Outstanding!
I don’t know how he did it because he’d been outdoing himself over and over again. But this one raises several notches up that I’ve added made so many highlights like never before, though not necessarily agree with some of them. The quality in his researches and careful crafting of the plots shows that he’d put up some real time in this story.
Never before in his books so many good guys perish. Especially in the early part of the game, a real shell shock. But that adds a lot of dynamics in the story especially when the new enemy outclass the coalition in each and every way.
Yet again Larson proves that people management is his strongest department, always earn trusts and loyalty through actions, not mere words and you gain strong alliances and super sidekicks to have your back and sides covered. In contrast, the villains always lose because they are selfish and don’t get the much needed support when they are most needed.
Despite some flaws (Vic was way to easy to put down, Murdock and Zaxby were so prepared it all seemed so magical), which is becoming Larson’s MO to quickly finish off the endings, this is a damn hard to put down book. Yes more deprivation of sleep but this this totally worth it.
Will I recommend this book? You bet!