is so damn interesting, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Also, I loved how Iro & Emil’s POVs were better balanced in this one, and Iro’s arc was handled with much more care than the first.
My new favourite addition to the roster was Toshiko. Yes, she was a stereotypical anime girl who happens to lug around an oversized cannon as her weapon-of-choice. But she was just sooo fun to read about. Toshiko wasn’t as interesting and deep as Emil, but she added a new layer to the whole story, while expanding on the world.
And coming to the world. We go deeper into the Titan, get a more realised look into the world we’ve entered, and just WOW. I wasn’t entirely convinced with the video-game like magic system and setting in the first, but by the second I had embraced it and enjoyed it much more. [If I go and reread TH, I might just end up rating it higher than I originally did].
Was there anything bad? Well, yes. Some of the secondary characters didn’t fly with me, and some of the plot points feel very barebones. But those are more than compensated for by our lead characters, the action, worldbuilding and exciting pacing. By the end of SC, I was left wanting more of this world. I want to see what our characters face next, what more lies within the Titans. I got some answers to questions raised in the first book, but so many more questions were raised here, I can’t wait for book 3. Like seriously, I need them damn answers!
Spire Climbers is a more than significant improvement to Titan Hoppers. Rob J Hayes is an insanely talented writer and storyteller, and Spire Climbers highlights just that.
5/5
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Fast paced plot, balance between characters and their arcs, character growth, worldbuilding.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Some secondary characters, some weak plot points.
And boy was I right.
Spire Climbers is everything I loved about TH, minus all the problems. Right from the prologue, we’re thrown into the action, and the whole 400+ pages of this novel runs at an epic fast pace that makes the book almost un-put-downable. I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews that I’m a fairly slow reader. Yet, I finished this book in less than a week. It was that good!
One of my bigger complaints with TH was Iro. In this one, however, I actually liked the character. Iro isn’t the whiny loser from the first book, instead learning and adapting to become a better Hopper and a better person. I still liked Emil’s character and growth better than Iro. The dilemma Emil faces and the direction his character is headed is so damn interesting, I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Also, I loved how Iro & Emil’s POVs were better balanced in this one, and Iro’s arc was handled with much more care than the first.
My new favourite addition to the roster was Toshiko. Yes, she was a stereotypical anime girl who happens to lug around an oversized cannon as her weapon-of-choice. But she was just sooo fun to read about. Toshiko wasn’t as interesting and deep as Emil, but she added a new layer to the whole story, while expanding on the world.
And coming to the world. We go deeper into the Titan, get a more realised look into the world we’ve entered, and just WOW. I wasn’t entirely convinced with the video-game like magic system and setting in the first, but by the second I had embraced it and enjoyed it much more. [If I go and reread TH, I might just end up rating it higher than I originally did].
Was there anything bad? Well, yes. Some of the secondary characters didn’t fly with me, and some of the plot points feel very barebones. But those are more than compensated for by our lead characters, the action, worldbuilding and exciting pacing. By the end of SC, I was left wanting more of this world. I want to see what our characters face next, what more lies within the Titans. I got some answers to questions raised in the first book, but so many more questions were raised here, I can’t wait for book 3. Like seriously, I need them damn answers!
Spire Climbers is a more than significant improvement to Titan Hoppers. Rob J Hayes is an insanely talented writer and storyteller, and Spire Climbers highlights just that.
5/5
TL;DR:
WHAT I LIKED: Fast paced plot, balance between characters and their arcs, character growth, worldbuilding.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Some secondary characters, some weak plot points.
March 30, 2023
Super sequel to the new series.
Had the good fortune to get an early copy via Patreon membership and really enjoyed the fast paced story. Character development continues well and delivers another installment to the exciting story arc
Had the good fortune to get an early copy via Patreon membership and really enjoyed the fast paced story. Character development continues well and delivers another installment to the exciting story arc
May 17, 2023
Spire Climbers was another book that was on my most anticipated reads for 2023 after Titan Hoppers hooked me in only the way a Rob J. Hayes book can, and this second entry in the series did not disappoint. If Titan Hoppers was those first steps on the moon, then Spire Climbers was the full-blown moonwalk, because Hayes doesn’t just open up the doors to the wider world – or rather universe – of the Titan Hoppers, he blows it right off the hinges and has great fun doing so!
“Because that’s the truth, cold and hard as the darkness outside, Iro. You can’t fight against someone stronger than you. You’ll lose.”
This! I think one of the things about progression stories that has always made me hesitate, is the idea that the character could get so powerful that the threats melt away, because after all that’s why you want to get stronger – to beat a threat, to become the best, all things that involve reaching a pinnacle. At a certain point, it always feels like a limit is reached and the threat is gone. Perhaps, that will eventually happen here – but somehow – with the way it’s written I doubt that, instead what we have is the realisation that all power is relative (I love how North is the perfect demonstration of this, with his automatic adjustment of the threat levels as though it was the most natural thing in the world). Iro is getting stronger, those around him are getting stronger – but so is what they are facing.
It makes me wonder if there is a link between how the Hoppers seemed to have stalled in the first book, and the fact that there had been almost a status quo with the threats they faced, and what they needed to do to survive… and it was only when the threats changed, when the world became that much bigger that progress happened again. Especially, when we see how far the other Hoppers and fleet seem to have progressed, and the threats that lie beyond the immediate Titan.
It also means, that that cold hard truth is in itself a conflict in this world, because the Hoppers need to face things that are stronger and greater than themselves to find their gates; but at the same time, it means confronting the fact that there will always be something stronger and that you can’t always win, because the gates are not always a key to victory. It’s a very human frustration, and you can’t help but understand Iro’s frustration that no matter how much he has progressed, and how much more he will progress, there will always be something or someone that is ahead of you.
“I’m just saying, in engineering, stalled doesn’t mean broken. Just means you have to get it going again.’
Sometimes, it feels like it those around the Hoppers who are able to see what is happening far more clearly than those on the frontline. I wonder if it’s an almost inherent flaw in Hoppers, their abilities and the opening of their gates are intensely personal and internal, even in situations where gates appear simultaneously, or the choice involves people the Hopper cares about, the emotion behind it and the choice they are faced with is personal to them. So, it stands to reason that their viewpoint is narrower than those who are work within the wider context, who in many ways are the link between the Titans, Hoppers and the ships and all who live there.
We even see elements of that through Iro who was an engineer before he became a Hopper, and perhaps that is why he is the one to push boundaries so much, to ask questions and seek answers in ways that other Hoppers might not. It’s also there, in the fact that people who are different are the ones that are making steps forward, because they have a broader view of the way things are.
“I know I’m not exactly a normal Mage. But they’re not normal either, so they accept that. Me. They accept me. I… I feel like I finally fit in somewhere.” She knew it was strange. She both wanted to stand out and fit in, and it always seemed like she somehow managed neither all at the same time.
