What do you think?
Rate this book
Dead Six #2
Swords of Exodus
ORIGINAL MASS MARKET. Sequel to thriller Dead Six. From the author of the New York Times bestselling Monster Hunter series and an Air Force weapons expert, an edge-of-your-seat military-political thriller. A master thief and a hardhitting mercenary team up to defeat a Central Asian warlord with world-wide destruction on his mind.The hard-hitting sequel to groundbreaking military adventure Dead Six.On the far side of the world, deep in former Soviet Central Asia, lies a stronghold called the Crossroads. It is run with an iron fist by a brutal warlord calling himself Sala Jihan. He is far more than a petty dictator, for Jihan holds the fate of nations in his grasp. To save a world slipping into chaos, Jihan must either fall or be controlled.One secret military organization called Exodus plans to see that this happens. For this mission, they need the best of the best. Unfortunately the man they need is rotting in an almost unassailable foreign prison.Enter Lorenzo, thief extraordinaire. Lorenzo is now retired, happily married and living in paradise. His Achilles an FBI-agent brother who has gone missing—disappeared into the stronghold of warlord Jihan. Exodus promises to give Lorenzo his chance to rescue his brother if and only if Lorenzo will perform one service for break Michael Valentine out of a captivity from which no one has ever emerged alive.And if Lorenzo can accomplish that—well then, the Crossroads awaits the sword of Exodus.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).Larry Correia is the New York Times best-selling creator of the Monster Hunter contemporary fantasy noir series, as well as breakout urban fantasy series the Grimnoir Chronicles. Correia is an award-winning competitive shooter, a movie-prop-gun master and an accountant by day – but an urban noir adventure master by night. He is very bald and lives in Utah.An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician in the US Air Force, Mike Kupari also served six years in the Army National Guard. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and enlisted at the age of seventeen. He has worked as a security contractor with several firms, did a tour in Southwest Asia with a private military company, and is an NRA certified firearms instructor. Mike is recently returned from active duty overseas with the U.S. Air Force.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2013
39 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Larry Correia
121 books4,401 followersLarry Correia (born 1977) is the New York Times bestselling author of the Monster Hunter International series, the Grimnoir Chronicles, and the thriller Dead Six.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 11, 2016
Some days I just need to read fluff. By fluff I mean testerone fueled, gun porn filled, action packed, kicking ass and not taking names because they're too damn busy kicking ass. In these cases one must turn to Correia. He never lets me down on these.
February 27, 2014
This is a tough review for me... At this point, I'm assuming you're here because you've already read Dead Six, so just assume spoilers for that book lie ahead.
D6, the prequel to SoE, had an advantage over this book due mainly to its format. The two protagonists of that book, Lorenzo and Valentine, had a complicated, adversarial relationship, that made that book work. The way they kept getting in each other's way provided a lot of drama and irony and it just worked.
In SoE, the relationship has changed... somewhat in that Val and Lorenzo, even when they are busy not getting along, aren't at cross purposes. The first part of this story basically revolves around freeing Valentine after he was captured at the end of D6. Stuff has happened to him in the six months between stories, and this story bogs down trying to get Val squared away again. Lorenzo's point of view is much more engaging this time around than Val's... some of that is understandable, but Val basically doesn't see any extended action until page 457 (not good in a 600-ish page book). I felt myself completely disengaged from him for about 2/3 of the book.
So in recap... first 150 pages of book are pretty decent. Next three hundred bog down quite a bit. Several instances of prolonged "telling" in these pages definitely contributed to the pacing issues. Especially when all that "telling" ended up being "shown" later. Speaking of later, the last 150 or so pages were more of what I expect from these authors. Good stuff... and certainly priming the pump for the next book. Looking forward to that one.
So give this one a 3.44 star, for rounding purposes.
D6, the prequel to SoE, had an advantage over this book due mainly to its format. The two protagonists of that book, Lorenzo and Valentine, had a complicated, adversarial relationship, that made that book work. The way they kept getting in each other's way provided a lot of drama and irony and it just worked.
In SoE, the relationship has changed... somewhat in that Val and Lorenzo, even when they are busy not getting along, aren't at cross purposes. The first part of this story basically revolves around freeing Valentine after he was captured at the end of D6. Stuff has happened to him in the six months between stories, and this story bogs down trying to get Val squared away again. Lorenzo's point of view is much more engaging this time around than Val's... some of that is understandable, but Val basically doesn't see any extended action until page 457 (not good in a 600-ish page book). I felt myself completely disengaged from him for about 2/3 of the book.
So in recap... first 150 pages of book are pretty decent. Next three hundred bog down quite a bit. Several instances of prolonged "telling" in these pages definitely contributed to the pacing issues. Especially when all that "telling" ended up being "shown" later. Speaking of later, the last 150 or so pages were more of what I expect from these authors. Good stuff... and certainly priming the pump for the next book. Looking forward to that one.
So give this one a 3.44 star, for rounding purposes.
November 4, 2014
"Swords of Exodus" is the follow-up to "Dead Six," the second book of a planned trilogy.
This novel spends a bit of time hopping geographies, before landing at "The Crossroads" -- the lawless intersection of Russia, and China, and a couple other regions. Various threads from the previous Dead Six novel continue here, though most of the book is focused on two plots. In the first, Exodus is seeking Valentine's help to overthrow Sala Jihan, the ruthless warlord running the Crossroads. In the second, Lorenzo attempts to retrieve his foster brother, now a disgraced FBI agent, with the help of the heirs to Big Eddie's organization (Big Eddie having died in the climax of the first novel).
