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San Angeles #2
The Operative
Second in a trilogy, this far-future science fiction is set in Los Angeles—action adventure with a cyberpunk tone.
Kris Ballard’s life changed irrevocably when, a year ago, she was targeted for termination by the Meridian corporation, one of the mega-conglomerates that controls the government in this dystopian future. She hid amongst the underground resistance—but now, right as her training with the anti-corporate movement is nearing its end, their compound is destroyed. Ready or not, Kris and the other trainees are recalled to the dangerous metropolis of San Angeles. But their transport is shot down and Ian Miller, the man she loves, is captured. Someone, it seems, is using him to get to Kris.
With the help of a retired operative with PTSD, and the mysterious man who fled the scene when Kris’s parents were killed, Kris searches for any sign of Ian. As the corporations battle civil unrest—and each other—the city slowly shuts down. Kris is running out of time.
Kris Ballard’s life changed irrevocably when, a year ago, she was targeted for termination by the Meridian corporation, one of the mega-conglomerates that controls the government in this dystopian future. She hid amongst the underground resistance—but now, right as her training with the anti-corporate movement is nearing its end, their compound is destroyed. Ready or not, Kris and the other trainees are recalled to the dangerous metropolis of San Angeles. But their transport is shot down and Ian Miller, the man she loves, is captured. Someone, it seems, is using him to get to Kris.
With the help of a retired operative with PTSD, and the mysterious man who fled the scene when Kris’s parents were killed, Kris searches for any sign of Ian. As the corporations battle civil unrest—and each other—the city slowly shuts down. Kris is running out of time.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
10 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 21, 2020
This suffers from the middle-book syndrome where the plot needs to be advanced, but not completed, with plenty of build-up for the final installment.
But while the characters were interesting in the first book, they have become almost boring here. The bad guy has become Flat Stanley. The best character didn't get enough page time.
However, the thriller aspects of the book are great. The settings, dangers, and raw grit were vividly described.
I will read the final book to see what happens when Han Solo gets thawed out.
But while the characters were interesting in the first book, they have become almost boring here. The bad guy has become Flat Stanley. The best character didn't get enough page time.
However, the thriller aspects of the book are great. The settings, dangers, and raw grit were vividly described.
I will read the final book to see what happens when Han Solo gets thawed out.
January 27, 2019
"The Operative", Gerald Brandt's follow-up to the action packed "The Courier" is a disappointment. Uneven and packed with sadistic torture scenes, this novel tries to do to many things. There is a nascent revolution, a revenge plot, a rescue story , an inventor with a super device, and a war between corporations. As readers, we do not need a linear plot but too many story lines muddies the waters making it difficult to latch onto the main characters. In addition, the torture seems gratuitous. This is an okay sequel with a tacked on plot point.
Brandt's world building is diligent. Three Giant multinational corporations SoCal, IBD and Kadokawa control the world. They own countries and the politicians. The people are trapped in giant megacities. The corporations have built ceilings and walls. Humanity lives on levels, the richest live under the open sky on the top level, while the poorest and dregs of society live on the lowest level, with giant globes imitating the sun and painted on clouds. There are ramps between the first levels and relatively open movement, but the top levels are closed off from the top levels. Meanwhile the Corporations know where everyone is because they implant chips into your back so they can track you.
In "The Courier", Jeremy Adams, a high executive in Meridian, a smaller corporation, wanted to start a corporate war, but Kris, a messenger and loose end, stumbled onto his plot when his henchman tried to kill her, and ACE, an anti-corporation group, thwarted the plot. Adams lost his position and power. Meridian got taken over by Kadokawa, Kris got involved with Miller, an ACE operative. Happy ending.
In the "Operative" Kris is at an ACE boot camp learning to be an operative when the camp is attacked. Most of the candidates are killed, Kris and Pat, another trainee, escape, but Miller, who was visiting the camp is captured. Was it one of evil corporations coming to attack ACE because it's a threat to the corporations. NO. It was Jeremy Adams again trying to kill Kris because of her actions in "The Courier", but its more than that, Adams, it seems works actually runs ACE, which unbeknown to most of its dedicated members, is really a front used work against other corporations. Adams, a malicious psycho, tortures Miller repeatedly for fun and games. Miller knows if he stays with Adams, his days are numbered, and tries to escape.
Adams lover William, who, seemingly does not like Adams torturing, but has no backbone to confront Adams, is another high executive in ACE. He wants to kill Kris because she is a threat to ACE.
Meanwhile, Bryon Searls, invented a quantum space drive allowing faster than light travel, but unfortunately, the crew died of some mysterious illness. Now Searls had discovered a cure, but rather than disclose it to Kadokawa, he escapes to a lower level to try to sell his discovery or keep it out of their hands. Kadokawa, however is hunting him.
And in another plot point, Kai, who knows Kris and used to work for ACE, is involved with a revolutionary group, which is trying to start a rebellion against the corporations. Kai, who does not trust ACE, owns a restaurant in level 2 Chinatown, but is also a doctor.
While trying to find Miller, Kris and Pat will be attacked by agents of ACE, and join up with Kai.
Will Kris, Kai and Pat rescue Miller and thwart ACE's plans? What will happen with Searls?