The reason why we’re so invested in this struggle though is undoubtedly the characters. Iro and Emil are both beginning to come into their own, not just in terms of their abilities, but also in terms of working out what they stand for and what they’re trying to achieve. Emil grew on me a lot in the course of Spire Climbers – his dedication to The Courage, and the way he adapted to the fact that he wasn’t a typical Paladin in world where different might mean stronger but not always in a positive way, but also in terms of how he interacted with the team and made connections with them. The partnership with Iro in particular was one that developed brilliantly. Iro in many ways was more internally focused with his own conflicts, and that driving need to be stronger, but as with Emil, we see him having to determine his own path.
Toshiko was a fantastic addition to the cast, and in all honestly has probably stolen my heart as my favourite character – quirky and immeasurably destructive? – sign me the hell up. Again, she shows that different can be the way forward – at a cost – and her desire to be on the team, but her refusal to completely shed who she was and how she used her power was compelling reading.
Justice was a new character who left me conflicted. In some ways he was annoying as hell, but at the same time it was an understandable why he was the way he was. It also introduced the interesting element, that even those from the Upper Ships face their own troubles and expectations. I look forward to seeing what he grows into because the potential is there, and by the end of the book, his relationship and interactions with the rest of ‘Four Home’ had me liking him a lot more, and in some ways, he feels like the dark horse of the characters.
Gadise Samir was both infuriating and brilliant, and like Justice you get the feeling that she is bound by pressures that the rest of the team can’t understand yet. She was a fantastic character to take the leadership role, even though often her rigidity and obeisance to orders is more the source of conflict than anything else, but Hayes shows us enough cracks in her armour, which alongside the fact that she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her teammates that makes her strangely likeable. I also couldn’t imagine someone else being able to pull the disparate team together (although I do sympathize with them for having to put up with her at times). Again, her potential for the rest of the story feels like it runs as deep as Justice, and I hoping that she will be our gateway to getting to see more of the Upper Ship part of the fleet.
As fantastic as the new characters are, I was glad that we still got to keep the ties to the old ones. Iro and Eir’s relationship still threaded throughout, and again this is something I love about how progression is dealt with in this series – it’s not a straightforward leap forward, we see Iro still remembering and drawing lessons from those he’s learned from before. ‘Fight like Eir.’ I am especially glad that we got to see more of Rollo, and that there is still that element of mentor/mentee relationship even though Iro is not a trainee anymore, and I loved the bit where Rollo kicks off because of something that was Iro was taught – and in a world where there will always be something stronger, it feels like those connections are even more important.
Outside our main cast, two characters that were absolutely fantastic additions for various reasons were Mufar and Wave. We don’t know vast amounts about either of them, but both characters were key to the expanding worldbuilding of Titan Hoppers. Mufar has a charisma to his character voice that immediately pulled me in, and I loved his interaction with the main group, and the culture shock that followed in his wake – there was so many ways Hayes could have brought in that information and the wider Titan situation, but using this quirky character was excellent. Wave on the other hand humanised the other Hoppers who have been little more than antagonists so far, and the way she tried to deal with Iro immediately warmed me to her as a reader, while one of the Snapshot sections peeled back the curtain on a new threat and made me care about what she was fighting for – and I am looking forward to seeing more of her.
“The titans fight, from time to time, as brothers and friends are likely to do. The distances are obviously too great for any conventional weaponry, but the Tucker Sphere provide a novel way to do battle. Titans construct their forces and throw them at each other.’
There were moments in the first book where the broader scale of events and the history of the fleets was hinted at, tantalising glimpses of the universe Hayes has woven around this story. In Spire Climbers that wider scale is brought into sharp focus, and while I probably have more questions now than ever, I was absolutely hooked and blown away by the revelations in this book. The dichotomy of knowledge as well between the home fleet and the others is astonishing, and it makes you wonder just what else has happened in the past to cause that schism, and what else might be hidden within the Home Fleet itself.
What does it take for human fleets to become so distinct and separated, and yet nucleated around the Titans?
There were new creatures and constructs, and I remain in awe at the depth of Hayes’ imagination, especially as there is such internal coherence within the world itself. This is an ecosystem of its own, and it may not be one that we’re familiar and there are unnatural elements, but it’s easy to lose yourself in the flow of the world. It’s also interesting that often the greatest threat was humans trying to survive, an element that perseveres regardless of where people are.
There was new technology, from the titular spire to the Tucker Sphere, to items of loot – which really brought back that feeling of a good old-fashioned dungeon dive (just in space, with fancy technology…). And just the fact that there are more Titans – which makes you wonder how each one is different, as we’ve already seen the difference just between Titan 01 and Titan 02.
Again, when talking about the worldbuilding – as amazing as it is to talk about the tech, the creatures and the powers that the Hoppers are able to access, and we are introduced to new ones in Spire Climbers that completely change the flow of the fights. We have to talk about the societal aspects of the worldbuilding. In Titan Hoppers, we could clearly see the differences between the Lower and Middle Ships, with the Upper Ships an elusive and powerful OTHER. That remains very much the case here, but now we get to see Hayes beginning to peel back the layers, exposing the rot beneath – we see that in the conflict between the team and Samir about the orders regarding the non-Hoppers that were exposed to danger during a harvest, letting us see with full clarity just what the relationships between the different levels are.
We also get to see more how the different ships differ, from the traditions that still hold sway on Thousand Suns, to the way everyone on The Courage came together to arm their Hopper, to their requirements and focus on what they need to retrieve during Hops. It’s what makes Iro’s team so fascinating, because those differences and divisions are a threat, but they also work together (when not arguing…or being stubborn EMIL) in a way that shows what is possible. What would the Home Fleet be capable of if they call came together? Is it likely to happen, probably not, at least not yet. But we get to see the potential in microcosm. And the way the book ended suggests that this is about to split open.
Spire Climbers maintains the non-stop thrill ride elements of the first book, but completely raises the bar. The stakes are far more than simple survival, the universe is that much vaster than we’d seen in the first book, and the characters are on the precipice of events that have the potential to split everything wide open and change all the rules. Yes, I am impatient for more information on many of the revelations in this book, and answers to new questions, but the mystery is keeping me just as hooked as the characters and the world, and Hayes knows how to balance that with a compelling story. This was an absolute blast to read, and I’m already eagerly anticipating the next instalment and will most likely be revisiting this series before then, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
“Because that’s the truth, cold and hard as the darkness outside, Iro. You can’t fight against someone stronger than you. You’ll lose.”
This! I think one of the things about progression stories that has always made me hesitate, is the idea that the character could get so powerful that the threats melt away, because after all that’s why you want to get stronger – to beat a threat, to become the best, all things that involve reaching a pinnacle. At a certain point, it always feels like a limit is reached and the threat is gone. Perhaps, that will eventually happen here – but somehow – with the way it’s written I doubt that, instead what we have is the realisation that all power is relative (I love how North is the perfect demonstration of this, with his automatic adjustment of the threat levels as though it was the most natural thing in the world). Iro is getting stronger, those around him are getting stronger – but so is what they are facing.
