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Reawakening Trilogy #3
Siege Line
Myke Cole continues to blow the military fantasy genre wide open with SIEGE LINE, an all-new epic adventure in the highly acclaimed Reawakening trilogy.
The Gemini Cell has taken everything from former Navy SEAL James Schweitzer: his family, his career, his life. Schweitzer knows the only way he can stop running, the only way to keep his son safe, is to destroy the Cell once and for all.
But out of control and fighting a secret war against the government it once served, the Cell will not be destroyed easily. Its Director has been sent to the far reaches of the subarctic to search for a secret that could allow the Cell to seize control of the country.
Schweitzer must move fast and join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a bid to get there first . . .
The Gemini Cell has taken everything from former Navy SEAL James Schweitzer: his family, his career, his life. Schweitzer knows the only way he can stop running, the only way to keep his son safe, is to destroy the Cell once and for all.
But out of control and fighting a secret war against the government it once served, the Cell will not be destroyed easily. Its Director has been sent to the far reaches of the subarctic to search for a secret that could allow the Cell to seize control of the country.
Schweitzer must move fast and join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a bid to get there first . . .
448 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2017
37 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Myke Cole
26 books1,738 followersAs a security contractor, government civilian and military officer, Myke Cole’s career has run the gamut from Counterterrorism to Cyber Warfare to Federal Law Enforcement. He’s done three tours in Iraq and was recalled to serve during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. After hunting terrorists and criminals in real life, he kept up the job on TV, first tracking fugitives on CBS’ 2017 show Hunted, and UFOs on Discovery Channel’s 2019 show Contact.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
August 16, 2017
For some unfathomable reason, it often feels as though Myke Cole remains one of the genre's best-kept secrets. True, military fantasy may not be everyone's cup of tea, but Cole's two series are as accessible as they are compelling. It's been years since I last encountered a fantasy series with so much mass appeal and there's nothing I would like more than to see these books get more widely read and enjoyed. The Shadow Ops trilogy was fresh and unlike anything else I have ever read. All three volumes were fun, intelligent, action-packed, and entertaining reads, each packing a healthy dose of ass-kicking! Breach Zone closed the show with an exclamation point and it was obvious then that Cole had become one of speculative fiction's brightest new voices
But the Gemini Cell series would focus on the early days of the Great Awakening, when magic first returned to the world and changed everything. Featuring new characters and new plotlines, I was wondering if the author could do it again. Indeed, the Shadow Ops trilogy generated some lofty expectations for whatever would follow. With Gemini Cell Myke Cole set my mind at ease and proved that his first series was no fluke. Javelin Rain was another worthy sequel that set the stage for what could be a great finale. Now with five quality yarns under his belt, there was no reason to doubt that Siege Line would be another captivating read. And once more, Cole's latest novel delivers on all fronts and caps off this series with style and aplomb!
Here's the blurb:
In Myke Cole’s latest high-octane, action-packed military fantasy, the fate of undead Navy SEAL James Schweitzer will be decided—one way or another…
The Gemini Cell took everything from Jim Schweitzer: his family, his career as a Navy SEAL, even his life. Hounded across the country, Schweitzer knows the only way he can ever stop running, the only way his son can ever be safe, is to take the fight to the enemy and annihilate the Cell once and for all.
But the Cell won’t be easily destroyed. Out of control and fighting a secret war with the government it once served, it has dispatched its shadowy Director to the far reaches of the subarctic in search of a secret magic that could tip the balance of power in its favor. Schweitzer must join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a desperate bid to get there first—and avert a disaster that could put the Cell in control.
Myke Cole continues to grow as a writer, getting more mature and in better control of his craft with each new published book. Hard to say whether or not the man has reached his peak, but he sure has become one of my favorite authors out there. As was the case with past installments, the fact that he served for years in the military and seen active duty allows him to imbue his books with a credibility regarding the realism of the use of magic in military operations and its ramifications up and down the chain of command. I feel that this gives any Myke Cole work its unique "flavor" and remains what sets them apart from everything else on the market. The early days of what will come to be known as the Great Awakening form the backdrop of this new trilogy. Magic has returned to our world and the US military is trying to harness these new powers for their own gain. From the get-go, I was particularly looking forward to finding out how the top secret unit known as the Gemini Cell would grow to become the SOC. Sadly, it seemed that this second series occurred too early during the Great Awakening, so it was doubtful that it would fill in the blanks created by the questions raised in the Shadow Ops trilogy. Having finished Siege Line, I can confirm that it is indeed the case. We do learn a few things, mind you. But I figure that there will be at least a series or two to bridge the gap between the two trilogies. If he can get a new book deal, Cole has already said that the next Shadow Ops series would pick up immediately after the events of Breach Zone, with many of the characters from the original trilogy. Which means that readers will likely have to wait for a while before discovering how the SOC came together. And yet, if like me you loved how Cole closed the show in Breach Zone, then you're equally looking forward to finding out what happens next. So it's kind of a win-win situation.
The Shadow Ops series was a more far-reaching work of fiction, with more characters and more multilayered storylines. And although the Gemini Cell trilogy is no less ambitious, the focus is much tighter. It occurs within a more limited time frame and we witness events taking place through the eyes of a smaller cast of protagonists. Early on, I was expecting these new novels to be as sprawling as the Shadow Ops installments. Now that I've reached the conclusion of the second series, there is no denying that Jim Schweitzer's tale, though it will probably kickstart the Great Awakening and everything it will engender, isn't as vast in scope. In and of itself, this raises yet more questions, as Jim Schweitzer's story is far from over. But how the events chronicled within the pages of Siege Line will progress and evolve into something that will lead to international cooperation and the creation of the SOC, that remains to be seen. The silver lining is that Cole still has a lot of stories to tell, which bodes well for all of us!
As is the author's wont, Siege Line is another character-driven affair. Cole always had a knack for creating genuine three-dimensional characters with good back stories. The smaller cast featured in the Gemini Cell series allows readers to connect with the characters at a deeper level. This time around, Jim Schweitzer's point of view is balanced with the perspective of the mysterious Director and that of Wilma "Mankiller" Plante, an Afghanistan veteran and the sheriff of a little hamlet in Canada's Northwest Territories. The supporting cast is particularly memorable, especially Jala Ghaznavi, Reeves and his team, and Joe Yakecan. À la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Cole continues to show a deft human touch which allows him to come up with unexpected emotional scenes packing a powerful punch.
Kudos for his amazing depiction of Northern Canada's frozen and desolate scenery. Not bad for a New Yorker who complains every time temperatures approach freezing point, or if a little snowfall hits his home! The portion of the novel taking place in the Northwest Territories was by far the most interesting, with an endgame that stays with you and immediately makes you want to find out what comes next.
As far as the rhythm goes, this book could be Cole's best paced yet. I felt that both Breach Zone and Gemini Cell suffered from rushed endings. I thought that a 300-page set-up and only 30-something pages to close the show felt a bit incongruous, and that the author likely needed more pages to do justice to the tale he was telling. Javelin Rain was much better balanced and the same can be said of Siege Line. Indeed, though the wordcount appears to be quite similar, it felt as though this third volume was as long as it needed to be.
If you have yet to give Myke Cole a shot, please do so ASAP! Decades separate these two series, so you can start with either without missing a beat. Whatever you do, whether you go for the Shadow Ops books or the second series, you can't really go wrong!
Siege Line is military fantasy with heart and soul. Definitely one of the books to read this year. Or any year!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com.
But the Gemini Cell series would focus on the early days of the Great Awakening, when magic first returned to the world and changed everything. Featuring new characters and new plotlines, I was wondering if the author could do it again. Indeed, the Shadow Ops trilogy generated some lofty expectations for whatever would follow. With Gemini Cell Myke Cole set my mind at ease and proved that his first series was no fluke. Javelin Rain was another worthy sequel that set the stage for what could be a great finale. Now with five quality yarns under his belt, there was no reason to doubt that Siege Line would be another captivating read. And once more, Cole's latest novel delivers on all fronts and caps off this series with style and aplomb!
Here's the blurb:
In Myke Cole’s latest high-octane, action-packed military fantasy, the fate of undead Navy SEAL James Schweitzer will be decided—one way or another…
The Gemini Cell took everything from Jim Schweitzer: his family, his career as a Navy SEAL, even his life. Hounded across the country, Schweitzer knows the only way he can ever stop running, the only way his son can ever be safe, is to take the fight to the enemy and annihilate the Cell once and for all.
But the Cell won’t be easily destroyed. Out of control and fighting a secret war with the government it once served, it has dispatched its shadowy Director to the far reaches of the subarctic in search of a secret magic that could tip the balance of power in its favor. Schweitzer must join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a desperate bid to get there first—and avert a disaster that could put the Cell in control.