There seems to be too many stories going on and too much unbelievable developments. Need a doctor, oh have Kai be a doctor. Need guns, oh Kai is involved with a revolutionary group, with guns and contacts. Need a way to the upper level where Miller is held, Kai can help.
Moreover the Searls story line is kind of added on for a third book purpose, weakly tied into the plot of this book.
"The Courier" was a fun read, while "The Operative", not fun at all. One can hope the third book in this series is a better book.
Brandt's world building is diligent. Three Giant multinational corporations SoCal, IBD and Kadokawa control the world. They own countries and the politicians. The people are trapped in giant megacities. The corporations have built ceilings and walls. Humanity lives on levels, the richest live under the open sky on the top level, while the poorest and dregs of society live on the lowest level, with giant globes imitating the sun and painted on clouds. There are ramps between the first levels and relatively open movement, but the top levels are closed off from the top levels. Meanwhile the Corporations know where everyone is because they implant chips into your back so they can track you.
In "The Courier", Jeremy Adams, a high executive in Meridian, a smaller corporation, wanted to start a corporate war, but Kris, a messenger and loose end, stumbled onto his plot when his henchman tried to kill her, and ACE, an anti-corporation group, thwarted the plot. Adams lost his position and power. Meridian got taken over by Kadokawa, Kris got involved with Miller, an ACE operative. Happy ending.
In the "Operative" Kris is at an ACE boot camp learning to be an operative when the camp is attacked. Most of the candidates are killed, Kris and Pat, another trainee, escape, but Miller, who was visiting the camp is captured. Was it one of evil corporations coming to attack ACE because it's a threat to the corporations. NO. It was Jeremy Adams again trying to kill Kris because of her actions in "The Courier", but its more than that, Adams, it seems works actually runs ACE, which unbeknown to most of its dedicated members, is really a front used work against other corporations. Adams, a malicious psycho, tortures Miller repeatedly for fun and games. Miller knows if he stays with Adams, his days are numbered, and tries to escape.
Adams lover William, who, seemingly does not like Adams torturing, but has no backbone to confront Adams, is another high executive in ACE. He wants to kill Kris because she is a threat to ACE.
Meanwhile, Bryon Searls, invented a quantum space drive allowing faster than light travel, but unfortunately, the crew died of some mysterious illness. Now Searls had discovered a cure, but rather than disclose it to Kadokawa, he escapes to a lower level to try to sell his discovery or keep it out of their hands. Kadokawa, however is hunting him.
And in another plot point, Kai, who knows Kris and used to work for ACE, is involved with a revolutionary group, which is trying to start a rebellion against the corporations. Kai, who does not trust ACE, owns a restaurant in level 2 Chinatown, but is also a doctor.
While trying to find Miller, Kris and Pat will be attacked by agents of ACE, and join up with Kai.
Will Kris, Kai and Pat rescue Miller and thwart ACE's plans? What will happen with Searls?
There seems to be too many stories going on and too much unbelievable developments. Need a doctor, oh have Kai be a doctor. Need guns, oh Kai is involved with a revolutionary group, with guns and contacts. Need a way to the upper level where Miller is held, Kai can help.
Moreover the Searls story line is kind of added on for a third book purpose, weakly tied into the plot of this book.
"The Courier" was a fun read, while "The Operative", not fun at all. One can hope the third book in this series is a better book.
July 10, 2020
This is the second book in Gerald Brandt's "San Angeles" series. This book picks up a year after the first book left off and I didn't think it was nearly was good as the first book. To be honest the book sort of bounced around a 2.5 and a 3.5 for me depending on how cliché things got. In fact, as I was getting towards the end of the book this whole story format just started to remind me more and more of Star Wars. I mean, I realize Star Wars isn't super original either, but I figure it's a big enough franchise that people can follow the example. Kid gets caught up in war between two factions, "rebel" side saves them, and helps train them to fight the evil empire. The first book ended with a hopeful idea, because our main characters are the "New Hope". So this being the 2nd book, means we're at "The Empire Strikes Back", which means it's going to be super tragic and not have a happy ending, all to set up for the final ending.
Aside from a few twists here and there, this format became painfully predictable over time, I even skipped to the end to see if I was right. I was. "The Operative" picks up about a year later from "The Courier" and our hero Kris Merrill has been in the ACE training camp for a full year. Her relationship with Ian has blossomed and things to seem to be on track for a good life. At this point, I was really looking forward to this turning into a power couple tale about how Ian and Kris hooked up and took down the evil corporations. Alas, I did not get that tale. Not enough books out there, in my opinion, do a solid power couple. If you want a solid power couple sci-fi novel check out Jacey Bardford's Empire of Dust which kicks off her own trilogy. So far that one does fairly well. Anyway, back to "The Operative", one thing I did like is that Gerald Brandt wastes no time getting to the action. He barely spent any time developing Kris' life in the camp before it gets attacked.
The reason it gets attacked is, frankly, pretty stupid. Ian basically gets captured right away and is out of commission the entire novel. So much for my power couple hopes... In fact Ian is tortured throughout the entire book and if that sort of thing disturbs you this may have to get a pass. It's nothing overly gory, mostly sticking with electrical shock stuff, but I'm sure some readers would like a pass on that as well. If it got really gory, I would definitely have just skipped those chapters.