It makes me wonder if there is a link between how the Hoppers seemed to have stalled in the first book, and the fact that there had been almost a status quo with the threats they faced, and what they needed to do to survive… and it was only when the threats changed, when the world became that much bigger that progress happened again. Especially, when we see how far the other Hoppers and fleet seem to have progressed, and the threats that lie beyond the immediate Titan.
It also means, that that cold hard truth is in itself a conflict in this world, because the Hoppers need to face things that are stronger and greater than themselves to find their gates; but at the same time, it means confronting the fact that there will always be something stronger and that you can’t always win, because the gates are not always a key to victory. It’s a very human frustration, and you can’t help but understand Iro’s frustration that no matter how much he has progressed, and how much more he will progress, there will always be something or someone that is ahead of you.
“I’m just saying, in engineering, stalled doesn’t mean broken. Just means you have to get it going again.’
Sometimes, it feels like it those around the Hoppers who are able to see what is happening far more clearly than those on the frontline. I wonder if it’s an almost inherent flaw in Hoppers, their abilities and the opening of their gates are intensely personal and internal, even in situations where gates appear simultaneously, or the choice involves people the Hopper cares about, the emotion behind it and the choice they are faced with is personal to them. So, it stands to reason that their viewpoint is narrower than those who are work within the wider context, who in many ways are the link between the Titans, Hoppers and the ships and all who live there.
We even see elements of that through Iro who was an engineer before he became a Hopper, and perhaps that is why he is the one to push boundaries so much, to ask questions and seek answers in ways that other Hoppers might not. It’s also there, in the fact that people who are different are the ones that are making steps forward, because they have a broader view of the way things are.
“I know I’m not exactly a normal Mage. But they’re not normal either, so they accept that. Me. They accept me. I… I feel like I finally fit in somewhere.” She knew it was strange. She both wanted to stand out and fit in, and it always seemed like she somehow managed neither all at the same time.
The reason why we’re so invested in this struggle though is undoubtedly the characters. Iro and Emil are both beginning to come into their own, not just in terms of their abilities, but also in terms of working out what they stand for and what they’re trying to achieve. Emil grew on me a lot in the course of Spire Climbers – his dedication to The Courage, and the way he adapted to the fact that he wasn’t a typical Paladin in world where different might mean stronger but not always in a positive way, but also in terms of how he interacted with the team and made connections with them. The partnership with Iro in particular was one that developed brilliantly. Iro in many ways was more internally focused with his own conflicts, and that driving need to be stronger, but as with Emil, we see him having to determine his own path.
Toshiko was a fantastic addition to the cast, and in all honestly has probably stolen my heart as my favourite character – quirky and immeasurably destructive? – sign me the hell up. Again, she shows that different can be the way forward – at a cost – and her desire to be on the team, but her refusal to completely shed who she was and how she used her power was compelling reading.
Justice was a new character who left me conflicted. In some ways he was annoying as hell, but at the same time it was an understandable why he was the way he was. It also introduced the interesting element, that even those from the Upper Ships face their own troubles and expectations. I look forward to seeing what he grows into because the potential is there, and by the end of the book, his relationship and interactions with the rest of ‘Four Home’ had me liking him a lot more, and in some ways, he feels like the dark horse of the characters.
Gadise Samir was both infuriating and brilliant, and like Justice you get the feeling that she is bound by pressures that the rest of the team can’t understand yet. She was a fantastic character to take the leadership role, even though often her rigidity and obeisance to orders is more the source of conflict than anything else, but Hayes shows us enough cracks in her armour, which alongside the fact that she is willing to do whatever it takes to protect her teammates that makes her strangely likeable. I also couldn’t imagine someone else being able to pull the disparate team together (although I do sympathize with them for having to put up with her at times). Again, her potential for the rest of the story feels like it runs as deep as Justice, and I hoping that she will be our gateway to getting to see more of the Upper Ship part of the fleet.
As fantastic as the new characters are, I was glad that we still got to keep the ties to the old ones. Iro and Eir’s relationship still threaded throughout, and again this is something I love about how progression is dealt with in this series – it’s not a straightforward leap forward, we see Iro still remembering and drawing lessons from those he’s learned from before. ‘Fight like Eir.’ I am especially glad that we got to see more of Rollo, and that there is still that element of mentor/mentee relationship even though Iro is not a trainee anymore, and I loved the bit where Rollo kicks off because of something that was Iro was taught – and in a world where there will always be something stronger, it feels like those connections are even more important.
Outside our main cast, two characters that were absolutely fantastic additions for various reasons were Mufar and Wave. We don’t know vast amounts about either of them, but both characters were key to the expanding worldbuilding of Titan Hoppers. Mufar has a charisma to his character voice that immediately pulled me in, and I loved his interaction with the main group, and the culture shock that followed in his wake – there was so many ways Hayes could have brought in that information and the wider Titan situation, but using this quirky character was excellent. Wave on the other hand humanised the other Hoppers who have been little more than antagonists so far, and the way she tried to deal with Iro immediately warmed me to her as a reader, while one of the Snapshot sections peeled back the curtain on a new threat and made me care about what she was fighting for – and I am looking forward to seeing more of her.
“The titans fight, from time to time, as brothers and friends are likely to do. The distances are obviously too great for any conventional weaponry, but the Tucker Sphere provide a novel way to do battle. Titans construct their forces and throw them at each other.’
There were moments in the first book where the broader scale of events and the history of the fleets was hinted at, tantalising glimpses of the universe Hayes has woven around this story. In Spire Climbers that wider scale is brought into sharp focus, and while I probably have more questions now than ever, I was absolutely hooked and blown away by the revelations in this book. The dichotomy of knowledge as well between the home fleet and the others is astonishing, and it makes you wonder just what else has happened in the past to cause that schism, and what else might be hidden within the Home Fleet itself.
What does it take for human fleets to become so distinct and separated, and yet nucleated around the Titans?
There were new creatures and constructs, and I remain in awe at the depth of Hayes’ imagination, especially as there is such internal coherence within the world itself. This is an ecosystem of its own, and it may not be one that we’re familiar and there are unnatural elements, but it’s easy to lose yourself in the flow of the world. It’s also interesting that often the greatest threat was humans trying to survive, an element that perseveres regardless of where people are.
There was new technology, from the titular spire to the Tucker Sphere, to items of loot – which really brought back that feeling of a good old-fashioned dungeon dive (just in space, with fancy technology…). And just the fact that there are more Titans – which makes you wonder how each one is different, as we’ve already seen the difference just between Titan 01 and Titan 02.