The first book in this series was, to the best of my knowledge, Mike Kupari's first. Both lead characters are clearly written and clearly distinguished from one another. Unlike other attempts at multiple PoV (such as the third book in the Divergent series), this one serves as far more than a gimmick.
Correia normally writes excellent villains; what makes them interesting is the back story provided. Here, though, things fall short; Jihan is fascinating (and the one scene where a protagonist meets him is creepy), but there's no background provided.
Kupari's character (Valentine) is terse and straightforward, which makes his chapters easy to read if somewhat uncolored. Correia continues to have a good time writing Lorenzo, whose one-liners are the source of a great deal of amusement.
I'm looking forward to the third installment.
This novel spends a bit of time hopping geographies, before landing at "The Crossroads" -- the lawless intersection of Russia, and China, and a couple other regions. Various threads from the previous Dead Six novel continue here, though most of the book is focused on two plots. In the first, Exodus is seeking Valentine's help to overthrow Sala Jihan, the ruthless warlord running the Crossroads. In the second, Lorenzo attempts to retrieve his foster brother, now a disgraced FBI agent, with the help of the heirs to Big Eddie's organization (Big Eddie having died in the climax of the first novel).
The first book in this series was, to the best of my knowledge, Mike Kupari's first. Both lead characters are clearly written and clearly distinguished from one another. Unlike other attempts at multiple PoV (such as the third book in the Divergent series), this one serves as far more than a gimmick.
Correia normally writes excellent villains; what makes them interesting is the back story provided. Here, though, things fall short; Jihan is fascinating (and the one scene where a protagonist meets him is creepy), but there's no background provided.
Kupari's character (Valentine) is terse and straightforward, which makes his chapters easy to read if somewhat uncolored. Correia continues to have a good time writing Lorenzo, whose one-liners are the source of a great deal of amusement.
I'm looking forward to the third installment.
February 27, 2014
OK, enough is enough!
I know that the authors want to maintain some mystery, but after reading a book and a half of hints at a deeper story, and characters claiming that what they were doing was stupid, but orders, were orders, I was hoping for some actual payback.
There are hints of a cthulhu-like mythos, psychic powers and a mysterious supernatural incident in the past of one of the protagonists, but none of this is expanded upon or explained...
The final straw for me was when one of the bad guys declares that he is going to explain one of the mysteries to a character, this prompts a chapter break, further implying that a revelation of sorts is about to happen.
Next chapter we (obviously) skip to another character's perspective for a few pages (presumably to further fuck with the readers expectations) and then finally we get back to the much needed explanation...
Well guess what? After explaining some crappy minor stuff, the "explainer" changes his mind mid sentence and just clams up. The protagonist just shrugs his shoulders and excepts this, While I screamed impotently in my darkened room.
So goodbye shitty book!
I know that the authors want to maintain some mystery, but after reading a book and a half of hints at a deeper story, and characters claiming that what they were doing was stupid, but orders, were orders, I was hoping for some actual payback.
There are hints of a cthulhu-like mythos, psychic powers and a mysterious supernatural incident in the past of one of the protagonists, but none of this is expanded upon or explained...
The final straw for me was when one of the bad guys declares that he is going to explain one of the mysteries to a character, this prompts a chapter break, further implying that a revelation of sorts is about to happen.
Next chapter we (obviously) skip to another character's perspective for a few pages (presumably to further fuck with the readers expectations) and then finally we get back to the much needed explanation...
Well guess what? After explaining some crappy minor stuff, the "explainer" changes his mind mid sentence and just clams up. The protagonist just shrugs his shoulders and excepts this, While I screamed impotently in my darkened room.
So goodbye shitty book!
October 23, 2013
Been a long time! Miss me? Of course you did, what a stupid question. Well a new Larry Correia book is out and you couldn't expect me to pass up an opportunity to read/review it now could you? Another stupid question - I'm Correia's biggest fan. But, of all Larry's books DEAD SIX has probably been the one I've liked the least. That's not to say that DEAD SIX is a bad book, but I didn't consider it up to Larry's standards. It was fun and action-packed but the writing was a little rough around the edges, the collaboration between Correia and Kupari wasn't seamless, I wasn't sold on the characters, and I couldn't find any merit in either of the romantic relationships. That said, I wasn't discounting the series as the second half of the novel runs a whole lot smoother than the first. I'm quite pleased to say that SWORDS OF EXODUS by Larry Correia and Mike Kupari is infinitely better.
If you haven't read DEAD SIX the following description could be considered spoilerish. Please skip the italicized portion if this is the case.
As DEAD SIX closes Michael Valentine has been captured by the US black ops group only known as Majestic. The paramilitary force known as the Swords of Exodus want Valentine - they know the location of the secret base where he is being held but they need an expert thief to help them break in.
Lorenzo is enjoying a hard-earned retirement on a personally owned island with his girlfriend. He has left behind a life of crime and violence for love. But then Exodus comes knocking at his door with bad news. Lorenzo's brother has been kidnapped. Exodus is willing to help find him, but in return Lorenzo must free Valentine from the clutches of Majestic.