Kris winds up being brought back to San Angeles and the whole story revolves around her trying to get Ian back amidst this other rebellion that starts to happen. She hooks up with her old friend Kai who ran the Chinese Restaurant in the first book and his back history runs way deeper than we ever saw in the first book. I thought he was a great character. As another reviewer pointed out, there is almost too much going on and it seems like Brandt was a little overzealous to create too much at once. It's not like I need simple stories, but I think certain levels of character development suffered.
Speaking of suffering. There's just entirely too much of it. I can get behind making stories more gritty and harsh, and then there's doing this excessively. A vast amount of time was spent on describing the various characters traumas and general injuries. Just to get the point across that what they were doing was difficult. What they were doing was already difficult, but pages are spent describing how much MORE difficult it was while injured. The only reason this got annoying is due to the absolute volume of this. There was a lot of story development pages wasted on just talking about how hard it was to do things while Pat had a PTSD breakdown. And I'm sure it was difficult, but by the second episode I didn't need it re-described to me again, even though what triggered it was different. It seemed like Brandt just wanted to pile tragedy on tragedy, to the point where it just got tiresome and made everything overly predictable even in the end.
So... in the end. "The Operative" kept up it's high octane action packed story, but fell absolutely flat in the over tragedy department. I like Brandt's world building and I love the action/adventure parts of this book, but he really needs to back off on the obsession of describing trauma. That was a problem in the first book and it just got worse in this one. If you want high octane stories like this Kieran Shae's Koko Takes a Holiday is how you do it! Granted Shae's second novel fell into the "let's make this overly tragic" trap, but overall it did make more sense and had better character development. Anyway, I usually will keep Sci-Fi books that I find really entertaining, but at this point Brandt's book series is not making my cut. I can't see myself re-reading this story, maybe the third book will wrap up super good, but the events that happened in this one has me worried and leaves a sour taste in my mouth (I know that was his point, but it could have been written better).
Aside from a few twists here and there, this format became painfully predictable over time, I even skipped to the end to see if I was right. I was. "The Operative" picks up about a year later from "The Courier" and our hero Kris Merrill has been in the ACE training camp for a full year. Her relationship with Ian has blossomed and things to seem to be on track for a good life. At this point, I was really looking forward to this turning into a power couple tale about how Ian and Kris hooked up and took down the evil corporations. Alas, I did not get that tale. Not enough books out there, in my opinion, do a solid power couple. If you want a solid power couple sci-fi novel check out Jacey Bardford's Empire of Dust which kicks off her own trilogy. So far that one does fairly well. Anyway, back to "The Operative", one thing I did like is that Gerald Brandt wastes no time getting to the action. He barely spent any time developing Kris' life in the camp before it gets attacked.
The reason it gets attacked is, frankly, pretty stupid. Ian basically gets captured right away and is out of commission the entire novel. So much for my power couple hopes... In fact Ian is tortured throughout the entire book and if that sort of thing disturbs you this may have to get a pass. It's nothing overly gory, mostly sticking with electrical shock stuff, but I'm sure some readers would like a pass on that as well. If it got really gory, I would definitely have just skipped those chapters.
Kris winds up being brought back to San Angeles and the whole story revolves around her trying to get Ian back amidst this other rebellion that starts to happen. She hooks up with her old friend Kai who ran the Chinese Restaurant in the first book and his back history runs way deeper than we ever saw in the first book. I thought he was a great character. As another reviewer pointed out, there is almost too much going on and it seems like Brandt was a little overzealous to create too much at once. It's not like I need simple stories, but I think certain levels of character development suffered.
Speaking of suffering. There's just entirely too much of it. I can get behind making stories more gritty and harsh, and then there's doing this excessively. A vast amount of time was spent on describing the various characters traumas and general injuries. Just to get the point across that what they were doing was difficult. What they were doing was already difficult, but pages are spent describing how much MORE difficult it was while injured. The only reason this got annoying is due to the absolute volume of this. There was a lot of story development pages wasted on just talking about how hard it was to do things while Pat had a PTSD breakdown. And I'm sure it was difficult, but by the second episode I didn't need it re-described to me again, even though what triggered it was different. It seemed like Brandt just wanted to pile tragedy on tragedy, to the point where it just got tiresome and made everything overly predictable even in the end.
So... in the end. "The Operative" kept up it's high octane action packed story, but fell absolutely flat in the over tragedy department. I like Brandt's world building and I love the action/adventure parts of this book, but he really needs to back off on the obsession of describing trauma. That was a problem in the first book and it just got worse in this one. If you want high octane stories like this Kieran Shae's Koko Takes a Holiday is how you do it! Granted Shae's second novel fell into the "let's make this overly tragic" trap, but overall it did make more sense and had better character development. Anyway, I usually will keep Sci-Fi books that I find really entertaining, but at this point Brandt's book series is not making my cut. I can't see myself re-reading this story, maybe the third book will wrap up super good, but the events that happened in this one has me worried and leaves a sour taste in my mouth (I know that was his point, but it could have been written better).