Again, when talking about the worldbuilding – as amazing as it is to talk about the tech, the creatures and the powers that the Hoppers are able to access, and we are introduced to new ones in Spire Climbers that completely change the flow of the fights. We have to talk about the societal aspects of the worldbuilding. In Titan Hoppers, we could clearly see the differences between the Lower and Middle Ships, with the Upper Ships an elusive and powerful OTHER. That remains very much the case here, but now we get to see Hayes beginning to peel back the layers, exposing the rot beneath – we see that in the conflict between the team and Samir about the orders regarding the non-Hoppers that were exposed to danger during a harvest, letting us see with full clarity just what the relationships between the different levels are.
We also get to see more how the different ships differ, from the traditions that still hold sway on Thousand Suns, to the way everyone on The Courage came together to arm their Hopper, to their requirements and focus on what they need to retrieve during Hops. It’s what makes Iro’s team so fascinating, because those differences and divisions are a threat, but they also work together (when not arguing…or being stubborn EMIL) in a way that shows what is possible. What would the Home Fleet be capable of if they call came together? Is it likely to happen, probably not, at least not yet. But we get to see the potential in microcosm. And the way the book ended suggests that this is about to split open.
Spire Climbers maintains the non-stop thrill ride elements of the first book, but completely raises the bar. The stakes are far more than simple survival, the universe is that much vaster than we’d seen in the first book, and the characters are on the precipice of events that have the potential to split everything wide open and change all the rules. Yes, I am impatient for more information on many of the revelations in this book, and answers to new questions, but the mystery is keeping me just as hooked as the characters and the world, and Hayes knows how to balance that with a compelling story. This was an absolute blast to read, and I’m already eagerly anticipating the next instalment and will most likely be revisiting this series before then, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
April 18, 2023
I really enjoyed the sequel to Titan Hoppers, it delves a bit more into the mysteries of the Titans, what they are, why they exist. Lots more question brought up that I look forward to hearing some answers about though. Iro and Emil are some great characters, and this book adds a couple other memorable ones with some very interesting aspects to them, different classes and their own struggles to be recognized. It seems Titan 02 is giving people some veeery different classes from what they've had in the past. I love that nobody wants to tell Iro what's going on with his crest.
Some good progression all around with the familiar and the new faces, all with unexpected kinks in their journey and branching off from what's typical. I really like the depth that is showing up in the crest system, with my one complaint being that learning an ability from another Hopper and having it imprinted into your crest seems... cheap I guess? I'm not sure how I would have liked for abilities to be handled, but just getting it straight from another Hopper and instantly being able to use it seemed a bit abrupt.
The book felt weirdly.. short? Like I didn't expect it to end when it did, I guess. It's a good 400+ pages, I think maybe the fast pace just had me blasting through it so it felt shorter than it was. Going to be hard waiting for the next one.
Some good progression all around with the familiar and the new faces, all with unexpected kinks in their journey and branching off from what's typical. I really like the depth that is showing up in the crest system, with my one complaint being that learning an ability from another Hopper and having it imprinted into your crest seems... cheap I guess? I'm not sure how I would have liked for abilities to be handled, but just getting it straight from another Hopper and instantly being able to use it seemed a bit abrupt.
The book felt weirdly.. short? Like I didn't expect it to end when it did, I guess. It's a good 400+ pages, I think maybe the fast pace just had me blasting through it so it felt shorter than it was. Going to be hard waiting for the next one.
April 15, 2023
First of all, thanks to Rob J. Hayes for the ARC. I had a blast reading this early.
I'll start with my only negative. Spire Climbers gave me action fatigue. I would have preferred more emphasis on atmosphere and mystery over so much action.
That being said, this was a delightful read. Rob was able to get me to love New characters, gain new perspective on previous characters, made me crave answers about the world, and made me laugh. I particularly enjoyed Toshiko. Her relationship with her canons was awesome.
I'll finish by giving a big recommendation for not only this series, but for the whole of this author's catalog. His writing is consistently excellent, and he deserves all the attention he's received thus far, and more.
I'll start with my only negative. Spire Climbers gave me action fatigue. I would have preferred more emphasis on atmosphere and mystery over so much action.
That being said, this was a delightful read. Rob was able to get me to love New characters, gain new perspective on previous characters, made me crave answers about the world, and made me laugh. I particularly enjoyed Toshiko. Her relationship with her canons was awesome.
I'll finish by giving a big recommendation for not only this series, but for the whole of this author's catalog. His writing is consistently excellent, and he deserves all the attention he's received thus far, and more.
April 27, 2024
I’m a big fan of Rob Hayes’ stuff, and even though the Mortal Techniques series is more ubiquitous, I actually think his Titan Hoppers books are his best work.
I suppose you could classify it as YA, but it’s more…coming of age, I think. Humanity has been forced to the stars, living like nomads in a fleet of ships, dependent upon a massive world ship - a Titan - which conveniently possesses all manner of resources to help them survive. It also houses monsters, but the origin of this took place so long ago, the members of the fleet don’t even remember there was an Earth, why there are monsters, or much of anything.
The Titan, or something aboard it, caused a certain percentage of the population to begin to manifest abilities along standard class lines - vanguard, berserker, corsair, paladin, mage, etc. The way in which Hayes integrates a tried and true trope into his wholly original story, in such a fun and unique magic system with such high stakes, is one of my favorite things about the first two entries into the series. It helps that every character is on their way to being fully realized, but I’d expect nothing less from his writing. He’s damned good.
So if you like sci fi, you like fantasy, you like progression fantasy (with a twist), and just a damned good time, you’ll enjoy the hell out of these.
Now where the hell is Book 3, Rob?! 😂
I suppose you could classify it as YA, but it’s more…coming of age, I think. Humanity has been forced to the stars, living like nomads in a fleet of ships, dependent upon a massive world ship - a Titan - which conveniently possesses all manner of resources to help them survive. It also houses monsters, but the origin of this took place so long ago, the members of the fleet don’t even remember there was an Earth, why there are monsters, or much of anything.
The Titan, or something aboard it, caused a certain percentage of the population to begin to manifest abilities along standard class lines - vanguard, berserker, corsair, paladin, mage, etc. The way in which Hayes integrates a tried and true trope into his wholly original story, in such a fun and unique magic system with such high stakes, is one of my favorite things about the first two entries into the series. It helps that every character is on their way to being fully realized, but I’d expect nothing less from his writing. He’s damned good.
So if you like sci fi, you like fantasy, you like progression fantasy (with a twist), and just a damned good time, you’ll enjoy the hell out of these.
Now where the hell is Book 3, Rob?! 😂
August 6, 2025
So uh, is it Alfyn or Alfvin?
April 30, 2023
Worth the wait
I’ve been waiting for this book, and I can honestly say it was worth it. The most important thing is the author gave us a brief synopsis at the beginning. So you forgot any of the major details from the previous book most of them are brought up again like most author should do when they have a lengthy series. Now onto the book. The MC still good the supporting cast grows and they are all likable characters. We get to learn a little bit more about the world they live in the action is great and you will come away with more questions. This is all good. The patient is fine. The length is good nothing to complain about here literally 5 stars.