Myke Cole continues to grow as a writer, getting more mature and in better control of his craft with each new published book. Hard to say whether or not the man has reached his peak, but he sure has become one of my favorite authors out there. As was the case with past installments, the fact that he served for years in the military and seen active duty allows him to imbue his books with a credibility regarding the realism of the use of magic in military operations and its ramifications up and down the chain of command. I feel that this gives any Myke Cole work its unique "flavor" and remains what sets them apart from everything else on the market. The early days of what will come to be known as the Great Awakening form the backdrop of this new trilogy. Magic has returned to our world and the US military is trying to harness these new powers for their own gain. From the get-go, I was particularly looking forward to finding out how the top secret unit known as the Gemini Cell would grow to become the SOC. Sadly, it seemed that this second series occurred too early during the Great Awakening, so it was doubtful that it would fill in the blanks created by the questions raised in the Shadow Ops trilogy. Having finished Siege Line, I can confirm that it is indeed the case. We do learn a few things, mind you. But I figure that there will be at least a series or two to bridge the gap between the two trilogies. If he can get a new book deal, Cole has already said that the next Shadow Ops series would pick up immediately after the events of Breach Zone, with many of the characters from the original trilogy. Which means that readers will likely have to wait for a while before discovering how the SOC came together. And yet, if like me you loved how Cole closed the show in Breach Zone, then you're equally looking forward to finding out what happens next. So it's kind of a win-win situation.
The Shadow Ops series was a more far-reaching work of fiction, with more characters and more multilayered storylines. And although the Gemini Cell trilogy is no less ambitious, the focus is much tighter. It occurs within a more limited time frame and we witness events taking place through the eyes of a smaller cast of protagonists. Early on, I was expecting these new novels to be as sprawling as the Shadow Ops installments. Now that I've reached the conclusion of the second series, there is no denying that Jim Schweitzer's tale, though it will probably kickstart the Great Awakening and everything it will engender, isn't as vast in scope. In and of itself, this raises yet more questions, as Jim Schweitzer's story is far from over. But how the events chronicled within the pages of Siege Line will progress and evolve into something that will lead to international cooperation and the creation of the SOC, that remains to be seen. The silver lining is that Cole still has a lot of stories to tell, which bodes well for all of us!
As is the author's wont, Siege Line is another character-driven affair. Cole always had a knack for creating genuine three-dimensional characters with good back stories. The smaller cast featured in the Gemini Cell series allows readers to connect with the characters at a deeper level. This time around, Jim Schweitzer's point of view is balanced with the perspective of the mysterious Director and that of Wilma "Mankiller" Plante, an Afghanistan veteran and the sheriff of a little hamlet in Canada's Northwest Territories. The supporting cast is particularly memorable, especially Jala Ghaznavi, Reeves and his team, and Joe Yakecan. À la Robin Hobb and Jacqueline Carey, Cole continues to show a deft human touch which allows him to come up with unexpected emotional scenes packing a powerful punch.
Kudos for his amazing depiction of Northern Canada's frozen and desolate scenery. Not bad for a New Yorker who complains every time temperatures approach freezing point, or if a little snowfall hits his home! The portion of the novel taking place in the Northwest Territories was by far the most interesting, with an endgame that stays with you and immediately makes you want to find out what comes next.
As far as the rhythm goes, this book could be Cole's best paced yet. I felt that both Breach Zone and Gemini Cell suffered from rushed endings. I thought that a 300-page set-up and only 30-something pages to close the show felt a bit incongruous, and that the author likely needed more pages to do justice to the tale he was telling. Javelin Rain was much better balanced and the same can be said of Siege Line. Indeed, though the wordcount appears to be quite similar, it felt as though this third volume was as long as it needed to be.
If you have yet to give Myke Cole a shot, please do so ASAP! Decades separate these two series, so you can start with either without missing a beat. Whatever you do, whether you go for the Shadow Ops books or the second series, you can't really go wrong!
Siege Line is military fantasy with heart and soul. Definitely one of the books to read this year. Or any year!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com.
November 13, 2017
Siege Line by Myke Cole is the 3rd and final novel in the Gemini Cell trilogy, a prequel series to the Shadow-Ops military fantasy series. Siege Line completes the story of Jim Schweitzer, former Navy Seal. The novel picks up immediately after the events of Javelin Rain.
The Great Reawakening (the return of magic to the world) has not yet happened (read the Shadow-Ops trilogy for more on that). Magic is being used by the Gemini Cell to create 'zombies' - dead animated by the souls of powerful and evil jinns pulled from the soul storm by a sorcerer. Jim is one of those animated by magic. He is superhuman with a body that is part metal part flesh. He has magical abilities - super strength, extremely acute hearing and sight, and more. Jim has decided that the Gemini Cell and its Director must be eliminated and he will go to any lengths to assure that.
Much of the action in Siege Line takes place in the Northwest Territory of Canada in around the very small village of Fort Resolution. Cole's description of Fort Resolution and the surrounding frigid and snow swept area is vivid. He has more than done his homework when it comes to the area and the people who live there.
Cole introduces many of the residents of Fort Resolution. I am particularly taken with Wilma "Mankiller" Plante, an Afghanistan veteran and the sheriff of Fort Resolution, and one of her deputies Joe Yakecan. Both are pivotal to the novel especially Mankiller who more or less steals the show. Mankiller is of great interest to the Director of Gemini Cell, which means that Jim will do anything to help her.
This is Cole's most emotionally complex novel. Schweitzer's desire to hold on to his humanity, to be with his son again, and to set things right regardless of the cost to himself is palpable throughout the story. Cole delves into the emotions of many of his characters as they face finding out about magic in the world and about devastating loss. Mankiller is deeply developed and her background and motivations are clear. We learn much more about the Director of Gemini Cell and what makes him tick.
There is a very big reveal that is both heartbreaking and makes perfect sense after I got over the shock. I definitely had a "wow" moment followed by an "of course!" moment. Kudos for Cole for both startling me and making so many pieces fall into place with that reveal.
Cole has matured as a novelist throughout the Shadow-Ops and Gemini Cell trilogies. Siege Line is beautifully written with near perfect pacing. It is action packed with nailbiting fight sequences, close escapes, and terrible losses. The cast of characters is exceptionally well drawn.
Am I sad that this was the last novel in the Shadow-Ops world? Incredibly. Cole ends the series on such a high note with so much hope that it's hard to stay sad for long. Siege Line is a wonderful novel full of believable characters, exhilarating action, heroes to cheer for, and so much heart.
The Great Reawakening (the return of magic to the world) has not yet happened (read the Shadow-Ops trilogy for more on that). Magic is being used by the Gemini Cell to create 'zombies' - dead animated by the souls of powerful and evil jinns pulled from the soul storm by a sorcerer. Jim is one of those animated by magic. He is superhuman with a body that is part metal part flesh. He has magical abilities - super strength, extremely acute hearing and sight, and more. Jim has decided that the Gemini Cell and its Director must be eliminated and he will go to any lengths to assure that.
Much of the action in Siege Line takes place in the Northwest Territory of Canada in around the very small village of Fort Resolution. Cole's description of Fort Resolution and the surrounding frigid and snow swept area is vivid. He has more than done his homework when it comes to the area and the people who live there.
Cole introduces many of the residents of Fort Resolution. I am particularly taken with Wilma "Mankiller" Plante, an Afghanistan veteran and the sheriff of Fort Resolution, and one of her deputies Joe Yakecan. Both are pivotal to the novel especially Mankiller who more or less steals the show. Mankiller is of great interest to the Director of Gemini Cell, which means that Jim will do anything to help her.
This is Cole's most emotionally complex novel. Schweitzer's desire to hold on to his humanity, to be with his son again, and to set things right regardless of the cost to himself is palpable throughout the story. Cole delves into the emotions of many of his characters as they face finding out about magic in the world and about devastating loss. Mankiller is deeply developed and her background and motivations are clear. We learn much more about the Director of Gemini Cell and what makes him tick.
There is a very big reveal that is both heartbreaking and makes perfect sense after I got over the shock. I definitely had a "wow" moment followed by an "of course!" moment. Kudos for Cole for both startling me and making so many pieces fall into place with that reveal.
Cole has matured as a novelist throughout the Shadow-Ops and Gemini Cell trilogies. Siege Line is beautifully written with near perfect pacing. It is action packed with nailbiting fight sequences, close escapes, and terrible losses. The cast of characters is exceptionally well drawn.
Am I sad that this was the last novel in the Shadow-Ops world? Incredibly. Cole ends the series on such a high note with so much hope that it's hard to stay sad for long. Siege Line is a wonderful novel full of believable characters, exhilarating action, heroes to cheer for, and so much heart.
October 7, 2017
Top notch closer to this series.
January 24, 2019
This was my second Myke Cole story (after the novella Armored Saint, of which I had mixed feelings.) When I requested this book, I did not realize it was the concluding book to a trilogy, but was still able to get a summary of events through contextual clues.