November 2, 2020
Heroine Kris ups her game and takes her battle against the world-controlling, corrupt corporations to the highest levels in this dystopian thriller. As her skills increase, so does her determination to do what is right to save those she loves, even when it's against explicit orders.
May 26, 2018
High action SF plot. As the middle book in the trilogy, the big plotline was still building, but Kris's personal stakes were quite high.
Quibble: Part of the ending annoyed me, but its a SPOILER so....
Quibble: Part of the ending annoyed me, but its a SPOILER so....
November 15, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Operative, by author Gerald Brandt, is the second installment in the San Angeles series. A series that takes place 100 years into the future. As I discussed in my view of The Courier, this is a world ruled, and dominated by Corporations. San Angeles is actually a place that stretches from San Diego to San Francisco. There are seven levels. The lowest levels are for the disinclined and others, while the top 3 levels are for those who means to support them. The corporations choose who the President will be, but he is their puppet. They decide who gets the best food, and places to live.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published November 1st 2016 by DAW
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
The Operative, by author Gerald Brandt, is the second installment in the San Angeles series. A series that takes place 100 years into the future. As I discussed in my view of The Courier, this is a world ruled, and dominated by Corporations. San Angeles is actually a place that stretches from San Diego to San Francisco. There are seven levels. The lowest levels are for the disinclined and others, while the top 3 levels are for those who means to support them. The corporations choose who the President will be, but he is their puppet. They decide who gets the best food, and places to live.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published November 1st 2016 by DAW
November 11, 2016
Beware the dark places of power and the fall of great men. They plunge those around them into the abyss that lurks inside us all.
August 1, 2019
Oy. 1.5 stars rounded up solely for two major twists I didn't see coming.
So in the first book Kris was unusually competent for a 16-year-old untrained orphan eking out a living on the lower levels of CorporateLandWestCoast, outdoing the baddies as a matter of course.
In this second installment she's had a year of guerilla training and is consequently much LESS competent (but even more impetuous). Yeah, that makes no sense.
Furthermore, the book is filled with crazy people doing crazy things because they're motivated by idiot love or revenge fantasies. And not-crazy people also do crazy things because nobody ever listens. Plot? What plot?
Half the book is filled with torture. I hate torture porn at the best of times, and this isn't that.
Also, evil bi character and seriously weak gay character; buzz off with that if you have no other LGBTQ people in your cheap book.
One positive thing was what we find out about the anti-corporate organization ACE. Actually, "positive" should definitely be in quotes.
Best thing was the ending; I didn't expect that and it opened new potential for a continuation (but I do expect it will piss off everyone who loved the first book for the romance). I'm gonna read the 3rd book solely because I already have it and I am curious whether the author can pull out of this death spin.
So in the first book Kris was unusually competent for a 16-year-old untrained orphan eking out a living on the lower levels of CorporateLandWestCoast, outdoing the baddies as a matter of course.
In this second installment she's had a year of guerilla training and is consequently much LESS competent (but even more impetuous). Yeah, that makes no sense.
Furthermore, the book is filled with crazy people doing crazy things because they're motivated by idiot love or revenge fantasies. And not-crazy people also do crazy things because nobody ever listens. Plot? What plot?
Half the book is filled with torture. I hate torture porn at the best of times, and this isn't that.
Also, evil bi character and seriously weak gay character; buzz off with that if you have no other LGBTQ people in your cheap book.
One positive thing was what we find out about the anti-corporate organization ACE. Actually, "positive" should definitely be in quotes.
Best thing was the ending; I didn't expect that and it opened new potential for a continuation (but I do expect it will piss off everyone who loved the first book for the romance). I'm gonna read the 3rd book solely because I already have it and I am curious whether the author can pull out of this death spin.
September 5, 2018
Major disappointment. I really enjoyed the first book in this series. However, this second installment is a whole lot of nothing. Most of book, no nearly ALL of the book was people running around or getting tortured. The entire plot was centered around Kris (the protagonist) running around (or climbing) and searching for her lover. She was created as a streetwise orphan who had also nearly completed a year’s worth of paramilitary training, but acted like a complete nitwit. She was two weeks from graduation but had no skills? Graduation doesn’t magically flip a switch—you should have some abilities.
There was a completely useless subplot about a physicist trying to escape the corporations’ grasp (I suppose it will be resolved in the third installment).
The writing was also rather uninspired. There was no character development and nothing added to the world building. The author should have tried to find different words for “pain” that would give the reader a more emotional reaction to the torture scenes. And the main villain had ZERO redeeming qualities, which made him very boring. There was no tension and the climax was boring—I really didn’t want to read ten pages of detailed climbing.
There was a completely useless subplot about a physicist trying to escape the corporations’ grasp (I suppose it will be resolved in the third installment).
The writing was also rather uninspired. There was no character development and nothing added to the world building. The author should have tried to find different words for “pain” that would give the reader a more emotional reaction to the torture scenes. And the main villain had ZERO redeeming qualities, which made him very boring. There was no tension and the climax was boring—I really didn’t want to read ten pages of detailed climbing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2020
This 2nd in the San Angeles trilogy, tries to intertwine too many subplots. The author has multiple Points of view going on:
1) Kris & Ian's story - Kris is training to become an operative of ACE, like boyfriend Ian. Ian is captured during a raid on said camp & Kris wants to get him back. Jeremy uses Ian as bait to get to Kris, whom ruined his big takeover plan.