Message to the author:
Be warned spoilers are below. I always write a note to the author for the books that I like. Here goes. I like the series I love this series, but I am a little concerned. We see this huge gap in power between opening of the first gate and the fifth gate. How is this going to be handled by? My character is going to become super characters, but then you see an even wider gap of power between these new black cloaks again how is this going to be handled? Exactly. Speaking of the black cloaks we learn a lot more about the universe and how backwards our particular group is, how little they know. This is concerning because somehow it feels like this gap Hass to be bridged. I don’t expect the members of the fleet to suddenly understand everything and behave like black cloaks, and understand what the world is truly like around them I shouldn’t say world i should say universe but how is this fleet going to truly begin to function rather than just exist. We see that there’s a difference and I think that gap is huge and I don’t know how you bridge that gap when you’ve put three distinct markers. Low ship, high ship, and then black cloak. Or in terms of power gate one gate five black cloak. Do you see the different gaps there? How are they going to be filled? How long is it going to take to fill these gaps with story you know in other words how many books are we going to have to read through before the MC gets to this level or before the fleet gets to this level. Are we going to have time jumps because I don’t know how these guys literally get to be so strong so fast without time having past years mind you not days weeks or months but decades that’s how long it’s supposed to take right? I mean my thought is they seem just a little too underpowered to exist here? Why wouldn’t they just be wiped out. We literally saw the other fleet was just capable of wiping them out, so why didn’t they. It made no sense. Why didn’t they destroy their pod first and then blow a hole in the dome. That would’ve killed the competition because all the gatherers all the people necessary to run the ships of the first fleet would’ve been dead. No need to fight their hoppers. All their workers are gone. This is me getting into the weeds but it’s what I was thinking. I’m just feeling that there are a few too many unanswered questions. It was great to see some of our questions answered at the end of this book but we’re almost getting to the point where there are too many things that we don’t understand and we need to. I see there’s potential to give us that great roller coaster ride but it’s not we’re never. I hope all that makes sense. I’m not rambling. I’m a huge fan of the series, but I just think we’ve been left with too many threads out there that haven’t been pinned down too many points of interest that we need to have explained, and once they are explained, they need to be put to good use.
I’ve been waiting for this book, and I can honestly say it was worth it. The most important thing is the author gave us a brief synopsis at the beginning. So you forgot any of the major details from the previous book most of them are brought up again like most author should do when they have a lengthy series. Now onto the book. The MC still good the supporting cast grows and they are all likable characters. We get to learn a little bit more about the world they live in the action is great and you will come away with more questions. This is all good. The patient is fine. The length is good nothing to complain about here literally 5 stars.
Message to the author:
Be warned spoilers are below. I always write a note to the author for the books that I like. Here goes. I like the series I love this series, but I am a little concerned. We see this huge gap in power between opening of the first gate and the fifth gate. How is this going to be handled by? My character is going to become super characters, but then you see an even wider gap of power between these new black cloaks again how is this going to be handled? Exactly. Speaking of the black cloaks we learn a lot more about the universe and how backwards our particular group is, how little they know. This is concerning because somehow it feels like this gap Hass to be bridged. I don’t expect the members of the fleet to suddenly understand everything and behave like black cloaks, and understand what the world is truly like around them I shouldn’t say world i should say universe but how is this fleet going to truly begin to function rather than just exist. We see that there’s a difference and I think that gap is huge and I don’t know how you bridge that gap when you’ve put three distinct markers. Low ship, high ship, and then black cloak. Or in terms of power gate one gate five black cloak. Do you see the different gaps there? How are they going to be filled? How long is it going to take to fill these gaps with story you know in other words how many books are we going to have to read through before the MC gets to this level or before the fleet gets to this level. Are we going to have time jumps because I don’t know how these guys literally get to be so strong so fast without time having past years mind you not days weeks or months but decades that’s how long it’s supposed to take right? I mean my thought is they seem just a little too underpowered to exist here? Why wouldn’t they just be wiped out. We literally saw the other fleet was just capable of wiping them out, so why didn’t they. It made no sense. Why didn’t they destroy their pod first and then blow a hole in the dome. That would’ve killed the competition because all the gatherers all the people necessary to run the ships of the first fleet would’ve been dead. No need to fight their hoppers. All their workers are gone. This is me getting into the weeds but it’s what I was thinking. I’m just feeling that there are a few too many unanswered questions. It was great to see some of our questions answered at the end of this book but we’re almost getting to the point where there are too many things that we don’t understand and we need to. I see there’s potential to give us that great roller coaster ride but it’s not we’re never. I hope all that makes sense. I’m not rambling. I’m a huge fan of the series, but I just think we’ve been left with too many threads out there that haven’t been pinned down too many points of interest that we need to have explained, and once they are explained, they need to be put to good use.
May 23, 2023
I received a copy of Spire Climbers shortly before it's release last month. This of course pushed me to get through book one Titan Hoppers last month allowing me to continue with the series here in May. I've now experience three different series if you include the standalones from Mortal Techniques and one thing I can depend on from Rob J. Hayes is some exciting, easily read books for entertainment.
The clearly already elude to the pacing of Spire Climbers from my introduction statement. I'm really clicking with the author's writing style from everything of his that I've read so far. As I wrapped this one up just this morning, I was thinking to myself just how book two had almost a not stop feeling of excitement to it. It wasn't always action, but even the parts between the action were always tense for one reason or another.
Even though I often feel the character development is stronger in the first book of a series, I almost feel it was even better in Spire Climbers. Not only do our main characters grow considerably in book two, but we also have several new characters that also seem to make leaps and bounds in this department. We certainly end up having some "heel" type of characters introduced early in this one but getting to understand them and watch their changes over time was great as well.
Finally the worldbuilding is very unique as well. Sure we are somewhere in the universe but the amount of detail and exploration we have on the home fleet ships and the titans are their own regions or worlds alone. AS we continue to find other factions or creatures we are also finding out there are different cultures out there as well. This is far beyond the different castes we are seeing among the home fleet.
Seeing as I just finished this a couple of hours ago this morning and things are so fresh in my mind, I just wanted to say I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment to Titan Hoppers. We have so many new things going on in the last 20% of the book that we need answers to still. Well done keeping this reader wanting more good sir!
I'd certainly recommend this book and series to any readers who happen to be a fan of the authors other works. This is definitely science fiction so if you typically lean toward the more fantastical type stories, I'd still urge you to give this a try. You me be surprised how well Rob seems to be able to transition between genres. His style seems to be ever present with only the settings truly changing in my mind.