The focus of the story is on Jim Schweitzer, a former Navy Seal, who has become a reanimated android with extensive preternatural powers. The Gemini Cell is responsible for controlling the magic behind the reanimation of soldiers like Jim, and their plans are revelaed to be nefarious. Jim takes it upon himself to eliminate the director of the firm and take down the company before it's evil influences spread too far and its power becomes too great.
One of the more interesting aspects of this story is the setting. Fort Resolution is a small town set in a frigid landscape in northern Canada. Cole successfully conveys the harshness of the territory and it has a definitive impact on the characters' actions throughout several parts of the story. I enjoy stories where the environment plays a major role in the story, and this book suceeded in that area.
The book contains some incredible action sequences, and Cole does a wonderful job of writing scenes of increasing tension and detailed combat situations. There is also a strong supporting cast -- one character in particular, Plante, has a great character arc and I found her role engaging. I would certainly like to have seen more of her in the story -- perhaps a prequel series or a short story would suffice!
It's difficult for me to judge the emotional impact of some of the bigger revelations in the story, as I was not privy to how these arcs were built over the full trilogy. I can, however, say that I was surprised at how well Cole handled these reveals, and how one in particular changed my perspective and added some nuance to the prototypical "good vs. bad" arc.
Overall, this prequel series ends on a high note, It is a fast-paced thriller with an intriguing mix of science fiction and military fantasy, with some interesting political statements (that not everyone might agree with) and some surprisingly deep character development for a novel of its type. After "Armored Saint," I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to continue exploring Cole's work, but "Siege Line" has convinced me to check out the Shadow Ops trilogy at some point in the near future.
The focus of the story is on Jim Schweitzer, a former Navy Seal, who has become a reanimated android with extensive preternatural powers. The Gemini Cell is responsible for controlling the magic behind the reanimation of soldiers like Jim, and their plans are revelaed to be nefarious. Jim takes it upon himself to eliminate the director of the firm and take down the company before it's evil influences spread too far and its power becomes too great.
One of the more interesting aspects of this story is the setting. Fort Resolution is a small town set in a frigid landscape in northern Canada. Cole successfully conveys the harshness of the territory and it has a definitive impact on the characters' actions throughout several parts of the story. I enjoy stories where the environment plays a major role in the story, and this book suceeded in that area.
The book contains some incredible action sequences, and Cole does a wonderful job of writing scenes of increasing tension and detailed combat situations. There is also a strong supporting cast -- one character in particular, Plante, has a great character arc and I found her role engaging. I would certainly like to have seen more of her in the story -- perhaps a prequel series or a short story would suffice!
It's difficult for me to judge the emotional impact of some of the bigger revelations in the story, as I was not privy to how these arcs were built over the full trilogy. I can, however, say that I was surprised at how well Cole handled these reveals, and how one in particular changed my perspective and added some nuance to the prototypical "good vs. bad" arc.
Overall, this prequel series ends on a high note, It is a fast-paced thriller with an intriguing mix of science fiction and military fantasy, with some interesting political statements (that not everyone might agree with) and some surprisingly deep character development for a novel of its type. After "Armored Saint," I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to continue exploring Cole's work, but "Siege Line" has convinced me to check out the Shadow Ops trilogy at some point in the near future.
October 17, 2017
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
Siege Line is the third in Myke Cole’s ‘Reawakening’ trilogy. The first two books in the series looked at a world where magic was gradually returning, and in particular at an off-the-books government program which, as you might expect, picks up the magic, runs with it, and maybe takes it a bit too far.
The first two books were fast-paced thrillers, liberally mixing magical weirdness with entirely plausible tactical action and emotionally raw characters. Siege Line picks up on these narrative traits, and dials them up to eleven. The action takes place across suburban Virginia and the somewhat less populated Canadian Northwest Territories. Virginia we’ve seen before, though the various government offices do manage to carry the whiff of glacial bureaucracy about them. That they also carry the scent of smart people doing important and occasionally lethal work is a credit to Cole’s tight and evocative prose.
That prose gets a workout when it comes to dealing with the wilds of Canada. Cole brings the stark, pristine geography of the area to life. There’s a sense of the wilderness, of the potential for isolation, floating through the story at times, and it dovetails well with sime of the characterisation; our protagonist, Schweitzer, is increasingly isolated from his family, and from his humanity – and that social isolation is evoked and made more visible to the reader by placing it within a similarly lonely geography.
By contrast, the treatment of the people of the Territories is positive and sympathetic. Living alongside the wilderness, they’re a people dependent on their own skills, and on each other, to get through the day. When the day involves black-ops government agencies and magicians, even more so. This is a town of flawed people, to be sure, but they’re all prepared to hang together. That spirit, that energy, is clear on the page – and helps bring the characters within to life.
Speaking of the characters…well, for one, we’re back with Jim Schweitzer. Aside from having a name that’s fun to say, Schweitzer is an ex-SEAL, devoted to his family, and, well, dead. But he got better. Here, he’s a man with a mission – gutting the programme which brought him back from the dead. There’s a palpable sense of duty to Schweitzer, whose principled idealism works alongside his personal connections to his family to make him personable, and easy to empathise with. Of some interest is Schweitzer’s realisation that he’s increasingly disassociated from the things which have helped keep him human in the first two books – as he struggles to come to terms with his new un-life as a monster, and works to retain his essential humanity. As a hero, Schweitzer works well – and his internal conflicts both let him feel genuine and provide a great read.
Then there’s Wilma 'Mankiller' Plante, sherriff of a town out in the Northwest Territories. I have to admit, as the book went on, I found myself looking forward to Plante’s sections more and more. She’s smart, pithy, witty, and capable. In a series which has the potential to be full of super-powered monsters beating on each other, Plante is an example of a normal, competent person, doing their job under increasingly dire circumstances, and doing it well. Siege Line is a book full of solid, convincing characterisation, and I bought into Plante’s almost immediately; she has an intensity and focus that sit alongside an unflinching emotional honesty that make her escapades a joy to read. There’s a colourful supporting cast as well – from surprisingly-wise senators, through Operators old and new, to CIA bureaucrats. Each is distinguishable, and memorable, and their efforts (and occasional demise) have an impact.
The plot – as ever, we’ll try and stay spoiler free. But it’s a very well-paced book. There’s the building tension in the Canadian Territories, a sense of an unexpected storm coming in. Plante and her deputy walking the wilderness are our eyes on something which feels like it might get out of control. At the same time, Schweitzer is out there, trying to take on the Gemini Cell, bringing wrath and destruction down upon them. There’s the same kinetic gunplay and close quarters fighting which Cole encapsulated so well in his previous works, and here he once again writes some rock-solid, heart-pounding action scenes. The small unit tactics always seemed plausible to me as a reader, and it’s always nice to see characters acting thoughtfully about how to achieve their objective, military or otherwise. That the plausible action also has a cinematic edge, an artful sense of destructive space, a way of making it viscerally real – well, that’s great too. But whilst there really is a fair amount of fast-paced, stormingly good action here, it’s the quieter moments of character which make us care about the action. From Schweitzer’s meditations on who he wants or needs to be, through the thoughtful and considered treatment of First Nations culture and its impacts on Plante, to the emotionally charged, razor-sharp dialogue from Schweitzer and the mysterious Director of the Gemini Cell – there’s a humanity, or lack of it in play here which both keeps the reader invested and also quietly invites them to think about who they are and what they value.
In the end, this is a smart, precision-crafted military thriller. It has great characterisation, solid worldbuilding and explosive action, and as such, I’m inclined to recommend it to fans of the series, without reservation. If you’re already invested in the adventures of Jim Schweitzer, then this is a book you owe it to yourself to read. If you’re coming to it fresh, I’d say it could work as a stand-alone, but you’ll get far more emotional context and investment if you go back and start at the beginning with “Gemini Cell” – trust me, it’s worth it.
Siege Line is the third in Myke Cole’s ‘Reawakening’ trilogy. The first two books in the series looked at a world where magic was gradually returning, and in particular at an off-the-books government program which, as you might expect, picks up the magic, runs with it, and maybe takes it a bit too far.
The first two books were fast-paced thrillers, liberally mixing magical weirdness with entirely plausible tactical action and emotionally raw characters. Siege Line picks up on these narrative traits, and dials them up to eleven. The action takes place across suburban Virginia and the somewhat less populated Canadian Northwest Territories. Virginia we’ve seen before, though the various government offices do manage to carry the whiff of glacial bureaucracy about them. That they also carry the scent of smart people doing important and occasionally lethal work is a credit to Cole’s tight and evocative prose.
That prose gets a workout when it comes to dealing with the wilds of Canada. Cole brings the stark, pristine geography of the area to life. There’s a sense of the wilderness, of the potential for isolation, floating through the story at times, and it dovetails well with sime of the characterisation; our protagonist, Schweitzer, is increasingly isolated from his family, and from his humanity – and that social isolation is evoked and made more visible to the reader by placing it within a similarly lonely geography.