2) Bryon Seales story - the inventor of Dimensional travel engine who finds out 1) he's not in control of his life 2) Meridan & Kadakawa Corporations want his invention for nefarious means.
3) Kia's story- from the 1st novel, a friend to Kris whom has unknown history w/ her dead parents.
4) Pat's story - a former ACE operative, who is now a cook at an ACE train camp Kris is at. Pat has to work through PTSD, to assist her after the camp is attacked.
5) Jeremy & William - Executives & former partners of Meridan Corporation who created ACE & are now using it for their own means. Jeremy wants revenge for Kris destroying his plans in the 1st novel, while William wants ACE to continue its mission of helping the people & planet. William wants Jeremy to leave corporate life & they go away to live in peace.
1) Kris & Ian's story - Kris is training to become an operative of ACE, like boyfriend Ian. Ian is captured during a raid on said camp & Kris wants to get him back. Jeremy uses Ian as bait to get to Kris, whom ruined his big takeover plan.
2) Bryon Seales story - the inventor of Dimensional travel engine who finds out 1) he's not in control of his life 2) Meridan & Kadakawa Corporations want his invention for nefarious means.
3) Kia's story- from the 1st novel, a friend to Kris whom has unknown history w/ her dead parents.
4) Pat's story - a former ACE operative, who is now a cook at an ACE train camp Kris is at. Pat has to work through PTSD, to assist her after the camp is attacked.
5) Jeremy & William - Executives & former partners of Meridan Corporation who created ACE & are now using it for their own means. Jeremy wants revenge for Kris destroying his plans in the 1st novel, while William wants ACE to continue its mission of helping the people & planet. William wants Jeremy to leave corporate life & they go away to live in peace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2017
The Operative is the second book in Gerald Brandt's San Angeles sci-fi thriller series and it continues the story of Kris Merrill.
Premise: In The Courier, Kris finds herself caught up in the politics of the corporations that rule a near future Earth, as well as the heavens above, when she accidentally witnesses a murder while delivering a package. She survives--because she's a survivor--but she can't return to life as a courier now. Instead, she's become involved in the resistance, training to be one of their operatives. But the Meridian corporation still wants her dead, as well as certain elements within the resistance itself. And they're willing to do anything--even use her mentor and lover Ian Miller--to get to her. As the city descends into civil unrest, she must find a way to rescue Ian ... but she doesn't know who she can trust.
I enjoyed this continuing story and thought it moved in a believable direction for Kris herself. She isn't really the kind of personality you'd think of as being an "operative," and that's clearly a drawback for her in the novel, giving it an immediate sense of tension. So while she has the training to be an operative, her heart isn't really in it, causing all kinds of problems throughout the novel as she searches for Ian and discovers who she can and cannot trust. This being a second novel in a series, there is a transitional nature to the novel, with not only Kris shifting from her courier days to something else, but the entire city and political shape of the world shifting as well. I'm looking forward to the third installment in this series.
If you like SF thrillers, I'd definitely recommend this series.
Premise: In The Courier, Kris finds herself caught up in the politics of the corporations that rule a near future Earth, as well as the heavens above, when she accidentally witnesses a murder while delivering a package. She survives--because she's a survivor--but she can't return to life as a courier now. Instead, she's become involved in the resistance, training to be one of their operatives. But the Meridian corporation still wants her dead, as well as certain elements within the resistance itself. And they're willing to do anything--even use her mentor and lover Ian Miller--to get to her. As the city descends into civil unrest, she must find a way to rescue Ian ... but she doesn't know who she can trust.
I enjoyed this continuing story and thought it moved in a believable direction for Kris herself. She isn't really the kind of personality you'd think of as being an "operative," and that's clearly a drawback for her in the novel, giving it an immediate sense of tension. So while she has the training to be an operative, her heart isn't really in it, causing all kinds of problems throughout the novel as she searches for Ian and discovers who she can and cannot trust. This being a second novel in a series, there is a transitional nature to the novel, with not only Kris shifting from her courier days to something else, but the entire city and political shape of the world shifting as well. I'm looking forward to the third installment in this series.
If you like SF thrillers, I'd definitely recommend this series.
November 1, 2016
I have to say that this title really surprised me. I chose it solely based on the cover without further research, so when I began reading it I did not know that it was the second in a series. Despite this, I really enjoyed it. The entire world has that Demolition Man meets Judge Dredd feel, and you can't go wrong with that. I really felt for the heroine of the story, but the villain just didn't measure up for me. I will definitely be going back to read the first one, and then give this another read. Make sure to pick up your own copy today!
April 13, 2018
Derivative, trite, and treacly second San Angeles thriller featuring a former courier, her love interest, on old family friend and the cook from her training center. Her anti-corporate organization is compromised and it's former manipulator is after her for ruining his career ambitions. Things get worse, including the stilted dialogue and unoriginal expositions. Not going to recommend even for fans of YA-oriented futuristic thrillers. Blah.