The clearly already elude to the pacing of Spire Climbers from my introduction statement. I'm really clicking with the author's writing style from everything of his that I've read so far. As I wrapped this one up just this morning, I was thinking to myself just how book two had almost a not stop feeling of excitement to it. It wasn't always action, but even the parts between the action were always tense for one reason or another.
Even though I often feel the character development is stronger in the first book of a series, I almost feel it was even better in Spire Climbers. Not only do our main characters grow considerably in book two, but we also have several new characters that also seem to make leaps and bounds in this department. We certainly end up having some "heel" type of characters introduced early in this one but getting to understand them and watch their changes over time was great as well.
Finally the worldbuilding is very unique as well. Sure we are somewhere in the universe but the amount of detail and exploration we have on the home fleet ships and the titans are their own regions or worlds alone. AS we continue to find other factions or creatures we are also finding out there are different cultures out there as well. This is far beyond the different castes we are seeing among the home fleet.
Seeing as I just finished this a couple of hours ago this morning and things are so fresh in my mind, I just wanted to say I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment to Titan Hoppers. We have so many new things going on in the last 20% of the book that we need answers to still. Well done keeping this reader wanting more good sir!
I'd certainly recommend this book and series to any readers who happen to be a fan of the authors other works. This is definitely science fiction so if you typically lean toward the more fantastical type stories, I'd still urge you to give this a try. You me be surprised how well Rob seems to be able to transition between genres. His style seems to be ever present with only the settings truly changing in my mind.
June 30, 2023
SPIRE CLIMBERS - Rob J. Hayes
🚀Iro y Emil ya han conseguido abrir su Primera Puerta y son Hoppers de pleno derecho. Pero esto trae consigo obligaciones, como tener su propio equipo, y adentrarse en las profundidades del Titan 02. Con estas incursiones se formulan nuevas preguntas, aumentan sus poderes y se empieza a atisbar una respuesta a... ¿pero de qué demonios va todo esto?🚀
⚔️Os he hablado hasta la saciedad de Rob J. Hayes. Autor autopublicado, con unas 5 sagas, de más de 2 títulos cada una, que pueden ir desde ladrones a fantasía épica, pasando por samurais y ciencia ficción espacial. El secreto mejor guardado de los escritores autoeditados.⚔️
🔫Si la primera vez que os hablé de Rob J. Hayes y Titan Hoppers os conté lo enormemente entretenido que es, con Spire Climbers, tengo que darme la razón a mí mismo.🔫
🛸El worldbuilding del que os hablé empieza a expandirse. Lo que parecía un misterio (¿Quién ha puesto los Titanes? ¿De donde han salido las flotas? ¿Pero qué quieren los monstruos?) empieza a ser resuelto, pero para ello, hay más complejidad, un poco de politiqueo, y facciones escondidas.🛸
🏴☠️Los personajes son cada vez más divertidos, su trasfondo es explotado, y adquieren nuevos poderes, lo que les obliga a desarrollarse aun más. Hay una Mage con su Cañón de Energía con nombre propio, un Explorador con una maldición, y lo que viene siendo una tropa múltiple para entrar en un Dungeon de D&D.🏴☠️
🤖Y North. El robot explorador.🤖
🎲Escribir bien no es fácil. Entretener es aún más complicado. Y Rob J. Hayes es un maestro de ello.🎲
Algún día alguien editará a este señor y nos preguntaremos por qué hemos tardado tanto en tenerlo.
Valoración: 🤖🤖🤖🤖➗(4 Asimovs y medio)
🚀Iro y Emil ya han conseguido abrir su Primera Puerta y son Hoppers de pleno derecho. Pero esto trae consigo obligaciones, como tener su propio equipo, y adentrarse en las profundidades del Titan 02. Con estas incursiones se formulan nuevas preguntas, aumentan sus poderes y se empieza a atisbar una respuesta a... ¿pero de qué demonios va todo esto?🚀
⚔️Os he hablado hasta la saciedad de Rob J. Hayes. Autor autopublicado, con unas 5 sagas, de más de 2 títulos cada una, que pueden ir desde ladrones a fantasía épica, pasando por samurais y ciencia ficción espacial. El secreto mejor guardado de los escritores autoeditados.⚔️
🔫Si la primera vez que os hablé de Rob J. Hayes y Titan Hoppers os conté lo enormemente entretenido que es, con Spire Climbers, tengo que darme la razón a mí mismo.🔫
🛸El worldbuilding del que os hablé empieza a expandirse. Lo que parecía un misterio (¿Quién ha puesto los Titanes? ¿De donde han salido las flotas? ¿Pero qué quieren los monstruos?) empieza a ser resuelto, pero para ello, hay más complejidad, un poco de politiqueo, y facciones escondidas.🛸
🏴☠️Los personajes son cada vez más divertidos, su trasfondo es explotado, y adquieren nuevos poderes, lo que les obliga a desarrollarse aun más. Hay una Mage con su Cañón de Energía con nombre propio, un Explorador con una maldición, y lo que viene siendo una tropa múltiple para entrar en un Dungeon de D&D.🏴☠️
🤖Y North. El robot explorador.🤖
🎲Escribir bien no es fácil. Entretener es aún más complicado. Y Rob J. Hayes es un maestro de ello.🎲
Algún día alguien editará a este señor y nos preguntaremos por qué hemos tardado tanto en tenerlo.
Valoración: 🤖🤖🤖🤖➗(4 Asimovs y medio)
April 28, 2023
Good but not great
I just feel like not enough happened in the book.
It moved the story along but the constant allusions to the wider “world” of the series without more explanation was frustrating.
You should be confident enough to answer the questions and raise new ones.
It’s easy to connect the dots on some stuff. Obviously humanity is divided into factions with severe disparities in power and knowledge (made me think about how this exists today in the form of nation states), created the titans, then experienced some kind of diaspora/downfall. There’s at least a small group that is still if not “in control” then fully abreast of what actually happened that still live on the titans and far more powerful than hoppers. And they’re fighting some form of The Flood but with wires.
What doesn’t really follow is the concept of a “junker” fleet and feuding fleets competing for resources on a seemingly inexhaustible and vast titan. It seems like the only way that knowledge could be lost is if it was intentional - maybe from the top council. For ideological reasons or some such.
Putting that aside, we don’t learn why seemingly both Iro and Emil’s powers are different than standard for their classes. Emil and the new girl get more character development than Iro does. He doesn’t even visit his mom.
Overall I just feel like the book was too short and meant to give just enough to hold on for the next one.
I just feel like not enough happened in the book.
It moved the story along but the constant allusions to the wider “world” of the series without more explanation was frustrating.
You should be confident enough to answer the questions and raise new ones.
It’s easy to connect the dots on some stuff. Obviously humanity is divided into factions with severe disparities in power and knowledge (made me think about how this exists today in the form of nation states), created the titans, then experienced some kind of diaspora/downfall. There’s at least a small group that is still if not “in control” then fully abreast of what actually happened that still live on the titans and far more powerful than hoppers. And they’re fighting some form of The Flood but with wires.