By contrast, the treatment of the people of the Territories is positive and sympathetic. Living alongside the wilderness, they’re a people dependent on their own skills, and on each other, to get through the day. When the day involves black-ops government agencies and magicians, even more so. This is a town of flawed people, to be sure, but they’re all prepared to hang together. That spirit, that energy, is clear on the page – and helps bring the characters within to life.
Speaking of the characters…well, for one, we’re back with Jim Schweitzer. Aside from having a name that’s fun to say, Schweitzer is an ex-SEAL, devoted to his family, and, well, dead. But he got better. Here, he’s a man with a mission – gutting the programme which brought him back from the dead. There’s a palpable sense of duty to Schweitzer, whose principled idealism works alongside his personal connections to his family to make him personable, and easy to empathise with. Of some interest is Schweitzer’s realisation that he’s increasingly disassociated from the things which have helped keep him human in the first two books – as he struggles to come to terms with his new un-life as a monster, and works to retain his essential humanity. As a hero, Schweitzer works well – and his internal conflicts both let him feel genuine and provide a great read.
Then there’s Wilma 'Mankiller' Plante, sherriff of a town out in the Northwest Territories. I have to admit, as the book went on, I found myself looking forward to Plante’s sections more and more. She’s smart, pithy, witty, and capable. In a series which has the potential to be full of super-powered monsters beating on each other, Plante is an example of a normal, competent person, doing their job under increasingly dire circumstances, and doing it well. Siege Line is a book full of solid, convincing characterisation, and I bought into Plante’s almost immediately; she has an intensity and focus that sit alongside an unflinching emotional honesty that make her escapades a joy to read. There’s a colourful supporting cast as well – from surprisingly-wise senators, through Operators old and new, to CIA bureaucrats. Each is distinguishable, and memorable, and their efforts (and occasional demise) have an impact.
The plot – as ever, we’ll try and stay spoiler free. But it’s a very well-paced book. There’s the building tension in the Canadian Territories, a sense of an unexpected storm coming in. Plante and her deputy walking the wilderness are our eyes on something which feels like it might get out of control. At the same time, Schweitzer is out there, trying to take on the Gemini Cell, bringing wrath and destruction down upon them. There’s the same kinetic gunplay and close quarters fighting which Cole encapsulated so well in his previous works, and here he once again writes some rock-solid, heart-pounding action scenes. The small unit tactics always seemed plausible to me as a reader, and it’s always nice to see characters acting thoughtfully about how to achieve their objective, military or otherwise. That the plausible action also has a cinematic edge, an artful sense of destructive space, a way of making it viscerally real – well, that’s great too. But whilst there really is a fair amount of fast-paced, stormingly good action here, it’s the quieter moments of character which make us care about the action. From Schweitzer’s meditations on who he wants or needs to be, through the thoughtful and considered treatment of First Nations culture and its impacts on Plante, to the emotionally charged, razor-sharp dialogue from Schweitzer and the mysterious Director of the Gemini Cell – there’s a humanity, or lack of it in play here which both keeps the reader invested and also quietly invites them to think about who they are and what they value.
In the end, this is a smart, precision-crafted military thriller. It has great characterisation, solid worldbuilding and explosive action, and as such, I’m inclined to recommend it to fans of the series, without reservation. If you’re already invested in the adventures of Jim Schweitzer, then this is a book you owe it to yourself to read. If you’re coming to it fresh, I’d say it could work as a stand-alone, but you’ll get far more emotional context and investment if you go back and start at the beginning with “Gemini Cell” – trust me, it’s worth it.
October 17, 2017
Siege Line is an action-packed book with a male lead you would care for and a thrilling plot that will make you thrilled to the bones. There's a strong military element in the story and if you like DC and Marvel comics, this book offers a visual knockout narration that could go on par with the Superhero powerhouses.
This review is posted on zirev.com
This is the only second book written by Myke Cole that I've read and I can see a great difference from his writing of Gemini Cell and this one. His writing has definitely improved. I can't really pinpoint how, it's just that the narration this time is fluid and will hook you instantly.
On the get-go, you would just say, "Wow," as you read the words across the pages. Or perhaps, the only reason I don't have that awed feeling in reading Gemini Cell was because I hated the fact that Sarah, James's wife, dealt with her grief by shacking with James's best friend. That's a total ew factor for me. It's one thing when your neighbor does that when her husband's only a week cold on his grave and quite another when you have to deal with that premise as your main protagonist's background.
Yes, I haven't moved on from that. And so does James Schweitzer. That thought of his wife cheating on him crossed his mind about three times in this book.
Back to Myke Cole's writing. I have been following him on Goodreads and like Michael J. Sullivan, he engages with his readers (though not as active as Sullivan). By engaging, I mean he replies to their comments on his posts. He has some posts on Goodreads and they're quite profound, and so were his replies. His intellect is palpable in his words. He's very articulate that you'd wish you'd get a piece of his mind. And by that, I mean that you'd like to have his thinking process and gain that ability to parse words that will elicit your strong feelings about something. He goes quite political in some of his posts.
That intellect and engaging writing ability finally permeates well in Siege Line. I had never checked his background while reading Gemini Cell and that book gives off an amateurish vibe in a way that it sounds ambitious and you'd wonder whether the author could pull it off. I did write a very positive review about it but I just really didn't have that really, really strong wow factor that I have for this book. Siege Line so far, is the best book I've read of Myke Cole's though this is my only second book from him.
Speaking of politics, there's no getting away from that in this book. The CIA is already involved along with a senator who was responsible for funding the Cell project. And that's not enough. With the death of the previous "necromancer" (let's just put it that way), the enemies have to find a replacement and it just so happens that they no longer have to look far (because as far as I can remember, the previous necromancer was extracted somewhere in Middle East). The bad guys caught a whiff of information for a prospect necromancer in Canada. And now, the Canadian intelligence (let's put it that way, again) and military force get involved. It was a difficult process.
James Schweitzer and the Americans (let's put it that way) have assembled a team to deal with the problem (that is, to exterminate the Cell and prevent it from getting bigger than it already is). The first squad had to be kept in the dark. Operators have to do their job and all they know is that they have to kill their targets, not knowing what they are in the first place. While that's bad enough, the same has to be done to the new team assembled for Operation Canada (let's put it that way, again).
As you can see, there are two major settings in this story. The Gemini Cell facility in Colchester and then the Canada setting. In the Cell setting, James's team wanted to exterminate the undead while they're still hibernating. The Director (the undead overseeing the success of the Gemini Cell) got wind of that, screwed their operation and escaped in the process.
Wanting to see his project through and aiming for a new goal, The Director is hell-bent on getting his hands on his perceived new necromancer and James's team is out again to intercept that.
The plot is almost too simplistic but it's the journey that counts. Myke Cole's narration has gotten so good, you'd feel you're part of the action.
Obviously, James Schweitzer couldn't pull everything all on his own. He needs major help from those who are capable of doing things. That's how the CIA got involved. Eventually, he has to get acquainted with the SAD (Special Activities Division), a division within CIA in charge of covert activities. And then we get to meet the SAD director, Ghaznavi.
All I could think of Ghaznavi is Amanda Waller, the director of A.R.G.U.S. from the TV adaptation of the Arrow series. They're both fierce and they give off this classy intimidating vibe, and they're both the head of their special division. They may not be physically as strong as operators but it's their mind that matters and the fact that they have authoritative power.
Now, at this point, I got nothing much to say but here are the ones that stood out:
Midway in the book, they pulled this Star Wars trope, and I thought it was a joke until the truth hits. And boy did it hit hard.
The only problem I found in this book was the cover. They put a teenage-looking androgynous person on the cover which I presume to be Mankiller (the badass Sheriff, granddaughter of the prospect necromancer), who by the way, is way over 30. I don't mind the androgynous part, just the misplaced teenager look. Mankiller is more manly than most men you'd ever know.
I love how James Schweitzer has grown some humor.
This review is posted on zirev.com
This is the only second book written by Myke Cole that I've read and I can see a great difference from his writing of Gemini Cell and this one. His writing has definitely improved. I can't really pinpoint how, it's just that the narration this time is fluid and will hook you instantly.
On the get-go, you would just say, "Wow," as you read the words across the pages. Or perhaps, the only reason I don't have that awed feeling in reading Gemini Cell was because I hated the fact that Sarah, James's wife, dealt with her grief by shacking with James's best friend. That's a total ew factor for me. It's one thing when your neighbor does that when her husband's only a week cold on his grave and quite another when you have to deal with that premise as your main protagonist's background.
Yes, I haven't moved on from that. And so does James Schweitzer. That thought of his wife cheating on him crossed his mind about three times in this book.
Back to Myke Cole's writing. I have been following him on Goodreads and like Michael J. Sullivan, he engages with his readers (though not as active as Sullivan). By engaging, I mean he replies to their comments on his posts. He has some posts on Goodreads and they're quite profound, and so were his replies. His intellect is palpable in his words. He's very articulate that you'd wish you'd get a piece of his mind. And by that, I mean that you'd like to have his thinking process and gain that ability to parse words that will elicit your strong feelings about something. He goes quite political in some of his posts.