Meanwhile, deep in former Soviet Central Asia, a warlord has risen in the power vacuum left by Big Eddie's death. In a lawless international town known as the Crossroads weapons, drugs, and slaves are trafficked under the warlord's watchful gaze. Exodus has marked the tyrant for death but assaulting such a stronghold will not be easy and soon Valentine and Lorenzo will find themselves in far deeper than ever before.
I wasn't sold on Valentine or Lorenzo after finishing DEAD SIX. I didn't like the relationships that either character entered into or how those relationships progressed. I'm a stickler for romance as you may have noticed by now. If it's going to be done then it needs to be done well - and I just did not see that happening in the first book. I also couldn't help but grimace at the number of coincidences that had Valentine and Lorenzo bumping into each other early on in the novel. I understood the purpose and I was a fan of the concept - two diametrically opposed anti-heroes continually antagonizing each other - but after a while I found that the excuse of "coincidence wore thin."
SWORDS OF EXODUS manages to improve on both of these aspects. If you read the first book then you know what happens with Valentine's love interest. I find that this coupled with the torture he suffers at the hands of Majestic interrogation make Valentine a much more interesting character. He is a much harder man this time around and it lends credence to the mercenary personality. Another love interest pops up (to my dismay) but this one is played more subtle and slowly. It's far more complicated and that is much easier to swallow. I'm still not sold on Lorenzo's relationship but I do appreciate that it grounds him and gives him a vulnerability that he would otherwise be lacking. It's also worth nothing that the duo work better when they're on the same side, attacking a problem from different directions and with different modus operandi. The antagonism is still there (it takes no effort to believe that these two dudes dislike each other) but the plot doesn't rely on coincidence to connect their individual threads.
"If there were pots of gold at the end of rainbows, I can only assume that you'd have a lot of gold and there'd be a lot of murdered leprechauns buried in Ireland."
One of the cool things about SWORDS OF EXODUS is that our two reluctant heroes are forced to work alongside some less than scrupulous characters in order to further their goals. Anders makes an appearance and I was almost able to forget all the horrible things he did in DEAD SIX. Almost. Then there's Katarina, a truly terrifying she-devil that makes Lorenzo look like a box of kittens. Reaper is back of course, and we meet some fanatics from Exodus. As far as Correia villains go Sala Jihan, the Pale Man, leaves a little to be desired. He remains a mysterious character throughout all of SWORDS OF EXODUS and so his motivation is never really touched upon. In a way this shroud of secrecy makes Jihan even more sinister, but it's unlikely he'll (yet) be remembered as one of the top picks from Larry's rogues gallery.
The Crossroads is an extremely cool setting. It's like the Wild West - if the Wild West were set in the unforgiving mountains on the border of Russia and China. It's the sort of place where someone can be gunned down on the street and no one would bother to look twice. It's dangerous and exotic and it fits Valentine and Lorenzo like a glove. Much of the novel takes place here, though there are brief stints in the United States and a short tour of Exodus's base of operations.
Exodus is fleshed out much more this time around (as befits the title) though there are a number of mysteries surrounding the organization for the next book to explore. The same goes for Valentine, Majestic, Project Blue, and even Sala Jihan. I will say that my biggest problem of the novel might be how little is revealed in the end. There are a lot of secrets floating around and it feels as though very few of them are exposed during SWORDS OF EXODUS. It's the secrets tied to Sala Jihan that left me pondering the novel long after I finished reading it. Without saying too much it seems as though there might be some supernatural elements surrounding the Pale Man, and though this could easily be contributed to PSYOPS it still has me wondering what direction the third novel in the series will take.
SWORDS OF EXODUS is a bit of a slow burner compared to DEAD SIX but I'd hesitate to call this a bad thing. Correia and Kupari set up an epic final assault that is well worth the price of admission alone. Once again it is clear that these two authors write what they know and the action is as crisp and clear as has come to be expected. In a recent article it was suggested that Larry Correia is eligible to be one of several possible successors to the late great Tom Clancy. It's not just the action that proves this, but also the eye for technical detail, politics, and conspiracy. I'd like to add that if Correia is a potential successor than Mike Kupari certainly deserves to be credited as well. That problem I had with the collaboration in the first book? It's non-existent in SWORDS OF EXODUS. It would be difficult to find where Larry's writing stops and where Mike's starts. It is a seamless product and I commend the two for making it so. And you know what? If we're lucky the third book in the series might be Correia and Kupari's equivalent of Clancy's RED STORM RISING, what I consider to be the single best techno-thriller, military fiction book ever written.
Recommended Age: 16+
Violence: If Larry ever writes a non-violent book I'll be sure to warn you.
Profanity: A good amount.
Sex: One particularly suggestive scene but nothing explicit.
Nick Sharps
Elitist Book Reviews
If you haven't read DEAD SIX the following description could be considered spoilerish. Please skip the italicized portion if this is the case.
As DEAD SIX closes Michael Valentine has been captured by the US black ops group only known as Majestic. The paramilitary force known as the Swords of Exodus want Valentine - they know the location of the secret base where he is being held but they need an expert thief to help them break in.
Lorenzo is enjoying a hard-earned retirement on a personally owned island with his girlfriend. He has left behind a life of crime and violence for love. But then Exodus comes knocking at his door with bad news. Lorenzo's brother has been kidnapped. Exodus is willing to help find him, but in return Lorenzo must free Valentine from the clutches of Majestic.