What doesn’t really follow is the concept of a “junker” fleet and feuding fleets competing for resources on a seemingly inexhaustible and vast titan. It seems like the only way that knowledge could be lost is if it was intentional - maybe from the top council. For ideological reasons or some such.
Putting that aside, we don’t learn why seemingly both Iro and Emil’s powers are different than standard for their classes. Emil and the new girl get more character development than Iro does. He doesn’t even visit his mom.
Overall I just feel like the book was too short and meant to give just enough to hold on for the next one.
September 20, 2023
This was a significant improvement on the first book, which would have been near perfect if not for some technical issues that bogged down its reading and a heavy focus on characters over progression. While there was still a significant character focus in this book, it felt like the groundwork for the system was mostly already laid, and now we get to see the characters really move forward.
That said, while I feel like there are some promising advancements and growth in this series future, the sheer volume of doom and gloom is starting to get to me. Everything is always going wrong for Iro and friends, and he’s always just getting by with the last shred of his power or the last remaining second on the clock (when things don’t just fail utterly regardless). Setbacks are great for personal growth, but the constant frustration Iro feels from not being able to actually do anything significant started to wear on me as well. It’s a minor irritation, and one that won’t stop me from reading further, but felt worth mentioning.
As always, the characters really make this story though. Several times I found myself getting so frustrated on behalf of the characters, angry that they weren’t succeeding, and it’s a rare book that really makes me care so much about someone who exists merely on paper. Top marks to Hayes for accomplishing that.
That said, while I feel like there are some promising advancements and growth in this series future, the sheer volume of doom and gloom is starting to get to me. Everything is always going wrong for Iro and friends, and he’s always just getting by with the last shred of his power or the last remaining second on the clock (when things don’t just fail utterly regardless). Setbacks are great for personal growth, but the constant frustration Iro feels from not being able to actually do anything significant started to wear on me as well. It’s a minor irritation, and one that won’t stop me from reading further, but felt worth mentioning.
As always, the characters really make this story though. Several times I found myself getting so frustrated on behalf of the characters, angry that they weren’t succeeding, and it’s a rare book that really makes me care so much about someone who exists merely on paper. Top marks to Hayes for accomplishing that.
November 11, 2025
Orphans of the Sky meets a class-based TTRPG.
A starship-borne society subsists by scavenging from Titans, giant interstellar ships with very active internal defenses. This scavenging is the province of "Hoppers", people with magical (?) powers defined by their classes and levels. And while this society has maintained itself for longer than anyone can remember, it is beginning to look like the system is breaking down.
To complicate this, there are at least two separate groups of Hoppers, from different fleets of ships, who are competing for the available resources. And the competition is not peaceful.
The characters here are drawn well. The book focuses on four young Hoppers with idiosyncratic powers, who are not the favorites of the powers that be. In the course of facing their challenges, we see strong character development.
While the instant plot covers the exploits of these characters, there are hints of a deeper plot and a much more complex background: why are these people traveling in a "ragtag fugitive fleet"? The only significant problem I have with the series is that there has not been enough of that backstory revealed so far.
This series is quirky, and not at all the sort of thing that I would have bought solely on a backcover blurb. But it's innovative and engaging enough that I plan to continue to the next book. Recommended.
A starship-borne society subsists by scavenging from Titans, giant interstellar ships with very active internal defenses. This scavenging is the province of "Hoppers", people with magical (?) powers defined by their classes and levels. And while this society has maintained itself for longer than anyone can remember, it is beginning to look like the system is breaking down.
To complicate this, there are at least two separate groups of Hoppers, from different fleets of ships, who are competing for the available resources. And the competition is not peaceful.
The characters here are drawn well. The book focuses on four young Hoppers with idiosyncratic powers, who are not the favorites of the powers that be. In the course of facing their challenges, we see strong character development.
While the instant plot covers the exploits of these characters, there are hints of a deeper plot and a much more complex background: why are these people traveling in a "ragtag fugitive fleet"? The only significant problem I have with the series is that there has not been enough of that backstory revealed so far.
This series is quirky, and not at all the sort of thing that I would have bought solely on a backcover blurb. But it's innovative and engaging enough that I plan to continue to the next book. Recommended.
May 7, 2024
Why I picked this up: It's Rob J. Hayes—author extraordinaire, slayer of pages and captain of the indie army. I read the previous book in the series and enjoyed it.
Genre: Progression/sci-fantasy.
Tone: Upbeat.
Plot: Collect the stuff to save the thing, then it all goes wrong.
Pacing: This book moves. Thumbs up. It's not bogged down by excessive info-dumps typical of LitRPG/progression fantasy.
Prose: 3rd person multi-POV. Easy to read, but passive past-tense prose and filter words prevented full immersion when reading. The action feels tighter than most LitRPG. I think Rob's strongest writing is with The War Eternal series.
World: The already interesting world of space-scavengers expands with revelations and new questions.
Characters: Each character is unique and vibrant. The strengthening duality between 2 of the main characters is intriguing.
Conflict: Monsters, the environment, warring factions, a caste system, personality clashes, and mecha-maggot space-zombies; more conflict than you can wave a laser-sword at.
Overall enjoyment: A great continuation of the series. As far as LitRPG/progression goes, this is short, sharp, and sweet; but suffers from the prose typical of the genre.
Genre: Progression/sci-fantasy.
Tone: Upbeat.
Plot: Collect the stuff to save the thing, then it all goes wrong.
Pacing: This book moves. Thumbs up. It's not bogged down by excessive info-dumps typical of LitRPG/progression fantasy.
Prose: 3rd person multi-POV. Easy to read, but passive past-tense prose and filter words prevented full immersion when reading. The action feels tighter than most LitRPG. I think Rob's strongest writing is with The War Eternal series.
World: The already interesting world of space-scavengers expands with revelations and new questions.
Characters: Each character is unique and vibrant. The strengthening duality between 2 of the main characters is intriguing.
Conflict: Monsters, the environment, warring factions, a caste system, personality clashes, and mecha-maggot space-zombies; more conflict than you can wave a laser-sword at.
Overall enjoyment: A great continuation of the series. As far as LitRPG/progression goes, this is short, sharp, and sweet; but suffers from the prose typical of the genre.
February 4, 2025
Rough draft...
I don't really want to spend more time on the critique here than the author seemed to take in polishing this piece. It reads through the middle like flow of conscious thought or a google translate from another language. Lots of shuffled run on sentences with words in the wrong places.
Cannot even get into serious flaws in characters and plausibility. Same problem as first book of people just more or less ceasing to exist in a descriptive moment because author wants a harshness to exist. But people ALWAYS react to things, so with every situation that is in front of a group that couldn't possibly not react to something being done, well, they pretty much are forgotten from the scene. Because reasons. In the first book it is where Mia and Cali are assaulting Iro in front of the master in ways that would harm the ships supplies and their equipment, to say nothing of someone's wellbeing.
