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Cry Pilot #2
Burn Cycle
An unbeatable enemy. A planet on the brink. And a squad with a taste for revenge.
In this incendiary new military science fiction novel, an infantry squad crisscrosses the globe on a search-and-destroy mission against a relentless foe.
After cry pilot Maseo Kaytu's white-knuckled victory over the mysterious lampreys at Ayko Base, military command develops new weapons and a new strategy. The updated mission is simple: pinpoint the Hatchery, the “spawn point” of the lampreys, and blast it into a fine powder. Kaytu's battle-tested squad tracks the enemy from remote bases to elegant cities to subterranean caverns, but the lampreys start hitting harder and faster. While the squad is winning battles, Earth is losing the war.
When the search for the Hatchery shines a light on Kaytu's insurgent past, he faces a terrible truth. There is no line he won't cross to protect his squad. Then a vicious counterattack teaches him another lesson: you can't save everyone. In the end, all you can do is the job.
In this incendiary new military science fiction novel, an infantry squad crisscrosses the globe on a search-and-destroy mission against a relentless foe.
After cry pilot Maseo Kaytu's white-knuckled victory over the mysterious lampreys at Ayko Base, military command develops new weapons and a new strategy. The updated mission is simple: pinpoint the Hatchery, the “spawn point” of the lampreys, and blast it into a fine powder. Kaytu's battle-tested squad tracks the enemy from remote bases to elegant cities to subterranean caverns, but the lampreys start hitting harder and faster. While the squad is winning battles, Earth is losing the war.
When the search for the Hatchery shines a light on Kaytu's insurgent past, he faces a terrible truth. There is no line he won't cross to protect his squad. Then a vicious counterattack teaches him another lesson: you can't save everyone. In the end, all you can do is the job.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 2, 2020
Burn Cycle is the second book in the Cry Pilot series, the orange book, which portrays a future earth where global Armageddon has destroyed much of what we know. There are a few corporate enclaves, but most of earth is unrecognizable. Years after Armageddon, terraforming artificial intelligence was set out and buried to slowly but surely restore the earth. But, overcome, it's morphed and now various remorts and terrifying lamphreys which are like giant fifty foot eels are appearing wherever and destroying. There aren't to many weapons left to face such dread foes. The best hope are CAVs, which are pods into which human warriors are fitted with probes fitting into every orifice so that man and machine are paired as one and quicker than thought -practically. But even these are barely enough to withstand the lamprey assault.
The story features a squad of criminals drawn to one last chance to earn their way to freedom and the bulk of the story is about how this squad composed of nobodies but filled with loyalty and bonded like a family are the best hope of mankind. Subplots abound such as the secret of Ting who is half human half computer network. The world building is immense and detailed and believable.
This volume though could have used a synopsis of volume one to remind the reader about what's happened and who all these characters were. There is a bit of a learning curve in that respect.
In any event, once you get deep into the story, you really want to know if there's any chance the good guys will survive and the hatchery where the lampreys come from is Iike nothing you could have imagined.
The story features a squad of criminals drawn to one last chance to earn their way to freedom and the bulk of the story is about how this squad composed of nobodies but filled with loyalty and bonded like a family are the best hope of mankind. Subplots abound such as the secret of Ting who is half human half computer network. The world building is immense and detailed and believable.
This volume though could have used a synopsis of volume one to remind the reader about what's happened and who all these characters were. There is a bit of a learning curve in that respect.
In any event, once you get deep into the story, you really want to know if there's any chance the good guys will survive and the hatchery where the lampreys come from is Iike nothing you could have imagined.
Read
December 5, 2019Finished last night at owl-eyes o'clock.
This is one of the few series in which first person present tense works for me so well I wasn't really aware of the tense until a certain shocker, wherein it was absolutely right.
