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BattleTech Universe #117
BattleTech: Without Question
FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL…
Beset on all sides, Jiyi Chistu, Khan of Clan Jade Falcon, is struggling to keep his place in the crumbling Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. When Clan Hell’s Horses arrive on Sudeten to claim the planet, Jiyi is forced to defend it with everything he has in a battle that could mean the end of his people.
But he cannot just hold his territory. Being cut off from the rest of the Inner Sphere is as much a death for his Clan as annihilation. To take the planets surrounding Sudeten and bring home the errant Jade Falcon warriors he so desperately needs, Jiyi dispatches a unit, including Alexis, a young, idealistic Falcon warrior, to bolster the Clan.
Both Jiyi and Alexis will have to find new ways to adapt to their ever-changing reality, as Alexis learns what it means to be known as a Jade Falcon, and Jiyi is visited by an unexpected Falcon from the past…one who could spell doom for his entire Clan…
Beset on all sides, Jiyi Chistu, Khan of Clan Jade Falcon, is struggling to keep his place in the crumbling Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. When Clan Hell’s Horses arrive on Sudeten to claim the planet, Jiyi is forced to defend it with everything he has in a battle that could mean the end of his people.
But he cannot just hold his territory. Being cut off from the rest of the Inner Sphere is as much a death for his Clan as annihilation. To take the planets surrounding Sudeten and bring home the errant Jade Falcon warriors he so desperately needs, Jiyi dispatches a unit, including Alexis, a young, idealistic Falcon warrior, to bolster the Clan.
Both Jiyi and Alexis will have to find new ways to adapt to their ever-changing reality, as Alexis learns what it means to be known as a Jade Falcon, and Jiyi is visited by an unexpected Falcon from the past…one who could spell doom for his entire Clan…
- GenresScience Fiction
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2024
17 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Young
121 books157 followersBryan Young (he/they) works across many different media. His work as a writer and producer has been called "filmmaking gold" by The New York Times. He's also published comic books with Slave Labor Graphics and Image Comics. He's been a regular contributor for the Huffington Post, StarWars.com, Star Wars Insider magazine, SYFY, /Film, and was the founder and editor in chief of the geek news and review site Big Shiny Robot! In 2014, he wrote the critically acclaimed history book, A Children’s Illustrated History of Presidential Assassination. He co-authored Robotech: The Macross Saga RPG and has written five books in the BattleTech Universe: Honor's Gauntlet, A Question of Survival, Fox Tales, Without Question, and the forthcoming VoidBreaker. His latest non-fiction tie-in book, The Big Bang Theory Book of Lists is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon. His work has won two Diamond Quill awards and in 2023 he was named Writer of the Year by the League of Utah Writers. He teaches writing for Writer’s Digest, Script Magazine, and at the University of Utah. Follow him across social media @swankmotron or visit swankmotron.com.
Support Bryan on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/swankmotron
Support Bryan on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/swankmotron
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 29, 2024
I’ve never been a fan of Bryan Young’s writing and his latest Battletech novel has not changed my view. While I enjoy character driven stories, Bryan Young’s characters are uninteresting and I find myself actively hoping the villains win. His novels are poorly written romance novels nominally located in the Battletech Universe. Save your time and money and skip this book.
September 23, 2024
Battletech fiction has been a guilty pleasure for me since the mid-90s. Admittedly it isn’t “high literature”, but very often the “stompy robots” stories are surprisingly good fiction, and I love to keep up with the lore as it unfolds in the novels. Lately, the ilKhan stories have been great. But some of the recent Battletech fiction has descended into emo-heavy juvenile-lit style romance, or something akin to that, seemingly striving to insert as much of the contemporary cultural landscape as possible into the Battletech universe. Don’t misread me here, I’m hardly a conservative values pundit, but it’s so awkwardly apparent that somebody at Catalyst Games is aiming to check as many social issues boxes as they can with each new novel. I guess subtlety and nuance are unknown or undervalued concepts in the writer’s room at Catalyst, especially with Bryan Young (we get it, you’re bringing to the story a diverse cast of characters, but you don’t need to scream it so loudly, Bryan…relax and stop trying so hard).