That intellect and engaging writing ability finally permeates well in Siege Line. I had never checked his background while reading Gemini Cell and that book gives off an amateurish vibe in a way that it sounds ambitious and you'd wonder whether the author could pull it off. I did write a very positive review about it but I just really didn't have that really, really strong wow factor that I have for this book. Siege Line so far, is the best book I've read of Myke Cole's though this is my only second book from him.
Speaking of politics, there's no getting away from that in this book. The CIA is already involved along with a senator who was responsible for funding the Cell project. And that's not enough. With the death of the previous "necromancer" (let's just put it that way), the enemies have to find a replacement and it just so happens that they no longer have to look far (because as far as I can remember, the previous necromancer was extracted somewhere in Middle East). The bad guys caught a whiff of information for a prospect necromancer in Canada. And now, the Canadian intelligence (let's put it that way, again) and military force get involved. It was a difficult process.
James Schweitzer and the Americans (let's put it that way) have assembled a team to deal with the problem (that is, to exterminate the Cell and prevent it from getting bigger than it already is). The first squad had to be kept in the dark. Operators have to do their job and all they know is that they have to kill their targets, not knowing what they are in the first place. While that's bad enough, the same has to be done to the new team assembled for Operation Canada (let's put it that way, again).
As you can see, there are two major settings in this story. The Gemini Cell facility in Colchester and then the Canada setting. In the Cell setting, James's team wanted to exterminate the undead while they're still hibernating. The Director (the undead overseeing the success of the Gemini Cell) got wind of that, screwed their operation and escaped in the process.
Wanting to see his project through and aiming for a new goal, The Director is hell-bent on getting his hands on his perceived new necromancer and James's team is out again to intercept that.
The plot is almost too simplistic but it's the journey that counts. Myke Cole's narration has gotten so good, you'd feel you're part of the action.
Obviously, James Schweitzer couldn't pull everything all on his own. He needs major help from those who are capable of doing things. That's how the CIA got involved. Eventually, he has to get acquainted with the SAD (Special Activities Division), a division within CIA in charge of covert activities. And then we get to meet the SAD director, Ghaznavi.
All I could think of Ghaznavi is Amanda Waller, the director of A.R.G.U.S. from the TV adaptation of the Arrow series. They're both fierce and they give off this classy intimidating vibe, and they're both the head of their special division. They may not be physically as strong as operators but it's their mind that matters and the fact that they have authoritative power.
Now, at this point, I got nothing much to say but here are the ones that stood out:
Midway in the book, they pulled this Star Wars trope, and I thought it was a joke until the truth hits. And boy did it hit hard.
The only problem I found in this book was the cover. They put a teenage-looking androgynous person on the cover which I presume to be Mankiller (the badass Sheriff, granddaughter of the prospect necromancer), who by the way, is way over 30. I don't mind the androgynous part, just the misplaced teenager look. Mankiller is more manly than most men you'd ever know.
I love how James Schweitzer has grown some humor.
April 15, 2023
It was very good pacing, and one of my favorite characters was introduced in this book. The ending happened very quickly, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Overall, it was a very fun book to read.
March 2, 2018
Solid ending to a solid series. Not one of my favorites ever, but if you're looking for modern military fantasy this is a good one.
March 19, 2019
Although I usually like military stories if there the main focus is the story not the battles, I'm usually not a fan of anything to do with zombies or stories about the undead. That being said I do love a good urban fantasy. I enjoyed the sincerity of the characters and cared about each one. It was an exciting read that seems to be open to more books in the series.
May 22, 2018
3.5 stars. Pretty fun book. Knowing Myke on Twitter, it was fun to see him name drop all of the classics in the latter third of the book.
December 12, 2017
Siege Line is book 3 in Cole’s Shadow Ops: Reawakening prequel trilogy and his sixth book in the Shadow Ops universe. I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on an advance copy of each, and it has been interesting to see how Cole how evolved as a writer and storyteller. (You can find all of my reviews under my Military Fantasy tag).
If you haven’t read any of these books, the obvious question is where to start. Cole would tell you to start with the prequel trilogy. But the truth is that the author is the least reliable source of a reading order recommendation. It is only in very rare circumstances that publication order isn’t the way to go. No such exception exists here, and, frankly, the original Shadow Ops trilogy is the better trilogy (more on that after the jump).
Javelin Rain ends with undead super soldier Jim Schweitzer finally taking some initiative and turning the tables on the Cell. Schweitzer can finally start to go toe-to-toe with the Cell, and what follows is a whole heck of a lot of action that is far more satisfying than the weak chase from Javelin Rain.
As I mentioned above the jump, in Siege Line Schweitzer recruits outside help that allows him to face off against the Cell. Cole writes phenomenal action scenes. He always has. I have been very disappointed at how few he has included in this prequel trilogy. Cole really makes up for it in Siege Line. He knows his military and he’s done his homework, and it shows.
Siege Line introduces a new character, Wilma “Mankiller” Plante, a Dene (First Nations people), veteran, and sheriff of a small town in the Northwest Territories of Canada. I won’t spoil things, but Mankiller gets caught up in the titular siege. She is a great character, if rather obviously written by a white guy trying to show you how woke he is (I mentioned Mankiller is Dene—you won’t miss that, because Cole has her mention it with every other breath).
I only have a couple of problems with the book.
One is a bit of bad storytelling on Cole’s part (SPOILERS to follow). Schweitzer is a super-soldier in every way. But when he finally squares off against the Director, the Director curb-stomps him. Fair enough. But when the Director goes up against Mankiller, she effortlessly kicks his butt. I understand why Cole wants that to happen, but it undercuts his earlier work building up Schweitzer and the Director. The Director, who is supposed to be supremely chilling, winds up almost a comic character, and Schweitzer looks like a punk (END SPOILERS).
My other real complaint is that, while the climax works to cap off the narrower story, it doesn’t give us any sort of bigger picture. That is a bigger issue because this is a prequel series. Cole really owes his reader a bridge between the two series. (It may be that he wants to write another series, but (1) no, move forward in time and (2) he doesn’t really set that up either.) As a big fan of the first series, I was disappointed that Cole didn’t more closely tie it to the prequel series.
Disclosure: The publisher sent me a review copy.
If you haven’t read any of these books, the obvious question is where to start. Cole would tell you to start with the prequel trilogy. But the truth is that the author is the least reliable source of a reading order recommendation. It is only in very rare circumstances that publication order isn’t the way to go. No such exception exists here, and, frankly, the original Shadow Ops trilogy is the better trilogy (more on that after the jump).
Javelin Rain ends with undead super soldier Jim Schweitzer finally taking some initiative and turning the tables on the Cell. Schweitzer can finally start to go toe-to-toe with the Cell, and what follows is a whole heck of a lot of action that is far more satisfying than the weak chase from Javelin Rain.
As I mentioned above the jump, in Siege Line Schweitzer recruits outside help that allows him to face off against the Cell. Cole writes phenomenal action scenes. He always has. I have been very disappointed at how few he has included in this prequel trilogy. Cole really makes up for it in Siege Line. He knows his military and he’s done his homework, and it shows.
Siege Line introduces a new character, Wilma “Mankiller” Plante, a Dene (First Nations people), veteran, and sheriff of a small town in the Northwest Territories of Canada. I won’t spoil things, but Mankiller gets caught up in the titular siege. She is a great character, if rather obviously written by a white guy trying to show you how woke he is (I mentioned Mankiller is Dene—you won’t miss that, because Cole has her mention it with every other breath).
I only have a couple of problems with the book.
One is a bit of bad storytelling on Cole’s part (SPOILERS to follow). Schweitzer is a super-soldier in every way. But when he finally squares off against the Director, the Director curb-stomps him. Fair enough. But when the Director goes up against Mankiller, she effortlessly kicks his butt. I understand why Cole wants that to happen, but it undercuts his earlier work building up Schweitzer and the Director. The Director, who is supposed to be supremely chilling, winds up almost a comic character, and Schweitzer looks like a punk (END SPOILERS).
My other real complaint is that, while the climax works to cap off the narrower story, it doesn’t give us any sort of bigger picture. That is a bigger issue because this is a prequel series. Cole really owes his reader a bridge between the two series. (It may be that he wants to write another series, but (1) no, move forward in time and (2) he doesn’t really set that up either.) As a big fan of the first series, I was disappointed that Cole didn’t more closely tie it to the prequel series.
Disclosure: The publisher sent me a review copy.
July 29, 2025
3.5 out of 5 stars.
Last book in the second ShodowOps arc. There are three main characters that the story revolves around: the Director, an evil reanimated corpse bent on solidifying his power, Schweitzer, an animated corpse trying to stop him and Wilma “Mankiller” Plante, a sheriff in rural northern Canada.