August 8, 2018
The story line was weird - some crazy guy is out to get her ... for what? I suppose he's nuts, so doing nutty things is okay. Plus Kris totally ignores that a rebellion is occurring, but happily allows rebels to die helping her in her single-minded obsession.
I suppose in some sense it is the same "President Snow/Katniss Everdeen" battle, but in The Hunger Games, Katniss was a symbol of a rebellion wanting Snow dead.
In this book, Kris is a symbol of nothing!
I suppose in some sense it is the same "President Snow/Katniss Everdeen" battle, but in The Hunger Games, Katniss was a symbol of a rebellion wanting Snow dead.
In this book, Kris is a symbol of nothing!
May 28, 2020
Unlike many of the reviews I read, I actually never read the first book “The Courier”. In fact, I didn’t even know there was a first book until I went back and read the reviews for “The Operative” after finishing. I think in some ways that’s good as you don’t need the first book to understand this book. Overall, it was good. It kept me hook during some parts and others seemed a little dragged out. It’s an easy read and has a good overarching plot line.
July 11, 2018
This was just bad. I was intrigued by this world in the first book, but this sequel left me feeling annoyed and disgusted. the characters became one dimensional, their motivations were inconsistent and made little sense, and the plotting was unbelievable. I can't believe I actually read the whole book. yuck.
September 7, 2024
A bit of a letdown after the first one showed such promise. I will give the last one a try, but am not so sure about this writer now. This one felt like one of those mid trilogy/series movies that only exists to draw out the story until the last film so more money can be made (ie The last Jedi, Deathly Hallows Part One, Breaking Dawn Part One, etc.)
February 25, 2017
Second books of trilogies are often the weakest of the three. Brandt avoids that sophomore jinx with The Operative. The same pounding action but with more complexity to the character exploration. Looking forward to the conclusion.
January 16, 2018
The pacing was slow, and I kept losing interest. Then I would pick it up again and finally finished it. I liked the World that was pictured but wanted better word smithing.
August 8, 2018
The first book was better. This one kinda drags on.
October 18, 2019
Feel like it's a 4.5 for me. Ending felt a little rushed.
November 11, 2019
A very good sequel
Was every bit as good as the first installment. Couldn't stop turning the page. Twists and turns everywhere. I cannot wait to read the next installment
Was every bit as good as the first installment. Couldn't stop turning the page. Twists and turns everywhere. I cannot wait to read the next installment
March 26, 2023
The first book was so fun, unfortunately this one was throughly depressing. Do not recommend.
September 12, 2023
Silly
super delivery girl 2
super delivery girl 2
January 5, 2024
Good action story.
Don't really enjoy the torture scenes.
Don't really enjoy the torture scenes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2016
I discovered Gerald Brandt by pure accident. I'd won a copy of THECOURIER on Goodreads. The cover was what caught my eye, initially. Once I started reading, however, I knew this would be an author I'd keep tabs on. Having just finished reading THE OPERATIVE, Book 2 in the San Angeles Series, I mean literally just finished reading it, I wanted to dive right in and write my review.
THE OPERATIVE takes place about a year after THE COURIER. Kris Merrill has joined ACE, and is in Canada for boot camp. That's how the book opens. Kris in boot camp. And then, everything goes completely crazy, just absolutely nuts.
Jeremy Adams, of the Meridian company, cannot forgive Kris for ruining his plans a year ago. She has not just crippled everything he's dedicated his life toward accomplishing, she'd demolished his every dream. All he has left is his hate, and desperate need for revenge. He will stop at nothing until he has Kris in his hands.
When the ACE boot camp training center is attacked, the few survivors are flown by transport to Santa Barbara. The transport is attacked, and legendary ACE agent Ian Miller is captured. Miller is Kris' lover. Her best friend. The reason she joined ACE in the first place. And she was helpless to stop the abduction, she was unable to keep him safe from the assailants.
Bryson Searls is the son of "Doc" Searls, and the founder of the Quantum Jump Drive. His invention of transporting things from here to there will revolutionize the world. Despite serious bugs discovered after the first test on humans, Kadokawa (one of the 3 major corporations), insists on moving forward. Taking all of his research data, and wiping clean any remnants on Kadokawa systems, Bryson makes a break for it. In doing so, he put his life in jeopardy. Kadokawa doesn't just want his information, so do SoCal, and IBC (the other 2 major corporations). And they will stop at nothing to obtain the sensitive data, including going to war with each other.
The insurgents have suspected something was wrong with ACE since its inception. While the company was started to hinder the overall control and power of the Big 3, things have changed. Kai, a restaurant owner is part of the movement, and lifelong friends with Kris. A war has been started. The poor are revolting. The crashed transport shuttle left an opening in the wall. Teams move into place to systematically bring down the upper class levels. Together, and with the help of some other trusted allies, they may also be the only chance Ian Mill has to survive the kidnapping.
In this taut three-hundred-page novel, so much is happening. The action does not let up. Brandt writes in a way that keeps the tale clear, and easy to follow. He gives readers an even deeper, indepth look into who Kris is, but more than that, we get detailed lines into the lives of the other supporting characters in the novel. Quick, and violent, engaging, and intense, I loved THE OPERATIVE as much as I loved THE COURIER, and have developed an even deeper appreciation for author Gerald Brandt.