That all aside, even worse than the last Battletech novel by Young, this story was a slog, with simplistic sophomoric prose, very little effort to immerse the reader in the scene, or describe the setting/environment the characters find themselves in. I lost count of how many times Star Commanders Alexis, Sophie, and Thomas “cuddled” together in their “skivvies” or how often Alexis had to hold Thomas before a battle as he cried. Seriously. The cringy, weepy, whiny adolescent characters achieve amazing results despite their lack of experience, knowledge, or development, and the mustache twisting stupid villains senselessly run into the obvious traps our emo-heroines/heroes set for them. Yawn. I flipped through the second half of the book just to finish the annoying thing.
Minor quibble: Since when does Battletech lore allow for holographic projected buildings that mechs can actually hide behind? Is this Star Trek? No, the holographic tech in the lore is limited to “holotanks” and “holovids”, and illustrations have consistently depicted them as glowing/flickering images, similar to Star Wars. Young’s misuse of the technology in this and the last novel was jarring and further dragged down the story.
Second minor quibble: In most prior Battletech novels, one has a sense that the author has actually played Battletech, and by that, I mean the tabletop classic game. One can almost have a record sheet and keep score as one reads through the battle sequences. Admittedly, this can sometimes be a tad tedious, but it's all part of the fun of reading a Battletech novel. I have really come to enjoy the way the core authors describe the battle of attrition as Mechwarriors wear down each other's Mech armor and internal structure, and look forward to the surprise "critical hit". Not so, with Bryan Young's novels, which read more like a game of Mechwarrior Online...because Mr. Young has admitted he never played tabletop Battletech, and only played the computer game version. His battle depictions make this clear.
In the end, I rated this book two stars, because I do love the direction he has taken with the Jade Falcon Clan and the advancement of the lore. I understand the author is applauded for other fiction universes he writes for, and that’s great. But please, Battletech, bring us more Stackpole, Reed, Pardoe, and Coleman!
That all aside, even worse than the last Battletech novel by Young, this story was a slog, with simplistic sophomoric prose, very little effort to immerse the reader in the scene, or describe the setting/environment the characters find themselves in. I lost count of how many times Star Commanders Alexis, Sophie, and Thomas “cuddled” together in their “skivvies” or how often Alexis had to hold Thomas before a battle as he cried. Seriously. The cringy, weepy, whiny adolescent characters achieve amazing results despite their lack of experience, knowledge, or development, and the mustache twisting stupid villains senselessly run into the obvious traps our emo-heroines/heroes set for them. Yawn. I flipped through the second half of the book just to finish the annoying thing.
Minor quibble: Since when does Battletech lore allow for holographic projected buildings that mechs can actually hide behind? Is this Star Trek? No, the holographic tech in the lore is limited to “holotanks” and “holovids”, and illustrations have consistently depicted them as glowing/flickering images, similar to Star Wars. Young’s misuse of the technology in this and the last novel was jarring and further dragged down the story.
Second minor quibble: In most prior Battletech novels, one has a sense that the author has actually played Battletech, and by that, I mean the tabletop classic game. One can almost have a record sheet and keep score as one reads through the battle sequences. Admittedly, this can sometimes be a tad tedious, but it's all part of the fun of reading a Battletech novel. I have really come to enjoy the way the core authors describe the battle of attrition as Mechwarriors wear down each other's Mech armor and internal structure, and look forward to the surprise "critical hit". Not so, with Bryan Young's novels, which read more like a game of Mechwarrior Online...because Mr. Young has admitted he never played tabletop Battletech, and only played the computer game version. His battle depictions make this clear.
In the end, I rated this book two stars, because I do love the direction he has taken with the Jade Falcon Clan and the advancement of the lore. I understand the author is applauded for other fiction universes he writes for, and that’s great. But please, Battletech, bring us more Stackpole, Reed, Pardoe, and Coleman!
June 7, 2024
As Battletech moves into a new era, both in the lore and in reality, it is wonderful to have books like this laying the foundation for the way the universe will continue to grow.
Without Question continues the story of the Jade Falcons attempting to struggle with a new identity in the wake of the Wolves claiming Terra while doing their best to simply avoid extinction. Bryan Young lets us see this struggle through the eyes of several very different members of the clan, each coping in their own way.
First among these is Khan Jiyi Chistu who fights with the dual duties of preserving his clan while trying to lead them on a new path. He was thrust into the Khanship by happenstance and now he has to try to return the Falcons to their former glory while coping with the evils his predecessor had committed in his clan's name.