The series continues at a frenetic pace, testament to Joel Dane's tight writing. The foe is seriously creepy, absolutely lethal to the survival of humanity, and fascinatingly realized. There are few books in which I am deeply engaged with the antagonist's origins and evolution, but this is one. The violence level is quite high, the body count as well; this is a series in which we lose characters we've gotten to know, and it stings. No one is safe in a battle zone without an established perimeter, as we learn over and over.
The pacing is so fast that the danger of losing characterization hovers always at the back of my head, but then Dane yanks the reader right back in with impeccably realized (sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking) group dynamics. As well as personal character moments that resonate throughout. Those moments are what keeps the book from heartlessness, which would lose me entirely.
I am in it for the amazing world, but I want our guys to win--because I am invested in the characters. Dane does a superlative job with the dysfunctional, tightly bonded Anvil Squad, giving us moments with their struggles to remain human, their loyalty and sense of family. Keep an eye on that loyalty, because . . . . well, because.
Lots of favorite bits outside of Maseo Kayto being awesome, such as the scene in which Anvil Squad picks their permanent name. It's a short scene, barely a couple of pages, but it had me laughing out loud, startling the three dogs curled up against me.
The characters are vividly rendered, the diversity both wonderful and so matter-of-fact there is no flag-waving in your face.
Copy provided by publisher.
This is one of the few series in which first person present tense works for me so well I wasn't really aware of the tense until a certain shocker, wherein it was absolutely right.
The series continues at a frenetic pace, testament to Joel Dane's tight writing. The foe is seriously creepy, absolutely lethal to the survival of humanity, and fascinatingly realized. There are few books in which I am deeply engaged with the antagonist's origins and evolution, but this is one. The violence level is quite high, the body count as well; this is a series in which we lose characters we've gotten to know, and it stings. No one is safe in a battle zone without an established perimeter, as we learn over and over.
The pacing is so fast that the danger of losing characterization hovers always at the back of my head, but then Dane yanks the reader right back in with impeccably realized (sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking) group dynamics. As well as personal character moments that resonate throughout. Those moments are what keeps the book from heartlessness, which would lose me entirely.
I am in it for the amazing world, but I want our guys to win--because I am invested in the characters. Dane does a superlative job with the dysfunctional, tightly bonded Anvil Squad, giving us moments with their struggles to remain human, their loyalty and sense of family. Keep an eye on that loyalty, because . . . . well, because.
Lots of favorite bits outside of Maseo Kayto being awesome, such as the scene in which Anvil Squad picks their permanent name. It's a short scene, barely a couple of pages, but it had me laughing out loud, startling the three dogs curled up against me.
The characters are vividly rendered, the diversity both wonderful and so matter-of-fact there is no flag-waving in your face.
Copy provided by publisher.
July 18, 2021
Solid book two that adds some emotional heft to the action. The feelings I felt came after each battle, when the losses were tallied, being now eight hundred some odd pages deep with these characters I cared when they died, or when they were later being remembered. Same entertainment value as Cry Pilot with maybe a little less slow parts and some of the explanations and reveals were nicely done and unforeseen, at least by me. Good story that has me looking forward to book three.
July 4, 2020
This was violent, touching, exciting and horrifying. And better than book one.
Anvil squad is tasked with fighting more lampreys, while the techs are trying to create a CAV squadron to fight lampreys by pairing more squaddies with CAVs.
As We’re familiar with the characters, the author didn’t have to spend a lot of time explaining the situation. At this book’s start we find out there’s trouble with the pairing, along with an increased risk of someone discovering Tingting’s secret, there are increasing numbers of lamprey attacks, and lots of moments of Cali being both brutal and hilariously to the point. Ting’s discovering how important she’s becoming to Maseo, and both Maseo and Cali continue to pine for Rana. And the stakes just keep getting bigger and more dangerous. This book was lots of swift, violent fun!
Anvil squad is tasked with fighting more lampreys, while the techs are trying to create a CAV squadron to fight lampreys by pairing more squaddies with CAVs.