Schweitzer, with the assistances of Senator Hodges and the SAD (a special government agency) unsuccessfully attempts to detain the Director while he is still in Virginia. The Director, with a small army of Golds and mercenaries, heads up to northern Canada in search for a summoner. He hopes that this summoner, with the proper motivation, will be able to create more zombies for his Gemini Cell, as well as move his spirit to a living host.
The author does a very nice job of setting the tone for this rural northern village. The town would have been totally unprepared if it wasn’t for misgivings that “Mankiller” felt when she first espoused the Gemini Cell approaching the village. Even so, the outlook for the village seemed very grim and forbidding. Inconceivably, the town is able to hold the Gemini Cell to a standstill, until Schweitzer and a small force are able to arrive. The town’s success is primarily due to some very questionable decision making by the director. The Director seems to be incredibly able, except when he not. His abilities seem to fluctuate “as needed” within the confines of the story. He confronts and very easily neutralizes Schweitzer. There was a very cool moment that occurred during that conflict that was nicely planned by the author.
After his loss to the Director, Schweitzer is pretty much just a husk with a conscious. He is loaded up on a sleigh along with another town casualty, Joe Yakecan and transported to “Mankiller’s” grandfather, who happens to be the summoner that the Director is looking for. The summoner, “Grampy” is able to move Schweitzer spirit to Yakecan’s living body. This is great for Schweitzer because he now fight on, but he has lost all the abilities that came with being an animated corpse. The final battle has the Director fighting Schweitzer/Yakecan on a semi-frozen lake. Yakecan is injured but survives and the Director becomes frozen under the lake. The Director is recovered and is kept frozen and put into storage. Schweitzer/Yakecan, though in a different body, is now free to try find his son who he had left with Elderdge.
Ok conclusion to this arc. In general, I thought the pacing was good and the description and ambience set for Fort Resolution very nice. I loved the disclosure of the Director, though I think more could have been done with that throughout the trilogy. Frustrated with the decision making by the Director as well as at the end of the book when “Mankiller” and Schweitzer separated. Also frustrated by what seemed to me with the inconsistency of both the Director and Schweitzer’s abilities.
Last book in the second ShodowOps arc. There are three main characters that the story revolves around: the Director, an evil reanimated corpse bent on solidifying his power, Schweitzer, an animated corpse trying to stop him and Wilma “Mankiller” Plante, a sheriff in rural northern Canada.
Schweitzer, with the assistances of Senator Hodges and the SAD (a special government agency) unsuccessfully attempts to detain the Director while he is still in Virginia. The Director, with a small army of Golds and mercenaries, heads up to northern Canada in search for a summoner. He hopes that this summoner, with the proper motivation, will be able to create more zombies for his Gemini Cell, as well as move his spirit to a living host.
The author does a very nice job of setting the tone for this rural northern village. The town would have been totally unprepared if it wasn’t for misgivings that “Mankiller” felt when she first espoused the Gemini Cell approaching the village. Even so, the outlook for the village seemed very grim and forbidding. Inconceivably, the town is able to hold the Gemini Cell to a standstill, until Schweitzer and a small force are able to arrive. The town’s success is primarily due to some very questionable decision making by the director. The Director seems to be incredibly able, except when he not. His abilities seem to fluctuate “as needed” within the confines of the story. He confronts and very easily neutralizes Schweitzer. There was a very cool moment that occurred during that conflict that was nicely planned by the author.
After his loss to the Director, Schweitzer is pretty much just a husk with a conscious. He is loaded up on a sleigh along with another town casualty, Joe Yakecan and transported to “Mankiller’s” grandfather, who happens to be the summoner that the Director is looking for. The summoner, “Grampy” is able to move Schweitzer spirit to Yakecan’s living body. This is great for Schweitzer because he now fight on, but he has lost all the abilities that came with being an animated corpse. The final battle has the Director fighting Schweitzer/Yakecan on a semi-frozen lake. Yakecan is injured but survives and the Director becomes frozen under the lake. The Director is recovered and is kept frozen and put into storage. Schweitzer/Yakecan, though in a different body, is now free to try find his son who he had left with Elderdge.
Ok conclusion to this arc. In general, I thought the pacing was good and the description and ambience set for Fort Resolution very nice. I loved the disclosure of the Director, though I think more could have been done with that throughout the trilogy. Frustrated with the decision making by the Director as well as at the end of the book when “Mankiller” and Schweitzer separated. Also frustrated by what seemed to me with the inconsistency of both the Director and Schweitzer’s abilities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Once in a while I like to get my fix of adventure fiction. As a teen I had read The Destroyer and The Avenger and Doc Savage and books of that nature, which were borderline pulps (or not-so-borderline in some cases). Finding books of that milieu today has been a bit more difficult for me - in part because I'm not sure where to look for them. When I came across this book and read the description it sounded exactly like what I've been looking for.
James Schweitzer was a Navy SEAL when The Gemini Cell took everything from him ... including his life. Now, as a dead man, Schweitzer is the best chance for defense. As a dead man, brought to an un-dead state by scientists, Schweitzer is now a super soldier. He can't be easily killed, because he's already dead, and he has been gifted with heightened abilities. Now he can infiltrate the enemy compound and fight the enemy super-soldiers - creatures just like himself ... undead. But he's still just one man against an army of like-ability soldiers and even his fellow SEALS don't stand a chance against what amounts to a squad of vampires. One man might hold the key and he's in a remote area of the Alaskan wilderness - and there's an enemy base not too far away.
The book definitely has that military/adventure feel to it - precisely what I was looking for - and it has a strong fantasy bent with the vampire/un-dead soldiers as major characters. It may be strange to say this, but it reads more like a military novel than a fantasy novel, which is probably not surprising, given Cole's background.
On the other hand there wasn't enough action for me. I wrote the following note in my copy:
Horrible first chapter ... looks like it will be action but instead it's all talk and posturing and then enemies become partners too easily.
I'd like to say that this was only true in the opening chapter as Cole sets up the story, but that wouldn't be true. Too often, before an action sequence, we have to talk it to death. While it makes sense that in life you might want to talk about a plan to iron out the details, in fiction, especially military/fantasy/action fiction, we really just want to get to the action.
Fortunately, when there is action it is exciting and well-written. I just wish there was less back-patting and more doing.
Looking for a good book? If you like a fantasy/military mash-up then Siege Line by Myke Cole might be just right for you.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Siege Line rounds out the Reawakening Trilogy and does it most magnificently. Myke Cole has become a really excellent author. In this book, he makes characters come alive effortlessly and keeps up a ferocious pace throughout the entire novel.
The book takes place mostly in a remote village in the Canadian territories. I don't know much about how Canada has dealt with their native population and the ins and outs of the legal aspects of living in the territories but one thing is certain: these people are on their own. They exist with whatever technology and gear they can cobble together, and they are the very definition of rugged.
The big bad of the series lost his best necromancer in the last book. He needs someone able to put spirits into bodies to create fearsome undead warriors and also for his own long-term goals. If you've ever read much about the skinwalker legends, you'll recognize it when he finds a bit of intel that what he needs is up in the frozen Yukon.
For the first time in this series, our hero Schweitzer ends up with a team of sorts. He finds allies both within the government and in Canada as well. The author does a good job of making these people scarily competent but not infallible. Mistakes are made and not everyone makes it out of combat missions. That helped keep the tension high because I didn't know if the characters I was getting attached to would survive.
Myke Cole clearly believes that service to one's countrymen is a high calling. He honors those who serve, but doesn't fetishize them, which I appreciate. Coming from a military family, I know it's not an easy way of life and it can leave scars. But the military is a profession, not a sainthood.
The action/combat scenes are incredibly smooth and clear and exciting. I love a good action scene, be it in a movie or a book, and these are easily enough to keep reading more of this author.
I was pretty dubious about how the story of Jim Schweitzer would end- it didn't seem that there could be any way for him to have any kind of happiness. All I'll say in the end is that it looks like his story is not done if the author wants to do more with this character, but I'm content if that doesn't happen. There's no one else writing quite like this author does that I'm aware of. Enjoy!
Siege Line rounds out the Reawakening Trilogy and does it most magnificently. Myke Cole has become a really excellent author. In this book, he makes characters come alive effortlessly and keeps up a ferocious pace throughout the entire novel.
The book takes place mostly in a remote village in the Canadian territories. I don't know much about how Canada has dealt with their native population and the ins and outs of the legal aspects of living in the territories but one thing is certain: these people are on their own. They exist with whatever technology and gear they can cobble together, and they are the very definition of rugged.
The big bad of the series lost his best necromancer in the last book. He needs someone able to put spirits into bodies to create fearsome undead warriors and also for his own long-term goals. If you've ever read much about the skinwalker legends, you'll recognize it when he finds a bit of intel that what he needs is up in the frozen Yukon.