Meanwhile Star Commander Alexis tries to deal with the whiplash of going from a freebirth orphan on a Ghost Bear planet to a Star Commander for the Jade Falcons. Meanwhile she is trying to come to terms with love, leadership, and loss and what that all means as a clan warrior.
Alexis can slip at times into a little too much teenage melodrama for my taste but she also serves as a great proxy for the reader coming into the realities of clan life from the outside.
These and the other leaders of the new Jade Falcons, like the clan itself, are beset on all sides by challenges and threats, both internal and external.
And in the end Bryan Young managed to do the impossible, he got me to root for the Jade Falcons.
Without Question continues the story of the Jade Falcons attempting to struggle with a new identity in the wake of the Wolves claiming Terra while doing their best to simply avoid extinction. Bryan Young lets us see this struggle through the eyes of several very different members of the clan, each coping in their own way.
First among these is Khan Jiyi Chistu who fights with the dual duties of preserving his clan while trying to lead them on a new path. He was thrust into the Khanship by happenstance and now he has to try to return the Falcons to their former glory while coping with the evils his predecessor had committed in his clan's name.
Meanwhile Star Commander Alexis tries to deal with the whiplash of going from a freebirth orphan on a Ghost Bear planet to a Star Commander for the Jade Falcons. Meanwhile she is trying to come to terms with love, leadership, and loss and what that all means as a clan warrior.
Alexis can slip at times into a little too much teenage melodrama for my taste but she also serves as a great proxy for the reader coming into the realities of clan life from the outside.
These and the other leaders of the new Jade Falcons, like the clan itself, are beset on all sides by challenges and threats, both internal and external.
And in the end Bryan Young managed to do the impossible, he got me to root for the Jade Falcons.
June 24, 2024
Somehow I am a fan of the Jade Falcons
I'm not sure how he did it, by Bryan Young has made me a Jade Falcon fan. I definitely recommend checking out his other work in Shrapnel and elsewhere, but this book does stand on its own just fine.
I'm not sure how he did it, by Bryan Young has made me a Jade Falcon fan. I definitely recommend checking out his other work in Shrapnel and elsewhere, but this book does stand on its own just fine.
May 16, 2024
I've been a dyed in the wool Jade Falcon fan since 91, and Bryan Young has proven himself a worthy successor to Robert Thurston.
Following on from the Bryan Young's previous works of A Question of Survival and Ghostbird, we delve more into what Jiyi Chistu's changes really mean for the Falcons. He is faced with enemies internal, external and unknown constantly, and has to find a way out of each encounter that leaves him in at least the same position, if not better, than he was before.
The other main thread is the young Alexis has to grapple not only with the responsibilities of command, but the brutal and savage legacy of the clan she is proud to be a part of. It is easy for her early on when it is just a fight against the invading Hell's Horses (this is basically the opener and has been covered in other books, not a spoiler), but when the opponents are those who Malvina Hazen dealt with, they are far less receptive to believing the change Jiyi's team are selling.
We also get further insight into the lot of the civilian members/victims of Clan society, and both our protagonists are forced to reckon with what has come before them and what will be left after them.
There is a great supporting cast, from the rag-tag Lone Wolves, to the down on their luck Tomcats (who I think steal the show a little bit in their brief appearance), and numerous Falcons representing the splintered Clan Jiyi and his true believers are trying to make into a new whole.
The prose itself is very easy to read and, I mean this as a great compliment, does not read like a sci-fi book can. It has a great flow, and is very conversational in its approach to matters. There was never that moment I always dread in some sci-fi where it becomes laden with its own self-import or overly intricate details - your mileage may vary on that, I can see some enjoying that instead - but for me it made it an enjoyable read.
Where Jiyi is meant to be charismatic, he comes across as it and his switching between showman and commander (and the way he blends the two), never feels forced. Similarly Alexis' internal struggles with the life she has, to a degree, idealised feel as though they belong to her and are natural with her background and upbringing.
My only real negative is that Alexis is, throughout the story, encouraged and told she is an excellent and talented leader. We have seen her display these qualities previously, and she gets to show them in a way here, but sadly we don't really see much of her directly leading so it can feel a bit like we are being told it rather than seeing it. However that is a relatively minor quibble and I don't doubt that if we see more of Alexis it won't be an issue.