As We’re familiar with the characters, the author didn’t have to spend a lot of time explaining the situation. At this book’s start we find out there’s trouble with the pairing, along with an increased risk of someone discovering Tingting’s secret, there are increasing numbers of lamprey attacks, and lots of moments of Cali being both brutal and hilariously to the point. Ting’s discovering how important she’s becoming to Maseo, and both Maseo and Cali continue to pine for Rana. And the stakes just keep getting bigger and more dangerous. This book was lots of swift, violent fun!
July 5, 2020
In the next installment of this military SF series, Maseo Kaytu's success manually pairing with and piloting a CAV serves as the new strategy for the Earth's military against the lamprey remorts. The only problem is that the military have no idea that Kaytu's squad-mate Ting is a technopath and responsible for that pairing, and now Kaytu faces the problem of being the only Cry Pilot while the military try to pair people with CAVs. The problem is that the fate that awaits Ting if she's found out is truly horrible, but mankind may not survive at all unless the lampreys can be fought.
This was much better written than the first one, giving much of the descriptive text I was missing from that volume. There's also satisfactory answers for many of the mysteries of the first book as well as establishing even more depth to this dystopic future where loyalty to ones corporation is meant to trump everything else. It also goes a bit more in-depth into some of the social structures that exist both in and out of the military that are an interesting evolution from today's society. (I thought the use of the term "grim" to describe someone who wasn't the default bisexual and that it was treated as a slur was an interesting touch).
Now I'm really looking forward to the next book and I hope that it can sustain the level of quality that this one lifted to.
This was much better written than the first one, giving much of the descriptive text I was missing from that volume. There's also satisfactory answers for many of the mysteries of the first book as well as establishing even more depth to this dystopic future where loyalty to ones corporation is meant to trump everything else. It also goes a bit more in-depth into some of the social structures that exist both in and out of the military that are an interesting evolution from today's society. (I thought the use of the term "grim" to describe someone who wasn't the default bisexual and that it was treated as a slur was an interesting touch).
Now I'm really looking forward to the next book and I hope that it can sustain the level of quality that this one lifted to.
November 22, 2019
I received a gratis advanced copy courtesy of the publisher.
Dane's first book in this series, Cry Pilot, blew me away with its unique far-future mecha battle action and incredibly deep, nuanced characters. Burn Cycle continues the awesomeness of the first book, with even more action and more moments that made me genuinely anxious about this cast. I looked forward to every moment I could sit down and read more of this book, because dang. It is so good. So tense. So.... *waves arms around and makes incomprehensible sounds*
This is a far-off Earth that has been decimated by war and abuse. Now it's being assaulted by lampreys, hideous creatures of unknown origin that appear out of nowhere and slaughter thousands. Maseo Kaytu is the only cry pilot, a guy who can enter a state of oneness with an advanced war machine and take down lampreys. He's not really alone, though--his squad may not be his match, but they are awesome, realistic, and make this book into far more than a fluff-action thriller. This is military scifi with cyberpunk elements and a whole lotta high stakes, as humanity needs to find out where this lampreys are coming from and stop the invasion before everyone is obliterated.
The first book had a lot of flashbacks where you learned more about Kaytu's past. This book is firmly grounded in the present narrative, which I think makes it read even faster. Plus, I love how Dane writes very short, punchy chapters. That pushes things along, too.
I loved this book and I can't wait to see where Dane takes things next.
Dane's first book in this series, Cry Pilot, blew me away with its unique far-future mecha battle action and incredibly deep, nuanced characters. Burn Cycle continues the awesomeness of the first book, with even more action and more moments that made me genuinely anxious about this cast. I looked forward to every moment I could sit down and read more of this book, because dang. It is so good. So tense. So.... *waves arms around and makes incomprehensible sounds*
This is a far-off Earth that has been decimated by war and abuse. Now it's being assaulted by lampreys, hideous creatures of unknown origin that appear out of nowhere and slaughter thousands. Maseo Kaytu is the only cry pilot, a guy who can enter a state of oneness with an advanced war machine and take down lampreys. He's not really alone, though--his squad may not be his match, but they are awesome, realistic, and make this book into far more than a fluff-action thriller. This is military scifi with cyberpunk elements and a whole lotta high stakes, as humanity needs to find out where this lampreys are coming from and stop the invasion before everyone is obliterated.