For the first time in this series, our hero Schweitzer ends up with a team of sorts. He finds allies both within the government and in Canada as well. The author does a good job of making these people scarily competent but not infallible. Mistakes are made and not everyone makes it out of combat missions. That helped keep the tension high because I didn't know if the characters I was getting attached to would survive.
Myke Cole clearly believes that service to one's countrymen is a high calling. He honors those who serve, but doesn't fetishize them, which I appreciate. Coming from a military family, I know it's not an easy way of life and it can leave scars. But the military is a profession, not a sainthood.
The action/combat scenes are incredibly smooth and clear and exciting. I love a good action scene, be it in a movie or a book, and these are easily enough to keep reading more of this author.
I was pretty dubious about how the story of Jim Schweitzer would end- it didn't seem that there could be any way for him to have any kind of happiness. All I'll say in the end is that it looks like his story is not done if the author wants to do more with this character, but I'm content if that doesn't happen. There's no one else writing quite like this author does that I'm aware of. Enjoy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
A good portion of this book takes place in the far north. We get to experience a small town with all sorts of independent people—frontier livers, natives, veterans, etc.—who come together in a sort of community. Of course, this being a fantasy book, they're faced with superpowered undead.
I've never read this sort of undead before, or quite this combination with military action fiction. And Cole certainly knows how to write the action and suspense. Whether it's humans and undead facing off or people trudging across the frozen tundra, the story pulled me in.
The sense of place grabbed me, too. I've spent my whole life with snowy winters, driving through the snow, walking through the drifted woods, working to haul sledges, wood, pails of maple sap. Those parts of the story rung true.
This was my first Myke Cole novel, and I can see what people like about him. In the end, it didn't come completely together for me. It's just not the type of story I usually go for. I'm sure people who are more into this genre will eat this book right up, and I can see myself coming back when I'm in the mood. It's just that the mood doesn't happen that often for me.
NOTE: Thanks to the publisher for kindly offering me a copy through NetGalley. I was happy to get a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I actually read this in 2017, just lost track of it somewhere and remembered when I was looking through my NetGalley list.
I've never read this sort of undead before, or quite this combination with military action fiction. And Cole certainly knows how to write the action and suspense. Whether it's humans and undead facing off or people trudging across the frozen tundra, the story pulled me in.
The sense of place grabbed me, too. I've spent my whole life with snowy winters, driving through the snow, walking through the drifted woods, working to haul sledges, wood, pails of maple sap. Those parts of the story rung true.
This was my first Myke Cole novel, and I can see what people like about him. In the end, it didn't come completely together for me. It's just not the type of story I usually go for. I'm sure people who are more into this genre will eat this book right up, and I can see myself coming back when I'm in the mood. It's just that the mood doesn't happen that often for me.
NOTE: Thanks to the publisher for kindly offering me a copy through NetGalley. I was happy to get a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I actually read this in 2017, just lost track of it somewhere and remembered when I was looking through my NetGalley list.
November 2, 2017
I didn't realize, going in, that this was part of a series, and there's quite a bit of backstory. Although I did manage to catch up quite nicely, you'd be better off starting at the beginning. In fact, Siege Line was so good that I'll probably read the first two to see exactly what I missed.
There's a lot to like about this series. The world building is great, with lots of innovative ideas. The fight scenes are entertainingly realistic. But my favorite is the occasional deadpan humor that pops up.
"What's it like, being dead?"
"People keep asking me this."
"Well, it's the kind of thing people want to know. What's it like?"
"It sucks. Stay alive for as long as you can."
Reeves laughed. "No, I mean. Is there a God? Did you meet him?"
"I already asked him all this," Ghaznavi said, not looking up from her laptop.
"What'd he say?"
"He already told you. Being dead sucks."
I had the impression this might be a trilogy, but James is hunting for his son, so there'll be at least one more book.
*ARC via netgalley*
There's a lot to like about this series. The world building is great, with lots of innovative ideas. The fight scenes are entertainingly realistic. But my favorite is the occasional deadpan humor that pops up.
"What's it like, being dead?"
"People keep asking me this."
"Well, it's the kind of thing people want to know. What's it like?"
"It sucks. Stay alive for as long as you can."
Reeves laughed. "No, I mean. Is there a God? Did you meet him?"
"I already asked him all this," Ghaznavi said, not looking up from her laptop.
"What'd he say?"
"He already told you. Being dead sucks."
I had the impression this might be a trilogy, but James is hunting for his son, so there'll be at least one more book.
*ARC via netgalley*
November 9, 2017
When you read the last page, the last sentence of a final book in a series and you wish there was more, you've read a great book. Siege Line is a great book.
I am normally not a fan of either military or zombie/undead fantasy and I would never have chosen the first book in this series to read, but I won a free copy and therefore felt obligated to give it a try. I am so glad I won that book!
This series is NOT exactly a military fantasy but an urban fantasy about a military character. And that character, Jim Schweitzer, Navy Seal, is NOT exactly a simple undead soldier gone rogue. Myke Cole has made his character compellingly relatable to non military/zombie fans by making Jim's humanity a central component to his character. It is Jim Schweitzer's humanity that causes him to begin and relentlessly pursue his personal mission to
Siege Line, like the books before it is intense, exciting and fast paced. It is an excellent and satisfying ending to the series, but I wish there was more.
I am normally not a fan of either military or zombie/undead fantasy and I would never have chosen the first book in this series to read, but I won a free copy and therefore felt obligated to give it a try. I am so glad I won that book!
This series is NOT exactly a military fantasy but an urban fantasy about a military character. And that character, Jim Schweitzer, Navy Seal, is NOT exactly a simple undead soldier gone rogue. Myke Cole has made his character compellingly relatable to non military/zombie fans by making Jim's humanity a central component to his character. It is Jim Schweitzer's humanity that causes him to begin and relentlessly pursue his personal mission to
Siege Line, like the books before it is intense, exciting and fast paced. It is an excellent and satisfying ending to the series, but I wish there was more.
June 20, 2020
It's been a long time since I've read a book that was both memorable and compelling. I'd really hoped that this book would fit the bill. Sadly it did not.
'Siege Line' is, at best, average and I'm not convinced that the time spent reading it was worth it. If you enjoy zombie stories with a strong military theme, this book will not doubt hit the spot. If you are looking for something deeper, then 'Siege Line' is not the novel for you.
In a way, I'm glad that I skipped the second book in the trilogy and jumped straight to the 'final' installment. The underlying plot is weak and Cole missed a number of opportunities to explore that age old question - what really makes us human?
It was a relief to finally reach the end of this novel and I'm hoping that the next book I read won't be quite as tedious as this one was.
'Siege Line' is, at best, average and I'm not convinced that the time spent reading it was worth it. If you enjoy zombie stories with a strong military theme, this book will not doubt hit the spot. If you are looking for something deeper, then 'Siege Line' is not the novel for you.
In a way, I'm glad that I skipped the second book in the trilogy and jumped straight to the 'final' installment. The underlying plot is weak and Cole missed a number of opportunities to explore that age old question - what really makes us human?
It was a relief to finally reach the end of this novel and I'm hoping that the next book I read won't be quite as tedious as this one was.
November 8, 2017
This was a fun book and it was obvious the author had fun writing it. Even more obvious was the author's continual desire to knock bits and pieces off his main protagonist. It's okay, the guy's been dead since the first book. Amongst the action there's quite a fair bit of rye humour. There are the dead jokes that flow naturally in the conversation as well, and be prepared for surprise here considering the author's reputation, a *dick* joke on page 266. I nearly had to clutch my pearls upon sight of it.
The book clearly had a fair amount of research in its area of operations, Canada's northern territories. It's always nice to read about somewhere new prior to it being chewed to pieces by rifle fire.
Damn fine read as expected and a worthy sign off to the trilogy.
The book clearly had a fair amount of research in its area of operations, Canada's northern territories. It's always nice to read about somewhere new prior to it being chewed to pieces by rifle fire.
Damn fine read as expected and a worthy sign off to the trilogy.
December 29, 2017
Killer
Disclaimer: I know Mr. Cole from when we both served in Iraq. This is a cracking good yarn from Myke Cole. Wrapping up the second trilogy of his military magic fantasy this is Cole’s most smooth and robust writing to date. The action is nonstop, clearly and beautifully rendered while moving the plot effortlessly to a satisfying ending that I did not see coming.
Over the course of his past six books Myke has gotten increasingly more adept at crafting the conflicted inner worlds of his characters and his ability to impart and teach massive amounts of military information without becoming pedantic or forced is remarkable. Do yourself a favor and start reading his stuff; he’s already great and only getting better.
Disclaimer: I know Mr. Cole from when we both served in Iraq. This is a cracking good yarn from Myke Cole. Wrapping up the second trilogy of his military magic fantasy this is Cole’s most smooth and robust writing to date. The action is nonstop, clearly and beautifully rendered while moving the plot effortlessly to a satisfying ending that I did not see coming.