Another thing I would have liked to have seen more of would have been more development of the supporting cast outside of their talking with the main 3-4 characters about the things the main characters are going to do. Or perhaps I am just greedy for more of these characters, word counts be dammed.
Anyways, I loved it, you should read it, Falcons rule, spheroids drool, "A tie and a cape?!" out of 10.
Following on from the Bryan Young's previous works of A Question of Survival and Ghostbird, we delve more into what Jiyi Chistu's changes really mean for the Falcons. He is faced with enemies internal, external and unknown constantly, and has to find a way out of each encounter that leaves him in at least the same position, if not better, than he was before.
The other main thread is the young Alexis has to grapple not only with the responsibilities of command, but the brutal and savage legacy of the clan she is proud to be a part of. It is easy for her early on when it is just a fight against the invading Hell's Horses (this is basically the opener and has been covered in other books, not a spoiler), but when the opponents are those who Malvina Hazen dealt with, they are far less receptive to believing the change Jiyi's team are selling.
We also get further insight into the lot of the civilian members/victims of Clan society, and both our protagonists are forced to reckon with what has come before them and what will be left after them.
There is a great supporting cast, from the rag-tag Lone Wolves, to the down on their luck Tomcats (who I think steal the show a little bit in their brief appearance), and numerous Falcons representing the splintered Clan Jiyi and his true believers are trying to make into a new whole.
The prose itself is very easy to read and, I mean this as a great compliment, does not read like a sci-fi book can. It has a great flow, and is very conversational in its approach to matters. There was never that moment I always dread in some sci-fi where it becomes laden with its own self-import or overly intricate details - your mileage may vary on that, I can see some enjoying that instead - but for me it made it an enjoyable read.
Where Jiyi is meant to be charismatic, he comes across as it and his switching between showman and commander (and the way he blends the two), never feels forced. Similarly Alexis' internal struggles with the life she has, to a degree, idealised feel as though they belong to her and are natural with her background and upbringing.
My only real negative is that Alexis is, throughout the story, encouraged and told she is an excellent and talented leader. We have seen her display these qualities previously, and she gets to show them in a way here, but sadly we don't really see much of her directly leading so it can feel a bit like we are being told it rather than seeing it. However that is a relatively minor quibble and I don't doubt that if we see more of Alexis it won't be an issue.
Another thing I would have liked to have seen more of would have been more development of the supporting cast outside of their talking with the main 3-4 characters about the things the main characters are going to do. Or perhaps I am just greedy for more of these characters, word counts be dammed.
Anyways, I loved it, you should read it, Falcons rule, spheroids drool, "A tie and a cape?!" out of 10.
May 12, 2024
Spoiler Feee Review
Editor's Note: Catalyst Game Labs was kind enough to provide an advanced review copy of this work so that I could write this review.
So, once again we find ourselves in the Battletech Universe. Without Question is a sequel of sorts to Bryan's earlier work A Question of Survival and picks up with the majority of those characters. The story kicks off with a telling of one of the major battles depicted in the Tamar Rising Sourcebook. The Jade Falcons under Jiyi Chiustu Stage a desperate defense against the enraged Hell's Horses.
The characterization of this battle was excellent. The tension and the desperationof the defenders was palpable throughout the telling of this tale. The Ghost Bear sibkin from A Question of Survival are front and center throughout this section of the novel, and they mature as humans. These recent graduates into the Jade Falcon Touman are tested by the universe around them and are forced to grow beyond what they think of themselves.
The battle of Sudeten is the first of 4 parts of this book, and gives a new reader a solid understanding of the major players in this version of Clan Jade Falcon. This helps a great deal for the other three parts of the novel.
If the first part of the book is the battle of Sudeten, then the other three parts are the Battle of the soul of Clan Jade Falcon. In order to secure their position, the Falcons have to expabd outward, attempting to recover the worlds within their Occupation Zone that were looted and cast adrift in the build up to the Terra Trial.
This is new ground for the Falcons, and they must adapt or be destroyed. There are twists and turns throughout these parts and hard choices that confront all of our principal characters.