The first book had a lot of flashbacks where you learned more about Kaytu's past. This book is firmly grounded in the present narrative, which I think makes it read even faster. Plus, I love how Dane writes very short, punchy chapters. That pushes things along, too.
I loved this book and I can't wait to see where Dane takes things next.
March 26, 2020
I reviewed Cry Pilot on Tuesday and when I finished it I went right on to read Burn Cycle which is the second book in the
Cry Pilot
series. The story went right on as the military is fighting a new threat. You do want to read the series in order so you understand what is happening. I'm enjoying the tech and the politics and the action of the battles.
In this world, the "corpos" meaning corporate business own and run everything. They direct the military too. Each planet is typically in a specific corpo territory. For this threat, specialized teams from all the groups are training and preparing. The mission is shared by all 5 corpos.
Our team is a motley bunch with some moral ambiguities. The society is in Classes; A, B, C and whatever else. Our "hero" Katyu is part of the whatever else, becoming a criminal to get the chance to join the military. That's a long story and a big part of Cry Pilot.
Katyu struggles, his whole life, on choosing sides and what is right? Does he do the job? Does he try to save the people, especially those on his team he cares about? He has always chosen those he loves, but that is not the job. The job is to meet his objective even if team members die. I have to say I'm a little bit with him because the corpos decide the job objectives and who says they are always right? They don't know everything and what if they care more about money than people?
I'm all caught up now and ready for Kill Orbit in July. It sounds like more moral dilemas, and life or death action.
In this world, the "corpos" meaning corporate business own and run everything. They direct the military too. Each planet is typically in a specific corpo territory. For this threat, specialized teams from all the groups are training and preparing. The mission is shared by all 5 corpos.
Our team is a motley bunch with some moral ambiguities. The society is in Classes; A, B, C and whatever else. Our "hero" Katyu is part of the whatever else, becoming a criminal to get the chance to join the military. That's a long story and a big part of Cry Pilot.
Katyu struggles, his whole life, on choosing sides and what is right? Does he do the job? Does he try to save the people, especially those on his team he cares about? He has always chosen those he loves, but that is not the job. The job is to meet his objective even if team members die. I have to say I'm a little bit with him because the corpos decide the job objectives and who says they are always right? They don't know everything and what if they care more about money than people?
I'm all caught up now and ready for Kill Orbit in July. It sounds like more moral dilemas, and life or death action.
March 2, 2020
Joel Dane follows up his fantastic Cry Pilot with a 2nd book in the series called Burn Cycle which continues the fast-paced Sci-Fi action.
Much like the first book, the action is top-notch and told in great detail and happens regularly, though sometimes it feels anti-climatic..but my guess it is with some intent as the team becomes very proficient at their job so it's to give off a nonchalant vibe. The ending felt pretty epic and leaves you wanting the 3rd book to see what Anvil Squad will do next!
Now the bad...
I am no prude, but the sex stuff in this book is unnecessary and forced, while character development is NON EXISTENT, there's no character growth in this book at all.
I would rate this a 3.5 out of 5 if we could do half stars on GoodReads
Much like the first book, the action is top-notch and told in great detail and happens regularly, though sometimes it feels anti-climatic..but my guess it is with some intent as the team becomes very proficient at their job so it's to give off a nonchalant vibe. The ending felt pretty epic and leaves you wanting the 3rd book to see what Anvil Squad will do next!
Now the bad...
I am no prude, but the sex stuff in this book is unnecessary and forced, while character development is NON EXISTENT, there's no character growth in this book at all.