Over the course of his past six books Myke has gotten increasingly more adept at crafting the conflicted inner worlds of his characters and his ability to impart and teach massive amounts of military information without becoming pedantic or forced is remarkable. Do yourself a favor and start reading his stuff; he’s already great and only getting better.
April 20, 2018
Dang. It's good.
I've already mentioned in earlier reviews how fascinating I find this saga to be, due to its rare combination of genres. I feel like there is also an improvement in writing quality, but it's not something of great importance.
I do want to stress how I've also noticed an improvement in plot development, which is certainly more than welcome. The ending is left up in the air, obviously, to leave room for the next books, which, to be honest, I'm quite hesitant to read since they were written first. We'll see.
Overall, there's not much to say. Interesting plot, decent characters, nothing out of the ordinary. Good for some quick entertainment if you're not picky about the strange genre mix.
I've already mentioned in earlier reviews how fascinating I find this saga to be, due to its rare combination of genres. I feel like there is also an improvement in writing quality, but it's not something of great importance.
I do want to stress how I've also noticed an improvement in plot development, which is certainly more than welcome. The ending is left up in the air, obviously, to leave room for the next books, which, to be honest, I'm quite hesitant to read since they were written first. We'll see.
Overall, there's not much to say. Interesting plot, decent characters, nothing out of the ordinary. Good for some quick entertainment if you're not picky about the strange genre mix.
December 29, 2018
"To die was to triumph over fear. Even after all this time, the Director marveled at how much fear had held him back. Death had liberated him from every limitation, unchained him from appetite, given him strength beyond his wildest dreams. He wished he'd started down this path much sooner. All that time wasted for what? Fear of the unknown, fear of a little pain, fear of fear itself, the rising panic as the body failed and darkness gathered."
This is such a consistent series! I am genuinely surprised that it isn't more well-known, especially now with the stunning Sacred Throne series blowing up the SFF scene.
I decided to read the series chronologically, rather than by publication date. Because I haven't read the others yet, I can't say whether or not this affects the reading experience. I recently saw on Twitter that Cole suggests that you begin with Gemini Cell as well, so there's that. I'm digging my choice, so that's all that matters!
The Reawakening trilogy takes place prior to the Shadow Ops books, within the same universe. As usual, I'm finding it hard to write a review for a book that is deep into a series without giving away too much.
This is a modern military fantasy series with science fiction elements. If it sounds bonkers, that's because it is! In just the best way. It's fucking intense with action, yet is surprisingly emotional. For instance, did I tear up at the Battlestar "so say we all" reference? I mean.. yeah. Of course I did! I'M NOT AN UNFEELING MONSTER!! I also especially loved the setting of this installment, but I may be biased. CANADA, FTW!
There is an underlining sense of dread throughout. It's brutal and filled with tension, yet it's written with just a ton of heart. It's fun and fast-paced, the worldbuilding is intelligent, there are insanely bonkers action sequences and there's a protagonist who isn't the easiest to love, but love him you will. Or at least I did.
Reading the final page had me hoping there was more of Jim's story. Since this was a prequel, I almost wish there was another series in-between to bridge the respective trilogies. Again, maybe my feelings on that will change once I begin the original Shadow Ops trilogy, but with how this ended I'm not sure how that could be. It wrapped up the trilogy quite well. Basically.. I just want more insanely radical zombie military books like this, goddamnit!
This is such a consistent series! I am genuinely surprised that it isn't more well-known, especially now with the stunning Sacred Throne series blowing up the SFF scene.
I decided to read the series chronologically, rather than by publication date. Because I haven't read the others yet, I can't say whether or not this affects the reading experience. I recently saw on Twitter that Cole suggests that you begin with Gemini Cell as well, so there's that. I'm digging my choice, so that's all that matters!
The Reawakening trilogy takes place prior to the Shadow Ops books, within the same universe. As usual, I'm finding it hard to write a review for a book that is deep into a series without giving away too much.
This is a modern military fantasy series with science fiction elements. If it sounds bonkers, that's because it is! In just the best way. It's fucking intense with action, yet is surprisingly emotional. For instance, did I tear up at the Battlestar "so say we all" reference? I mean.. yeah. Of course I did! I'M NOT AN UNFEELING MONSTER!! I also especially loved the setting of this installment, but I may be biased. CANADA, FTW!
There is an underlining sense of dread throughout. It's brutal and filled with tension, yet it's written with just a ton of heart. It's fun and fast-paced, the worldbuilding is intelligent, there are insanely bonkers action sequences and there's a protagonist who isn't the easiest to love, but love him you will. Or at least I did.
Reading the final page had me hoping there was more of Jim's story. Since this was a prequel, I almost wish there was another series in-between to bridge the respective trilogies. Again, maybe my feelings on that will change once I begin the original Shadow Ops trilogy, but with how this ended I'm not sure how that could be. It wrapped up the trilogy quite well. Basically.. I just want more insanely radical zombie military books like this, goddamnit!
August 24, 2017
I really enjoyed the fast pace of the book after the world and some of the characters had been established in the first two books in the Reawaking series.
The story takes you to the Canadian North and gives a believable small town in the winter. The new characters are fleshed of quickly and you root for the new major characters really fast.
Military fiction is not a genre I usually read but Myke Cole does a good job showing it without making the military the main focus. It comes across as written by someone who has lived that life but let's it stay in the small details. This book and series is more fantasy than military.
The story takes you to the Canadian North and gives a believable small town in the winter. The new characters are fleshed of quickly and you root for the new major characters really fast.
Military fiction is not a genre I usually read but Myke Cole does a good job showing it without making the military the main focus. It comes across as written by someone who has lived that life but let's it stay in the small details. This book and series is more fantasy than military.
August 22, 2018
Surprisingly, the best part of this book for me was the new POV character. I found her far more interesting to Schweitzer, despite her sections only making up a small part of Siege Line. As usual, action takes center stage throughout the novel and despite how relentless it is, I don't ever get sick of seeing what kind of battle Myke Coles is going to come up with next. A good thing about Siege Line is that Cole chose to set the major set piece in a small town. The small scale, yet still thrilling climax to the book works even better because of the focus on the smaller group of characters. A great conclusion to Jim Schweitzer's story.
April 30, 2020
The Gemini Cell has taken everything from former Navy SEAL James Schweitzer: his family, his career, his life. Schweitzer knows the only way he can stop running, the only way to keep his son safe, is to destroy the Cell once and for all.
But out of control and fighting a secret war against the government it once served, the Cell will not be destroyed easily. Its Director has been sent to the far reaches of the subarctic to search for a secret that could allow the Cell to seize control of the country.
Schweitzer must move fast and join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a bid to get there first . . .
But out of control and fighting a secret war against the government it once served, the Cell will not be destroyed easily. Its Director has been sent to the far reaches of the subarctic to search for a secret that could allow the Cell to seize control of the country.
Schweitzer must move fast and join with the elite warriors of both America and Canada in a bid to get there first . . .
December 7, 2018
Ugh. Interesting idea but clumsy writing. I didn't read the 1st 2 in the series because I picked this up at a book sale--someone had recommended Myke Cole so I thought I would check it out. It was an interesting premise, and I liked the sub-arctic setting and the female sheriff and her "grampy," but I keep forgetting that it's set in Canada with First Nations characters and thinking that it's set in Arizona with Navajo characters. Possibly I'm just confusing Dene and Din`e, but it's still not a good sign in terms of speciyfing the setting. SO this was just OK.
September 19, 2017
Myke Cole keeps knocking it out of the park, Siege Line is damn near perfect military fantasy with a ton of heart to go with the blistering action. The Shadow Ops universe is a scifi/fantasy nerd's perfect storm. It hits all my loves, great world, amazing action, strong dialogue and terrific characters.
Go search out Mr. Cole's books, give him a try, then thank me later when you are out of money and waiting on his new book.
8991 stars out of 5.
Go search out Mr. Cole's books, give him a try, then thank me later when you are out of money and waiting on his new book.
8991 stars out of 5.
November 25, 2017
A real romp of a conclusion to the series. Mostly action, fast paced, with some great new characters. Overall a satisfying conclusion, that provided some of the answers the series promised. There are a few plot threads I'm still not 100% sure on (how did the Director end up as the Director, for example), but they aren't burning enough questions to damp my enjoyment of the book.
December 5, 2018
Not having read the other Shadow Ops series, this book didn’t answer enough of my questions for what comes next. I get that this is the prequel series and it was written after the first series but there was not enough at the end to entice me to read the other trilogy and like I mentioned before, I still have a lot of questions.
July 1, 2019
I pre ordered this tale from Amazon and then sat on it until just recently. What was I thinking?! Cole has only gotten better with each novel he writes. He understands the military reality and adds in magic in such a great way . . . great stuff, Maynard. I can only hope he revisits the Coleverse sometime soon. I highly recommend any of the novels I've read by Mr. Cole.
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