Meanwhile, deep in former Soviet Central Asia, a warlord has risen in the power vacuum left by Big Eddie's death. In a lawless international town known as the Crossroads weapons, drugs, and slaves are trafficked under the warlord's watchful gaze. Exodus has marked the tyrant for death but assaulting such a stronghold will not be easy and soon Valentine and Lorenzo will find themselves in far deeper than ever before.
I wasn't sold on Valentine or Lorenzo after finishing DEAD SIX. I didn't like the relationships that either character entered into or how those relationships progressed. I'm a stickler for romance as you may have noticed by now. If it's going to be done then it needs to be done well - and I just did not see that happening in the first book. I also couldn't help but grimace at the number of coincidences that had Valentine and Lorenzo bumping into each other early on in the novel. I understood the purpose and I was a fan of the concept - two diametrically opposed anti-heroes continually antagonizing each other - but after a while I found that the excuse of "coincidence wore thin."
SWORDS OF EXODUS manages to improve on both of these aspects. If you read the first book then you know what happens with Valentine's love interest. I find that this coupled with the torture he suffers at the hands of Majestic interrogation make Valentine a much more interesting character. He is a much harder man this time around and it lends credence to the mercenary personality. Another love interest pops up (to my dismay) but this one is played more subtle and slowly. It's far more complicated and that is much easier to swallow. I'm still not sold on Lorenzo's relationship but I do appreciate that it grounds him and gives him a vulnerability that he would otherwise be lacking. It's also worth nothing that the duo work better when they're on the same side, attacking a problem from different directions and with different modus operandi. The antagonism is still there (it takes no effort to believe that these two dudes dislike each other) but the plot doesn't rely on coincidence to connect their individual threads.
"If there were pots of gold at the end of rainbows, I can only assume that you'd have a lot of gold and there'd be a lot of murdered leprechauns buried in Ireland."
One of the cool things about SWORDS OF EXODUS is that our two reluctant heroes are forced to work alongside some less than scrupulous characters in order to further their goals. Anders makes an appearance and I was almost able to forget all the horrible things he did in DEAD SIX. Almost. Then there's Katarina, a truly terrifying she-devil that makes Lorenzo look like a box of kittens. Reaper is back of course, and we meet some fanatics from Exodus. As far as Correia villains go Sala Jihan, the Pale Man, leaves a little to be desired. He remains a mysterious character throughout all of SWORDS OF EXODUS and so his motivation is never really touched upon. In a way this shroud of secrecy makes Jihan even more sinister, but it's unlikely he'll (yet) be remembered as one of the top picks from Larry's rogues gallery.
The Crossroads is an extremely cool setting. It's like the Wild West - if the Wild West were set in the unforgiving mountains on the border of Russia and China. It's the sort of place where someone can be gunned down on the street and no one would bother to look twice. It's dangerous and exotic and it fits Valentine and Lorenzo like a glove. Much of the novel takes place here, though there are brief stints in the United States and a short tour of Exodus's base of operations.
Exodus is fleshed out much more this time around (as befits the title) though there are a number of mysteries surrounding the organization for the next book to explore. The same goes for Valentine, Majestic, Project Blue, and even Sala Jihan. I will say that my biggest problem of the novel might be how little is revealed in the end. There are a lot of secrets floating around and it feels as though very few of them are exposed during SWORDS OF EXODUS. It's the secrets tied to Sala Jihan that left me pondering the novel long after I finished reading it. Without saying too much it seems as though there might be some supernatural elements surrounding the Pale Man, and though this could easily be contributed to PSYOPS it still has me wondering what direction the third novel in the series will take.
SWORDS OF EXODUS is a bit of a slow burner compared to DEAD SIX but I'd hesitate to call this a bad thing. Correia and Kupari set up an epic final assault that is well worth the price of admission alone. Once again it is clear that these two authors write what they know and the action is as crisp and clear as has come to be expected. In a recent article it was suggested that Larry Correia is eligible to be one of several possible successors to the late great Tom Clancy. It's not just the action that proves this, but also the eye for technical detail, politics, and conspiracy. I'd like to add that if Correia is a potential successor than Mike Kupari certainly deserves to be credited as well. That problem I had with the collaboration in the first book? It's non-existent in SWORDS OF EXODUS. It would be difficult to find where Larry's writing stops and where Mike's starts. It is a seamless product and I commend the two for making it so. And you know what? If we're lucky the third book in the series might be Correia and Kupari's equivalent of Clancy's RED STORM RISING, what I consider to be the single best techno-thriller, military fiction book ever written.
Recommended Age: 16+
Violence: If Larry ever writes a non-violent book I'll be sure to warn you.
Profanity: A good amount.
Sex: One particularly suggestive scene but nothing explicit.
Nick Sharps
Elitist Book Reviews
March 12, 2020
Lorenzo is done. With Jill at his side and an Island paradise at his disposal he is happy to retire and just let the world do what it needs to do. But, Reaper is getting bored, and there are forces at work work who just won't leave him alone. When Exodus operative Ling, decides they need his help, Lorenzo is quick to say no. But, when she provides him with a note from his brother, who she explains was kidnapped. The Former FBI Agent had tracked Majestic to the Cross Roads, a "hive of Villainy and scum where the worlds worst criminal organizations congregate.
Informed that infamous criminal Sala Jihan, AKA The Pale Man, his holding him prisoner, Lorenzo agrees to help, but before go after the warlord, they must first break Valentine out of a Majestic Black Site, where they are running strange experiments on him.