I would rate this a 3.5 out of 5 if we could do half stars on GoodReads
May 17, 2020
Burn Cycle (Cry Pilot #2) by Joel Dane
Quite well written and a good followup!
In our second of three tales, our motley band of heroes makes some new friends. Good thing as it seems everyone is out to kill them, especially their own government, and the rest of the military?!
Also, the evil alien horde had grown faster, larger and much more intelligent. Ruh rho!
This is fast paced, and consistent all the way through.
Pick it up, you will enjoy.
Quite well written and a good followup!
In our second of three tales, our motley band of heroes makes some new friends. Good thing as it seems everyone is out to kill them, especially their own government, and the rest of the military?!
Also, the evil alien horde had grown faster, larger and much more intelligent. Ruh rho!
This is fast paced, and consistent all the way through.
Pick it up, you will enjoy.
May 21, 2020
I held off on this as long as possible, because I really liked Cry Pilot and I didn't want to have such a long gap between this and Kill Orbit, but I could wait no longer. I have to admit I was unable to pace myself once I cracked the seal, and 'burned' through it.
Burn Cycle exceeded my expectations, evoking everything I loved about the first book all over again, and I really wish there was more exposure for this series. Where is my physical copy of Burn Cycle! There are spaces on my bookshelf for this and the next one, right beside Cry Pilot. Don't let me down Penguin Random House!
Burn Cycle exceeded my expectations, evoking everything I loved about the first book all over again, and I really wish there was more exposure for this series. Where is my physical copy of Burn Cycle! There are spaces on my bookshelf for this and the next one, right beside Cry Pilot. Don't let me down Penguin Random House!
August 26, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I had fun with this! The world in general is still quite interesting. We have ascended (and murdered) AIs, as well as all sorts of interesting bioweapons. We get some faster paced sections of battle/action, as well as some downtime between all of these. This series is pretty heavy on military aspects, but I continue to like this. It was fun to see how the military is attempting to replicate Kaytu's success and just generally seeing more of the CAVs. There's also some scheming and secretive plots happening, and I enjoyed these! The ending was absolutely insane again. I really want to know what happens next!
Our group of characters continues to be a strength of this series. I really like the close bonds between the members of Anvil Squad, especially that of Kaytu and Ting. Kaytu is very protective of Ting which is rather sweet. Kaytu definitely has some tough choices to make here!
I won a copy of this in a giveaway from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.
I had fun with this! The world in general is still quite interesting. We have ascended (and murdered) AIs, as well as all sorts of interesting bioweapons. We get some faster paced sections of battle/action, as well as some downtime between all of these. This series is pretty heavy on military aspects, but I continue to like this. It was fun to see how the military is attempting to replicate Kaytu's success and just generally seeing more of the CAVs. There's also some scheming and secretive plots happening, and I enjoyed these! The ending was absolutely insane again. I really want to know what happens next!
Our group of characters continues to be a strength of this series. I really like the close bonds between the members of Anvil Squad, especially that of Kaytu and Ting. Kaytu is very protective of Ting which is rather sweet. Kaytu definitely has some tough choices to make here!
I won a copy of this in a giveaway from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2021
3 3/4 stars. The writing of this book suffers from the same over-use of the word “says” that the first book did. The dialogue scenes tend to grind on repetitively with “he says”...”she says”...”he says” back and forth. Luckily this book has fewer dialogue scenes than the first one.
When not being bombarded by a critical lack of synonyms for “say”, the story itself is entertaining and imaginative. The characters (mostly carryovers from the first) continue to be likeable and engaging. Despite not wanting to ever hear them have a conversation, they do a remarkable job at getting you invested in them.
While the writing leaves something to be desired, the story is worth a read and I’ll continue on with the 3rd book.
When not being bombarded by a critical lack of synonyms for “say”, the story itself is entertaining and imaginative. The characters (mostly carryovers from the first) continue to be likeable and engaging. Despite not wanting to ever hear them have a conversation, they do a remarkable job at getting you invested in them.