The Highs:
The Opening Prologue should be added to every Battletech novel set in this era. It is a succinct explanation of how we got to here.
Mercenary Co-Ops should get more usage in general.
The Journey that Jade Falcon goes on is full of twists and turns, but i think the journey is absolutely worth the read.
The slice of life elements are essential. As a reader, those scenes remind me that these are people with their own wants and desires.
The Lows:
Some of the Chapters are very short. They detail a specific scene or event, and then we move to another chapter. Some could be folded together as the events covered are continuations of things that already happened.
The Pacing (as an extension of the issue above) can be irritating. There are several major events that serve as chapter conclusions. The perspective then ping pongs to another event someplace else and you as a reader are trying to catch back up ti that other plot.
Note: these are very minor critiques, i loved the book overall.
Final Verdict:
A story about change and growth amongst the ruins of the once proud Jade Falcon clan. There is still hope for these birds to rise like the Phoenix, and these stories are as engrossing as they are fun.
Editor's Note: Catalyst Game Labs was kind enough to provide an advanced review copy of this work so that I could write this review.
So, once again we find ourselves in the Battletech Universe. Without Question is a sequel of sorts to Bryan's earlier work A Question of Survival and picks up with the majority of those characters. The story kicks off with a telling of one of the major battles depicted in the Tamar Rising Sourcebook. The Jade Falcons under Jiyi Chiustu Stage a desperate defense against the enraged Hell's Horses.
The characterization of this battle was excellent. The tension and the desperationof the defenders was palpable throughout the telling of this tale. The Ghost Bear sibkin from A Question of Survival are front and center throughout this section of the novel, and they mature as humans. These recent graduates into the Jade Falcon Touman are tested by the universe around them and are forced to grow beyond what they think of themselves.
The battle of Sudeten is the first of 4 parts of this book, and gives a new reader a solid understanding of the major players in this version of Clan Jade Falcon. This helps a great deal for the other three parts of the novel.
If the first part of the book is the battle of Sudeten, then the other three parts are the Battle of the soul of Clan Jade Falcon. In order to secure their position, the Falcons have to expabd outward, attempting to recover the worlds within their Occupation Zone that were looted and cast adrift in the build up to the Terra Trial.
This is new ground for the Falcons, and they must adapt or be destroyed. There are twists and turns throughout these parts and hard choices that confront all of our principal characters.
The Highs:
The Opening Prologue should be added to every Battletech novel set in this era. It is a succinct explanation of how we got to here.
Mercenary Co-Ops should get more usage in general.
The Journey that Jade Falcon goes on is full of twists and turns, but i think the journey is absolutely worth the read.
The slice of life elements are essential. As a reader, those scenes remind me that these are people with their own wants and desires.
The Lows:
Some of the Chapters are very short. They detail a specific scene or event, and then we move to another chapter. Some could be folded together as the events covered are continuations of things that already happened.
The Pacing (as an extension of the issue above) can be irritating. There are several major events that serve as chapter conclusions. The perspective then ping pongs to another event someplace else and you as a reader are trying to catch back up ti that other plot.
Note: these are very minor critiques, i loved the book overall.
Final Verdict:
A story about change and growth amongst the ruins of the once proud Jade Falcon clan. There is still hope for these birds to rise like the Phoenix, and these stories are as engrossing as they are fun.
May 20, 2024
Jade Falcons have been humbled on Terra and what little remains of them, led by Khan Jiyi Chistu are beset by enemies and are engaged in desperate struggle for survival. But these are not the same Falcons that were led by Malvina Hazen and Chistu is not an ordinary Khan. He has learned from mistakes of the past and is shaping Falcons into something new and different.
And within this lies one of the greatest strengths of this story. Decades after their first contact with Inner Sphere, clans are evolving instead of being stuck in status quo and repeating same mistakes over an over again. This may not sit well with some of hardcore people who like vanilla clans, but to me, this is very realistic approach and makes me excited for what comes next. Coupled with appearance of characters from other books and stories Without Question paints a picture to living, evolving universe.
There are several main characters but this is pretty much Chistu's book and his journey into rebuilding Jade Falcons into force to be reckoned again. From that side I wouldn't call this exactly heavily action packed book since it covers a lot of ground, but battlemech combat scenes are good and engaging.
Other characters like Alexis have a journey of their own to follow and go thrugh loss and tragedy as well as growth. They are also more vulnerable and emotional than your average clanner but this serves well to emphasize the changes within the clan, but also to showcase that clans can never really eliminate their human traits as much as they would like to.
One other thing that author does very well is write the characters from both sides of the conflict and makes you like them. As with previous book Question of Survival where we get viewpoint of Star Commander Emilio, here we get a look at mercenary Tomcats and once again I found myself rooting for both sides. This made the book particulary engaging as I got invested in both sides.
This is, without question, a very different Battletech novel and this makes it quite an enjoyable read. I am really looking forward to what is next in store for Jade Falcons reborn.
And within this lies one of the greatest strengths of this story. Decades after their first contact with Inner Sphere, clans are evolving instead of being stuck in status quo and repeating same mistakes over an over again. This may not sit well with some of hardcore people who like vanilla clans, but to me, this is very realistic approach and makes me excited for what comes next. Coupled with appearance of characters from other books and stories Without Question paints a picture to living, evolving universe.
There are several main characters but this is pretty much Chistu's book and his journey into rebuilding Jade Falcons into force to be reckoned again. From that side I wouldn't call this exactly heavily action packed book since it covers a lot of ground, but battlemech combat scenes are good and engaging.
Other characters like Alexis have a journey of their own to follow and go thrugh loss and tragedy as well as growth. They are also more vulnerable and emotional than your average clanner but this serves well to emphasize the changes within the clan, but also to showcase that clans can never really eliminate their human traits as much as they would like to.
One other thing that author does very well is write the characters from both sides of the conflict and makes you like them. As with previous book Question of Survival where we get viewpoint of Star Commander Emilio, here we get a look at mercenary Tomcats and once again I found myself rooting for both sides. This made the book particulary engaging as I got invested in both sides.
This is, without question, a very different Battletech novel and this makes it quite an enjoyable read. I am really looking forward to what is next in store for Jade Falcons reborn.
August 26, 2024
Khan Jiyi Chistu, and Clan Jade Falcon, are balanced on the edge of being removed from the history of the clans. They have made a tentative recovery on Sudeten. Now they must be ready for what comes at them next, both from without and within.
I was given a copy of Battletech: Without Question for review purposes.
Without Question begins where A Question of Survival ends. You don’t need to have read the previous books in this series about the Jade Falcons to understand what is happening in the story here in Without Question. Having read the previous two books does provide additional insights and backstory, making this work more complete as the story progresses.
Clan Jade Falcon has made the planet of Sudeten their capital and base for future operations as they struggle to rebuild. They are not in the most ideal situation because the world was dominated by the previous khan and her embracing of the Mongol Doctrine. Khan Jiyi Chistu understands the concerns and is working to embrace the older beliefs of the clans being the protectors of the people, not the controllers of the people.
Battletech: Without Question is fully written in the style of the novels written for the Battletech Universe. The Mechs are described when they are seen, which are the important details to the warriors as they move forward in battle, it is what they have trained to do.
Battletech: Without Question is a great continuation of the story of Clan Jade Falcon. The book is a self-contained story not requiring the previous works for the enjoyment of reading this one. I’m glad I read the first two in this series as they provide an understanding of the motivations, desires, and fears the characters are facing.
You can read the entire review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
I was given a copy of Battletech: Without Question for review purposes.
Without Question begins where A Question of Survival ends. You don’t need to have read the previous books in this series about the Jade Falcons to understand what is happening in the story here in Without Question. Having read the previous two books does provide additional insights and backstory, making this work more complete as the story progresses.
Clan Jade Falcon has made the planet of Sudeten their capital and base for future operations as they struggle to rebuild. They are not in the most ideal situation because the world was dominated by the previous khan and her embracing of the Mongol Doctrine. Khan Jiyi Chistu understands the concerns and is working to embrace the older beliefs of the clans being the protectors of the people, not the controllers of the people.
Battletech: Without Question is fully written in the style of the novels written for the Battletech Universe. The Mechs are described when they are seen, which are the important details to the warriors as they move forward in battle, it is what they have trained to do.
Battletech: Without Question is a great continuation of the story of Clan Jade Falcon. The book is a self-contained story not requiring the previous works for the enjoyment of reading this one. I’m glad I read the first two in this series as they provide an understanding of the motivations, desires, and fears the characters are facing.