I am really enjoying this series. Larry has a way with making the characters feel mortal even as they do things that are exceptional. His story craft is strong, and his writing skill is only getting better.
Informed that infamous criminal Sala Jihan, AKA The Pale Man, his holding him prisoner, Lorenzo agrees to help, but before go after the warlord, they must first break Valentine out of a Majestic Black Site, where they are running strange experiments on him.
I am really enjoying this series. Larry has a way with making the characters feel mortal even as they do things that are exceptional. His story craft is strong, and his writing skill is only getting better.
September 22, 2018
While not a big fan of military fiction, I have very much enjoyed the first two books in this series. Correia's writing style flows well, and the characters are interesting, mostly likeable, and show growth. The action is pretty much nonstop, but is not overly graphic and gory like some other shoot-em-ups I have read. There is bad language, but is was not excessive enough that I really noticed it (some books use it entirely too much and it just feels like poor writing to me). The story is told from the perspective of two different characters which did not bother me, but might to offputting to some people.
May 14, 2020
This second book was a definite improvement over the first. The action was more intense and the authors were certainly better at presenting their two POVs without stepping on each other.
Here, the reader gets a much better idea of what Exodus and the Organization are all about. Good info all around, keeps this from being only a filler to get to the third book.
The ending was a bit too similar to the first book however, with one of our protagonists getting captured. Well, I suppose fair is fair.
3.5 stars this time, let's see what Alliance of Shadows offers next!
Find it. Buy it. Read it.
Here, the reader gets a much better idea of what Exodus and the Organization are all about. Good info all around, keeps this from being only a filler to get to the third book.
The ending was a bit too similar to the first book however, with one of our protagonists getting captured. Well, I suppose fair is fair.
3.5 stars this time, let's see what Alliance of Shadows offers next!
Find it. Buy it. Read it.
July 17, 2017
An excellent book. It started slow but picked momentum after maybe 1/4 of the book.
I love the dynamics of how these books are narrated, from the perspective of the 2 protagonists, both are badasses that show in this book that they also have a heart.
The action is superb, and the humor too. It is a very entertaining story.
The audiobook is also amazing. Bronson Pinchot does an excellent job on this series.
If you loved MHI then you are going to love this series too.
I love the dynamics of how these books are narrated, from the perspective of the 2 protagonists, both are badasses that show in this book that they also have a heart.
The action is superb, and the humor too. It is a very entertaining story.
The audiobook is also amazing. Bronson Pinchot does an excellent job on this series.
If you loved MHI then you are going to love this series too.
March 16, 2020
I’m going to curse, if you don’t want to read it, then stop reading...
This book is fucking awesome. Get up, buy it and read it.
Now, stop fucking reading and go fucking buy this series, seriously. Why are you still reading?! Go get it, now...what the hell is wrong with you??? Jesus, I’m just gonna stop, since you won’t
This book is fucking awesome. Get up, buy it and read it.
Now, stop fucking reading and go fucking buy this series, seriously. Why are you still reading?! Go get it, now...what the hell is wrong with you??? Jesus, I’m just gonna stop, since you won’t
September 27, 2017
3.5 stars
I liked this one more than the first, it didn't drag on as much. The series hasn't changed my mind about military thrillers, they still aren't my favorite, but this was enjoyable none-the-less.
The narration was excellent.
I'm going to take a break before hitting book 3.
I liked this one more than the first, it didn't drag on as much. The series hasn't changed my mind about military thrillers, they still aren't my favorite, but this was enjoyable none-the-less.
The narration was excellent.
I'm going to take a break before hitting book 3.
March 22, 2018
This one was better than the first one and moved much faster. There is some mystical unexplained things going on that make it more into the genre I enjoy. I already have book three loaded up and we'll see if it continues the series getting better.
December 26, 2018
Great
A continuing of the griping story of two different hard men and the increasingly hard world they are finding they exist in. As the curtain gets pulled back further we find our fighters facing powerful and evil forces they had no idea existed. They have their work cut out.
A continuing of the griping story of two different hard men and the increasingly hard world they are finding they exist in. As the curtain gets pulled back further we find our fighters facing powerful and evil forces they had no idea existed. They have their work cut out.
September 30, 2024
Another cliffhanger....
I really like Lorenzo's character. I liked Valentine in the first book but not as much in this one. The plot seemed to jump around too long until it settled into the mission. Overall, I enjoyed the story but liked the first book quite a bit more.
I really like Lorenzo's character. I liked Valentine in the first book but not as much in this one. The plot seemed to jump around too long until it settled into the mission. Overall, I enjoyed the story but liked the first book quite a bit more.
August 11, 2017
it's just feck'in excellent !!!!!
July 13, 2019
Typical Larry Correia, which is good if you like fast action, guns, and likeable characters written by an author who genuinely seems to care about his heroes.
July 17, 2019
I didn't like this middle book quite as much.
January 8, 2020
Fun with guns. Nice read, it gets just a little weird.
June 10, 2021
Personal reminder: first person perspective and swearing so I gave up on it.
September 19, 2023
Excellent and fast paced.
August 3, 2024
Not as good as the first, but I enjoyed Lorenzo’s story. This sets up the third book well.
November 14, 2023
This series keeps getting better
April 18, 2014
This book is the follow-up to Correia and Kupari's "Dead Six". As I understand this is going to be a trilogy and, as such, this is a typical second book. A bridge with a major cliff at the end. I kind of wish I'd waited until the third one was out but I have no idea when that will be, so I'll have to suffer through waiting.