While the writing leaves something to be desired, the story is worth a read and I’ll continue on with the 3rd book.
July 29, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, actually more than I did the first book. Don’t get me wrong, the first one was pretty great you can check my “review” of it there. This one was more to the meat of things. The first book was great but I felt like the stakes were much higher in this book. When people passed away it was shocking and painful because we’ve developed a longer relationship with them and been through so much with them. I have concerns for different characters for different reasons, as if they were real people. I worry about Tingting for completely different reasons than I worry about Cali, or Kaytu. There’s a dimension and depth to the characters I feel.
There were a lot of good ups and downs in this book that didn’t let it get stale. There were sub plots that kept good pace while the main plot was moving along. As always I couldn’t wait to get to the end and when the climax came I almost felt like it was here too soon. (My wife probably feels the same way more often than not, heyooo)
This is a great read honestly and I’m stoked as I start book 3. Honestly it ended in such a good place in book 2 that I could stop reading here, but I want to see what happens to the crew of course :) although I am worried about who will die off before this whole thing ends. I pray it’s not Tingting or Jag.
There were a lot of good ups and downs in this book that didn’t let it get stale. There were sub plots that kept good pace while the main plot was moving along. As always I couldn’t wait to get to the end and when the climax came I almost felt like it was here too soon. (My wife probably feels the same way more often than not, heyooo)
This is a great read honestly and I’m stoked as I start book 3. Honestly it ended in such a good place in book 2 that I could stop reading here, but I want to see what happens to the crew of course :) although I am worried about who will die off before this whole thing ends. I pray it’s not Tingting or Jag.
March 8, 2024
i literally cannot tell you if i enjoyed this one more or less then the first. BOTH ARE JUST TOO GOOOD
i do feel like i messed up a bit with how long i took to read this one. but honestly that was just because i didn’t wanna finish it. like i’m so happy to get to the end but i also hate that i have one more book to read of this series. then again, i do feel like one more book is enough to wrap up this series so 👍👍
i really love where this book went too. like the first book led so perfectly into this one and it was never boring and OH MY GOD there were so many AMAZING plot twists that i wasn’t expecting.
-spoiler!!
for example, when kaytu killed rana-cain??? HELLO? the way that whole scene was written was chefs kiss. i don’t think i’ve ever felt such a strange and eerie feeling while READING A BOOK. like idk how to explain it but it was just soooooo climatic and i’m so excited to see what else happens with that. cause surely eventually rana’s gonna find out what kaytu did… 🤭
i literally have nothing bad to say about these books.. other then having to read the last two on kindle. but that’s no about the book lol
i do feel like i messed up a bit with how long i took to read this one. but honestly that was just because i didn’t wanna finish it. like i’m so happy to get to the end but i also hate that i have one more book to read of this series. then again, i do feel like one more book is enough to wrap up this series so 👍👍
i really love where this book went too. like the first book led so perfectly into this one and it was never boring and OH MY GOD there were so many AMAZING plot twists that i wasn’t expecting.
-spoiler!!
for example, when kaytu killed rana-cain??? HELLO? the way that whole scene was written was chefs kiss. i don’t think i’ve ever felt such a strange and eerie feeling while READING A BOOK. like idk how to explain it but it was just soooooo climatic and i’m so excited to see what else happens with that. cause surely eventually rana’s gonna find out what kaytu did… 🤭
i literally have nothing bad to say about these books.. other then having to read the last two on kindle. but that’s no about the book lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
Burn Cycle picks up where Cry Pilot left off, and although the fight against the lamprays continues, nothing in this book feels particularly new. The characters remain undeveloped, one-dimensional accessories. The squad trains and fights but doesn’t really do much else. And Kaytu continues to drift along reacting to the world around him without taking much initiative to drive himself or the plot forward.
