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Embers of War #2
Fleet of Knives
From award-winning author Gareth L. Powell, the second book in the critically acclaimed Embers of War space opera series.
The former warship Trouble Dog and her crew of misfits is called upon by the House of Reclamation to investigate a distress call from the human starship the Lucy's Ghost. Her crew abandon their crippled ship and seek refuge abroad an abandoned, slower-than-light generation ship launched ten thousand years before by an alien race. However, the enormous ship contains deadly secrets of its own.
Recovered war criminal, Ona Sudak, faces a firing squad for her actions in the Archipelago War. But, at the last moment, she is smuggled out of her high security prison. The Marble Armada has called for her to accompany its ships as observer and liaison, as it spreads itself across the human Generality, enforcing the peace at all costs. The alien ships will not tolerate resistance, and all dissenters are met with overwhelming and implacable force. Then her vessel intercepts messages from the House of Reclamation and decides the Trouble Dog has a capacity for violence which cannot be allowed to endure.
As the Trouble Dog and her crew fight to save the crew of the Lucy's Ghost, the ship finds herself caught between chaotic alien monsters on one side, and on the other, destruction at the hands of the Marble Armada.
The former warship Trouble Dog and her crew of misfits is called upon by the House of Reclamation to investigate a distress call from the human starship the Lucy's Ghost. Her crew abandon their crippled ship and seek refuge abroad an abandoned, slower-than-light generation ship launched ten thousand years before by an alien race. However, the enormous ship contains deadly secrets of its own.
Recovered war criminal, Ona Sudak, faces a firing squad for her actions in the Archipelago War. But, at the last moment, she is smuggled out of her high security prison. The Marble Armada has called for her to accompany its ships as observer and liaison, as it spreads itself across the human Generality, enforcing the peace at all costs. The alien ships will not tolerate resistance, and all dissenters are met with overwhelming and implacable force. Then her vessel intercepts messages from the House of Reclamation and decides the Trouble Dog has a capacity for violence which cannot be allowed to endure.
As the Trouble Dog and her crew fight to save the crew of the Lucy's Ghost, the ship finds herself caught between chaotic alien monsters on one side, and on the other, destruction at the hands of the Marble Armada.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
July 2, 2022
3.5 stars
I'm a bit torn on this one. On the one hand, I do like the story and the general premise. I like the idea of the sentient Trouble Dog and her whole internal conflict and rebuilding of her sense of place, but I also felt there wasn't quite enough of that here. On the upside, in Fleet of Knives the character that I felt was a bit too much of a sideline in Embers of War, Ona Sudak, reveals her importance to the overall story arc.
On the other hand, I continue to struggle a bit with the writing, which I actually thought was good, but maybe just not exactly to my taste. All the POVs are written in the first person, and with the exception of Nod and Trouble Dog the voices are not particularly distinct. A couple of times I had to go back and check the chapter heading to see if it was Sal, Ona, or Johnny who was speaking. The chapters are also extremely short, which is great for short reading bursts, but not so good for extended reading. That structure made me feel like I was changing gears too frequently and kept losing momentum just as things were getting interesting.
All of that said though, I think the story is very good, and similar to the first book, Fleet of Knives really picks up towards the end. Unfortunately it also sort of leaves things hanging at the end, so it feels very much like a middle book.
I guess the bottom line is that I liked it, but there was simultaneously this underlying feeling of unfulfilled potential that left me a bit...unsatisfied.
I'm a bit torn on this one. On the one hand, I do like the story and the general premise. I like the idea of the sentient Trouble Dog and her whole internal conflict and rebuilding of her sense of place, but I also felt there wasn't quite enough of that here. On the upside, in Fleet of Knives the character that I felt was a bit too much of a sideline in Embers of War, Ona Sudak, reveals her importance to the overall story arc.
On the other hand, I continue to struggle a bit with the writing, which I actually thought was good, but maybe just not exactly to my taste. All the POVs are written in the first person, and with the exception of Nod and Trouble Dog the voices are not particularly distinct. A couple of times I had to go back and check the chapter heading to see if it was Sal, Ona, or Johnny who was speaking. The chapters are also extremely short, which is great for short reading bursts, but not so good for extended reading. That structure made me feel like I was changing gears too frequently and kept losing momentum just as things were getting interesting.