There were some problems with this one, although it started off with much less of a slog than the last one. With Dead Six I did not become invested in the characters until at least 2/3 of the book was finished. As I said in the review for that book, for most of it I was sure I wouldn't continue with the series, but by the end I was certain I would. So here I am.
This is once again told in the POVs of Lorenzo (a master thief/killer) and Valentine (a mercenary). They don't like each other even as they end up having to work together. I like both characters quite a bit even with all the blood they have on their hands. They both have demons, they both have regrets and they both have very dark pasts. They're also capable of love and loyalty which is a good thing to see.
Since Dead Six included some character death, I was stressed out most of the time I was reading this. Would they go there again? Who's going to get off'd this time? Gah! I hate it. Exhausting. But I, if not some of the characters, survived the experience.
The big problem for me was the McGuffin from the last book. A "McGuffin" is a contrivance that exists throughout the story but, in hindsight, really has no actual effect by itself. Even though the thing from the first book got ... well, something ... I kept hoping it -- or something regarding it -- would come back. But it was over. Just gone. Maybe it'll be in the next book, but it was completely absent from this one.
The mercenaries and their allies often come off as the Keystone Cops of the paramilitary world. I'd like to see them succeed once in a while without at least one major screw-up in the process. Such a scene would be short, but it would remind us of why these guys are considered formidable. As it is, they come off sometimes like amateurs.
Still, I'm in for the rest of the trilogy. It's a cliffie ending, which I hate, but which was also not unexpected. This one is clunkier than the last one, though, so I really hope the next book wraps things up because I won't be happy with another bridge to a cliff in the future.
Again, I can't recommend this book to any of my friends unless they have a liking for military fiction with all the jargon and acronyms I'm unaware of. And gun and ordnance specs. Lots of those. But I've been able to basically enjoy this series, so don't take my word for it if you want to step outside your usual bounds.
There were some problems with this one, although it started off with much less of a slog than the last one. With Dead Six I did not become invested in the characters until at least 2/3 of the book was finished. As I said in the review for that book, for most of it I was sure I wouldn't continue with the series, but by the end I was certain I would. So here I am.
This is once again told in the POVs of Lorenzo (a master thief/killer) and Valentine (a mercenary). They don't like each other even as they end up having to work together. I like both characters quite a bit even with all the blood they have on their hands. They both have demons, they both have regrets and they both have very dark pasts. They're also capable of love and loyalty which is a good thing to see.
Since Dead Six included some character death, I was stressed out most of the time I was reading this. Would they go there again? Who's going to get off'd this time? Gah! I hate it. Exhausting. But I, if not some of the characters, survived the experience.
The big problem for me was the McGuffin from the last book. A "McGuffin" is a contrivance that exists throughout the story but, in hindsight, really has no actual effect by itself. Even though the thing from the first book got ... well, something ... I kept hoping it -- or something regarding it -- would come back. But it was over. Just gone. Maybe it'll be in the next book, but it was completely absent from this one.
The mercenaries and their allies often come off as the Keystone Cops of the paramilitary world. I'd like to see them succeed once in a while without at least one major screw-up in the process. Such a scene would be short, but it would remind us of why these guys are considered formidable. As it is, they come off sometimes like amateurs.
Still, I'm in for the rest of the trilogy. It's a cliffie ending, which I hate, but which was also not unexpected. This one is clunkier than the last one, though, so I really hope the next book wraps things up because I won't be happy with another bridge to a cliff in the future.
Again, I can't recommend this book to any of my friends unless they have a liking for military fiction with all the jargon and acronyms I'm unaware of. And gun and ordnance specs. Lots of those. But I've been able to basically enjoy this series, so don't take my word for it if you want to step outside your usual bounds.
May 14, 2014
Wow. This is an action novel – but hard to categorize. The prior book was strangely fascinating – certainly not “real”, but cool. This genera could be characterized as action/funny/science fiction. Who knows? It’s over-the-top in some ways, “real” in others. It takes place in the near future…after the civil wars in China and the revolution in Mexico… (Get the picture?) You do have to suspend reality at times – but no more than a Clive Cussler novel.
“Swords of Exodus” picks up nicely from the authors’ prior book and can easily stand on its own for a new reader. It’s written as a narrative from two points of view – Lorenzo, a thief extraordinaire (the “bad guy”) and Valentine, the mercenary (the “good guy”). That being said, what makes the book interesting is the that the good guys aren’t always good, and the bad guys are always bad. The read is sometimes a guilty pleasure. (I felt like I was watching the Keanu Reeves character in “The Matrix” – he’s killing cops… and I’m still rooting for him!?
One thing’s for sure, it’s a violent tale. Not (always) gratuitous, but rather (usually) part of the story.
While Valentine is a great hero, Lorenzo makes the book. He’s a funny wiseass (who, by the way, only steals from other bad guys). His crew is weird and interesting. But it’s Lorenzo’s asides that crack me up, e.g. “…the steak so rare that it still had feelings”.