You can read the entire review at https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...
May 20, 2024
I first read Battletech books back in the 1990s, and while I had checked in and read one every few years since then, this book and its predecessor (A Question of Survival) are the first ones to get me excited about new characters and their growth and development since those days. Sure, other books advanced the universe and status of the factions and had some interesting things, but here I was actually invested in what would happen to Jiyi Christu and his Jade Falcons. Yes, it's Battletech, so we want giant 'Mechs fighting and this has plenty of that, but what makes this series special is how the characters have been developed. Jiyi Chistu, Alexis, Dawn, as well as a great returning villain all have great POV moments and I couldn't put the book down excited to get to what was happening next. Bryan Young does a great job also of synergizing with other recent books, something Battletech fiction historically hasn't always been great at. You very much feel like you are reading part of a bigger universe, without feeling you have to read all 100+ other novels to understand or enjoy the story.
If you are a Battletech fan, or used to be a Battletech fan but haven't touched the series since the 1990s, I highly recommend A Question of Survival and Without Question. This is one of the best entries in the series ever, and I'm really excited to see what Bryan Young writes next.
If you are a Battletech fan, or used to be a Battletech fan but haven't touched the series since the 1990s, I highly recommend A Question of Survival and Without Question. This is one of the best entries in the series ever, and I'm really excited to see what Bryan Young writes next.
May 29, 2024
Bryan Young takes us back to the former Jade Falcon occupation zone to take a look at the current state of affairs for Jiyi Chistu, Alexis, Dawn, and other characters we got to know in A Question Of Survival.
Things start tense as Chistu and his inner circle attempt to continue reshaping and rebuilding the Jade Falcons after the death of Malvina Hazen, and each new crisis increases the pressure until the people, their machines, and even the future of the Falcons are all pushed to their breaking point.
We see some characters grow and flourish, some wilt, and a few unlucky souls die as they face the many challenges that unfold during the book, and some plot twists that I didn’t see coming.
For fans of Bryan Young, Battletech, and the Jade Falcons; this is a must-read.
Things start tense as Chistu and his inner circle attempt to continue reshaping and rebuilding the Jade Falcons after the death of Malvina Hazen, and each new crisis increases the pressure until the people, their machines, and even the future of the Falcons are all pushed to their breaking point.
We see some characters grow and flourish, some wilt, and a few unlucky souls die as they face the many challenges that unfold during the book, and some plot twists that I didn’t see coming.
For fans of Bryan Young, Battletech, and the Jade Falcons; this is a must-read.
December 27, 2024
Certain protagonists have plot armor while pining for their lover’s at the most inopportune and unrealistic times. It truly detracts from the story when every other time a character appears, the focus has to be on shipping a romance between mech warriors.
The whole idea of a clan leader adapting to live very un-Clanlike is interesting, but the implementation is stuck behind subpar writing and inserts of content that doesn’t make sense. I had to set the book down at the end of the second act (part 2)
The whole idea of a clan leader adapting to live very un-Clanlike is interesting, but the implementation is stuck behind subpar writing and inserts of content that doesn’t make sense. I had to set the book down at the end of the second act (part 2)
May 22, 2024
Read like if Chat GPT wrote it.
Self insert character.
Marie sue characters that are always perfect and never fail.
The enemies have indoor plant IQ.
Forget anything about battletech. This is a romance book about mechwarriors sexuality with a surface layer of battletech words to cover it.
Just skip the book and read anything else.
Self insert character.
Marie sue characters that are always perfect and never fail.
The enemies have indoor plant IQ.
Forget anything about battletech. This is a romance book about mechwarriors sexuality with a surface layer of battletech words to cover it.
Just skip the book and read anything else.
October 11, 2024
Without Question
Very well written story, and told from the clamber viewpoint, about the rebirth of the Jade Falcon after the battle for Terra.
Interesting and enlightening story, as told by the reborn Falcon.
A book well worth reading.
Very well written story, and told from the clamber viewpoint, about the rebirth of the Jade Falcon after the battle for Terra.
Interesting and enlightening story, as told by the reborn Falcon.
A book well worth reading.
May 22, 2024
A good continuation of what has become a very nice little series. Almost makes me like the Jade Falcons!
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