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Taking Shield #3
Makepeace
**Second Place Winner 2016 Rainbow Awards: Best Gay Sci-fi//Futuristic. **
Returning to duty following his long recovery from the injuries he sustained during the events recounted in Heart Scarab, Shield Captain Bennet accepts a tour of duty in Fleet as flight captain on a dreadnought. The one saving grace is that it isn’t his father’s ship—bad enough that he can’t yet return to the Shield Regiment, at least he doesn’t have the added stress of commanding former lover Fleet Lieutenant Flynn, knowing the fraternisation regulations will keep them apart.
Working on the material he collected himself on T18 three years before, Bennet decodes enough Maess data to send him behind the lines to Makepeace, once a human colony but under Maess control for more than a century. The mission goes belly up, costing Albion one of her precious, irreplaceable dreadnoughts and bringing political upheaval, acrimony and the threat of public unrest in its wake. But for Bennet, the real nightmare is discovering what the Maess have in store for humanity.
It’s not good. It’s not good at all.
Returning to duty following his long recovery from the injuries he sustained during the events recounted in Heart Scarab, Shield Captain Bennet accepts a tour of duty in Fleet as flight captain on a dreadnought. The one saving grace is that it isn’t his father’s ship—bad enough that he can’t yet return to the Shield Regiment, at least he doesn’t have the added stress of commanding former lover Fleet Lieutenant Flynn, knowing the fraternisation regulations will keep them apart.
Working on the material he collected himself on T18 three years before, Bennet decodes enough Maess data to send him behind the lines to Makepeace, once a human colony but under Maess control for more than a century. The mission goes belly up, costing Albion one of her precious, irreplaceable dreadnoughts and bringing political upheaval, acrimony and the threat of public unrest in its wake. But for Bennet, the real nightmare is discovering what the Maess have in store for humanity.
It’s not good. It’s not good at all.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2016
7 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 27, 2017
Rating: 4.almost-...ya know what, 5* of five
#ReadingIsResistance to thinking all space opera is fluff, made to entertain the SFnal hoi polloi.
MAKEPEACE is anything but fluffy, silly, action-packd stuff. My 5 star review says that it's because its premise and execution made me shiver, hard to do by the third book in the TAKING SHIELD series. I should be ready for it. That's why I push y'all to get this series for #Booksgiving 2017.
Okay, I surrender. I am officially Author Butler's fanboy. I'll be reviewing the entire series at my blog this Booksgiving.
A warning for those who follow me down this rabbit-hole: Do not buy the books one at a time. When you get to the ending of this book, you will be *very*frustrated* if the next book isn't already queued up.
I am an old-time fan of space opera. I like the sweep of a long story. I adore space battles (I'm a guy, shut up). Tech talk isn't up there with dirty flirty but it's close. I want to be told stories that make sense (not necessarily in a straight line you understand, just make sense please) and I like 'em set in space because SPACE my goddesses what could possibly be more interesting?! I mean in fact as well as fiction. And I'm also a big old mushball and want my heroes to find love because heroes have hearts too. Sexytimes are fine, but I *need* my men to fall in love as well as get 'em some or why not just watch porn. (For the sake of argument, you understand.)
So here I am telling you to buy the series, ye fans of SF and ye readers of love-novels but not expecting sex or romance-novel level involvement in our hero's world. He is the hero, the story isn't totally about him, and his world is rich and densely packed with great stuff.
#ReadingIsResistance to thinking all space opera is fluff, made to entertain the SFnal hoi polloi.
MAKEPEACE is anything but fluffy, silly, action-packd stuff. My 5 star review says that it's because its premise and execution made me shiver, hard to do by the third book in the TAKING SHIELD series. I should be ready for it. That's why I push y'all to get this series for #Booksgiving 2017.
Okay, I surrender. I am officially Author Butler's fanboy. I'll be reviewing the entire series at my blog this Booksgiving.
A warning for those who follow me down this rabbit-hole: Do not buy the books one at a time. When you get to the ending of this book, you will be *very*frustrated* if the next book isn't already queued up.
I am an old-time fan of space opera. I like the sweep of a long story. I adore space battles (I'm a guy, shut up). Tech talk isn't up there with dirty flirty but it's close. I want to be told stories that make sense (not necessarily in a straight line you understand, just make sense please) and I like 'em set in space because SPACE my goddesses what could possibly be more interesting?! I mean in fact as well as fiction. And I'm also a big old mushball and want my heroes to find love because heroes have hearts too. Sexytimes are fine, but I *need* my men to fall in love as well as get 'em some or why not just watch porn. (For the sake of argument, you understand.)
So here I am telling you to buy the series, ye fans of SF and ye readers of love-novels but not expecting sex or romance-novel level involvement in our hero's world. He is the hero, the story isn't totally about him, and his world is rich and densely packed with great stuff.
October 1, 2017
Book 3 in the series, which must be read in order. Bennet is mostly recovered from the injuries he suffered in book 2, and is ready for active service again. He has to take his tour out of Shield, though, and ends up on a Fleet ship, although not his father's with the twin issues of Flynn and his Dad there. Bennet is also still doing his intelligence analysis work, and in so doing he stumbles across a secret project of the Maees which will change him, and may alter the whole war.
In this book we see a Bennet with some of the shine rubbed off him, coping with uncertainties, with decisions when the choices are "bad' and "worse." There is political intrigue, a touch of cold horror, and just a few moments when Bennet and Flynn get a glimpse of what they might have, in the absence of duty and regulations and all that stands between them. The romance is very light in this installment.
This gives us more of Bennet's relationship with his father, and furthers the SciFi plot. The strength of Bennet's reaction to the Maees horrors seems perhaps extreme - man has done to man things that seem equally evil, and Bennet is both a military man and a historian. But perhaps it is tinged by the horror he felt from having once seen a Maees. In any case, the story was engaging and satisfying but once again, the end leaves us waiting for more. Worth it, though.
In this book we see a Bennet with some of the shine rubbed off him, coping with uncertainties, with decisions when the choices are "bad' and "worse." There is political intrigue, a touch of cold horror, and just a few moments when Bennet and Flynn get a glimpse of what they might have, in the absence of duty and regulations and all that stands between them. The romance is very light in this installment.
This gives us more of Bennet's relationship with his father, and furthers the SciFi plot. The strength of Bennet's reaction to the Maees horrors seems perhaps extreme - man has done to man things that seem equally evil, and Bennet is both a military man and a historian. But perhaps it is tinged by the horror he felt from having once seen a Maees. In any case, the story was engaging and satisfying but once again, the end leaves us waiting for more. Worth it, though.
March 7, 2017
The. Best.
However, if you are after erotica, UST, romantic relationship... all that, this is not a book for you. This is pure sci-fi with a gay protagonist and a gay secondary character, who in this book is behind the scene. No sex in this installment, which doesn't make this book any less appealing. Like I said pure sci-fi. Love these books to pieces! :D
However, if you are after erotica, UST, romantic relationship... all that, this is not a book for you. This is pure sci-fi with a gay protagonist and a gay secondary character, who in this book is behind the scene. No sex in this installment, which doesn't make this book any less appealing. Like I said pure sci-fi. Love these books to pieces! :D
August 19, 2019
4.5 Stars
And we're back to edge-of-your-seat excitement! No romance to speak of at all in this installment but YAY! I got my Rosie back! I knew she wouldn't settle for second best...
And we're back to edge-of-your-seat excitement! No romance to speak of at all in this installment but YAY! I got my Rosie back! I knew she wouldn't settle for second best...
July 18, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews with a copy provided by the publisher / author for an honest review.)
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book. I thought it was coming out a couple months ago and was sooo disappointed when I found out I was incorrect! You might remember that I read and reviewed the two previous books in this series, Gyrfalcon and Heart Scarab and I was ecstatic over both.
Well, now we have a new installment in the series. Do I like it as much as the previous ones? No. I like it more. I’m loving this universe that the author has created. It is huge, there are aliens, there are space battles and there is political intrigue. Winding through it all is our hero Bennet, the character we’ve been following since book one.
He has recovered from the injuries he received in Heart Scarab and is now ready to return to active duty. Unfortunately that won’t be with Shield, since he is due to rotate out of the super-secret Shield portion of the military and has to serve time in the regular fleet. In addition to his regular duties he still has duties with the super high level secret unit where he and his friend Felix work to decrypt the secrets of the alien Maess.
Something has come up in the data that Bennet found on the planet T18 in the last book. When they decode a horrifying secret, Bennet will have to travel to the planet Makepeace and find out if the secret they think they’ve decoded is what is really happening on that former human colony world. That journey could change him and the entire human race forever…
I loved this book. I would not recommend reading it as a standalone. These books are the continuing story of Bennet, and the people and events he comes into contact with. This is a mainstream Sci-fi book that just happens to have a gay protagonist. It is not a romance, and I don’t believe there is any sex in this one at all.
The world building is phenomenal…with a wide sweeping story and the book is heavy in detail. I highly recommend the entire series if you are a Sci-Fi/Spec Fic reader. I think there is another installment coming in the fall, and the author wets our appetite with a brief teaser at the end of this one. Please make it come quickly!
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book. I thought it was coming out a couple months ago and was sooo disappointed when I found out I was incorrect! You might remember that I read and reviewed the two previous books in this series, Gyrfalcon and Heart Scarab and I was ecstatic over both.
Well, now we have a new installment in the series. Do I like it as much as the previous ones? No. I like it more. I’m loving this universe that the author has created. It is huge, there are aliens, there are space battles and there is political intrigue. Winding through it all is our hero Bennet, the character we’ve been following since book one.
He has recovered from the injuries he received in Heart Scarab and is now ready to return to active duty. Unfortunately that won’t be with Shield, since he is due to rotate out of the super-secret Shield portion of the military and has to serve time in the regular fleet. In addition to his regular duties he still has duties with the super high level secret unit where he and his friend Felix work to decrypt the secrets of the alien Maess.
Something has come up in the data that Bennet found on the planet T18 in the last book. When they decode a horrifying secret, Bennet will have to travel to the planet Makepeace and find out if the secret they think they’ve decoded is what is really happening on that former human colony world. That journey could change him and the entire human race forever…
I loved this book. I would not recommend reading it as a standalone. These books are the continuing story of Bennet, and the people and events he comes into contact with. This is a mainstream Sci-fi book that just happens to have a gay protagonist. It is not a romance, and I don’t believe there is any sex in this one at all.
The world building is phenomenal…with a wide sweeping story and the book is heavy in detail. I highly recommend the entire series if you are a Sci-Fi/Spec Fic reader. I think there is another installment coming in the fall, and the author wets our appetite with a brief teaser at the end of this one. Please make it come quickly!
October 15, 2016
I have followed this series with interest. Gyrfalcon, the first book, was so poorly written and edited that it was barely readable. However, if you were willing to slog your way through the bad writing, there was a good story to be found. The second book, Heart Scarab, was better written. Which brings us to the current book, Makepeace.
It's still an interesting story, but... and that's a big but. Bennet, the hero and central character is a Shield Warrior. Think Navy Seals, Army Rangers, and Delta Force combined. The elite of the elite of warriors. The story deals with his discovery of an enemy installation on a remote planet, where enemy aliens are conducting medical experiments on captive humans. Bennet and his team rescue most of the humans and destroy the installation, but after that, the story falls apart.
For reasons passing understanding, the author has turned Bennet, who is the epitome of a warrior, into a sniveling basket case who spends an entire night crying on his father's shoulders over the things he's seen and been forced to do. That is totally out of character for a warrior, and likewise totally unbelievable. Men, particularly warriors, are not like that, and do not respond to atrocities with tears. The author has taken her character and thoroughly emasculated him. In fact, she might as well have given him a sex change operation, so thoroughly has she feminized Bennet.
It's still an interesting story, but... and that's a big but. Bennet, the hero and central character is a Shield Warrior. Think Navy Seals, Army Rangers, and Delta Force combined. The elite of the elite of warriors. The story deals with his discovery of an enemy installation on a remote planet, where enemy aliens are conducting medical experiments on captive humans. Bennet and his team rescue most of the humans and destroy the installation, but after that, the story falls apart.
For reasons passing understanding, the author has turned Bennet, who is the epitome of a warrior, into a sniveling basket case who spends an entire night crying on his father's shoulders over the things he's seen and been forced to do. That is totally out of character for a warrior, and likewise totally unbelievable. Men, particularly warriors, are not like that, and do not respond to atrocities with tears. The author has taken her character and thoroughly emasculated him. In fact, she might as well have given him a sex change operation, so thoroughly has she feminized Bennet.
October 30, 2017
Believe it or not, but Bennet was deteriorating as a Shield warrior. Actually, most of the military personnel were unbelievable in their reaction to the war that had been going on for more than a century. I mean, a century of war with drones and unknown alien, imagine how many people had already died in that war, and now you made scenes over a hundred dead people?
I know this is fiction, but let's be a bit realistic. Remember World War II? It's human vs. human war that lasted only 6 years and 1 day but ended with US dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killing at least 129,000 people.
The emotional state and moralistic view of the military personnel in this story didn't make them human, it made me question their capability to win and end the century-old war.
And let's not forget the romance subplot where Rosie was now saying,
I think I'll wait until the whole series finished and published before I read the next book.
I know this is fiction, but let's be a bit realistic. Remember World War II? It's human vs. human war that lasted only 6 years and 1 day but ended with US dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and killing at least 129,000 people.
The emotional state and moralistic view of the military personnel in this story didn't make them human, it made me question their capability to win and end the century-old war.
And let's not forget the romance subplot where Rosie was now saying,
I think I'll wait until the whole series finished and published before I read the next book.
September 4, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Makepeace builds heavily from the rest of the Taking Shield series, which must be read in order. When we last left Bennet, he was recovering from the mess on Telnos and had enjoyed a brief leave with Flynn. These two seem destined to never be together permanently and while that makes me want to scream, it’s also feels very realistic and true to the story. It would be easy to just make all the barriers between them vanish, but it wouldn’t be believable and I applaud Anna Butler for building a solid, complex story without giving into romance for the sake of romance. This is well-developed science fiction work whose characters happen to be gay. The romance is there, painful and poignant, but off page and backseat to the reality of an intergalactic war.
The action scenes are fanatic here, as throughout the rest of the series. Butler writes taunt, edge of your seat moments where the stakes are legitimate. I will say I felt the situation on Makepeace was resolved a little too quickly and the outcome felt slightly obvious. Still, it’s a credit to Butler that even an event that comes off as predictable is still so enjoyable.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Makepeace builds heavily from the rest of the Taking Shield series, which must be read in order. When we last left Bennet, he was recovering from the mess on Telnos and had enjoyed a brief leave with Flynn. These two seem destined to never be together permanently and while that makes me want to scream, it’s also feels very realistic and true to the story. It would be easy to just make all the barriers between them vanish, but it wouldn’t be believable and I applaud Anna Butler for building a solid, complex story without giving into romance for the sake of romance. This is well-developed science fiction work whose characters happen to be gay. The romance is there, painful and poignant, but off page and backseat to the reality of an intergalactic war.
The action scenes are fanatic here, as throughout the rest of the series. Butler writes taunt, edge of your seat moments where the stakes are legitimate. I will say I felt the situation on Makepeace was resolved a little too quickly and the outcome felt slightly obvious. Still, it’s a credit to Butler that even an event that comes off as predictable is still so enjoyable.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
November 8, 2016
Spectacularly good. This is the best yet in this amazing series. It's a sweeping story full of action, heart-rending emotion, creepy aliens, magnificent tension, intriguing drama, corruption, and a whole lot of peril. This is book three and it really does not stand alone, so do read the first two books first. This book is completely engrossing and Bennet's personal and professional struggles continue to be riveting and have taken over my brain and my heart. It's full of excitement and feeling and I could not put it down. The writing is fantastic, the world-building is amazing, and the level of detail is impressive and never intrusive. There's a lot going on in this story and it's fast-paced and vibrant. The characters are captivating and believable and so well drawn. Remember that this is not a romance series and there is no contact at all between Bennet and Flynn in this book, though I suspect the next book might be a little different in that regard. This is glorious, exciting space opera and I loved every minute. The ending is fantastic and the fourth book can't get here soon enough.
August 13, 2016
The ending just about killed me. I read the teaser chapter expecting to learn more about that last scene but of course I didn't get any answer!! Grrrrr!!
Dear Anna Butler,
Why did you do this to us??
What am I supposed to do now??
*takes deep breath*
While the book is focused on Bennet, my heart broke for Flynn because we do get a few chapters from him and we can see how much he is still hurting after Bennet (And can I just say here how much I love Cruz?). And now that they're going to be on the same ship it's going to get even worse... Regulations are between them and Caeden is watching!
Have to say that when I was told there wouldn't be any interaction between Bennet and Flynn, I was worried I might not like the book (I still have in mind Anna Butler's words but the plot kept me turning pages late into the night, and I'm amazed by Anna Butler's universe.
Book 4 can't get here fast enough! Hear me Mrs Butler? :)
Dear Anna Butler,
Why did you do this to us??
What am I supposed to do now??
*takes deep breath*
While the book is focused on Bennet, my heart broke for Flynn because we do get a few chapters from him and we can see how much he is still hurting after Bennet (And can I just say here how much I love Cruz?). And now that they're going to be on the same ship it's going to get even worse... Regulations are between them and Caeden is watching!
Have to say that when I was told there wouldn't be any interaction between Bennet and Flynn, I was worried I might not like the book (I still have in mind Anna Butler's words but the plot kept me turning pages late into the night, and I'm amazed by Anna Butler's universe.
Book 4 can't get here fast enough! Hear me Mrs Butler? :)
unfinished
February 16, 2020I seem to be in the vast minority of readers on this one. I’m not sure how most of my friends liked it so much and I didn’t. I skimmed most of this and skipped several whole chapters of useless chatter. I needed to get to the action, but by 60%, when they were finally about to land on Makepeace, face Aliens, and pull out captives, I realized I just didn’t care any more about the mission.
I liked the characters and I do hope Bennett and Flynn get their HEA someday, but like the previous book, I could have done without 50% of it. And Bennett still can’t leave Joss, which is a whole other issue that irks me. I thought he’d be gone here, but he’s not.
And the world-building is so unbelievable for 10,000 years in the future on planets that aren’t Earth, it’s like a bad 80’s soap opera half the time, set in present day, Earth. See Teal’s review of the previous book for more on this.
So, alas, while I enjoyed the first book a lot, I am giving up on this series in the middle of book three. I’ve got a lot of others I’d rather be reading.
I liked the characters and I do hope Bennett and Flynn get their HEA someday, but like the previous book, I could have done without 50% of it. And Bennett still can’t leave Joss, which is a whole other issue that irks me. I thought he’d be gone here, but he’s not.
And the world-building is so unbelievable for 10,000 years in the future on planets that aren’t Earth, it’s like a bad 80’s soap opera half the time, set in present day, Earth. See Teal’s review of the previous book for more on this.
So, alas, while I enjoyed the first book a lot, I am giving up on this series in the middle of book three. I’ve got a lot of others I’d rather be reading.
April 2, 2020
Review rounded up to 4.5.
This cannot be read as a stand-alone. Please read ‘Gyrfalcon’ and ‘Heart Scarab’ first if you haven’t done so already. When the book left off in ‘Heart Scarab’, I noted in my review that I was uneasy. ‘Heart Scarab’ wasn’t quite a cliff-hanger, but it had me drumming my fingers on the table going “Hmm…” I was still going “Hmm…” when ‘Makepeace’ started. I knew this all had to be leading to something, but…what exactly, was the question.
The premise of ‘Makepeace’ is that Bennett has been recovering from his injuries over the last year and filling time by teaching at the university. The Supreme Commander decides Bennett can begin to serve his mandatory rotation out of Shield in the main Fleet. Not what Bennett wants, but it’s the fastest way he’ll get back to Shield.
Meanwhile, Bennett has found a gruesome discovery on the abandoned planet of Makepeace – the Maess have a colony of humans they are using for what Bennett suspects are experimental projects.
When the Makepeace situation is brought to the Supreme Commander’s attention, he assigns Bennett and his counterpart, Felix, to head a task force. Once on the ground on Makepeace, the situation is more horrifying than anyone realized. It only gets worse when the dreadnought Caliban abandons its post, leaving the mission in peril, and Bennett – who’s on the ground – to blame.
Enough recapping – there is so much going on in this book that I can’t summarize without writing a small novella myself. Everything is so well interwoven and integrated that it all flows together seamlessly.
The title of the book I think covers a lot of nuances – Bennett making peace with himself, his father Caeden, his girlfriend Rosie, and ultimately, Flynn.
A couple of things niggled at me, and I fully admit this is coming from my sci-fi background. I found it difficult to understand why the military/Bennett found what the Maess were doing to the humans so horrific. This is a future society, this is the military, humans do horrible, horrible things to others, so why the overly dramatic reactions?
The Rosie/Bennett aspect – Rosie wanted Bennett, Bennett thought he wanted Rosie. But when Bennett provided a solution, Rosie was upset and turned Bennett away. Gave me brain skids a bit, even though Rosie hit the nail on the head (purposely being vague and ambiguous…).
Lastly…ARRRGGHHHH!!!!!! I have to wait for the next book! This should fall under cruel and unusual punishment.
And it’s SO worth it!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review. This review was first published on Gay Book Reviews.
This cannot be read as a stand-alone. Please read ‘Gyrfalcon’ and ‘Heart Scarab’ first if you haven’t done so already. When the book left off in ‘Heart Scarab’, I noted in my review that I was uneasy. ‘Heart Scarab’ wasn’t quite a cliff-hanger, but it had me drumming my fingers on the table going “Hmm…” I was still going “Hmm…” when ‘Makepeace’ started. I knew this all had to be leading to something, but…what exactly, was the question.
The premise of ‘Makepeace’ is that Bennett has been recovering from his injuries over the last year and filling time by teaching at the university. The Supreme Commander decides Bennett can begin to serve his mandatory rotation out of Shield in the main Fleet. Not what Bennett wants, but it’s the fastest way he’ll get back to Shield.
Meanwhile, Bennett has found a gruesome discovery on the abandoned planet of Makepeace – the Maess have a colony of humans they are using for what Bennett suspects are experimental projects.
When the Makepeace situation is brought to the Supreme Commander’s attention, he assigns Bennett and his counterpart, Felix, to head a task force. Once on the ground on Makepeace, the situation is more horrifying than anyone realized. It only gets worse when the dreadnought Caliban abandons its post, leaving the mission in peril, and Bennett – who’s on the ground – to blame.
Enough recapping – there is so much going on in this book that I can’t summarize without writing a small novella myself. Everything is so well interwoven and integrated that it all flows together seamlessly.
The title of the book I think covers a lot of nuances – Bennett making peace with himself, his father Caeden, his girlfriend Rosie, and ultimately, Flynn.
A couple of things niggled at me, and I fully admit this is coming from my sci-fi background. I found it difficult to understand why the military/Bennett found what the Maess were doing to the humans so horrific. This is a future society, this is the military, humans do horrible, horrible things to others, so why the overly dramatic reactions?
The Rosie/Bennett aspect – Rosie wanted Bennett, Bennett thought he wanted Rosie. But when Bennett provided a solution, Rosie was upset and turned Bennett away. Gave me brain skids a bit, even though Rosie hit the nail on the head (purposely being vague and ambiguous…).
Lastly…ARRRGGHHHH!!!!!! I have to wait for the next book! This should fall under cruel and unusual punishment.
And it’s SO worth it!
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review. This review was first published on Gay Book Reviews.
July 18, 2016
I received a copy of Makepeace from the author Anna Butler in exchange for an honest review. Makepeace is the third in the Taking Shield series. If you like classic sci-fi mixed with issues from contemporary times (as I would argue does all great sci-fi), this is the series for you. The hero Bennet is an intelligent guy who is better with concepts than with people, which leads to his emotional crises in each book. Bennet is part of Shield (think special ops) and his family has traditionally been part of Fleet (think Navy), creating some family issues. Each book of course has space ships, lasers, and much derring-do against an amorphous and implacable foe. Said foe has captured humans being held prisoner on a former human colony lost to the enemy in the centuries-long war. Bennet must rescue the people while trying to learn more about the enemy. The mission does not go as planned, exacerbating political issues back home. And after all that Bennet has to deal with being assigned to his father’s ship for a year as part of his rotation out of Shield, thus setting up the premise for the next book in the series. One of my favorite aspects of the series is the culture’s grounding in a second-coming of ancient Aegyt, as I am an Egyptologist manqué. This is a truly addictive series, as we see what new perils befall our hero in this well-done future universe.
April 10, 2020
uh, this one was... not so good.
At times I felt like I was reading an entirely different series, than the one I started and obsessed about weeks ago. There was a ton of telling, constant repeating of information we already heard: like Bennet's plan with Makepeace had to be told to every goddamned person separately - including all the moral dilemma about it of course - and the story was moving at a snail's pace because of it. The Makepeace mission was the only highlight of the book and that was maybe 20% of the whole thing.
Our characters didn't behave like any military I have ever read about, their constant - I'm sorry to use this word, but - whining was annoying as hell. I'm supposed to believe that Bennet only ever killed one other human before, is that what you are telling me? He is a fucking soldier, one of the best if I'm not mistaken, and he goes home crying after a mission gone wrong, a mission he came up with and was aware, could go very, very wrong for the people on Makepeace.
Personal problem, but there was very little romance, and the little that was there, was absolutely horrifying to read about. This whole thing with Rosie was demeaning for both people involved, and that ending bit was just laughable. Really, Bennet? Really?
I'm incredibly disappointed. This book was pure filler, with very little new information (and the Maess experiment doesn't count, we already knew that they were evil) and even less personal growth. I'm not saying I won't finish this series, but I'm all kinds of wary of the last two books now.
At times I felt like I was reading an entirely different series, than the one I started and obsessed about weeks ago. There was a ton of telling, constant repeating of information we already heard: like Bennet's plan with Makepeace had to be told to every goddamned person separately - including all the moral dilemma about it of course - and the story was moving at a snail's pace because of it. The Makepeace mission was the only highlight of the book and that was maybe 20% of the whole thing.
Our characters didn't behave like any military I have ever read about, their constant - I'm sorry to use this word, but - whining was annoying as hell. I'm supposed to believe that Bennet only ever killed one other human before, is that what you are telling me? He is a fucking soldier, one of the best if I'm not mistaken, and he goes home crying after a mission gone wrong, a mission he came up with and was aware, could go very, very wrong for the people on Makepeace.
Personal problem, but there was very little romance, and the little that was there, was absolutely horrifying to read about. This whole thing with Rosie was demeaning for both people involved, and that ending bit was just laughable. Really, Bennet? Really?
I'm incredibly disappointed. This book was pure filler, with very little new information (and the Maess experiment doesn't count, we already knew that they were evil) and even less personal growth. I'm not saying I won't finish this series, but I'm all kinds of wary of the last two books now.
November 16, 2017
I love this world and its characters (especially Bennet) so freaking much. <3
The plot thickens and the discoveries on Makepeace? OMG. And Bennet having to make all these decisions on the ground and having to deal with Warrick-the-deserter and the fallout from that? *hugs him so much*
This book, no this series, is pure sci-fi in which the main character(s) happen to be gay/bi/pan(?). I love that so much. <3
My heart is aching so much for Bennet and Flynn. They haven't seen each other in two years and now they have to serve on the same ship and the rules and everything else are between them? :( Also, major evil cliffhanger there!
But, my heart is also aching for Rosie. Knowing that she'll lose Bennet and then it happening? *hugs her*
*makes grabby hands for the next part*
The plot thickens and the discoveries on Makepeace? OMG. And Bennet having to make all these decisions on the ground and having to deal with Warrick-the-deserter and the fallout from that? *hugs him so much*
This book, no this series, is pure sci-fi in which the main character(s) happen to be gay/bi/pan(?). I love that so much. <3
My heart is aching so much for Bennet and Flynn. They haven't seen each other in two years and now they have to serve on the same ship and the rules and everything else are between them? :( Also, major evil cliffhanger there!
But, my heart is also aching for Rosie. Knowing that she'll lose Bennet and then it happening? *hugs her*
*makes grabby hands for the next part*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2018
Start with the first one.
Good solid continuation.
Bennet’s reaction to what he does discover, does convey that they have lost much human history. Or maybe in this alternate universe the people on earth didn’t get up to what they did in our universe?
Good solid continuation.
Bennet’s reaction to what he does discover, does convey that they have lost much human history. Or maybe in this alternate universe the people on earth didn’t get up to what they did in our universe?
July 19, 2016
One thing Ms Butler does well is to create believable sci-fi spaceship settings and conditions into which she places her characters. Like the earlier two books in this series, I was well and truly drawn into the crew banter, oneupmanship, intrigue, wheeling and dealing, political games and corruption. The battle-action and fighting raised my heart-rate accordingly. The vindictive post-action inquiry re: loss of an entire dreadnought battleship was harrowing for Bennet as he ponders his career/fate. I finished the book in one sitting.
Now for the minor quibbles ....
The focus of this book rests squarely on Captain Bennet's shoulders as he gets sent back into action in a regular Fleet role (instead of his beloved crack-squad team). As he has to re-orientate himself into functioning with a much larger crew and under a superior commanding officer (who saw him grow up from toddlerhood) - the mission takes him to a completely different space sector to investigate very disturbing findings on the planet 'Makepeace'. For readers looking for a reconnection between Bennet and ace-flyer Flynn - be warned. Flynn is onboard a different battleship in a different sector of space under the watchful eye of Bennet's father who is not too thrilled with the boys' relationship. As such, readers expecting M-M action ... there is none. This is an excellent 'action' read however.
As to the truly awful Maess deeds hinted from the advertising blurb
On the plus side - there is significantly more interaction between Bennet and his father - opportunities to redeem their fractured relationship (one particularly moving scene near the end of the book caused my eyes to tear up). The book does 'clear the deck' of road-block secondary characters (Rosie and Joss) as the author clearly does want to pave the way for more Bennet-Flynn dynamics and action in the next book. And the 'taster' chapter provided at the end is designed as a consolation for those feeling bereft/cheated of the M-M action. After all ... how can there not be ... when Bennet gets relocated back to his father's battleship where there is not only a disapproving parental presence but a further complication with his newly-graduated younger sister who has seemingly set her eyes on Flynn - hmmmm. One can only imagine how many fraternization rules are going to be trangressed.
So overall - a 4 star read for me, downgraded from 4.4 stars due to the quibbles mentioned above.
Now for the minor quibbles ....
The focus of this book rests squarely on Captain Bennet's shoulders as he gets sent back into action in a regular Fleet role (instead of his beloved crack-squad team). As he has to re-orientate himself into functioning with a much larger crew and under a superior commanding officer (who saw him grow up from toddlerhood) - the mission takes him to a completely different space sector to investigate very disturbing findings on the planet 'Makepeace'. For readers looking for a reconnection between Bennet and ace-flyer Flynn - be warned. Flynn is onboard a different battleship in a different sector of space under the watchful eye of Bennet's father who is not too thrilled with the boys' relationship. As such, readers expecting M-M action ... there is none. This is an excellent 'action' read however.
As to the truly awful Maess deeds hinted from the advertising blurb
On the plus side - there is significantly more interaction between Bennet and his father - opportunities to redeem their fractured relationship (one particularly moving scene near the end of the book caused my eyes to tear up). The book does 'clear the deck' of road-block secondary characters (Rosie and Joss) as the author clearly does want to pave the way for more Bennet-Flynn dynamics and action in the next book. And the 'taster' chapter provided at the end is designed as a consolation for those feeling bereft/cheated of the M-M action. After all ... how can there not be ... when Bennet gets relocated back to his father's battleship where there is not only a disapproving parental presence but a further complication with his newly-graduated younger sister who has seemingly set her eyes on Flynn - hmmmm. One can only imagine how many fraternization rules are going to be trangressed.
So overall - a 4 star read for me, downgraded from 4.4 stars due to the quibbles mentioned above.
June 18, 2020
My overall feeling after finishing Makepeace can be summed up in ten words: Wait, I’m confused. Holy cow! He did what?! That’s disgusting! It all begins and ends with the cover which I may never be able to look at again. It is absolutely the perfect cover for this book, but all it can think about is EWWWW!!!! Oh wait, I need to do some backtracking here. Let me start from the beginning.
Bennet has finally been released back to duty after the injuries he sustained from his last mission, only he can’t return to Shield yet. So in the meantime, he accepts a tour of duty in Fleet as flight captain on a dreadnought. He’s been working on decoding the Maess data he collected from T18, which has him now investigating a former human colony that is controlled be the Maess on Makepeace. Things are not looking too good and he hopes he’s wrong but he puts together a mission to investigate what is going on. With the assistance of Commander Warwick on board the dreadnought Caliban and Captain Van Trion on the Shield ship Dhow, an infiltration plan is put in place and possibly rescue any humans they may find.
Where the previous book was more of an emotional rollercoaster, Makepeace is a return to how the series originally started: as a science fiction story with a little bit of romance on the side. The romance is actually where I am confused. No Flynn this time around. Instead, it is…complicated and completely unexpected. How is that possible and why did he even go there? I keep thinking I missed something because well…humph. Okay I’m struggling with it especially with that ‘OH!’ ending. However, for the sake of not giving things away, I’ll be moving on.
The Caliban, Warrick, and the goings on by the Maess on Makepeace was just a jaw dropping shock for me. One I think we were slowly being prepped for thorough the series, because you knew the Maess were not good from the get go. But, actually reading it in all its gloriously, disgusting details is more than enough to invoke full body shivers. Ms. Butler certainly has a very creative mind and has now provoked me into thinking why on Earth would anyone want to explore space?!
If anything Makepeace has provide is that this is a series that needs to be read in order, no skipping book or jumping in mid-series. There is quite a bit of build-up that is taking place over the series both with fighting the Maess as well as Bennet and his personal life. Both are equally intriguing for me because while I adore a complicated romance I really get off on a Sci-Fi story with all its technical details and what-if possibilities. This isn’t a series for everyone but for those of us who prefer to have their stories reaching the far distance of space and time, Taking Shield series is going to scratch that itch and leave you begging for more.
Bennet has finally been released back to duty after the injuries he sustained from his last mission, only he can’t return to Shield yet. So in the meantime, he accepts a tour of duty in Fleet as flight captain on a dreadnought. He’s been working on decoding the Maess data he collected from T18, which has him now investigating a former human colony that is controlled be the Maess on Makepeace. Things are not looking too good and he hopes he’s wrong but he puts together a mission to investigate what is going on. With the assistance of Commander Warwick on board the dreadnought Caliban and Captain Van Trion on the Shield ship Dhow, an infiltration plan is put in place and possibly rescue any humans they may find.
Where the previous book was more of an emotional rollercoaster, Makepeace is a return to how the series originally started: as a science fiction story with a little bit of romance on the side. The romance is actually where I am confused. No Flynn this time around. Instead, it is…complicated and completely unexpected. How is that possible and why did he even go there? I keep thinking I missed something because well…humph. Okay I’m struggling with it especially with that ‘OH!’ ending. However, for the sake of not giving things away, I’ll be moving on.
The Caliban, Warrick, and the goings on by the Maess on Makepeace was just a jaw dropping shock for me. One I think we were slowly being prepped for thorough the series, because you knew the Maess were not good from the get go. But, actually reading it in all its gloriously, disgusting details is more than enough to invoke full body shivers. Ms. Butler certainly has a very creative mind and has now provoked me into thinking why on Earth would anyone want to explore space?!
If anything Makepeace has provide is that this is a series that needs to be read in order, no skipping book or jumping in mid-series. There is quite a bit of build-up that is taking place over the series both with fighting the Maess as well as Bennet and his personal life. Both are equally intriguing for me because while I adore a complicated romance I really get off on a Sci-Fi story with all its technical details and what-if possibilities. This isn’t a series for everyone but for those of us who prefer to have their stories reaching the far distance of space and time, Taking Shield series is going to scratch that itch and leave you begging for more.
November 29, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Makepeace (Taking Shield #3) by Anna Butler
1) I enjoyed this story and want to go and read book 1: Gyrfalcon & book 2: Heart Scarab to read more of this world.
2) This series really caught me in the first book. Things are going well for Shield Captain Bennet. In the second book, things go awry, and the third book, Makepeace, any hope of the main character getting out of a situation unscathed is not in the cards for Shield Captain Bennet. The political intrigue, missions gone wrong, and the recovery physically and mentally of Bennet in Makepeace is excruciating at times. I am hopeful there is a resolution in the next book.
3) Strong and interesting plot. Slow buildup with a mix of character-driven elements and plot-driven elements. Also thoroughly enjoyed the science fiction setting and the amount of vagueness so we readers can use our imagination to fill in blanks. Really great setting. Enough details when needed and imagination for the rest. A good balance; not perfect, but very good. They don't linger on minutae and know when to concentrate on the little things v. showing the big things. Each character feels like they stand on their own two feet and have their own voice, which is something I've found lacking in a number of entries. Clear, intelligible, easy to consume writing style. Really loved the slow burn on the plot and how casual some of the conversation feels. While there are a lot of moments spent in character's heads, they're balanced out by the action and by the transition. Recommended for award consideration.
1) I enjoyed this story and want to go and read book 1: Gyrfalcon & book 2: Heart Scarab to read more of this world.
2) This series really caught me in the first book. Things are going well for Shield Captain Bennet. In the second book, things go awry, and the third book, Makepeace, any hope of the main character getting out of a situation unscathed is not in the cards for Shield Captain Bennet. The political intrigue, missions gone wrong, and the recovery physically and mentally of Bennet in Makepeace is excruciating at times. I am hopeful there is a resolution in the next book.
3) Strong and interesting plot. Slow buildup with a mix of character-driven elements and plot-driven elements. Also thoroughly enjoyed the science fiction setting and the amount of vagueness so we readers can use our imagination to fill in blanks. Really great setting. Enough details when needed and imagination for the rest. A good balance; not perfect, but very good. They don't linger on minutae and know when to concentrate on the little things v. showing the big things. Each character feels like they stand on their own two feet and have their own voice, which is something I've found lacking in a number of entries. Clear, intelligible, easy to consume writing style. Really loved the slow burn on the plot and how casual some of the conversation feels. While there are a lot of moments spent in character's heads, they're balanced out by the action and by the transition. Recommended for award consideration.
June 6, 2020
Great series.
June 21, 2021
More like 2 1/2 stars, rounded down: see below.
I would usually preface a review with something like: the length of time it took me to complete this book is not indicative of how much I enjoyed it. However, this time, it really is. This book single handedly put me into a reading slump for over three weeks. It's…really kind of awful at times.
This series is shaping up to be quite a disappointment for me - especially after I rated the first book 'only' four stars because I thought the series would improve and I wanted the chance to show how much better the sequels were.
Yeah.
Okay, look, Bennet is a solid enough character, but his personality is so standard that there's nothing about him to allow him to carry entire books on his own. And that's almost what he's expected to do. The first book was co-narrated by Flynn and, while the writing was choppy in places, the characters were solid and interactions between the two narrators and even the rest of the cast were good. The second book left me personally very angry, but we did get Caeden - Bennet's father - as a narrator. To me, his was the only other POV that added to the book (Joss and Rosie certainly didn't).
In this book, for the third time, we change the people Bennet is around. And that's the thing about this series: The secondary characters are unmemorable and they change EVERY BOOK.
The characters around Bennet change from book to book and…Look, some books can pull it off. A great - also military sci-fi - example for me, is Tanya Huff's Confederation series. At the end of each book, the number of survivors are pretty much numbered in the single digits, and most of them you never see again, but each book makes you care about the people, and gives them personality. This series? I can count the number of people I actually care about on one hand: Bennet, Flynn, Caeden, probably Cruz and, maybe, Liam. The rest of the run the gamut from supremely dislikable (Joss, mostly, but also Rosie with her Bennet infatuation at times) to irrelevant (mom, sisters ect. You know, the people that are supposed to have the most emotional connection to Bennet) to cardboard for plot reasons (everyone else, especially everyone in the military)
Now, before I had this little rant, I had another point I wanted to make for this review: people are so overly emotional in this book. It's like everything is to the level of soap opera dramatics. I was not expecting this of military sci-fi.
Also, the romances? Blech. Bennet and Joss was unhealthy from day one and every time they are around each other, it just shows how bad they truly are. Bennet and Rosie…could have been great, but Rosie is so much ahead of Bennet in the relationship (until she's not) that it kind of seems like she was desperate to get him and he just wanted companionship. (…As I type that, I realize that while Bennet sometimes puts me in mind of M!Shep, Rosie is everything bad about F!Shep in ME2.)
After these two romances, I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to support Bennet and Flynn - because either they'll be just as bad and uncomfortable, or they'll be seen as a 'one true love' setup where everything is perfect.
Honestly, I think I'm going to have to find myself some spec fic that doesn't have romance or strangle me with the red string of love. Because between this book and the other one I'm in the middle of, I am so sick of bad romance plots.
Side note: I keep forgetting to post it, but what is up with literally everyone having only one name? I mean, we have Felix and Liam and Flynn and Bennet so these names are not unusual - but the only one that doesn't follow this pattern is Van Trion. (Who, 95% of the time, is referred to as Van.) I have so many questions about this.
The good news is, there is more action-y plot to this book than the second one.
The bad news is, the characters are even flatter. (At least Joss makes me feel something. … That something might be homicide inducing rage, but that's something.)
If I didn't already own the sequels, by now I'd be seriously considering dropping this series. However, it seems like book four might get Bennet back with Flynn and Caeden (you know, people with actual personalities that I don't hate) and we're going to get more of little sister (which might be a good thing - though considering the women in the series, possibly not) so I do have some hope that it might not be a total failure for me.
I would usually preface a review with something like: the length of time it took me to complete this book is not indicative of how much I enjoyed it. However, this time, it really is. This book single handedly put me into a reading slump for over three weeks. It's…really kind of awful at times.
This series is shaping up to be quite a disappointment for me - especially after I rated the first book 'only' four stars because I thought the series would improve and I wanted the chance to show how much better the sequels were.
Yeah.
Okay, look, Bennet is a solid enough character, but his personality is so standard that there's nothing about him to allow him to carry entire books on his own. And that's almost what he's expected to do. The first book was co-narrated by Flynn and, while the writing was choppy in places, the characters were solid and interactions between the two narrators and even the rest of the cast were good. The second book left me personally very angry, but we did get Caeden - Bennet's father - as a narrator. To me, his was the only other POV that added to the book (Joss and Rosie certainly didn't).
In this book, for the third time, we change the people Bennet is around. And that's the thing about this series: The secondary characters are unmemorable and they change EVERY BOOK.
The characters around Bennet change from book to book and…Look, some books can pull it off. A great - also military sci-fi - example for me, is Tanya Huff's Confederation series. At the end of each book, the number of survivors are pretty much numbered in the single digits, and most of them you never see again, but each book makes you care about the people, and gives them personality. This series? I can count the number of people I actually care about on one hand: Bennet, Flynn, Caeden, probably Cruz and, maybe, Liam. The rest of the run the gamut from supremely dislikable (Joss, mostly, but also Rosie with her Bennet infatuation at times) to irrelevant (mom, sisters ect. You know, the people that are supposed to have the most emotional connection to Bennet) to cardboard for plot reasons (everyone else, especially everyone in the military)
Now, before I had this little rant, I had another point I wanted to make for this review: people are so overly emotional in this book. It's like everything is to the level of soap opera dramatics. I was not expecting this of military sci-fi.
Also, the romances? Blech. Bennet and Joss was unhealthy from day one and every time they are around each other, it just shows how bad they truly are. Bennet and Rosie…could have been great, but Rosie is so much ahead of Bennet in the relationship (until she's not) that it kind of seems like she was desperate to get him and he just wanted companionship. (…As I type that, I realize that while Bennet sometimes puts me in mind of M!Shep, Rosie is everything bad about F!Shep in ME2.)
After these two romances, I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to support Bennet and Flynn - because either they'll be just as bad and uncomfortable, or they'll be seen as a 'one true love' setup where everything is perfect.
Honestly, I think I'm going to have to find myself some spec fic that doesn't have romance or strangle me with the red string of love. Because between this book and the other one I'm in the middle of, I am so sick of bad romance plots.
Side note: I keep forgetting to post it, but what is up with literally everyone having only one name? I mean, we have Felix and Liam and Flynn and Bennet so these names are not unusual - but the only one that doesn't follow this pattern is Van Trion. (Who, 95% of the time, is referred to as Van.) I have so many questions about this.
The good news is, there is more action-y plot to this book than the second one.
The bad news is, the characters are even flatter. (At least Joss makes me feel something. … That something might be homicide inducing rage, but that's something.)
If I didn't already own the sequels, by now I'd be seriously considering dropping this series. However, it seems like book four might get Bennet back with Flynn and Caeden (you know, people with actual personalities that I don't hate) and we're going to get more of little sister (which might be a good thing - though considering the women in the series, possibly not) so I do have some hope that it might not be a total failure for me.
March 6, 2018
One of the things I really like about this series is that there are consequences. After Bennet is injured in the previous story, he doesn’t just snap back into action, but spends months recovering from his ordeal. I enjoyed seeing more of Bennet’s relationship with his family in this story, plus his building bridges with his father. I felt for Bennet and Flynn and that they couldn’t be together—so tragic on both sides. I thought the imagery the author used for that worked nicely. Bennet’s sister being assigned to the Gryfalcon added another level of awkwardness to an already awkward situation. I also liked Rosie as a character and really felt for her and the situation she finds herself in. I think she makes the right call in order to stay true to who she is.
There is a bit more about the background of their world in this story, too, which I enjoyed. The links to Egyptology is great, and it’s obvious the author has a passion for the subject.
But as with the previous books in the series, this is an action SF story in which the protagonists happen to be gay, and I thought the author balanced the relationship and story well. The storyline with the Maess kicks up a notch, and I was horrified by certain parts of it. I liked the contrast between Bennet’s reaction to that of the Caliban’s crew to what is going on. Bennet’s guilt as to what he has done comes across very clearly, and I like the fact that it’s not going to go away anytime soon.
Another thing that kicks up a notch is the political agenda. Kudos to the author for writing such politically driven people that I disliked with a passion almost immediately. She doesn’t pull any punches and I was turning pages quickly needing to know what happened next. The story asks some very realistic ethical questions, and I found it very thought-provoking.
I’d recommend Makepeace to readers who like a solid action packed military SF story with well developed world building and characters, and a plot that makes you think.
There is a bit more about the background of their world in this story, too, which I enjoyed. The links to Egyptology is great, and it’s obvious the author has a passion for the subject.
But as with the previous books in the series, this is an action SF story in which the protagonists happen to be gay, and I thought the author balanced the relationship and story well. The storyline with the Maess kicks up a notch, and I was horrified by certain parts of it. I liked the contrast between Bennet’s reaction to that of the Caliban’s crew to what is going on. Bennet’s guilt as to what he has done comes across very clearly, and I like the fact that it’s not going to go away anytime soon.
Another thing that kicks up a notch is the political agenda. Kudos to the author for writing such politically driven people that I disliked with a passion almost immediately. She doesn’t pull any punches and I was turning pages quickly needing to know what happened next. The story asks some very realistic ethical questions, and I found it very thought-provoking.