The two main characters intersect to save Lorenzo’s brother, Bob, a former FBI agent, who is attempting to unmask “Majestic”, the shadow government of the US. In doing so, the guys link up with “Exodus”, an organization seeking to rid the world of REALLY evil people…Enter the warlord, Sala Jihan (the Pale Man). Believe me, this guy is REALLY EVIL – slaves, arms, drugs – operating in a lawless area of Eurasia, called the Crossroads (as best as I can figure, near Kazakhstan). Here the authors portray Jihan like the shark in “Jaws” – you know it’s a monster but you can’t really see, yet alone understand, it. It’s well done.
The plot is complex enough and there’s plenty of material for sequels. It quite a read. I – a bit guilty – can’t wait until the next book.
“Swords of Exodus” picks up nicely from the authors’ prior book and can easily stand on its own for a new reader. It’s written as a narrative from two points of view – Lorenzo, a thief extraordinaire (the “bad guy”) and Valentine, the mercenary (the “good guy”). That being said, what makes the book interesting is the that the good guys aren’t always good, and the bad guys are always bad. The read is sometimes a guilty pleasure. (I felt like I was watching the Keanu Reeves character in “The Matrix” – he’s killing cops… and I’m still rooting for him!?
One thing’s for sure, it’s a violent tale. Not (always) gratuitous, but rather (usually) part of the story.
While Valentine is a great hero, Lorenzo makes the book. He’s a funny wiseass (who, by the way, only steals from other bad guys). His crew is weird and interesting. But it’s Lorenzo’s asides that crack me up, e.g. “…the steak so rare that it still had feelings”.
The two main characters intersect to save Lorenzo’s brother, Bob, a former FBI agent, who is attempting to unmask “Majestic”, the shadow government of the US. In doing so, the guys link up with “Exodus”, an organization seeking to rid the world of REALLY evil people…Enter the warlord, Sala Jihan (the Pale Man). Believe me, this guy is REALLY EVIL – slaves, arms, drugs – operating in a lawless area of Eurasia, called the Crossroads (as best as I can figure, near Kazakhstan). Here the authors portray Jihan like the shark in “Jaws” – you know it’s a monster but you can’t really see, yet alone understand, it. It’s well done.
The plot is complex enough and there’s plenty of material for sequels. It quite a read. I – a bit guilty – can’t wait until the next book.
September 1, 2014
If you're thinking of reading this because you love Larry Correia's other books, as a fellow rabid fan of MHI and Grimnoir, I have a little piece of advice: don't. I've now read both Dead Six novels, and neither of them ever did more than mildly entertain me, the coolest ideas in the novels were hinted at rather than really there (there's a freaking shadow-jumping immortal killer in this book, but after revealing his disturbing powers, the book promptly closes its eyes, hums really loudly and tried not to think about him), and the obsession with conspiracy theories frankly gets so thick that you feel like you're stuck in a room with one of those creepy overweight sweaty guys who watch X-Files too much and have a "theory" on how 9/11 "really" happened. Usually, Larry Correia's gun-nut status is a bonus to his books, but in these books, it just goes over the top, it feels like he goes on and on about all the bloody customizations. I like military technology as much as the next guy (and probably more) but I'm not a gun fetishist, and I'm pretty certain that's what it would take to find all the gun descriptions exciting. It's like Jules Verne when he starts describing rocks in Journey to the Center of the Earth, you can tell he was all fired-up to tell us EVERYTHING about the various fascinating rocks and as the reader you're just staring at the page in horror wondering how anyone could find this interesting. Even worse than the conspiracy-theory weirdness and the gun-fetishism is the frankly depressing story which just goes from one dark twist to another with no real wins for the good guys. It's all rather nihilisticly bleak and a far cry from his other books. The only positive I can think of is that it's fairly well-written, but well-written crap is still crap. If Larry Correia needs to keep writing these books to keep his creative juices flowing in between releases of his Monster Hunter/Grimnoir books then more power to him, but I'll just wait for the good stuff, thanks all the same.
September 29, 2014
Not fair!!! I am trying to re-post my review as for some reason it did not post first time, I have cooled down a bit so this might be a bit nicer review.
The swords of exodus Is NOT a follow up of Dead six, this is a fist novel that leaves you waiting like a T.V series that builds you up then with an abrupt stop says... see you next week' But we wont be seeing anything next week, or probably next year!
The novel has favorite characters from Dead 6 , great military action , mystery with a small supernatural hidden in the pages, and what might come from the 2cnd or 3rd Exodus novel will probably be brilliant as the setup was great. But I am not a fan of soap opera's on T.V I feel cheated as I was rushing through turning pages to get tossed of a cliff and left to fall for...how long till next book? a year...2?? LAME there is no wrap up of any ending whatsoever, people left just hanging around with the f#%#@^&* power out, really thats how I feel, just played a great video game and the power went out now I have to wait and then probably go through hours just to get to the part I was before.... Grrrr I had this at 4 stars , wrote a review and think I was so frustrated pushed the wrong button.
Read Dead Six Great novel (stand alone novel) leave this one alone until the second in the exodus series has a release date.
..... want to rave more but need to stop. might drop another star but really cant as I did enjoy the action and characters (pos. spoiler) that I might not even look for the second in this series.
The swords of exodus Is NOT a follow up of Dead six, this is a fist novel that leaves you waiting like a T.V series that builds you up then with an abrupt stop says... see you next week' But we wont be seeing anything next week, or probably next year!