The series feels like Ender's Game without Enders's dynamic brilliance paired with his arrogance and other imperfections. The novelty of the wold and momentum of the plot was sufficient to carry book one, but this second book was really somewhat of a slog.
I would have liked to have seen Kaytu step up into his new leadership role as well as seen depth and characterization of the squad members. It's like an ensemble cast where each member ensemble is limited to just variations of a few stock lines. As minor characters (inevitably) die, it's difficult to even care because you hardly know them.
The series feels like Ender's Game without Enders's dynamic brilliance paired with his arrogance and other imperfections. The novelty of the wold and momentum of the plot was sufficient to carry book one, but this second book was really somewhat of a slog.
I would have liked to have seen Kaytu step up into his new leadership role as well as seen depth and characterization of the squad members. It's like an ensemble cast where each member ensemble is limited to just variations of a few stock lines. As minor characters (inevitably) die, it's difficult to even care because you hardly know them.
January 23, 2022
I think this was a clever follow up of the first novel. Typically military Sci-Fi second book in a series. In number 1 we get the squad introduced, some basic training, first missions, first social developments. In this book, you expect the war to continue and build, social contacts deepen and some plot twists. And we got all. But the story kept me interested till the end and the plot towards the Hatchery was original and well-detailed. Also the world building expanded and we got more of a complete picture about living in it. I was less enthusiastic about some of the squad stereotypes that hardly developed. I should have expected mourning, PTSS and the like, however, the team remains like a group of youngsters throughout the whole story. Sideplots and roles of Tingting and Rana, were nice, dont remember the others well, which tells me more about the lack of character development and importance in the story. I will certainly read #3 in the series. It is a shame these cannot be acquired hardcopy, as I tend to have everything I read on paper. Anyway 3.5 stars rounded up.
March 24, 2020
Dane, Joel. Burn Cycle. Cry Pilot No. 2. Ace, 2020.
Joel Dane is the nom de plume of an Army brat who grew up to be a bicoastal screenwriter and novelist. I also suspect he grew up playing first-person shooter videogames. Burn Cycle is a close sequel to Cry Pilot, and like its predecessor, it is straight-ahead military science fiction. A future earth city has been taken over by a nonhuman intelligence that seems intent on wiping out anyone it contacts. The action here involves small-unit, high-tech ground assault. The grunts don’t always trust their leaders, and they constantly worry that their tech has been hijacked. The character conflict is good enough that it inspired a positive review from C. J. Cherryh. One missed opportunity—we are told there are very advanced Ais, but Dane keeps them at a distance and never lets one become a character in its own right.
Joel Dane is the nom de plume of an Army brat who grew up to be a bicoastal screenwriter and novelist. I also suspect he grew up playing first-person shooter videogames. Burn Cycle is a close sequel to Cry Pilot, and like its predecessor, it is straight-ahead military science fiction. A future earth city has been taken over by a nonhuman intelligence that seems intent on wiping out anyone it contacts. The action here involves small-unit, high-tech ground assault. The grunts don’t always trust their leaders, and they constantly worry that their tech has been hijacked. The character conflict is good enough that it inspired a positive review from C. J. Cherryh. One missed opportunity—we are told there are very advanced Ais, but Dane keeps them at a distance and never lets one become a character in its own right.
May 11, 2020
Burn Cycle is the excellent follow up to the first book in the Cry Pilot trilogy. In a future earth that has experienced Armageddon because of bio-weapon wars we are left with a few large corporations trying to rebuild the world through terraforming. Unfortunately, sentient A.I. has other things in mind and continues to attack the world with eel like creatures called Lampreys.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
January 11, 2021
I really hate it when the author thinks so little of his audience that he completely changes the universe to try to make a story interesting from a tactical point of view. The first book repeatedly said that the AI designed the CAV's so that a pilot was absolutely required. That continued in the first half of this one. Suddenly, though, they start remote control moving empty CAV's with no problem.