I’d recommend Makepeace to readers who like a solid action packed military SF story with well developed world building and characters, and a plot that makes you think.
January 15, 2022
I think I’m going to give this book 3.75 stars. I felt like the action was a little glossed over at some of the most important points, and the whole ‘keeping it vague and not telling you until later to build suspense’ while in the base didn’t quite land the way the writer hoped it would. This book also took me way longer to read than the others because I found myself not wanting to get through the mission. I’m not sure why, but this book didn’t really grab me until the last slide toward the finish, and by then it was almost over.
Also, while I’m always excited for bisexual rep (being bi myself), the Rosie and Bennet dynamic felt clumsy. At the start of the series, it really seemed like they were great close friends, which I appreciated. Kind of like Flynn and Cruz. Rosie suddenly mooning over Bennet felt like it came out of nowhere, and Bennet agreeing to her rather aggressive demand for a relationship didn’t sit well. I get that this is likely to drive home the fact that Bennet is kind of a mess with relationships (highlighted strongly when he proposes to Rosie in the worst way near the end), but their whole relationship felt so forced.
Anyways. The book wasn’t my favourite in the series but it had its moments. Warwick was an insufferable jackass and good riddance to wherever he ran off to. I hope he doesn’t come back. Looking forward to seeing how the dynamic of Flynn and Bennet unfolds now that they’re trapped on the same ship in polarizing roles.
Also, while I’m always excited for bisexual rep (being bi myself), the Rosie and Bennet dynamic felt clumsy. At the start of the series, it really seemed like they were great close friends, which I appreciated. Kind of like Flynn and Cruz. Rosie suddenly mooning over Bennet felt like it came out of nowhere, and Bennet agreeing to her rather aggressive demand for a relationship didn’t sit well. I get that this is likely to drive home the fact that Bennet is kind of a mess with relationships (highlighted strongly when he proposes to Rosie in the worst way near the end), but their whole relationship felt so forced.
Anyways. The book wasn’t my favourite in the series but it had its moments. Warwick was an insufferable jackass and good riddance to wherever he ran off to. I hope he doesn’t come back. Looking forward to seeing how the dynamic of Flynn and Bennet unfolds now that they’re trapped on the same ship in polarizing roles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2018
Shield Captain Bennet has been healing from his injuries for over a year. Working in the Strategic Unit, decoding data on the Maess, he just want to get back into action. He discovers that the Maess have human prisoners on Makepeace, a planet that was captured over a century ago. He desperately wants to go back to Shield. He is posted to Fleet, to the Dreadnought Corvus where he becomes Flight Captain Bennet. Anxious to do his year so he can get back to Shield.
He continues his research into Makepeace and what he discovers is horrific. Something that may change the future of his world. His mission was a success but when it was over the price paid is very high. The blame cast is put on his shoulders, however unfair that may be.
This book is definitely has more of a Sci-Fi aspect. The personal interactions of Bennet still drive the story. Leading him back on the Gyrfalcon with his father and Flynn. The geek in me thinks this is the best of the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
He continues his research into Makepeace and what he discovers is horrific. Something that may change the future of his world. His mission was a success but when it was over the price paid is very high. The blame cast is put on his shoulders, however unfair that may be.
This book is definitely has more of a Sci-Fi aspect. The personal interactions of Bennet still drive the story. Leading him back on the Gyrfalcon with his father and Flynn. The geek in me thinks this is the best of the series.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
May 30, 2018
So, I blew right through this one, too. I LOVE this series. Love it. It's been a while since I found a great new (to me) series like this and basically couldn't put it down at all.
My basic thoughts on this are simple: not enough , too much , and too many POVs (I think too many POVs...they serve a purpose, but...idk).
The story itself is awesome. I have to say that Anna Butler is doing a great job with the storylines and continuity and building on what she's put down before.
Better than 2, not as good as 1. GIVE ME MORE RIGHT NOW.
PS This one ends with kind-of cliffhanger! Tsk.
My basic thoughts on this are simple: not enough , too much , and too many POVs (I think too many POVs...they serve a purpose, but...idk).
The story itself is awesome. I have to say that Anna Butler is doing a great job with the storylines and continuity and building on what she's put down before.
Better than 2, not as good as 1. GIVE ME MORE RIGHT NOW.
PS This one ends with kind-of cliffhanger! Tsk.
April 3, 2025
I’ve become increasingly disillusioned with this series and I think I’m done with it. It’s not that I don’t like the characters, but I can only care so much about these people. Looking forward to reviews of the final volume, I see that there aren’t ultimately a lot of questions answered in regards to the, alien adversary and I just don’t know that I can bring myself to follow along anymore. There is some very interesting worldbuilding overall but feels like the author doesn’t care about that all that much. I rather wish different books in the series had followed different characters and the whole world/war had been flushed out.
October 23, 2018
I liked this one a great deal more than the last one. Although I'm not fond of Rosie and Bennett together most of this book focus more on Bennett's work. I enjoyed watching Bennett's misson to Makepeace and the twist that the book made for their enemies. I did feel the politics of the worldbuilding a little bit underdeveloped and didn't make sense at times but overall I liked this book a great deal.
July 16, 2020
The book starts at the 60% of the Kindle count, nothing happens before this point. The book is outdated for me, I was surprised to find out it was written in twenty tens not in the nineties. There is no racial diversity whatsoever, one black man - a dead one, homophobia is on an official level. The look-mum-I'm-in-the-future part is bleak, it is mainly a military gay drama with lots of politics and family privilege.
Still three stars because the action part was exciting (though really small).
Still three stars because the action part was exciting (though really small).
September 27, 2021
DNF at 10%
I call it quits. Just can't no more....
Bennet lost his spine apparently with his injuries is tha last book. He lives with Rosie now. Really Bennet? Really? You gonna pretend house with you BFF for the sake of not being alone? I feel shame for you. And gonna bet that dear Rosie gonna change her mind and start wining that you using her and don't feel the real love.
I hate all characters in these series. Especially MC....
I call it quits. Just can't no more....
Bennet lost his spine apparently with his injuries is tha last book. He lives with Rosie now. Really Bennet? Really? You gonna pretend house with you BFF for the sake of not being alone? I feel shame for you. And gonna bet that dear Rosie gonna change her mind and start wining that you using her and don't feel the real love.
I hate all characters in these series. Especially MC....
August 18, 2018
4.5 stars
Not sure I liked the relationship with Rosie. It was kind of sudden and didn't feel entirely fair to anybody. I did really enjoy the rest, there was overall less romance and more scifi than in the previous book. And damn, that was creepy. I really need to find out what's happening next asap.
Not sure I liked the relationship with Rosie. It was kind of sudden and didn't feel entirely fair to anybody. I did really enjoy the rest, there was overall less romance and more scifi than in the previous book. And damn, that was creepy. I really need to find out what's happening next asap.
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