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The VaccinationTrilogy
THE OPERATIVE takes place about a year after THE COURIER. Kris Merrill has joined ACE, and is in Canada for boot camp. That's how the book opens. Kris in boot camp. And then, everything goes completely crazy, just absolutely nuts.
Jeremy Adams, of the Meridian company, cannot forgive Kris for ruining his plans a year ago. She has not just crippled everything he's dedicated his life toward accomplishing, she'd demolished his every dream. All he has left is his hate, and desperate need for revenge. He will stop at nothing until he has Kris in his hands.
When the ACE boot camp training center is attacked, the few survivors are flown by transport to Santa Barbara. The transport is attacked, and legendary ACE agent Ian Miller is captured. Miller is Kris' lover. Her best friend. The reason she joined ACE in the first place. And she was helpless to stop the abduction, she was unable to keep him safe from the assailants.
Bryson Searls is the son of "Doc" Searls, and the founder of the Quantum Jump Drive. His invention of transporting things from here to there will revolutionize the world. Despite serious bugs discovered after the first test on humans, Kadokawa (one of the 3 major corporations), insists on moving forward. Taking all of his research data, and wiping clean any remnants on Kadokawa systems, Bryson makes a break for it. In doing so, he put his life in jeopardy. Kadokawa doesn't just want his information, so do SoCal, and IBC (the other 2 major corporations). And they will stop at nothing to obtain the sensitive data, including going to war with each other.
The insurgents have suspected something was wrong with ACE since its inception. While the company was started to hinder the overall control and power of the Big 3, things have changed. Kai, a restaurant owner is part of the movement, and lifelong friends with Kris. A war has been started. The poor are revolting. The crashed transport shuttle left an opening in the wall. Teams move into place to systematically bring down the upper class levels. Together, and with the help of some other trusted allies, they may also be the only chance Ian Mill has to survive the kidnapping.
In this taut three-hundred-page novel, so much is happening. The action does not let up. Brandt writes in a way that keeps the tale clear, and easy to follow. He gives readers an even deeper, indepth look into who Kris is, but more than that, we get detailed lines into the lives of the other supporting characters in the novel. Quick, and violent, engaging, and intense, I loved THE OPERATIVE as much as I loved THE COURIER, and have developed an even deeper appreciation for author Gerald Brandt.
Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The VaccinationTrilogy
February 25, 2017
After the events of The Courier, Kris is now in training for an anti-corporation group, but old enemies with a grudge still want her dead.
I received this book for free from a giveaway. It did not affect my review, except in that I would not have read this book if I had not. The first one wasn't my thing enough to want to follow it up.
I didn't hate that first book, but it wasn't great, and there were some big flaws. This book contains virtually all of those flaws, only it manages to be worse in other areas. But let's speak of the one flaw that didn't carry over... we didn't have any flashbacks to the main character's previous sexual abuse nor was that (mostly) used as a cheap threat. So, credit where credit is due (though there is a lot of scenes of torture, which might be too much for some people).
Unfortunately the book is now filled to the brim with unrealistic coincidences and characters so driven by revenge (over stupid things) that they lose all reason. The first is a phenomenon you often see in long-running series, like comics, where successive writers, starved for something interesting to do, posit that two characters from previous stories were secretly connected even though narratively they didn't need to be or it didn't make sense, minor characters from the first book suddenly being tied into the main character's backstory, or two seemingly unrelated groups being lead by the same people. It's a troubling flaw to see in the second book in a series. It also play off the second, with some of the coincidences making it even more bizarre that the bad guys didn't simply act the tiniest bit smarter so they could accomplish their goals with minimal difficulty.
Where the book wasn't pulling connections out of nowhere, it was largely predictable.
I guess if you're looking for fun action this series is decent enough, but it just strained plausibility too far without offering enough in return for me.
I received this book for free from a giveaway. It did not affect my review, except in that I would not have read this book if I had not. The first one wasn't my thing enough to want to follow it up.
I didn't hate that first book, but it wasn't great, and there were some big flaws. This book contains virtually all of those flaws, only it manages to be worse in other areas. But let's speak of the one flaw that didn't carry over... we didn't have any flashbacks to the main character's previous sexual abuse nor was that (mostly) used as a cheap threat. So, credit where credit is due (though there is a lot of scenes of torture, which might be too much for some people).
Unfortunately the book is now filled to the brim with unrealistic coincidences and characters so driven by revenge (over stupid things) that they lose all reason. The first is a phenomenon you often see in long-running series, like comics, where successive writers, starved for something interesting to do, posit that two characters from previous stories were secretly connected even though narratively they didn't need to be or it didn't make sense, minor characters from the first book suddenly being tied into the main character's backstory, or two seemingly unrelated groups being lead by the same people. It's a troubling flaw to see in the second book in a series. It also play off the second, with some of the coincidences making it even more bizarre that the bad guys didn't simply act the tiniest bit smarter so they could accomplish their goals with minimal difficulty.
Where the book wasn't pulling connections out of nowhere, it was largely predictable.
I guess if you're looking for fun action this series is decent enough, but it just strained plausibility too far without offering enough in return for me.