The novel has favorite characters from Dead 6 , great military action , mystery with a small supernatural hidden in the pages, and what might come from the 2cnd or 3rd Exodus novel will probably be brilliant as the setup was great. But I am not a fan of soap opera's on T.V I feel cheated as I was rushing through turning pages to get tossed of a cliff and left to fall for...how long till next book? a year...2?? LAME there is no wrap up of any ending whatsoever, people left just hanging around with the f#%#@^&* power out, really thats how I feel, just played a great video game and the power went out now I have to wait and then probably go through hours just to get to the part I was before.... Grrrr I had this at 4 stars , wrote a review and think I was so frustrated pushed the wrong button.
Read Dead Six Great novel (stand alone novel) leave this one alone until the second in the exodus series has a release date.
..... want to rave more but need to stop. might drop another star but really cant as I did enjoy the action and characters (pos. spoiler) that I might not even look for the second in this series.
May 15, 2021
This book has a lot of cool stuff going for it.
For starters, this book is written from two distinct first-person viewpoints. This could get messy, but the fact that the two characters have different authors writing their scenes helps in that regard.
Second, the writers aren't afraid to share the limelight with a plethora of badass minor characters. A lot of writers either redshirt everyone who isn't the protagonist whenever they need even the tiniest smidgen of drama or need to make the main characters look super awesome and thus neglect to give the supporting characters anything remotely resembling a compelling backstory. Not so in this book. Much like the Dresden Files or Larry's other book series, there are half a dozen characters or more who could easily headline their own books.
Third, it's a military technothriller with excellent writing and flawed but compelling characters to go with the high-concept plot, visceral gunfights and exotic locales. Usually, it's one or the other with this genre.
Story-wise, this definitely has an Empire Strikes Back vibe to it. The home team barely breaks even, but the stage is set for all hell to break loose in the next book(s), where they will hopefully start explaining all of the strange machinations going on behind the scenes that have only been hinted at so far.
For starters, this book is written from two distinct first-person viewpoints. This could get messy, but the fact that the two characters have different authors writing their scenes helps in that regard.
Second, the writers aren't afraid to share the limelight with a plethora of badass minor characters. A lot of writers either redshirt everyone who isn't the protagonist whenever they need even the tiniest smidgen of drama or need to make the main characters look super awesome and thus neglect to give the supporting characters anything remotely resembling a compelling backstory. Not so in this book. Much like the Dresden Files or Larry's other book series, there are half a dozen characters or more who could easily headline their own books.
Third, it's a military technothriller with excellent writing and flawed but compelling characters to go with the high-concept plot, visceral gunfights and exotic locales. Usually, it's one or the other with this genre.
Story-wise, this definitely has an Empire Strikes Back vibe to it. The home team barely breaks even, but the stage is set for all hell to break loose in the next book(s), where they will hopefully start explaining all of the strange machinations going on behind the scenes that have only been hinted at so far.
February 15, 2016
From start to finish “Swords of Exodus” delivers non-stop action. The two main characters, Valentine and Lorenzo, are held over from “Dead Six” and a host of new characters (along with a few old ones) are added in. The story is well written and engaging, however the main problem that kept it from being an easy 4 star book was that the plot didn’t seem to go anywhere. None of the issues that the characters were trying to take of were resolved and big gaping “what will happen next” questions are there staring the reader in the face. Will there be another book in the series? Of course there will because this left so many open questions. If you’re looking for something to keep you riveted with action then look no further but if you want something that gives you a more complete story you might want to wait for book 3 and read them together.
August 7, 2016
Like just about every one of his series, Correia picks up steam after the first book. This is a great sequel to Dead Six, and an overall better book than the original.
The character development is better (and the character's actions are more consistent), there is no longer reliance on coincidence to move the plot forward, the world is much more developed, and the bad guys are much more interesting. Also, the action sequences are more awesome and (somehow) more authentic/believable than in the first book, in which it was basically unbelievable that the main characters ever survived.
So overall a great read. If you're into Correia generally speaking it's worth reading Dead Six (which was good not great) just to get to this book (which was pretty awesome).
Can't wait for the 3rd in the series to come out.
The character development is better (and the character's actions are more consistent), there is no longer reliance on coincidence to move the plot forward, the world is much more developed, and the bad guys are much more interesting. Also, the action sequences are more awesome and (somehow) more authentic/believable than in the first book, in which it was basically unbelievable that the main characters ever survived.
So overall a great read. If you're into Correia generally speaking it's worth reading Dead Six (which was good not great) just to get to this book (which was pretty awesome).
Can't wait for the 3rd in the series to come out.
December 2, 2016
Reread update: I forgot how this had ended, but let's just say, I'm glad I have the next book to continue on with right away.
OK, so this is the sequel to Dead Six, and I liked it a whole lot more than the original. It's almost 2 years since I read Dead Six, and I didn't reread it before starting this one, but now I think I may have to go back and do so. Valentine and Lorenzo are back and the action comes fast and heavy throughout the book. The two of them are more closely intertwined in this book, which could be one reason why I enjoyed it more, as it gave a more cohesive story. There's lots of guns, knives and some great one-liners. Highly recommend.
OK, so this is the sequel to Dead Six, and I liked it a whole lot more than the original. It's almost 2 years since I read Dead Six, and I didn't reread it before starting this one, but now I think I may have to go back and do so. Valentine and Lorenzo are back and the action comes fast and heavy throughout the book. The two of them are more closely intertwined in this book, which could be one reason why I enjoyed it more, as it gave a more cohesive story. There's lots of guns, knives and some great one-liners. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews