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Gears of War #6
Gears of War: Ascendance
The official prequel to the action video game Gears 5 , beginning immediately after Gears of War 4 and leading directly into the new game.
THE OFFICIAL BRIDGE TO GEARS 5
Following Reyna Diaz's death at the hands of the Swarm, Kait seals her mother's tomb, swearing revenge. With her allies, including JD Fenix and Del Walker, she returns to New Ephyra to warn the Coalition of Ordered
THE SWARM IS COMING
However, First Minister Jinn requires proof of the threat. She also demands their utter loyalty, driving a wedge between the allies. Joined by Marcus Fenix, Kait strikes out on her own while JD and Del embark on a sanctioned mission to prove that the threat is real. With the fate of humankind hanging in the balance, it's a race against time.
THE OFFICIAL BRIDGE TO GEARS 5
Following Reyna Diaz's death at the hands of the Swarm, Kait seals her mother's tomb, swearing revenge. With her allies, including JD Fenix and Del Walker, she returns to New Ephyra to warn the Coalition of Ordered
THE SWARM IS COMING
However, First Minister Jinn requires proof of the threat. She also demands their utter loyalty, driving a wedge between the allies. Joined by Marcus Fenix, Kait strikes out on her own while JD and Del embark on a sanctioned mission to prove that the threat is real. With the fate of humankind hanging in the balance, it's a race against time.
464 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
About the author
Jason M. Hough
28 books581 followersJason M. Hough (pronounced 'Huff') is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dire Earth Cycle and the near-future spy thriller Zero World. In a former life he was a 3D artist, animator, and game designer (Metal Fatigue, Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction, and many others). He has also worked in the fields of high-performance cluster computing and machine learning.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 6, 2019
I have waited years for a new Gears novel! I have to say I was skeptical about the writing as I dearly loved Karen Traviss, but I'll hand it to Jason M. Hough! I loved this prelude to Gears 5 and cannot wait to get my hands on the game to see where the story goes!
August 2, 2019
Very good.
It's not so heavy in adding lore, but the character moments were so effective and amazing. Baird and Marcus especially.
It's not so heavy in adding lore, but the character moments were so effective and amazing. Baird and Marcus especially.
October 5, 2019
Following Reyna Diaz's death at the hands of the Swarm (in Gears of War 4), Kait seals her mother's tomb and swears revenge. As she, JD, Del, Marcus, Cole, Samantha, and Baird lick their wounds and resupply, First Minister Jinn summons them to New Ephyra, promising that the "crimes" they committed will be forgiven. Before they can rejoin the Coalition, however, Jinn demands proof of their loyalty, and of the threat of the Swarm.
I wish this book had come out sooner towards the release of gears 4. For a long time after I played the game I felt like I had missed something I had replayed the games and i couldn't pin point what I was missing. And wondered why I didn't have a love for the new charecters like I did with the old group. There was a lot of plot hole that this book filled in it takes place right after the events of gears 4 and leads straight into gears 5. I grew my love for the new crew here the writing is perfect I could really hear the loud voice of cole train and the rough and rugged voice of Marcus Fenix or that could just be down to the fact I've played hours of the original trilogy either way the writing is great even in moments where there is no action taking place I was still interested. With only a small few times the writing became simple but they are more down to personal preference. As for the story like i siad it fills in the gaps of the events of the last game and moves on slowly to give you a perspective of the world and the issues of of lead character kait that is a lot to do with her familys origin I won't say anymore about the story because of spoilers but it's a fun rollercoaster ride. Overall I'd like to say I loved this book and I haven't read a gears of war novel since this one and now im thinking I might need to go back and read them. So i can highly recommended this book to any gears of war fan and I'd also like to say a huge thank you to titan books for sending me a copy of the book and making this reveiw possible I can't wait for the next novel.
5/5 Stars on GoodReads
100/100 GingerPoints
I wish this book had come out sooner towards the release of gears 4. For a long time after I played the game I felt like I had missed something I had replayed the games and i couldn't pin point what I was missing. And wondered why I didn't have a love for the new charecters like I did with the old group. There was a lot of plot hole that this book filled in it takes place right after the events of gears 4 and leads straight into gears 5. I grew my love for the new crew here the writing is perfect I could really hear the loud voice of cole train and the rough and rugged voice of Marcus Fenix or that could just be down to the fact I've played hours of the original trilogy either way the writing is great even in moments where there is no action taking place I was still interested. With only a small few times the writing became simple but they are more down to personal preference. As for the story like i siad it fills in the gaps of the events of the last game and moves on slowly to give you a perspective of the world and the issues of of lead character kait that is a lot to do with her familys origin I won't say anymore about the story because of spoilers but it's a fun rollercoaster ride. Overall I'd like to say I loved this book and I haven't read a gears of war novel since this one and now im thinking I might need to go back and read them. So i can highly recommended this book to any gears of war fan and I'd also like to say a huge thank you to titan books for sending me a copy of the book and making this reveiw possible I can't wait for the next novel.
5/5 Stars on GoodReads
100/100 GingerPoints
August 15, 2021
Not as strong as the other books in the series. I am pretty sure the new author didn't have to read any of the old books or do much of anything other than play Gears 4 to come up with the story for this one. I like the new characters from the later games, but I was hoping that this book would make more references to events in the past, which it did not.
The editing was a little poor in some spots, and several phrases are repeated over and over throughout the book. "It felt like an hour, but was probably only a few seconds" is a standout. Overall, the writing is good, I just wish that the author had more of the source material to work with to help tie in this era with the one in previous books and games.
The editing was a little poor in some spots, and several phrases are repeated over and over throughout the book. "It felt like an hour, but was probably only a few seconds" is a standout. Overall, the writing is good, I just wish that the author had more of the source material to work with to help tie in this era with the one in previous books and games.
October 31, 2020
Gears of War: Ascendance by Jason M. Hough — Review
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Genre: Military Science Fiction / Action / Video-Game Tie-In
Author: Jason M. Hough
Review
Gears of War: Ascendance is an interesting entry in the Gears of War expanded universe because its primary purpose isn’t to tell an entirely new chapter of Sera’s history. Instead, Jason M. Hough is tasked with doing something considerably more difficult: bridging the events of Gears of War 4 directly into Gears 5.
And for the most part, he succeeds.
The novel begins immediately after the devastating conclusion of Gears of War 4, with Kait Diaz dealing with the death of her mother, Reyna, and the disturbing implications surrounding the Locust symbol on the necklace Reyna gave her. Kait and her companions eventually return to New Ephyra, where First Minister Jinn demands that they prove the Swarm threat is as serious as they claim.
From there, the story divides into several interconnected threads involving Kait and Marcus Fenix, JD Fenix and Del Walker, and Damon Baird and First Minister Jinn. The novel ultimately becomes a race to understand what the Swarm is planning while the political tensions inside the Coalition of Ordered Governments threaten to fracture the heroes themselves.
That setup makes Ascendance feel less like a traditional standalone novel and more like a missing campaign chapter between two video games.
And honestly, that is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness.
⸻
A True Bridge Between Gears 4 and Gears 5
The most important thing Ascendance accomplishes is filling in the gap between the fourth and fifth games.
Rather than simply jumping from the ending of Gears 4 to the opening of Gears 5, Hough shows how the characters get there.
Kait’s psychological and emotional state is especially important. She isn’t simply the confident young Gear we saw fighting alongside JD and Del. She’s someone struggling with grief, anger, guilt, uncertainty, and the terrifying possibility that her family has a connection to the Locust that she doesn’t understand.
That makes Kait the natural center of the novel.
Her relationship with Marcus is also one of the better aspects of the story. Marcus essentially becomes something of a surrogate father figure and mentor to Kait, and their interactions provide some of the quieter moments between the firefights.
The novel understands something important about Marcus: beneath his gruff exterior, he genuinely cares about the people around him.
This relationship becomes particularly valuable because Kait is entering a period of her life where the simple worldview she once had is falling apart.
She knows the COG isn’t perfect.
She knows the Outsiders aren’t necessarily safe.
She knows the Swarm is coming.
And she doesn’t know exactly where she belongs.
That uncertainty is one of the most interesting elements of Ascendance.
⸻
Kait Diaz Takes Center Stage
If there’s one character who benefits the most from the novel format, it’s Kait.
The games naturally have to prioritize action, exploration, and player interaction. A novel has the opportunity to get inside a character’s head.
Hough takes advantage of that.
Kait’s grief following Reyna’s death gives the story an emotional foundation, while her increasingly complicated relationship with the COG provides the political conflict.
She’s caught between two worlds:
The Outsiders, where she was raised, and the COG, where she has become a Gear.
Neither side completely feels like home anymore.
That makes her journey considerably more interesting than simply having her hunt down the Swarm.
Kait is trying to figure out who she actually is.
That question becomes even more important because of the mysteries surrounding her family and the Locust.
The novel doesn’t completely resolve those mysteries—and that’s intentional. Ascendance is ultimately setting the table for Gears 5 rather than providing all the answers itself.
That can occasionally be frustrating, but it does make the novel feel like a genuine piece of the larger story rather than a disconnected side adventure.
⸻
Marcus Fenix Is One of the Highlights
Marcus remains Marcus.
And that’s a good thing.
Hough doesn’t try to radically reinvent him. Instead, he understands that Marcus works because of his combination of sarcasm, experience, stubbornness, and genuine loyalty.
His relationship with Kait is particularly effective.
Marcus has spent decades fighting wars and losing people he cares about. Kait is considerably younger and is dealing with the beginning of her own war.
There is an interesting generational contrast between them.
Marcus has already lived through the kind of nightmare Kait is only beginning to understand.
That gives him a natural role as a mentor, even if Marcus would probably refuse to describe himself that way.
⸻
JD and Del
The JD and Del storyline is somewhat more uneven.
JD is dealing with the consequences of his relationship with the COG, while Del remains the loyal friend who tries to keep everyone together.
Their storyline works primarily because of the friendship between the two characters.
However, compared with Kait’s emotional journey, their sections sometimes feel more like a traditional military mission.
That’s not necessarily bad.
In fact, those chapters provide some of the novel’s best action.
But emotionally, Kait’s storyline generally feels more substantial.
One criticism that can be made of the novel is that Del doesn’t receive quite as much development as he deserves. Some reviewers have similarly argued that his personal motivations are comparatively thin.
⸻
First Minister Jinn and the COG
One of the more interesting aspects of Ascendance is its exploration of the modern COG.
First Minister Jinn isn’t simply there to provide exposition or issue orders.
Her political concerns are important to the story.
From Jinn’s perspective, Kait, JD, Del, and the others can’t simply announce that the Swarm is coming and expect the entire COG government to mobilize.
She wants evidence.
She wants loyalty.
And she wants control.
That creates an interesting conflict because the heroes are dealing with an existential threat while the government is dealing with political realities.
The Swarm doesn’t care about elections, bureaucracy, public opinion, or military chain of command.
The COG does.
That contrast is very Gears of War.
⸻
The Action
This is probably the strongest part of Hough’s writing.
Ascendance absolutely understands how Gears of War should feel.
The action is violent, fast, brutal, and cinematic.
Lancers, Gnasher shotguns, Boltok pistols, explosions, chainsaws, Swarm creatures and enormous monsters all make appearances.
Hough has a talent for translating the visual spectacle of the games into prose.
Several action sequences genuinely feel as though they could have been pulled directly from a Gears campaign.
The Swarm are also used effectively.
Juvies, Pouncers, Swarm soldiers and larger creatures give the characters plenty of threats to deal with, while the action continually reinforces just how dangerous the new enemy has become.
And then there is Augustus Cole.
Whenever the Cole Train appears, the book becomes considerably more entertaining.
Cole’s larger-than-life personality fits perfectly into the novel, and his scenes provide some welcome humor amid all the death and destruction.
⸻
The Swarm
One of the things I particularly appreciate about Ascendance is that it doesn’t simply treat the Swarm as “Locust 2.0.”
The novel continues establishing the Swarm as a new generation of threat.
At this point in the timeline, humanity is still trying to understand exactly what has happened to the Locust and what the Swarm actually represents.
That uncertainty creates a sense of dread.
The characters know what the Locust were capable of.
Now they’re confronted with something that appears to have inherited that legacy while developing its own methods.
The novel doesn’t completely answer every question, but it helps establish the atmosphere going into Gears 5.
⸻
Hough’s Writing Style
Jason M. Hough was an interesting choice to take over the Gears novels.
Karen Traviss had previously established an extremely strong identity for the literary side of the franchise, particularly through her focus on military culture, relationships, trauma, politics, and the consequences of war.
Hough’s approach is somewhat different.
His writing is more cinematic.
The novel moves quickly, and the action sequences are generally the strongest portions.
Several contemporary reviewers praised exactly this quality, describing the novel’s action as cinematic and its pacing as relentless.
That makes Ascendance an extremely easy book to read.
It rarely becomes bogged down.
Chapters tend to move quickly from one mission to another, and the multiple storylines keep the narrative moving.
However, that speed can occasionally work against the novel.
There are moments where I wanted Hough to slow down and spend more time exploring the characters, the COG, or Sera itself.
⸻
World-Building
This is probably where I have my biggest criticism.
Ascendance assumes you already know Gears of War.
Very little time is spent explaining the basic history of Sera, the COG, the Locust War, the Pendulum Wars, or the characters’ previous adventures.
For an existing Gears fan, this isn’t a problem.
For someone coming into the franchise completely blind, however, this could be confusing.
The novel is very much written as an expanded-universe companion, not an introductory science-fiction novel.
There is also an argument that Hough could have expanded the social and cultural side of the COG more. One review specifically praised the glimpses into modern COG society while wishing the book had spent more time exploring those elements.
I agree with that criticism.
Sera is a fascinating setting.
The world has survived decades of civilization-ending warfare, and the COG is trying to rebuild something resembling a functioning society.
That could have provided some fantastic material.
⸻
The Biggest Problem: We Know Where This Is Going
This is the unavoidable problem with Ascendance.
Everyone reading this already knows that it leads directly into Gears 5.
That means the book has limited freedom.
Certain characters obviously have to survive.
Certain events obviously have to happen.
And the story can’t completely resolve Kait’s mysteries because those mysteries become central to Gears 5.
This inevitably reduces some of the tension.
A reviewer at Raph’s Cozy Musings made a similar observation, arguing that knowing where the story ultimately has to end can diminish the dramatic stakes. (Raph’s Cozy Musings)
However, I don’t think that makes the novel pointless.
Quite the opposite.
Its purpose isn’t necessarily to surprise you with the destination.
Its purpose is to show you how the characters got there.
And in that respect, it succeeds.
⸻
How It Compares to the Older Gears Novels
This is probably where longtime fans will have the strongest opinions.
If you’re coming directly from Karen Traviss’s Gears novels, Ascendance feels different.
Traviss’s books were heavily interested in the human consequences of the Locust War.
She explored relationships, military culture, trauma, politics, family, and the long-term consequences of decades of warfare.
Hough’s novel is more focused on being an action-oriented bridge into the next game.
Neither approach is inherently wrong.
They’re simply different.
Personally, I would have loved to see Hough combine his excellent action writing with some of the deeper character and world-building material that made the earlier novels so memorable.
That said, I don’t think Ascendance deserves to be dismissed simply because it isn’t another Jacinto’s Remnant or Anvil Gate.
It’s doing something different.
⸻
Final Verdict
Gears of War: Ascendance is not the most ambitious novel in the Gears of War expanded universe.
But it is a very effective companion to Gears 5.
Jason M. Hough understands the tone of the franchise, writes excellent action sequences, handles the major characters competently, and gives Kait Diaz some much-needed space to develop outside the limitations of the video-game format.
Its greatest strengths are:
* Excellent Gears-style action
* Strong portrayal of Kait Diaz
* A compelling relationship between Kait and Marcus
* Good use of JD, Del, Baird and Jinn
* Plenty of Swarm battles
* Great appearances from Cole
* Fast, cinematic pacing
* A genuinely useful bridge between Gears 4 and Gears 5
Its weaknesses are:
* Limited world-building for newcomers
* Some characters receive less development than they deserve
* The story occasionally feels like a sequence of missions
* Some mysteries deliberately remain unresolved
* The prequel/interquel structure limits the suspense
* It doesn’t expand the wider Gears mythology as much as it could
Ultimately, Ascendance is best viewed not as a standalone masterpiece but as the missing chapter of the Gears 4 → Gears 5 transition.
If you’re already a Gears of War fan, I absolutely recommend it. In fact, reading it before Gears 5 gives the transition between the two games considerably more context.
It may not reach the emotional depth of the best Gears novels from the earlier era, but it successfully captures what makes the games so much fun: big guns, brutal monsters, desperate soldiers, dark humor, complicated friendships, and humanity refusing to die.
Final Rating: 8/10
Best for: Existing Gears of War fans, especially anyone interested in Kait Diaz and the transition into Gears 5.
Recommended reading order: Gears of War 4 → Gears of War: Ascendance → Gears 5
Bottom line:
Ascendance isn’t essential literature, but for a Gears of War fan, it’s one hell of an extended campaign mission—and that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Genre: Military Science Fiction / Action / Video-Game Tie-In
Author: Jason M. Hough
Review
Gears of War: Ascendance is an interesting entry in the Gears of War expanded universe because its primary purpose isn’t to tell an entirely new chapter of Sera’s history. Instead, Jason M. Hough is tasked with doing something considerably more difficult: bridging the events of Gears of War 4 directly into Gears 5.
And for the most part, he succeeds.
The novel begins immediately after the devastating conclusion of Gears of War 4, with Kait Diaz dealing with the death of her mother, Reyna, and the disturbing implications surrounding the Locust symbol on the necklace Reyna gave her. Kait and her companions eventually return to New Ephyra, where First Minister Jinn demands that they prove the Swarm threat is as serious as they claim.
From there, the story divides into several interconnected threads involving Kait and Marcus Fenix, JD Fenix and Del Walker, and Damon Baird and First Minister Jinn. The novel ultimately becomes a race to understand what the Swarm is planning while the political tensions inside the Coalition of Ordered Governments threaten to fracture the heroes themselves.
That setup makes Ascendance feel less like a traditional standalone novel and more like a missing campaign chapter between two video games.
And honestly, that is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness.
⸻
A True Bridge Between Gears 4 and Gears 5
The most important thing Ascendance accomplishes is filling in the gap between the fourth and fifth games.
Rather than simply jumping from the ending of Gears 4 to the opening of Gears 5, Hough shows how the characters get there.
Kait’s psychological and emotional state is especially important. She isn’t simply the confident young Gear we saw fighting alongside JD and Del. She’s someone struggling with grief, anger, guilt, uncertainty, and the terrifying possibility that her family has a connection to the Locust that she doesn’t understand.
That makes Kait the natural center of the novel.
Her relationship with Marcus is also one of the better aspects of the story. Marcus essentially becomes something of a surrogate father figure and mentor to Kait, and their interactions provide some of the quieter moments between the firefights.
The novel understands something important about Marcus: beneath his gruff exterior, he genuinely cares about the people around him.
This relationship becomes particularly valuable because Kait is entering a period of her life where the simple worldview she once had is falling apart.
She knows the COG isn’t perfect.
She knows the Outsiders aren’t necessarily safe.
She knows the Swarm is coming.
And she doesn’t know exactly where she belongs.
That uncertainty is one of the most interesting elements of Ascendance.
⸻
Kait Diaz Takes Center Stage
If there’s one character who benefits the most from the novel format, it’s Kait.
The games naturally have to prioritize action, exploration, and player interaction. A novel has the opportunity to get inside a character’s head.
Hough takes advantage of that.
Kait’s grief following Reyna’s death gives the story an emotional foundation, while her increasingly complicated relationship with the COG provides the political conflict.
She’s caught between two worlds:
The Outsiders, where she was raised, and the COG, where she has become a Gear.
Neither side completely feels like home anymore.
That makes her journey considerably more interesting than simply having her hunt down the Swarm.
Kait is trying to figure out who she actually is.
That question becomes even more important because of the mysteries surrounding her family and the Locust.
The novel doesn’t completely resolve those mysteries—and that’s intentional. Ascendance is ultimately setting the table for Gears 5 rather than providing all the answers itself.
That can occasionally be frustrating, but it does make the novel feel like a genuine piece of the larger story rather than a disconnected side adventure.
⸻
Marcus Fenix Is One of the Highlights
Marcus remains Marcus.
And that’s a good thing.
Hough doesn’t try to radically reinvent him. Instead, he understands that Marcus works because of his combination of sarcasm, experience, stubbornness, and genuine loyalty.
His relationship with Kait is particularly effective.
Marcus has spent decades fighting wars and losing people he cares about. Kait is considerably younger and is dealing with the beginning of her own war.
There is an interesting generational contrast between them.
Marcus has already lived through the kind of nightmare Kait is only beginning to understand.
That gives him a natural role as a mentor, even if Marcus would probably refuse to describe himself that way.
⸻
JD and Del
The JD and Del storyline is somewhat more uneven.
JD is dealing with the consequences of his relationship with the COG, while Del remains the loyal friend who tries to keep everyone together.
Their storyline works primarily because of the friendship between the two characters.
However, compared with Kait’s emotional journey, their sections sometimes feel more like a traditional military mission.
That’s not necessarily bad.
In fact, those chapters provide some of the novel’s best action.
But emotionally, Kait’s storyline generally feels more substantial.
One criticism that can be made of the novel is that Del doesn’t receive quite as much development as he deserves. Some reviewers have similarly argued that his personal motivations are comparatively thin.
⸻
First Minister Jinn and the COG
One of the more interesting aspects of Ascendance is its exploration of the modern COG.
First Minister Jinn isn’t simply there to provide exposition or issue orders.
Her political concerns are important to the story.
From Jinn’s perspective, Kait, JD, Del, and the others can’t simply announce that the Swarm is coming and expect the entire COG government to mobilize.
She wants evidence.
She wants loyalty.
And she wants control.
That creates an interesting conflict because the heroes are dealing with an existential threat while the government is dealing with political realities.
The Swarm doesn’t care about elections, bureaucracy, public opinion, or military chain of command.
The COG does.
That contrast is very Gears of War.
⸻
The Action
This is probably the strongest part of Hough’s writing.
Ascendance absolutely understands how Gears of War should feel.
The action is violent, fast, brutal, and cinematic.
Lancers, Gnasher shotguns, Boltok pistols, explosions, chainsaws, Swarm creatures and enormous monsters all make appearances.
Hough has a talent for translating the visual spectacle of the games into prose.
Several action sequences genuinely feel as though they could have been pulled directly from a Gears campaign.
The Swarm are also used effectively.
Juvies, Pouncers, Swarm soldiers and larger creatures give the characters plenty of threats to deal with, while the action continually reinforces just how dangerous the new enemy has become.
And then there is Augustus Cole.
Whenever the Cole Train appears, the book becomes considerably more entertaining.
Cole’s larger-than-life personality fits perfectly into the novel, and his scenes provide some welcome humor amid all the death and destruction.
⸻
The Swarm
One of the things I particularly appreciate about Ascendance is that it doesn’t simply treat the Swarm as “Locust 2.0.”
The novel continues establishing the Swarm as a new generation of threat.
At this point in the timeline, humanity is still trying to understand exactly what has happened to the Locust and what the Swarm actually represents.
That uncertainty creates a sense of dread.
The characters know what the Locust were capable of.
Now they’re confronted with something that appears to have inherited that legacy while developing its own methods.
The novel doesn’t completely answer every question, but it helps establish the atmosphere going into Gears 5.
⸻
Hough’s Writing Style
Jason M. Hough was an interesting choice to take over the Gears novels.
Karen Traviss had previously established an extremely strong identity for the literary side of the franchise, particularly through her focus on military culture, relationships, trauma, politics, and the consequences of war.
Hough’s approach is somewhat different.
His writing is more cinematic.
The novel moves quickly, and the action sequences are generally the strongest portions.
Several contemporary reviewers praised exactly this quality, describing the novel’s action as cinematic and its pacing as relentless.
That makes Ascendance an extremely easy book to read.
It rarely becomes bogged down.
Chapters tend to move quickly from one mission to another, and the multiple storylines keep the narrative moving.
However, that speed can occasionally work against the novel.
There are moments where I wanted Hough to slow down and spend more time exploring the characters, the COG, or Sera itself.
⸻
World-Building
This is probably where I have my biggest criticism.
Ascendance assumes you already know Gears of War.
Very little time is spent explaining the basic history of Sera, the COG, the Locust War, the Pendulum Wars, or the characters’ previous adventures.
For an existing Gears fan, this isn’t a problem.
For someone coming into the franchise completely blind, however, this could be confusing.
The novel is very much written as an expanded-universe companion, not an introductory science-fiction novel.
There is also an argument that Hough could have expanded the social and cultural side of the COG more. One review specifically praised the glimpses into modern COG society while wishing the book had spent more time exploring those elements.
I agree with that criticism.
Sera is a fascinating setting.
The world has survived decades of civilization-ending warfare, and the COG is trying to rebuild something resembling a functioning society.
That could have provided some fantastic material.
⸻
The Biggest Problem: We Know Where This Is Going
This is the unavoidable problem with Ascendance.
Everyone reading this already knows that it leads directly into Gears 5.
That means the book has limited freedom.
Certain characters obviously have to survive.
Certain events obviously have to happen.
And the story can’t completely resolve Kait’s mysteries because those mysteries become central to Gears 5.
This inevitably reduces some of the tension.
A reviewer at Raph’s Cozy Musings made a similar observation, arguing that knowing where the story ultimately has to end can diminish the dramatic stakes. (Raph’s Cozy Musings)
However, I don’t think that makes the novel pointless.
Quite the opposite.
Its purpose isn’t necessarily to surprise you with the destination.
Its purpose is to show you how the characters got there.
And in that respect, it succeeds.
⸻
How It Compares to the Older Gears Novels
This is probably where longtime fans will have the strongest opinions.
If you’re coming directly from Karen Traviss’s Gears novels, Ascendance feels different.
Traviss’s books were heavily interested in the human consequences of the Locust War.
She explored relationships, military culture, trauma, politics, family, and the long-term consequences of decades of warfare.
Hough’s novel is more focused on being an action-oriented bridge into the next game.
Neither approach is inherently wrong.
They’re simply different.
Personally, I would have loved to see Hough combine his excellent action writing with some of the deeper character and world-building material that made the earlier novels so memorable.
That said, I don’t think Ascendance deserves to be dismissed simply because it isn’t another Jacinto’s Remnant or Anvil Gate.
It’s doing something different.
⸻
Final Verdict
Gears of War: Ascendance is not the most ambitious novel in the Gears of War expanded universe.
But it is a very effective companion to Gears 5.
Jason M. Hough understands the tone of the franchise, writes excellent action sequences, handles the major characters competently, and gives Kait Diaz some much-needed space to develop outside the limitations of the video-game format.
Its greatest strengths are:
* Excellent Gears-style action
* Strong portrayal of Kait Diaz
* A compelling relationship between Kait and Marcus
* Good use of JD, Del, Baird and Jinn
* Plenty of Swarm battles
* Great appearances from Cole
* Fast, cinematic pacing
* A genuinely useful bridge between Gears 4 and Gears 5
Its weaknesses are:
* Limited world-building for newcomers
* Some characters receive less development than they deserve
* The story occasionally feels like a sequence of missions
* Some mysteries deliberately remain unresolved
* The prequel/interquel structure limits the suspense
* It doesn’t expand the wider Gears mythology as much as it could
Ultimately, Ascendance is best viewed not as a standalone masterpiece but as the missing chapter of the Gears 4 → Gears 5 transition.
If you’re already a Gears of War fan, I absolutely recommend it. In fact, reading it before Gears 5 gives the transition between the two games considerably more context.
It may not reach the emotional depth of the best Gears novels from the earlier era, but it successfully captures what makes the games so much fun: big guns, brutal monsters, desperate soldiers, dark humor, complicated friendships, and humanity refusing to die.
Final Rating: 8/10
Best for: Existing Gears of War fans, especially anyone interested in Kait Diaz and the transition into Gears 5.
Recommended reading order: Gears of War 4 → Gears of War: Ascendance → Gears 5
Bottom line:
Ascendance isn’t essential literature, but for a Gears of War fan, it’s one hell of an extended campaign mission—and that’s exactly what makes it so entertaining.
October 4, 2019
Full disclosure, Baird is my favorite character, and Delta squad of course. I've played the original trilogy and read all the books written by Karen Travis. The fact that this book has a lot of Baird in it is a major reason why I enjoyed this book so much, including Delta squad. The beginning of the book is my favorite part since all the major characters are all together. However, there were things I didn't like and I'll need to disclose some spoilers to explain why but I'll try to keep it minimal.
My major gripes with this book are two things. One, there was a lack of character development for Del and JD, and two, regarding one scene in particular that made Baird look like a jerk (to avoid cursing).
The best part of the book is the beginning in my opinion because we learn a few new things about the world of Sera since the last trilogy. Specifically, we get to see New Ephyra, we learn more about First Minister Jinn and her connection with Anya Stroud, and we get a good idea of how Jinn is running the place. The pace slows down though once the group parts ways back into the world outside the safety of New Ephyra.
The book jumps between Marcus/Kait, JD/Del, and Jinn/Baird/Sam who stay behind. The sections with JD and Del were mostly boring for me. It's funny because these sections are written from Del's point of view and there are a lot of them, and yet, we don't really learn more about his character or JD's. I was hoping to get some insight into his past or his friendship with JD. Instead, we mostly get standard banter between the two and nothing deeper than that. I'm not sure if that was done on purpose (maybe the author was told not to expand on them and to focus on Kait or something?), but I would have loved to learn more about Del and JD. Funny enough, I feel like we learned more about Jinn than these two and one is related to Marcus Fenix, the main protagonist of Gears of War.
My second major gripe involves a particular scene with Baird (warning for spoilers in this paragraph). In chapter 4 of Part 2, Baird, Sam, Cole and Jinn find out that Del and JD are stranded on a crater at the Locust Burial Site and things aren't looking good for them. Considering Baird's relationship to JD (we know that JD call's him Uncle Baird and that Baird thinks of JD as his son), and Baird's relationship with Marcus, most would think that Baird would be one of the first to suggest sending a rescue team to save them. He doesn't do this. Instead, his first thought is to use the Hammer of Dawn (which doesn't work) to obliterate the site and he says, "There's no getting off that tower. They're already dead." To paraphrase, he says he loves JD, but there's no hope. I know that Baird really wants to get the Hammer of Dawn working again, but I have a major problem with the thought of him disregarding the life of someone he loves so quickly just to win the debate with Jinn to let him get the Hammer of Dawn back online.
Baird was part of Delta Squad and worked closely with Marcus during the war. Delta Squad got out of some seriously bleak looking situations, and the audience who played the games know that no matter how bad things looked, Delta squad figured a way out. Hell, we all remember when they were SWALLOWED by the Riftworm and how Delta squad managed to cut their way out. They SURVIVED. Baird experienced this, and he's one of Marcus' closest friends. Even if things look like shit, Baird knows that JD is a Fenix and if anyone can figure out how to get out of trouble apart from Marcus, it's his son. At the very least, Baird should have requested to send a raven to pick them up. His first thought should be to save the man who he considers his son, a boy he watched grow up and made toys for as a child, or to at least brainstorm SOMETHING. I felt like Baird didn't even TRY to figure out a way to save them. He took one look and was like- well, there's nothing we can do. Let me get that weapon functional again, please! If this is really what Baird is like now, that really sucks. Baird has always been the "asshole" of the group, but I never felt he was heartless. Those who read Karen Travis' books also know that Baird is actually a nice guy despite his attitude. Has Baird changed so much now that he's rich and successful? Has he lost compassion for those closest to him that he considers family? Even Cole questioned Baird, asking him if he would really use the Hammer of Dawn on JD. Maybe Baird IS really like this now, but I have a hard time accepting that.
I actually agree that the Hammer of Dawn should be online, and I understand Baird's argument. Again, my problem is that I felt that Baird jumped on the idea of using the Hammer of Dawn without much consideration for JD. If he said "There's gotta be a way to save them" or "let's send a raven" before saying, "we should consider using the hammer of dawn", I would have been fine with this scene. I felt that he didn't even TRY to save them. To reiterate, Baird is my favorite character so I'm totally biased here, but the scene really upset me as I personally just have high expectations for this character. It also made me cringe later on when they reunited and JD went to hug Baird and called him "Uncle".
Most of the book was slow and just OK. It picked up a bit towards the end when everyone got back together. The only parts I would consider re-reading is the first few chapters where most of the world building was. I hope the next book is better with more details and character development. Karen Travis went into details about the characters, even minor ones like Birdie, and I loved that. If you're a gears fan who really likes the world of Sera and wants to delve deeper into the world apart from the video game, it's worth reading this book. However, don't expect much. I liked the book, but it's not one of my favorites.
My major gripes with this book are two things. One, there was a lack of character development for Del and JD, and two, regarding one scene in particular that made Baird look like a jerk (to avoid cursing).
The best part of the book is the beginning in my opinion because we learn a few new things about the world of Sera since the last trilogy. Specifically, we get to see New Ephyra, we learn more about First Minister Jinn and her connection with Anya Stroud, and we get a good idea of how Jinn is running the place. The pace slows down though once the group parts ways back into the world outside the safety of New Ephyra.
The book jumps between Marcus/Kait, JD/Del, and Jinn/Baird/Sam who stay behind. The sections with JD and Del were mostly boring for me. It's funny because these sections are written from Del's point of view and there are a lot of them, and yet, we don't really learn more about his character or JD's. I was hoping to get some insight into his past or his friendship with JD. Instead, we mostly get standard banter between the two and nothing deeper than that. I'm not sure if that was done on purpose (maybe the author was told not to expand on them and to focus on Kait or something?), but I would have loved to learn more about Del and JD. Funny enough, I feel like we learned more about Jinn than these two and one is related to Marcus Fenix, the main protagonist of Gears of War.
My second major gripe involves a particular scene with Baird (warning for spoilers in this paragraph). In chapter 4 of Part 2, Baird, Sam, Cole and Jinn find out that Del and JD are stranded on a crater at the Locust Burial Site and things aren't looking good for them. Considering Baird's relationship to JD (we know that JD call's him Uncle Baird and that Baird thinks of JD as his son), and Baird's relationship with Marcus, most would think that Baird would be one of the first to suggest sending a rescue team to save them. He doesn't do this. Instead, his first thought is to use the Hammer of Dawn (which doesn't work) to obliterate the site and he says, "There's no getting off that tower. They're already dead." To paraphrase, he says he loves JD, but there's no hope. I know that Baird really wants to get the Hammer of Dawn working again, but I have a major problem with the thought of him disregarding the life of someone he loves so quickly just to win the debate with Jinn to let him get the Hammer of Dawn back online.
Baird was part of Delta Squad and worked closely with Marcus during the war. Delta Squad got out of some seriously bleak looking situations, and the audience who played the games know that no matter how bad things looked, Delta squad figured a way out. Hell, we all remember when they were SWALLOWED by the Riftworm and how Delta squad managed to cut their way out. They SURVIVED. Baird experienced this, and he's one of Marcus' closest friends. Even if things look like shit, Baird knows that JD is a Fenix and if anyone can figure out how to get out of trouble apart from Marcus, it's his son. At the very least, Baird should have requested to send a raven to pick them up. His first thought should be to save the man who he considers his son, a boy he watched grow up and made toys for as a child, or to at least brainstorm SOMETHING. I felt like Baird didn't even TRY to figure out a way to save them. He took one look and was like- well, there's nothing we can do. Let me get that weapon functional again, please! If this is really what Baird is like now, that really sucks. Baird has always been the "asshole" of the group, but I never felt he was heartless. Those who read Karen Travis' books also know that Baird is actually a nice guy despite his attitude. Has Baird changed so much now that he's rich and successful? Has he lost compassion for those closest to him that he considers family? Even Cole questioned Baird, asking him if he would really use the Hammer of Dawn on JD. Maybe Baird IS really like this now, but I have a hard time accepting that.
I actually agree that the Hammer of Dawn should be online, and I understand Baird's argument. Again, my problem is that I felt that Baird jumped on the idea of using the Hammer of Dawn without much consideration for JD. If he said "There's gotta be a way to save them" or "let's send a raven" before saying, "we should consider using the hammer of dawn", I would have been fine with this scene. I felt that he didn't even TRY to save them. To reiterate, Baird is my favorite character so I'm totally biased here, but the scene really upset me as I personally just have high expectations for this character. It also made me cringe later on when they reunited and JD went to hug Baird and called him "Uncle".
Most of the book was slow and just OK. It picked up a bit towards the end when everyone got back together. The only parts I would consider re-reading is the first few chapters where most of the world building was. I hope the next book is better with more details and character development. Karen Travis went into details about the characters, even minor ones like Birdie, and I loved that. If you're a gears fan who really likes the world of Sera and wants to delve deeper into the world apart from the video game, it's worth reading this book. However, don't expect much. I liked the book, but it's not one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2023
It is enjoyable for any Gears fan. I liked the expand background of Kait and Oscar. The themes weren’t quite as dark as the earlier Karen Traviss novels. I have the same problem with the book as I do Gears 4: JD isn’t Marcus and Del isn’t Dom. Both are likable and have their moments however any two characters would have a hard time following Marcus and Dom.
September 15, 2019
Need more Gears books from Jason M. Hough, ASAP.
August 8, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this read; however, it makes me wonder what direction the game will be going. Gears of War has always had strong female characters in supporting roles; this is the first time in its history that the main character is a female. Will it be able to live up to its past games? Being a female myself, seeing a character such as Kait become the main focal point of the next game is badass, as her family's history is the driving force behind the other four games - but - having grown with the other strong male characters - Marcus, Baird, Cole - it'll be a tough adjustment for me.
Nevertheless, this is a great prequel to the next Gears of War video game. It picks up where Gears of War 4 left off, just after the devastating attack on Kait's village. I am super excited to see what is revealed in the new Gears game!
Nevertheless, this is a great prequel to the next Gears of War video game. It picks up where Gears of War 4 left off, just after the devastating attack on Kait's village. I am super excited to see what is revealed in the new Gears game!
August 28, 2023
Finally, I'm in the new era of Gears of War books, but I have to say that Karen Traviss is missed.
Now, don't get me wrong, Jason M. Hough didn't do a bad job, but Ascendance doesn't stand out compared to the five books it follows. They expanded the lore, and fleshed out the main cast and ancillary characters.
This book does do a great job of bridging the gap between Gears 4 and 5 though. If anything, it serves a purpose to expand some of the current character dynamics and the workings of the new COG era. But it all feels very baseline at best. This is extremely combat-heavy and probably would work better as a game, but as a book, feels like the character development is missing.
And if this is the only story available to us before Gears 6, then there are plenty of other threads still to be explored. Really, Ascendance is Kait and Marcus' story. With the back and forth between Baird and Jinn being the other juiciest revelation here. JD and Del deserved something better.
Now, don't get me wrong, Jason M. Hough didn't do a bad job, but Ascendance doesn't stand out compared to the five books it follows. They expanded the lore, and fleshed out the main cast and ancillary characters.
This book does do a great job of bridging the gap between Gears 4 and 5 though. If anything, it serves a purpose to expand some of the current character dynamics and the workings of the new COG era. But it all feels very baseline at best. This is extremely combat-heavy and probably would work better as a game, but as a book, feels like the character development is missing.
And if this is the only story available to us before Gears 6, then there are plenty of other threads still to be explored. Really, Ascendance is Kait and Marcus' story. With the back and forth between Baird and Jinn being the other juiciest revelation here. JD and Del deserved something better.
January 13, 2024
Gears of War: Ascendance feels like it fulfills its role capably, but doesn't do anything spectacular. It pitches itself as a bridge and prequel to the videogame Gears 5, and that's exactly what it does: It picks up very shortly after the ending of Gears of War 4 and puts its characters (Kait, JD, Del, Marcus, and the rest) into position for the events of the sequel.
Some of the actual events that take place as people are moved into position are interesting, but others are not. On the positive side, Ascendance is our first opportunity to slow down and take in more of the world-building details of this new Gears of War era. Some of the slow moments, where we learn more about what life is like for people both inside and outside of the city of New Ehpyra and what happened in the 25 years since Gears of War 3 are the best ones. Gears of War 4 felt like it was incredibly low-stakes at times, a very early in the conflict story -- stakes are expanded here, as we learn more about the dangers facing other parts of the continent. What takes place here feels at least as important to the Gears story as what happened in Gears of War 4. And characters like Kait, Baird, and Jinn get their time to shine and become more fully fleshed out.
Many other characters, however, are left on the sidelines. Marcus, Cole, JD, and Del all participate in the action but don't do much more than that. JD and Del didn't really stick out to me in Gears of War 4 either, and I'm disappointed that the trend continues. The book also becomes significantly more action-focused as it goes along, and the pace and structure of that action can be a bit hit-or-miss. JD + Del and Kait + Marcus are often teamed up and doing separate things from each other, but it's written in such a way that sometimes you'll learn something in one section that tells you how the other pair will get out of their current predicament -- and you'll still have to get through pages and pages of action before it happens.
There are also a few pet peeves of mine in Ascendance:
The book is split into acts, but the act structure doesn't really do much here -- the chapters would continue flowing right from one into another if the act breaks weren't included. The one thing the act breaks do is resetting the chapter count (so Act 1 has a Chapter 1, Act 2 has a Chapter 1, etc.). This might be defensible if the Acts were significantly more different from each other, but it just feels so unnecessary here.
The chapters each have titles as well, but they were so generic and unmemorable that I literally forgot every single one of them by the time I finished the chapter (which is saying something, because the chapters are pretty short!).
The title of the book, Ascendance, is incredibly generic and means nothing. Having just finished the book, I can confidently tell you that I have no idea who or what was supposed to have ascended.
Finally, there are a few typos here and there. The book isn't riddled with them, but there were enough to be distracting.
Overall, Gears of War: Ascendance feels like a paint-by-numbers tie-in novel. It bridges the gap between two games and fleshes out a bit of the world and characters but does nothing special or particularly memorable that would make it stand out among the sea of tie-ins.
Some of the actual events that take place as people are moved into position are interesting, but others are not. On the positive side, Ascendance is our first opportunity to slow down and take in more of the world-building details of this new Gears of War era. Some of the slow moments, where we learn more about what life is like for people both inside and outside of the city of New Ehpyra and what happened in the 25 years since Gears of War 3 are the best ones. Gears of War 4 felt like it was incredibly low-stakes at times, a very early in the conflict story -- stakes are expanded here, as we learn more about the dangers facing other parts of the continent. What takes place here feels at least as important to the Gears story as what happened in Gears of War 4. And characters like Kait, Baird, and Jinn get their time to shine and become more fully fleshed out.
Many other characters, however, are left on the sidelines. Marcus, Cole, JD, and Del all participate in the action but don't do much more than that. JD and Del didn't really stick out to me in Gears of War 4 either, and I'm disappointed that the trend continues. The book also becomes significantly more action-focused as it goes along, and the pace and structure of that action can be a bit hit-or-miss. JD + Del and Kait + Marcus are often teamed up and doing separate things from each other, but it's written in such a way that sometimes you'll learn something in one section that tells you how the other pair will get out of their current predicament -- and you'll still have to get through pages and pages of action before it happens.
There are also a few pet peeves of mine in Ascendance:
The book is split into acts, but the act structure doesn't really do much here -- the chapters would continue flowing right from one into another if the act breaks weren't included. The one thing the act breaks do is resetting the chapter count (so Act 1 has a Chapter 1, Act 2 has a Chapter 1, etc.). This might be defensible if the Acts were significantly more different from each other, but it just feels so unnecessary here.
The chapters each have titles as well, but they were so generic and unmemorable that I literally forgot every single one of them by the time I finished the chapter (which is saying something, because the chapters are pretty short!).
The title of the book, Ascendance, is incredibly generic and means nothing. Having just finished the book, I can confidently tell you that I have no idea who or what was supposed to have ascended.
Finally, there are a few typos here and there. The book isn't riddled with them, but there were enough to be distracting.
Overall, Gears of War: Ascendance feels like a paint-by-numbers tie-in novel. It bridges the gap between two games and fleshes out a bit of the world and characters but does nothing special or particularly memorable that would make it stand out among the sea of tie-ins.
August 14, 2019
Agreat Gears novel, clearly written by a true Gears fan and with lots of support from the powers that be behind the series.
The events connect nicely with all what we saw in Gears 4, and even build on tiny details such as names of people or places that were casually mentioned in the game at some point: Settlement 2, South Village, or the twins, just to mention a few examples. The novel as a whole also fits perfectly within the Gears universe and with what we know so far about Sera, its territories and cities, and clearly focuses on introducing us to the events we will experience in Gears 5. I’m betting the village mentioned by the end of the novel is the one we saw in the world premiere trailer from E32018. From the events in the novel it is also easy to take a guess at who the fallen person is that Kait is mourning about in the trailer.
There are other little details, easy to be missed, but that a true Gearhead will dearly appreciate: someone holding a fallen beam, someone else ducking under it, then that second person holding it for the first person to pass. A simple action, that immediately reminds you of the interactive cut scenes so common in the games. Accurate descriptions of well-known weaponry, armor, enemies and tactics also make you immediately remember that this is a Gears story we are talking about. Hell, there’s even a cool explanation of the logic behind active reloads!
Hugh has taken over from Karen Traviss’s previous novels in a fantastic way. I’m really hoping this is the first of a whole new series of Gears of War books. One focusing on Col. Hoffman and Hivebuster Team Scorpio would be awesome.
The events connect nicely with all what we saw in Gears 4, and even build on tiny details such as names of people or places that were casually mentioned in the game at some point: Settlement 2, South Village, or the twins, just to mention a few examples. The novel as a whole also fits perfectly within the Gears universe and with what we know so far about Sera, its territories and cities, and clearly focuses on introducing us to the events we will experience in Gears 5. I’m betting the village mentioned by the end of the novel is the one we saw in the world premiere trailer from E32018. From the events in the novel it is also easy to take a guess at who the fallen person is that Kait is mourning about in the trailer.
There are other little details, easy to be missed, but that a true Gearhead will dearly appreciate: someone holding a fallen beam, someone else ducking under it, then that second person holding it for the first person to pass. A simple action, that immediately reminds you of the interactive cut scenes so common in the games. Accurate descriptions of well-known weaponry, armor, enemies and tactics also make you immediately remember that this is a Gears story we are talking about. Hell, there’s even a cool explanation of the logic behind active reloads!
Hugh has taken over from Karen Traviss’s previous novels in a fantastic way. I’m really hoping this is the first of a whole new series of Gears of War books. One focusing on Col. Hoffman and Hivebuster Team Scorpio would be awesome.
September 26, 2019
The Gears of War series returns to consoles with the release of Gears of War 5, which continues the story of Kait Diaz and her mysterious connection to the Locust Horde and their Swarm descendants. However, before you dive into the game (or after, I can't tell you what to do), you might want to check out Titan Book's new release Gear of War: Ascendance, which fills in the gap between the fourth and fifth games.
Picking up straight were Gears of War 4 left off, readers rejoin the band of heroes on the mountainside where they found the mutated Reyna. Having killed her mother in order to save her, Kait and her friends bury her before being forced to flee to a safe location thanks to the Swarm still trying to hunt them down.
The group are eventually able to send a message to the COG, and are brought to the city of New Ephyra, where they brief First Minister Jinn on the new threat. A good portion of the start of the book is given over to these meetings and how the group interacts with the somewhat confrontational First Minister. Considering that Jinn has more of a presence in the fifth game, and that her relationship with them is a bigger thing it's great to see these early steps. We get to see her try to bring JD and Del onto her side, we understand a little more of her working relationship with Baird, and we see first hand how frosty her and Kait are towards each other.
Readers also get to see New Ephyra before the Swarm turn up too, and it's interesting to see how a COG city works in a time of peace. Getting to see how the government is using Baird's DB's as police, patrolling the streets and enforcing rules, with surveillance feeds going straight to the COG, it actually makes it a little more understandable why some humans chose to live as Outsiders. The allure of living in nature, away from an oppressive regime is one that I think most people would be able to identify with.
Sadly for the heroes of the story they don't get to spend much time in relative peace, and and thrust back into the action once again. JD and Del are sent to investigate a Locust burial site that the COG have lost contact with, whilst Kait and Marcus head to South Village, an outcast settlement near Kait's home where they hope to find survivors.
The two story-lines are both exciting, and could have easily been the focus of a book each, however, here readers jump between the two are the heroes are put into more and more dangerous situations. Whilst we know that none of them are going to die during these events (they are in the game that follows this book after all) there's still a shed load of tension as they're forced into more and more impossible seeming circumstances, and you're left wondering how they're going to get out alive. These stories are also intercut with scenes of Baird in New Ephyra, where he's not only trying to help both groups, but also trying to upgrade the DB's for the upcoming war with the Swarm.
Gears of War: Ascendance has taken a time frame between the games, where nothing big or important needed to happen, and threw a load of action and character moments into it. It helps to enrich the world of Sera, and really adds to Kait's growth from an Outsider to a member of the COG. Hopefully we'll get more books like this that will continue to fill in these small gaps. I'm hoping that we'll get some books that fills in the four month gap where Kait and Del went out saving Outsider colonies, and JD and Fahz go on missions together. More books like this will only help to improve the Gears of War universe.
Picking up straight were Gears of War 4 left off, readers rejoin the band of heroes on the mountainside where they found the mutated Reyna. Having killed her mother in order to save her, Kait and her friends bury her before being forced to flee to a safe location thanks to the Swarm still trying to hunt them down.
The group are eventually able to send a message to the COG, and are brought to the city of New Ephyra, where they brief First Minister Jinn on the new threat. A good portion of the start of the book is given over to these meetings and how the group interacts with the somewhat confrontational First Minister. Considering that Jinn has more of a presence in the fifth game, and that her relationship with them is a bigger thing it's great to see these early steps. We get to see her try to bring JD and Del onto her side, we understand a little more of her working relationship with Baird, and we see first hand how frosty her and Kait are towards each other.
Readers also get to see New Ephyra before the Swarm turn up too, and it's interesting to see how a COG city works in a time of peace. Getting to see how the government is using Baird's DB's as police, patrolling the streets and enforcing rules, with surveillance feeds going straight to the COG, it actually makes it a little more understandable why some humans chose to live as Outsiders. The allure of living in nature, away from an oppressive regime is one that I think most people would be able to identify with.
Sadly for the heroes of the story they don't get to spend much time in relative peace, and and thrust back into the action once again. JD and Del are sent to investigate a Locust burial site that the COG have lost contact with, whilst Kait and Marcus head to South Village, an outcast settlement near Kait's home where they hope to find survivors.
The two story-lines are both exciting, and could have easily been the focus of a book each, however, here readers jump between the two are the heroes are put into more and more dangerous situations. Whilst we know that none of them are going to die during these events (they are in the game that follows this book after all) there's still a shed load of tension as they're forced into more and more impossible seeming circumstances, and you're left wondering how they're going to get out alive. These stories are also intercut with scenes of Baird in New Ephyra, where he's not only trying to help both groups, but also trying to upgrade the DB's for the upcoming war with the Swarm.
Gears of War: Ascendance has taken a time frame between the games, where nothing big or important needed to happen, and threw a load of action and character moments into it. It helps to enrich the world of Sera, and really adds to Kait's growth from an Outsider to a member of the COG. Hopefully we'll get more books like this that will continue to fill in these small gaps. I'm hoping that we'll get some books that fills in the four month gap where Kait and Del went out saving Outsider colonies, and JD and Fahz go on missions together. More books like this will only help to improve the Gears of War universe.
July 9, 2020
“With All Due Respect, F*Ck You, Sir" - Marcus Fenix
Gears of War: Ascendance is the sixth Gears of War novel. It also is the first one I've been reading. It acts as an interquel between Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 (which released in September 2019), starting where Gears of War 4 left off and leading into the events of Gears 5.
The story sets in right after the events of Gears of War 4.
Despite my interest in the franchise, I had a hard time getting through this book. For my taste, the plot just didn't advance quick enough and the drawn-out battle scenes seem to make things take a lot longer than they should have. Still, a recommended title for any fans of Gears.
Should you read this book before playing Gears 5? It doesn't make much of a difference in my opinion. You do get a bit more background on various (beloved) characters featured in the game. Some of these you may not be able to fully appreciate if you're not a fan.
Gears of War: Ascendance is the sixth Gears of War novel. It also is the first one I've been reading. It acts as an interquel between Gears of War 4 and Gears 5 (which released in September 2019), starting where Gears of War 4 left off and leading into the events of Gears 5.
The story sets in right after the events of Gears of War 4.
Despite my interest in the franchise, I had a hard time getting through this book. For my taste, the plot just didn't advance quick enough and the drawn-out battle scenes seem to make things take a lot longer than they should have. Still, a recommended title for any fans of Gears.
Should you read this book before playing Gears 5? It doesn't make much of a difference in my opinion. You do get a bit more background on various (beloved) characters featured in the game. Some of these you may not be able to fully appreciate if you're not a fan.
August 3, 2019
Great bridge between Gears 4 and 5. A lot of character development with subtle details of the lore added sparingly. A few writing issues that would have made the reading enjoyably comparable to Traviss' writing style, but Hough does a wonderful job at capturing the essence of Gears of War in this new generation. I would gladly welcome another novel written by him especially if tweaks his writing a bit (stop using the full names of characters, please. The franchise has existed for over a decade, we know who they are).
Edit: I feel like I may have come off a bit strong in my initial post about Hough's writing style, specifically his use of names for the characters. To elaborate a bit, it is not frequent, nor is it abundant. However, it is inconsistent when the author switches between first names only to both first and last.
Overall, I stand by 4/5 rating because it is a fantastic edition to the Gears of War universe, especially when it serves as a bridge for two games. There are some minor gripes that are entirely specific and perhaps subjective as a veteran Gears of War fan, which I believe will be corrected in any subsequent novel.
Edit: I feel like I may have come off a bit strong in my initial post about Hough's writing style, specifically his use of names for the characters. To elaborate a bit, it is not frequent, nor is it abundant. However, it is inconsistent when the author switches between first names only to both first and last.
Overall, I stand by 4/5 rating because it is a fantastic edition to the Gears of War universe, especially when it serves as a bridge for two games. There are some minor gripes that are entirely specific and perhaps subjective as a veteran Gears of War fan, which I believe will be corrected in any subsequent novel.
October 12, 2019
While this book is definitely a fun ride, it isn’t much more than that. The novel bridges the gap between Gears 4 and 5 by telling a story that could’ve just been an act in the game but got cut for time so they stretched it into 353 pages. It doesn’t really further any plot lines from the games besides showing how quickly the Swarm spread after 4 and how the main characters got to where they are at the start of 5. I would’ve much preferred the novel to have been split between flashbacks showing any of the 3 protagonists from 4 and 5 (Kait, JD, and Del) rather than it being split between the group split up in different hopeless situations while running low on ammo. I definitely liked how this book was written more than previous Gears books, I just wish what actually happened in this book mattered as much as or was as interesting as those previous books.
August 9, 2019
I've been looking forward to this book for so long, if it's been such a long time since we've received an amazing Gears of War Story. And while this one didn't really have a lot of Laura unlocked I did like the little pieces here and there at the book revealed about a few questions I've had since playing Gears of War 4. I cannot wait for the game to come out and to continue this amazing story in this incredible world. I will also admit that I was a little skeptical that Jason Hough would be able to do the Gears of War franchise Justice. Mostly because Karen Travis's work has always been impeccable, but I feel he did the franchise justice and I loved his writing. He captured the characters really well.
January 17, 2023
3.5 stars. Although this book is marketed as book 6 in the series, it should really be a separate series. We get a new set of characters, along with some old ones. This book is more companion to the games than part of a series. It references things that you'd only know about about you played the game before it. The ending raised my rating a half star because it got my heart rate up. For the rest, I had a hard time connecting to the characters here because everything is new. We spent the past 5 books, connecting to all the other characters and now we are thrown into the future - unknown how far - and expected to immediately know everything and bond with characters the same way. But the writing itself was good.
September 1, 2019
For Gears of War fans, this is a great bridge from Gears of War 4 to Gears 5. Jason being brought on to take up the mantle of these iconic characters without practically missing a beat as far as their narrative tones, mindset, and interactions shows he's able to keep the train on the tracks for Gears of War books going forward. If you're a fan of the series, I highly recommend checking out this book, especially for the little nuggets and callbacks here and there that can be found while reading, plus the incredible point at the end. No spoilers from me! Take a Gears word for it, it's something that will leave you craving the game coming on September 10th!
October 1, 2019
Being a huge fan of the original Gears trilogy and all the amazing novel work by Karen Traviss, I had high expectations for this prequel book to Gears 5. Unfortunately it did nothing to expand upon the amazing world of Sera and provided little characterization growth for our main protagonist Kait. As with Gears of War 4, the book was slow and boring. Even Anya Stroud herself could not have saved this falling King Raven. This new trilogy is forgetting what makes Gears great by letting the players “decide” the story, instead of driving home a narrative that’s both visceral and heartbreaking like its predecessor.
April 27, 2025
Hough’s takeover of the series brought a drastic and much-needed change to its overall feel. I suddenly found myself far more engaged with the storyline, even though some unfulfilling gaps between the books still remained. The narrative became noticeably more cohesive, and while the exploration of the Locust remains somewhat shallow, we are finally offered a better glimpse into their world. Hough shifts the series from a largely personal, introspective focus to a desperate survival narrative, which for me was a refreshing and much needed change. At a point when I was seriously considering abandoning the series, this new direction reenergized my interest and motivated me to continue reading.
September 17, 2019
I read all the Gears of War books before I even touched any of the games. (I have rectified that oversight completely) I have enjoyed everything involved with this great story. The action, the characters, the villains; the plot has so many twists and turns it is a pleasure to have experienced it all. This book, like all the others, provided great background information for each game; bridged the gaps that I always like knowing. This book was no exception, I am now playing Gears 5 and I know things because of this book that make me enjoy it even more.
October 21, 2019
This was my least favorite book of all the Gears novels, which is rough because Aspho fields was pretty hard to get through at times. I played Gears 4 and 5 before reading this novel, and I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed in the lack of connection between the two games.
Without any spoilers, there's a lot this book doesn't explain, and I felt the characters themselves were very out-of-character for their videogame counterparts. To me, if it didn't have the character's names in it, I wouldn't have known it was a Gears novel at all.
Without any spoilers, there's a lot this book doesn't explain, and I felt the characters themselves were very out-of-character for their videogame counterparts. To me, if it didn't have the character's names in it, I wouldn't have known it was a Gears novel at all.
August 21, 2019
To be perfectly honest, I just found this book okay. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It just didn't feel like all the previous Gears books and I feel like there wasn't quite enough detail. I miss Karen and I wish they would've tried harder to get her back to write the next books. Jason is a good enough author but it just was missing a lot. I hope they get Karen back to write the next books they have planned. Please oh please strike a deal.
November 29, 2019
Good book that leads into to Gears 5. I was a little worried when Karen Traviss didn't return after penning all the previous Gears books and Gears 2 and 3, but Jason has told a great story and I highly enjoyed it. I am curious about how the stories set after Gears 5 are going to be, cause if you finished the game you'll understand why. I recommend to any Gears fan and even new fans of the series, it's a great novel to kick off the newest chapter in the Gears series.
May 24, 2023
Set prior to Gears of War 5, Ascendance is an action-packed romp full of the kind of Gears action you'd expect from the game.
It introduces the Swarm and focuses on the politics and animosity of Cogs and Outsiders. I haven't played a GoW game for quite a while, but I absolutely loved them. This story reconnected me with the characters over an enjoyable light read--and I kind of want to go buy another XBox so I can play through again!
It introduces the Swarm and focuses on the politics and animosity of Cogs and Outsiders. I haven't played a GoW game for quite a while, but I absolutely loved them. This story reconnected me with the characters over an enjoyable light read--and I kind of want to go buy another XBox so I can play through again!
August 30, 2019
Really enjoyed this story making me dig deeply into the lore. Getting excited for Gears 5 as well. The only thing I was not fond was some of the deus ex machina means by which the groups survive (particularly one scene with Del and JD). Overall, still a great book and makes me excited to play the game.
November 3, 2019
This book was a fun read and had a few errors. The overall plot is about Kait, with others around her. I was a little disappointed in the overall plot of the book. It was mostly about her and how she felt and what she did. The Swarm from the previous book has been somewhat explained in Ascendance. I look forward to the next book.
November 19, 2019
Eager to read how Hough would take on Travis work and was pleasantly surprised! Don't expect the whole military references that filled the last previous books but this novel will take you in a fast-paced adventure that a Gears fan will seek to bridge into the the new game. A (necessary?) fresh breath in this fantastic universe, a good book. Keep on the good work!
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