All of that said though, I think the story is very good, and similar to the first book, Fleet of Knives really picks up towards the end. Unfortunately it also sort of leaves things hanging at the end, so it feels very much like a middle book.
I guess the bottom line is that I liked it, but there was simultaneously this underlying feeling of unfulfilled potential that left me a bit...unsatisfied.
April 16, 2020
I swear this series is just what I needed this month haha! I am still in love with the characters and Trouble Dog, the story follows after what happened in book one. Since they work as a team to help out people in need they go out again to follow up on a distress call. And do they bump into some nasty things! We get a bit more of a tease of something evil lurking in the void and I can't wait till shit escalates XD. There is a mention of a space dragon - perks up -. And the new found friends from book one are not as flexible and good natured as they hoped.
So yeah hope book 3 is a space monster explosion :D!
So yeah hope book 3 is a space monster explosion :D!
September 11, 2020
This is one of those times when I think the second book edges out the first book in the series. This was just so fun. I laughed and guffawed in the break room at work while reading this. It also kept me on the edge of my seat with crazy rescues, scary aliens, and smart ships. I wasn't planning on reading a book series, but off to start the third!
May 7, 2021
This is an excellent second book to this trilogy! I love these characters, and this storyline is very compelling. I am totally hooked, and can't wait to find out how the series is resolved in the third book. The audiobook presentation for this has been very good as well - I totally buy into the voices fitting each character. 5/5 stars!
July 8, 2021
A good sequel and continuation of the story. A little more enjoyable than the first even. Character development coming along nicely, some interesting new additions to the story, esp Lucy and Luck Johnny.
I'm already a few hours into book 3, so that's a solid recommendation.
I'm also really enjoying the development of Ona Sukad (idk how to spell any of these names). She's just really crawling under my skin in a most unpleasant manner.
I'm already a few hours into book 3, so that's a solid recommendation.
I'm also really enjoying the development of Ona Sukad (idk how to spell any of these names). She's just really crawling under my skin in a most unpleasant manner.
February 22, 2019
I loved Embers of War but Fleet of Knives is even better! It's such an exciting, very well-written read, packed full of spaceships, aliens, battles, mysteries and menace. Arguably the stars here are the spaceships themselves and each has its own distinct character. Loved it. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
April 24, 2019
The first in this series, Embers of War, just won the BSFA award for best novel. This sequel is every bit as good, and has me screaming for the next one. If you like sci-fi then you should be giving this a try.
October 31, 2021
The second installment of the trilogy (series?) picks up pretty much where we left off from the first. Trouble Dog, the sentient former warship now working for the House of Reclamation (an order dedicated to saving lives of any species) and Sal her captain are coming off some down time after the (mis)adventures of the last novel. The 'fleet of knives' or the marble ships-- an armada of over a million ships-- is in parking orbit around a neutral planet. Then we have a new comer, a tramp freighter looking to loot an old generation ship of another race, but things go very wrong...
Pretty mixed on this one, like the first installment. Decent space opera with a military flair, but Powell's writing style and his characters just do not do much for me. His cliff hanger endings on every chapter get annoying after a while as does the first person narrative. The world building reminds me of golden age science fiction (as does the tech); the main difference concerns the role of women in the story, who are major players. Trouble Dog's struggles with her new consciousness I found rather banal, if not outright trite-- like dressing up her avatar in 'party dresses' and so forth.
In any case, this is a fast read and some decent action sequences. Pure popcorn space opera. 3 stars.
Pretty mixed on this one, like the first installment. Decent space opera with a military flair, but Powell's writing style and his characters just do not do much for me. His cliff hanger endings on every chapter get annoying after a while as does the first person narrative. The world building reminds me of golden age science fiction (as does the tech); the main difference concerns the role of women in the story, who are major players. Trouble Dog's struggles with her new consciousness I found rather banal, if not outright trite-- like dressing up her avatar in 'party dresses' and so forth.
In any case, this is a fast read and some decent action sequences. Pure popcorn space opera. 3 stars.
March 29, 2019
Trouble Dog (disreputable hound, and all the other wonderful names given to her by Nod) is back and just as funny, fierce and thoughtful as before. The massive fleet she and Sal Kostanz found on their last mission has found a purpose, and begins acting on it, to everyone’s detriment.
The story moved quickly, and switched from character to character each chapter, like book one. Sal’s still wracked by guilt by George’s death in book one, and she and Trouble Dog are still processing their past actions, which makes for some interesting ethical conversations they have together and with others.
I liked the swift plot, and though there are terrible things happening, I enjoyed the moments of humour and the action, and really, I just love Trouble Dog, who shows growing maturity and thoughtfulness, and still has that great streak of wicked humour I loved in book one.
The story moved quickly, and switched from character to character each chapter, like book one. Sal’s still wracked by guilt by George’s death in book one, and she and Trouble Dog are still processing their past actions, which makes for some interesting ethical conversations they have together and with others.
I liked the swift plot, and though there are terrible things happening, I enjoyed the moments of humour and the action, and really, I just love Trouble Dog, who shows growing maturity and thoughtfulness, and still has that great streak of wicked humour I loved in book one.
March 23, 2019
3.5. Looking forward to the finale
March 28, 2019
The Trouble Dog and Sal Konstanz are back after the events of Embers of War, and specifically after a refit and rearm of Trouble Dog, they're off on another rescue. This time it's the stranded crew of opportunistic raiders who'd tried to loot an ancient and immense generation ship that an alien race had been preserving as a monument. All this while the Fleet of Knives gain a new commander, the previously introduced Ona Sudak, and a mission throughout human space that leads them on a collision course with the House of Reclamation.
Lots of great characters with story that again moves at a cracking pace, but again, very light. This is reinforced by the tiny chapters that lend the whole thing a feeling of choppiness and really limits how invested you can be in the characters.
Lots of great characters with story that again moves at a cracking pace, but again, very light. This is reinforced by the tiny chapters that lend the whole thing a feeling of choppiness and really limits how invested you can be in the characters.
May 21, 2023
3.5 rounded up!
Review to come
Review to come
dnf
March 15, 2021DNFing at 38%.
I haven't listened to this in at least a couple weeks now and have zero interest in getting back to it. The characters just aren't that compelling, not even the AI ships that were part of the reason I started reading this series in the first place. I'm not a fan of Ona Sudak, so her getting a bigger part isn't really doing anything for me, and now, in addition to Nod, there's a whole bunch of those little annoying "hands with eyes" aliens. The story has been moving forward at a snail's pace, and I just want to move on to something else.
I haven't listened to this in at least a couple weeks now and have zero interest in getting back to it. The characters just aren't that compelling, not even the AI ships that were part of the reason I started reading this series in the first place. I'm not a fan of Ona Sudak, so her getting a bigger part isn't really doing anything for me, and now, in addition to Nod, there's a whole bunch of those little annoying "hands with eyes" aliens. The story has been moving forward at a snail's pace, and I just want to move on to something else.
March 4, 2024
Antroji ciklo knyga. Mums jau pažįstamo laivo „Trouble Dog“ komanda skuba į pagalbą žvaigždėlaiviui „Lucy's Ghost“. Pastarosios įgula priversta palikti savo suluošintą laivą ir slėptis apleistame svetimos rasės laive. Tačiau atrodo, jie čia ne vieni. Ir tie kiti... o, jums geriau su jais nesusitikti.
Tai čia viena siužetinė linija, kita susijusi su pirmojoje knygoje atrasta Marmuro armada, kuri siekdama bet kokia kaina užtikrinti taiką, renkasi tam savo metodus. Metodus, kurie gali nepatikti žmonijai.
Vėl nestokojantis veiksmo kosminis „bojavičiokas“. Tik, jei pirmoji knyga buvo gana savarankiška, čia turime kiek susijusius du konfliktus – mažąjį ir didesnį. Su mažuoju kaip ir išsiaiškinam, bet jis netiesiogiai susijęs ir su didžiuoju, o štai tas pakabinamas ore. Reik tikėtis, kad bent trečiojoje knygoje taškus ant „i“ autorius sudėlios.
Kiek skystesnė už pirmąją. Gal dar ir dėl to, kad turime tik dalį pasakojimo. Ne patys stipriausi trys iš penkių, bet, matyt, pažiūrėsiu, kuo visas tas kipišas pasibaigs.
Tai čia viena siužetinė linija, kita susijusi su pirmojoje knygoje atrasta Marmuro armada, kuri siekdama bet kokia kaina užtikrinti taiką, renkasi tam savo metodus. Metodus, kurie gali nepatikti žmonijai.
Vėl nestokojantis veiksmo kosminis „bojavičiokas“. Tik, jei pirmoji knyga buvo gana savarankiška, čia turime kiek susijusius du konfliktus – mažąjį ir didesnį. Su mažuoju kaip ir išsiaiškinam, bet jis netiesiogiai susijęs ir su didžiuoju, o štai tas pakabinamas ore. Reik tikėtis, kad bent trečiojoje knygoje taškus ant „i“ autorius sudėlios.
Kiek skystesnė už pirmąją. Gal dar ir dėl to, kad turime tik dalį pasakojimo. Ne patys stipriausi trys iš penkių, bet, matyt, pažiūrėsiu, kuo visas tas kipišas pasibaigs.
October 14, 2020
A little over a year ago, I curtailed my review of Embers of War because of my broken elbow. I have now returned, stronger than ever, to review this sequel, Fleet of Knives. I finished this book in a single day, taking a break only to make dinner and watch Mean Girls (because it was October 3). This book is like candy to me. It is an invigorating space opera that balances grand, epic mysteries with smaller, more personal struggles. Gareth L. Powell’s plotting is measured and interesting, and his characters all carry their burdens with courage if not wisdom.
No spoilers for this book, but spoilers for the first book.
Fleet of Knives picks up soon after the first book finishes. The Marble Armada is parked in House of Reclamation space, negotiations and discussions ongoing. Ona Sedak rots in a prison, awaiting execution for her crimes—until a dramatic jailbreak leaves her in charge of the Armada, which has decided a killing spree of interstellar proportions is the only way to enforce peace. Meanwhile, Sal and her ship Trouble Dog take care of some spiritual business before they’re pulled back into Reclamation business: rescue the crew of the Lucy’s Ghost. Oh, and there might be monsters in hyperspace? Buckle up and strap in, my friends.
I want to start with the characterization, because that is truly what keeps me interested in these books. Powell’s people are all flawed, yet fortunately they are not flawed in the same way. (This sentiment is explicitly shared by our favourit Druff, Nod, at some point in the book!) Sal and Alva, for example, are both very broken—but they don’t really get along, because their broken pieces grate against one another. They are both trying to heal too, which is another thing I love about these books. Sometimes authors like to show off how edgy and broken and grim their characters are, and they never let those characters move beyond that pain to heal and grow and move on. Much like Maggie in Storm of Locusts , Sal is healing and growing in Fleet of Knives. Of course, the universe has a few more knocks to give her.
The evolution of Trouble Dog was perhaps more in the foreground in the first book, when she was evading her sisters and brothers and forced into battle against them. Yet she continues to grow here as well. A ship grown from the cloned cells of a dead human, Trouble Dog’s nascent emotional intelligence gets a workout as she must adopt some new crew members out of expediency—even as a current crew member doesn’t survive. By the way, Powell’s willingness to invest energy in building up a character only to kill them off not even really at the climax of the story? Love it. Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t some mad George R.R. Martin “kill all your darlings” situation. But I truly did not see that person’s death coming, and it was sad and beautiful in a bittersweet kind of way.
Similarly, Powell deftly intertwines the two major plots: the Armada’s extreme solution to human conflict, and the rescue of the Lucy’s Ghost crew. I enjoyed the new tidbits we get about the ancient threat the Armada was designed to protect against, even if one of its primary means of doing so is … um … gross? Oh, and without going into spoilers—how did Chet figure out that the Druff and the white ships are cousins?? Like it’s a cool little bit of info to drop, but there’s no explanation for why the Druff aboard Lucy’s Ghost is the one who deduces this. (As always, scenes with Nod are a delight though.)
My major grumble is mostly that Ona Sedak gets very little to do in this book. She basically sits around in the command centre of this incredibly powerful fleet, but she is still a prisoner. She serves at their whim. And whether or not she is morally on board with their plan, I wish she had exhibited a little more initiative in shaping their plan to her whims. Epic alien battle fleets are really only interesting as enemies when our side has ways of ferreting out their weaknesses (I realize Sedak isn’t on “our side,” but she also isn’t entirely on theirs). I hope the next book does just that.
Still, Fleet of Knives is a lot of fun and has moments of genuine touching beauty—like when Johnny and Addison decide what they will do if they survive this situation. Even when Powell strives for a great moment and doesn’t quite get there, the result is still good. I literally could not put this book down, and that’s not praise I often utter.
If you want good space opera with great, original characters and some cool ideas baked in, then this series is definitely for you.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
No spoilers for this book, but spoilers for the first book.
Fleet of Knives picks up soon after the first book finishes. The Marble Armada is parked in House of Reclamation space, negotiations and discussions ongoing. Ona Sedak rots in a prison, awaiting execution for her crimes—until a dramatic jailbreak leaves her in charge of the Armada, which has decided a killing spree of interstellar proportions is the only way to enforce peace. Meanwhile, Sal and her ship Trouble Dog take care of some spiritual business before they’re pulled back into Reclamation business: rescue the crew of the Lucy’s Ghost. Oh, and there might be monsters in hyperspace? Buckle up and strap in, my friends.
I want to start with the characterization, because that is truly what keeps me interested in these books. Powell’s people are all flawed, yet fortunately they are not flawed in the same way. (This sentiment is explicitly shared by our favourit Druff, Nod, at some point in the book!) Sal and Alva, for example, are both very broken—but they don’t really get along, because their broken pieces grate against one another. They are both trying to heal too, which is another thing I love about these books. Sometimes authors like to show off how edgy and broken and grim their characters are, and they never let those characters move beyond that pain to heal and grow and move on. Much like Maggie in Storm of Locusts , Sal is healing and growing in Fleet of Knives. Of course, the universe has a few more knocks to give her.
The evolution of Trouble Dog was perhaps more in the foreground in the first book, when she was evading her sisters and brothers and forced into battle against them. Yet she continues to grow here as well. A ship grown from the cloned cells of a dead human, Trouble Dog’s nascent emotional intelligence gets a workout as she must adopt some new crew members out of expediency—even as a current crew member doesn’t survive. By the way, Powell’s willingness to invest energy in building up a character only to kill them off not even really at the climax of the story? Love it. Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t some mad George R.R. Martin “kill all your darlings” situation. But I truly did not see that person’s death coming, and it was sad and beautiful in a bittersweet kind of way.
Similarly, Powell deftly intertwines the two major plots: the Armada’s extreme solution to human conflict, and the rescue of the Lucy’s Ghost crew. I enjoyed the new tidbits we get about the ancient threat the Armada was designed to protect against, even if one of its primary means of doing so is … um … gross? Oh, and without going into spoilers—how did Chet figure out that the Druff and the white ships are cousins?? Like it’s a cool little bit of info to drop, but there’s no explanation for why the Druff aboard Lucy’s Ghost is the one who deduces this. (As always, scenes with Nod are a delight though.)
My major grumble is mostly that Ona Sedak gets very little to do in this book. She basically sits around in the command centre of this incredibly powerful fleet, but she is still a prisoner. She serves at their whim. And whether or not she is morally on board with their plan, I wish she had exhibited a little more initiative in shaping their plan to her whims. Epic alien battle fleets are really only interesting as enemies when our side has ways of ferreting out their weaknesses (I realize Sedak isn’t on “our side,” but she also isn’t entirely on theirs). I hope the next book does just that.
Still, Fleet of Knives is a lot of fun and has moments of genuine touching beauty—like when Johnny and Addison decide what they will do if they survive this situation. Even when Powell strives for a great moment and doesn’t quite get there, the result is still good. I literally could not put this book down, and that’s not praise I often utter.
If you want good space opera with great, original characters and some cool ideas baked in, then this series is definitely for you.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
July 27, 2019
A worthy successor to the first novel in the series.
November 29, 2020
Attenzione: qui ci sono "le astronavi in fiamme al largo dei bastioni di Orione", ci sono gli alieni cattivissimi, c'è la Fantascienza di avventura di qualità, c'è il divertimento del lettore, lo stesso che si prova quando si legge Flandry di Anderson oppure i Vorkosigan della Bujold o Suiza della Moon. Perciò, socio-psicologi, umanisti, distopisti e altri pensatori, state alla larga: qui i laser spezzano i motori a salto ed i siluri polverizzano i droni. Un grande libro, come d'altra parte il primo della stessa serie, che riconcilia il lettore con il divertimento e l'avventura. Credo che per appassionare nuovamente i giovani lettori italiani a questo genere ci vorrebbero più proposte come questo.
June 1, 2025
Možda malo velikodušnih 5 zvjezdica, ali baš sam uživala. Obično kod SF-a nemam filtera hahaha. Uglavnom, likovi su mi se svidjeli, čak i negativka u svom hladnom ludilu, likovi puni krivnje i mana. Svemirske borbe. Kratka poglavnja nabijena akcijom i cliffhanger zbog kojeg planiram čim prije uzeti idući nastavak. Jedino me prijevod ubi u pojam. Jako ne volim to prevođenje imena koja kao imaju neko značenje (pr. Trouble Dog - Kuja nevaljalka).
Buddy Readathon with Zdravko 2025. - 2
Bookopoly 2025. – Husband Pick
Orilium Adventure 2025. - 2B West - book from the middle left side of the shelf
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala, s moje police
Buddy Readathon with Zdravko 2025. - 2
Bookopoly 2025. – Husband Pick
Orilium Adventure 2025. - 2B West - book from the middle left side of the shelf
Globalni ciljevi: nastavak serijala, s moje police
January 16, 2022
3.5*
still love trouble dog and nod
Think this could have used some more editing maybe, there was a lot of unnecessary repetition of descriptions of places and people. Didn't mind it too much tho, still a really enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one.
still love trouble dog and nod
Think this could have used some more editing maybe, there was a lot of unnecessary repetition of descriptions of places and people. Didn't mind it too much tho, still a really enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one.
December 28, 2019
Oh this was a fantastic second entry into the series of sentient AI starships and ancient secrets coming to light plus a powerful look at what Redemption really means
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
March 2, 2019
Yet another fantastic outing for the Trouble Dog and her crew.
Fleet of Knives is the sequel to last year's Embers of War and follows on from roughly where the last one left off. A year has passed and following a debriefing and some repairs Trouble Dog and her crew are off on a shakedown cruise, ostensibly to make sure everything's running smoothly but also to give the crew a chance to patch up any psychological wounds they might still be suffering, when they're called on to rescue some merchants stuck on a derelict generation ship. Meanwhile, the former Butcher of Pelepatarn, Ona Sudak, is facing death by firing squad for her past crimes only to find herself being whisked away to act as the biological controller of the titular fleet of knives, the Marble Armada.
What follows is another fun and frenetic slice of space opera from Gareth L. Powell. The stranded merchant crew are forced to face off against a slew of overgrown, psychotic metal crayfish while they wait for rescue. Meanwhile the Trouble Dog has to fight off the alien fleet who having been given the task of ensuring there are no more wars as terrible as the last one have determined that the best way to do this is to simply get rid of all weapons of war.
There's a lot of well-written character building going on in this novel, but where Powell's writing really shines is in the action. Whether it's a last-stand shootout between the merchants and the giant crawdads or an exchange of torpedoes between Trouble Dog and the Marble Armada the action rolls by at an exhilarating pace. There are casualties, and those casualties are hammered home in the reactions of the respective crews represented. I compared the first book to Iain M. Banks and in this second book I really do think that comparison still holds true.
I was really looking forward to this one going in, and I wasn't disappointed. If you enjoyed the first one, I think you'll like this one even more. Now I'm just waiting for book three to drop.
Fleet of Knives is the sequel to last year's Embers of War and follows on from roughly where the last one left off. A year has passed and following a debriefing and some repairs Trouble Dog and her crew are off on a shakedown cruise, ostensibly to make sure everything's running smoothly but also to give the crew a chance to patch up any psychological wounds they might still be suffering, when they're called on to rescue some merchants stuck on a derelict generation ship. Meanwhile, the former Butcher of Pelepatarn, Ona Sudak, is facing death by firing squad for her past crimes only to find herself being whisked away to act as the biological controller of the titular fleet of knives, the Marble Armada.
What follows is another fun and frenetic slice of space opera from Gareth L. Powell. The stranded merchant crew are forced to face off against a slew of overgrown, psychotic metal crayfish while they wait for rescue. Meanwhile the Trouble Dog has to fight off the alien fleet who having been given the task of ensuring there are no more wars as terrible as the last one have determined that the best way to do this is to simply get rid of all weapons of war.
There's a lot of well-written character building going on in this novel, but where Powell's writing really shines is in the action. Whether it's a last-stand shootout between the merchants and the giant crawdads or an exchange of torpedoes between Trouble Dog and the Marble Armada the action rolls by at an exhilarating pace. There are casualties, and those casualties are hammered home in the reactions of the respective crews represented. I compared the first book to Iain M. Banks and in this second book I really do think that comparison still holds true.
I was really looking forward to this one going in, and I wasn't disappointed. If you enjoyed the first one, I think you'll like this one even more. Now I'm just waiting for book three to drop.
November 27, 2020
Ahoy me mateys! Grab your grog! Here be book 2 of the 10th installment of the 3 Bells trilogy showcase where for 3 days straight I will be reviewing 3 books in a row. The catch is that the 3 books will showcase an entire trilogy. So throw your 3 sheets to the wind and get ready to celebrate with me. Grog optional . . .
So yesterday I told ye about how much fun I had meeting the ship Trouble Dog. I was very interested in hearing where her travels took her next. I certainly loved hearing more about Sal and crew. Ona Sudak is still a jerk. I have to admit that I feel her motivations to be less than interesting. Stupid in fact.
What was interesting was learning about the alien generation ship and the greater threat to the universe. Think ye know about how scary parasites can be? Think again. And they are the lesser problem. Sal and Trouble Dog are again trying to rescue others and get into more than they bargain for.
This second tale of adventure was not nearly as good as the first. Solid. I think part of it was that I didn’t love the new characters like I adore Trouble Dog’s bunch. This middle yarn really did feel like second book that set up for the grand finale. The ending however was excellent and bumped up the enjoyment a bit.
Stay tuned for the final book tomorrow. Arrr!
So yesterday I told ye about how much fun I had meeting the ship Trouble Dog. I was very interested in hearing where her travels took her next. I certainly loved hearing more about Sal and crew. Ona Sudak is still a jerk. I have to admit that I feel her motivations to be less than interesting. Stupid in fact.
What was interesting was learning about the alien generation ship and the greater threat to the universe. Think ye know about how scary parasites can be? Think again. And they are the lesser problem. Sal and Trouble Dog are again trying to rescue others and get into more than they bargain for.
This second tale of adventure was not nearly as good as the first. Solid. I think part of it was that I didn’t love the new characters like I adore Trouble Dog’s bunch. This middle yarn really did feel like second book that set up for the grand finale. The ending however was excellent and bumped up the enjoyment a bit.
Stay tuned for the final book tomorrow. Arrr!
July 11, 2022
Aunque esta mejor que el anterior en cuando a ritmo no me convence como los de Scalzi, pero bueno, ya voy a cerrar la trilogía, ya ni hablar.
September 7, 2024
If you've read "Embers of War" (and if you haven't why are you reading this?), the climax of that book was a rousing moment but you knew it had to be too good a development to be an unalloyed outcome. In this book one gets the blowback, as the Marble Fleet takes its mission of keeping the peace very seriously and very literally; to the point of seeing Humanity as incompetent charges who need to be repressed at all costs for its own good. Particularly since the enemy the fleet was created to fight seems to be making it's emergence. Besides the survivors from the first book there is another collection of characters in this installment, represented by Captain "Lucky" Johnny Schultz who takes his ship and crew on a freelance tomb-raiding expedition that's a major catalyst to plot developments. If you liked the first book you will also like this one, and this installment is certainly better than the first.
Originally read: April 26, 2020.
Originally read: April 26, 2020.
February 19, 2020
A solid second instalment for the Trouble Dog and her crew, as unexpected saviours turn into implacable foes. Expect musings on responsibility, sacrifice and adulthood, along with a delightful set of developments centred around themes of found family (or is that pack?)
It was sailing for a comfortable 3 stars until some classy narrative payoff zapped me between the eyes and left them watering. Tears always get bonus points.
3.5 stars
Full review to follow
It was sailing for a comfortable 3 stars until some classy narrative payoff zapped me between the eyes and left them watering. Tears always get bonus points.
3.5 stars
Full review to follow
November 11, 2020
Why read a followup to a book that I have no memory of reading? I'm not sure either.
Full review on my podcast, SFBRP episode #436:
https://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1762
Full review on my podcast, SFBRP episode #436:
https://www.sfbrp.com/archives/1762
May 11, 2019
Fleet of Knives is the sequel to Embers of War, the second book in the Embers of War trilogy. This series is clearly space opera; it features a sentient space ship called Trouble Dog that has a cast of curious characters. The captain is Sal Konstanz, with crewmembers Alva Clay (a seasoned war veteran), Preston Menderes (the ship doctor who dropped out of medical school) and Nod (an alien with faces in the palms of its six hands).