January 7, 2017
This was a fantastic follow-up to the first book in the "San Angeles" series, and I sincerely hope it continues to a book 3, book 4, and beyond.
With the three major corporations gong to war (not a major spoiler, as it mostly happens in the background), and Kris, the protagonist, freshly inspired to fight for the common people by the end (again, not really a spoiler), a third book is certainly set up.
We also meet new characters, learn a lot more about some existing characters, and see more of the unique "world." Honestly, my only problem with the book was that I finished it too quickly! (Even after trying to slow my read down, to no avail!)
Do not read this without reading the first book in the series, but definitely read both if you like good dystopian stories!
With the three major corporations gong to war (not a major spoiler, as it mostly happens in the background), and Kris, the protagonist, freshly inspired to fight for the common people by the end (again, not really a spoiler), a third book is certainly set up.
We also meet new characters, learn a lot more about some existing characters, and see more of the unique "world." Honestly, my only problem with the book was that I finished it too quickly! (Even after trying to slow my read down, to no avail!)
Do not read this without reading the first book in the series, but definitely read both if you like good dystopian stories!
December 3, 2016
The first book in the serie showed promise but the second doesn't deliver.
There's no additional world building and the motivation of the characters doesn't really seem logical.
There's no additional world building and the motivation of the characters doesn't really seem logical.
Read
July 4, 2017The next installment in the San Angeles Trilogy - that one with the Final Fantasy VII style tiered city and dystopian cyberpunk setting. (Waiting for the part where the corporations bomb the support columns to drop one level on top of another and blame it on the freedom fighters...)
It starts with Kris having changed her name for privacy reasons. Mixing up the letters of your boyfriends last name to come up with your new last name Kris? Why don't you just tattoo his name across your chest like all the other cool girls?
Anyway, she's in training to be an operative for ACE now, the secret rebel group that's trying to fight the corporations, when the training facility is attacked. I was glad to see the plot got more twisty after that, with Kris getting information leading her to doubt whether or not ACE was actually everything she's been told it is.
All the while she's got another survivor of the attack in tow who suffers from some pretty severe PTSD. I liked this character, and the fact that Kris gets to have some female companionship while she tries to track down her boyfriend.
Ian gets to be the damsel in distress for most of this book, and I'm willing to bet there's going to be some whiney male readers who don't like seeing a male love interest given treatment typically reserved for female love interests. Screw 'em though. Torture porn content warning.
Plot wise, The Operative I think did what it needed to do in a sequel. Book one had Kris just focused on not dying, and book two would have been boring if it was more of the same. Instead her goals get to expand to keeping her boyfriend from dying, and finding out the truth about ACE. The scope of impact of her actions grows too, from simply slipping out of the Corporations' grasp, to doing some real damage.
This was more of the fast paced action of the last one. Trilogies usually go one way or the other - either each book gets better, or they peter out. This one is definitely getting better as it goes along. You can tell the author's making an effort towards getting some diversity into it, even more so with book two than book one, and even in book one there were a number of female side characters and it wasn't just a "Hey look, female protagonist" and then no other female character in the entire book like some books. Book two had a gay couple and several new female characters to replace the ones that didn't make it to the end of book one. And the Chinese guy who was a background character in book one steps up into a main supporting role.
And it's set up well for the sequel. I hope Kris gets to go to the space station or something; that would be cool. I wonder how many characters will still be alive at the end of book three!
It starts with Kris having changed her name for privacy reasons. Mixing up the letters of your boyfriends last name to come up with your new last name Kris? Why don't you just tattoo his name across your chest like all the other cool girls?
Anyway, she's in training to be an operative for ACE now, the secret rebel group that's trying to fight the corporations, when the training facility is attacked. I was glad to see the plot got more twisty after that, with Kris getting information leading her to doubt whether or not ACE was actually everything she's been told it is.
All the while she's got another survivor of the attack in tow who suffers from some pretty severe PTSD. I liked this character, and the fact that Kris gets to have some female companionship while she tries to track down her boyfriend.
Ian gets to be the damsel in distress for most of this book, and I'm willing to bet there's going to be some whiney male readers who don't like seeing a male love interest given treatment typically reserved for female love interests. Screw 'em though. Torture porn content warning.
Plot wise, The Operative I think did what it needed to do in a sequel. Book one had Kris just focused on not dying, and book two would have been boring if it was more of the same. Instead her goals get to expand to keeping her boyfriend from dying, and finding out the truth about ACE. The scope of impact of her actions grows too, from simply slipping out of the Corporations' grasp, to doing some real damage.
This was more of the fast paced action of the last one. Trilogies usually go one way or the other - either each book gets better, or they peter out. This one is definitely getting better as it goes along. You can tell the author's making an effort towards getting some diversity into it, even more so with book two than book one, and even in book one there were a number of female side characters and it wasn't just a "Hey look, female protagonist" and then no other female character in the entire book like some books. Book two had a gay couple and several new female characters to replace the ones that didn't make it to the end of book one. And the Chinese guy who was a background character in book one steps up into a main supporting role.
And it's set up well for the sequel. I hope Kris gets to go to the space station or something; that would be cool. I wonder how many characters will still be alive at the end of book three!
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