A story that could get somewhere, but pace and polish are quite poor. To say nothing of the composition soup just in general basics of sentence writing and spelling...
I don't really want to spend more time on the critique here than the author seemed to take in polishing this piece. It reads through the middle like flow of conscious thought or a google translate from another language. Lots of shuffled run on sentences with words in the wrong places.
Cannot even get into serious flaws in characters and plausibility. Same problem as first book of people just more or less ceasing to exist in a descriptive moment because author wants a harshness to exist. But people ALWAYS react to things, so with every situation that is in front of a group that couldn't possibly not react to something being done, well, they pretty much are forgotten from the scene. Because reasons. In the first book it is where Mia and Cali are assaulting Iro in front of the master in ways that would harm the ships supplies and their equipment, to say nothing of someone's wellbeing.
A story that could get somewhere, but pace and polish are quite poor. To say nothing of the composition soup just in general basics of sentence writing and spelling...
June 26, 2023
I liked a lot of parts of this book, but on multiple occasions it hit one of my biggest plot peeves: stupidity-driven plotting. Things happen strictly because the characters are making stupid decisions. I appreciate that that's reflective of real life, but I have little to no desire to read about it.
There was a moment about 80% through involving a choice that Emil makes that was strictly NOT a dumb choice and it was one of the moments that made me drop my jaw. So there were definitely good parts.
One thing I wanted to see more of was they encounter some Hoppers with different abilities, and I expected them to discuss it. Or even wonder about it internally, but it glossed over the point. I wanted more discussion in general about the new technologies they're encountering.
I'll read book 3 when it comes out, because I do want to find out what happens next.
There was a moment about 80% through involving a choice that Emil makes that was strictly NOT a dumb choice and it was one of the moments that made me drop my jaw. So there were definitely good parts.
One thing I wanted to see more of was they encounter some Hoppers with different abilities, and I expected them to discuss it. Or even wonder about it internally, but it glossed over the point. I wanted more discussion in general about the new technologies they're encountering.
I'll read book 3 when it comes out, because I do want to find out what happens next.
November 25, 2024
This is the second book in the titan hoppers series. While I found the first boom to be ok and mostly tobe a seen setting book for thes series, I really liked this second one. The characters have been upped to have more to them and also less predictable.
There is more made of the mystery of why the titan ships and monsters are there. Plus, the author is playing more on the class issues.
Dont get me wrong, this isn't a cererberial book, but that's OK! It's a good action sci-fi romp with some skill level levelling.
The levelling theme seems to have become quite common in the rpg sci-fi genre. imho, it has been to the detrimental of some of the other books I've read where they basically describe a computer game in a book. But it's not an issue here.
Overall, it is an enjoyable book with some fun characters.
There is more made of the mystery of why the titan ships and monsters are there. Plus, the author is playing more on the class issues.
Dont get me wrong, this isn't a cererberial book, but that's OK! It's a good action sci-fi romp with some skill level levelling.
The levelling theme seems to have become quite common in the rpg sci-fi genre. imho, it has been to the detrimental of some of the other books I've read where they basically describe a computer game in a book. But it's not an issue here.
Overall, it is an enjoyable book with some fun characters.
October 24, 2025
pretty good boook with one really annoying character
Let’s get right to the point. Emil is an annoying baby. The author uses a toxic family background, underprivileged environment and strong ambition to write a co main character who is allowed to get away with insubordination in a wartime environment. It’s compounded by self righteousness that, while justified, gets grating after a while.
I also have a minor grievance with the main character, he allows some people to step on him but goes on a rampage when encountering sommeone who has kidnapped someone who has treated him poorly in the past.
I would have rated it higher if not for these complaints everything else was done pretty well. The setting is imaginative, the writing good, characterization memorable and the system interesting.
I’ll continue reading and hope the characters grow.
Let’s get right to the point. Emil is an annoying baby. The author uses a toxic family background, underprivileged environment and strong ambition to write a co main character who is allowed to get away with insubordination in a wartime environment. It’s compounded by self righteousness that, while justified, gets grating after a while.
I also have a minor grievance with the main character, he allows some people to step on him but goes on a rampage when encountering sommeone who has kidnapped someone who has treated him poorly in the past.
I would have rated it higher if not for these complaints everything else was done pretty well. The setting is imaginative, the writing good, characterization memorable and the system interesting.
I’ll continue reading and hope the characters grow.
April 26, 2023
A solid entry, but it leaves me wanting more
This is a good second entry for the series, we get power progression for our main characters. We get to meet some new ones as well, and there are some very cool fight scenes throughout. We also get more background lore on the titans, a bit on the other fleets, and how things currently stand. Where it leaves me wanting more is in that same area. We get just enough to tease us and be intrigued, but not enough to really satisfy my curiosity. I’m sure the author plans to expand in book 3 some more, but it’s a little frustrating. There are also some entires here that really tickled my curiosity. But to avoid spoilers I won’t go into them here. Hopefully book 3 answers some of my questions.
This is a good second entry for the series, we get power progression for our main characters. We get to meet some new ones as well, and there are some very cool fight scenes throughout. We also get more background lore on the titans, a bit on the other fleets, and how things currently stand. Where it leaves me wanting more is in that same area. We get just enough to tease us and be intrigued, but not enough to really satisfy my curiosity. I’m sure the author plans to expand in book 3 some more, but it’s a little frustrating. There are also some entires here that really tickled my curiosity. But to avoid spoilers I won’t go into them here. Hopefully book 3 answers some of my questions.
April 21, 2024
Armored space dungeon divers
Man, I've never felt this bad for characters in a fantasy novel like this before but there's a first for everything! This book is a strange combination of action, suspense, and tragedy wrapped up in a depressing sense of foreboding doom. Overall this is a satisfying follow up with great character growth, satisfying world building, and a looming future threat that will keep you coming back for its conclusion. Good read.
Man, I've never felt this bad for characters in a fantasy novel like this before but there's a first for everything! This book is a strange combination of action, suspense, and tragedy wrapped up in a depressing sense of foreboding doom. Overall this is a satisfying follow up with great character growth, satisfying world building, and a looming future threat that will keep you coming back for its conclusion. Good read.
May 26, 2023
An excellent sequel to Titan Hoppers with the added bonus of some fantastic new characters.
I'm a fan of the "misfit crew" trope when done well and Rob Hayes never fails to deliver with this. (in fact Rob Hayes has never once failed me with any of his books).
Some may look at this book and pass over it as YA but don't, it has an appeal for all ages (even a 57 year old like myself).
I'm a fan of the "misfit crew" trope when done well and Rob Hayes never fails to deliver with this. (in fact Rob Hayes has never once failed me with any of his books).
Some may look at this book and pass over it as YA but don't, it has an appeal for all ages (even a 57 year old like myself).
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