The other important character in this book is Ona Sudak, which is the alternate identity for Captain Annelida Deal who was introduced in the first book right before she carrying out a genocidal order to incinerate a planet-straddling sentient forest in order to bring an intergalactic war to a sudden end.
In the beginning of the second book, Sudak is moments away from being executed when she is suddenly rescued because the Marble Armada wants to work with her. The Marble Armada is a fleet of one million alien ships (which resemble white knives) that were discovered at the end of Embers of War.
In Fleet of Knives the Marble Armada uses Ona Sudak to help them implement their overarching mission, which is to prevent humans from engaging in interstellar war again. However, this means that the fleet of knives ends up destroying lots of ships and leads to many collateral human casualties.
We get introduced to a new cast of characters in Fleet of Knives after a ship called Lucy's Ghost is attacked by a curious hyperspatial creature and crash onto a huge dormant alien artifact. Unfortunately there are viciously murderous aliens that resemble crawfish that attack (and kill) multiple members of the survivors of Lucy's Ghost.
Trouble Dog is the strongest character in both books and eventually she comes face-to-face with the fleet of knives whom for some reason seem particularly interested in making sure that she is either destroyed or has her weapons deactivated.
I think I liked Book 2 more than Book 1 even though it ends with a pretty substantial cliffhanger. The tension between the fleet of knives and Trouble Dog is also not resolved. However, I feel more invested in reading the sequel to Book 2 when it comes out next year than I felt invested in reading Book 2 after finishing Book 1.
The other important character in this book is Ona Sudak, which is the alternate identity for Captain Annelida Deal who was introduced in the first book right before she carrying out a genocidal order to incinerate a planet-straddling sentient forest in order to bring an intergalactic war to a sudden end.
In the beginning of the second book, Sudak is moments away from being executed when she is suddenly rescued because the Marble Armada wants to work with her. The Marble Armada is a fleet of one million alien ships (which resemble white knives) that were discovered at the end of Embers of War.
In Fleet of Knives the Marble Armada uses Ona Sudak to help them implement their overarching mission, which is to prevent humans from engaging in interstellar war again. However, this means that the fleet of knives ends up destroying lots of ships and leads to many collateral human casualties.
We get introduced to a new cast of characters in Fleet of Knives after a ship called Lucy's Ghost is attacked by a curious hyperspatial creature and crash onto a huge dormant alien artifact. Unfortunately there are viciously murderous aliens that resemble crawfish that attack (and kill) multiple members of the survivors of Lucy's Ghost.
Trouble Dog is the strongest character in both books and eventually she comes face-to-face with the fleet of knives whom for some reason seem particularly interested in making sure that she is either destroyed or has her weapons deactivated.
I think I liked Book 2 more than Book 1 even though it ends with a pretty substantial cliffhanger. The tension between the fleet of knives and Trouble Dog is also not resolved. However, I feel more invested in reading the sequel to Book 2 when it comes out next year than I felt invested in reading Book 2 after finishing Book 1.
February 4, 2020
This is the second book in the "Embers of War" trilogy by Gareth L. Powell. This book is a great follow-up to the first book "Embers of War". In this one the Trouble Dog and her crew are sent on a rescue mission to the edge of human space. While they are in route the ships of the Marble Armada break the war criminal Oda Sudak out of prison and save her from a death sentence. In return they want her to lead them on a mission to force peace upon mankind - at any price! They plan to destroy all of mankind's warships - including the Trouble Dog. Meanwhile the crew of the Trouble Dog are having problems in their rescue attempt. Powerful, malevolent creatures from the higher plans are attacking the crew of Lucy's Ghost whom they have been sent to rescue. When they arrive they are also attacked. This book is action packed with a cast of varied and interesting characters. I recommend it and this series so far.
December 28, 2019
Stayed up late last night to finish reading this. The Embers of War series continues to dress thorny questions of redemption, penance and whether ends really justify means in the much-worn spacesuit of a ripping SF adventure, and I cannot get enough of it.
I adore Trouble Dog and her crew. I love the setting, so full of colour and life. The depth of Powell's affection for and appreciation of SF shines through in the text, but the story is also its own unique thing, and I cannot wait to see how it wraps up.
I adore Trouble Dog and her crew. I love the setting, so full of colour and life. The depth of Powell's affection for and appreciation of SF shines through in the text, but the story is also its own unique thing, and I cannot wait to see how it wraps up.
June 17, 2020
3.5 Will review at www.fantasyliterature.com.
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