The plot is fairly basic and the characters aren't enough to save the book from that major flaw. The attacks on people are more serious, the government (businesses) is admitting the attacks have an intelligent actor, and it moves to a confrontation and then a cliff hanger for another book. I won't be reading it.
The plot is fairly basic and the characters aren't enough to save the book from that major flaw. The attacks on people are more serious, the government (businesses) is admitting the attacks have an intelligent actor, and it moves to a confrontation and then a cliff hanger for another book. I won't be reading it.
April 20, 2023
While not as uniquely gripping or experimentally impressive as the first book in the series, _Burn Cycle_ still continues with a fast-paced and engrossing story that expands on the world-building and premises of earlier while continuing Kaytu's soldiering journey. The action comes a little thicker, and the longer narrative arc is definitely taking shape, though there's definitely a bit more plot-armor and tiny bit more cinematic storytelling influence than before - not enough to turn me away, but enough to make this feel more familiar. Kaytu's past indirectly comes into play, as do the limits of any heroism or nobility - he's fascinatingly aware of his flaws and wears them well. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
March 9, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to review this title.
This is a very fast paced sci-fi book about a military squad in mech suits. A continuation of the first book in the series, this sequel sees Anvil squad continue the fight against the lampreys. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the lampreys origins and intentions.
This was overall a good book, but several bits proved frustrating. The language takes a while to adjust to and understand. The slang helps the book in terms of world building towards the end, but the lack of explanation at the start can leave the reader confused and lost. It would have been better if the language was better explained or reduced in frequency.
I liked the plot but the character development was really lacking here. Everyone felt one dimensional and the lack of growth was frustrating. The emphasis on drugs and sex was also frustrating.
Overall, this is a fun, fast paced read based around action. Its a fun book, so long as you don't too much thought into it.
This is a very fast paced sci-fi book about a military squad in mech suits. A continuation of the first book in the series, this sequel sees Anvil squad continue the fight against the lampreys. As the story unfolds, we learn more about the lampreys origins and intentions.
This was overall a good book, but several bits proved frustrating. The language takes a while to adjust to and understand. The slang helps the book in terms of world building towards the end, but the lack of explanation at the start can leave the reader confused and lost. It would have been better if the language was better explained or reduced in frequency.
I liked the plot but the character development was really lacking here. Everyone felt one dimensional and the lack of growth was frustrating. The emphasis on drugs and sex was also frustrating.
Overall, this is a fun, fast paced read based around action. Its a fun book, so long as you don't too much thought into it.
October 29, 2020
Do not start this book before bed unless you don't want to sleep! Lots of action and surprises where I kept saying "what just happened?!" and had to reread a paragraph or two to convince myself the author did what I just read. I love the camaraderie of Anvil squad, and this 2nd book didn't disappoint with all the feels about the characters. Not everyone makes it through the book either, and there were many cries of "Noooooo!!" while reading as well.
I really wish I knew who the author actually was so I could read his other books, even though they're not military ones. I really like his character development and the sprinkling of jokes and sass.
I really wish I knew who the author actually was so I could read his other books, even though they're not military ones. I really like his character development and the sprinkling of jokes and sass.
September 3, 2021
Great pacing and world building
Dane effortlessly weaves in an entire world unlike our own, advanced from our own, and yet, when looking through our mc's eyes, just as recognizable in its beauties and flaws as our own. He includes unexpected but inevitable twists and turns, great characters and subplots, and extrapolated societal advancements that made me reflect on our own with wonderment and hope. Burn cycle was a splendid sequel that answered some questions but left a lot to be explored, and I'm excited to do so in its finale.
Dane effortlessly weaves in an entire world unlike our own, advanced from our own, and yet, when looking through our mc's eyes, just as recognizable in its beauties and flaws as our own. He includes unexpected but inevitable twists and turns, great characters and subplots, and extrapolated societal advancements that made me reflect on our own with wonderment and hope. Burn cycle was a splendid sequel that answered some questions but left a lot to be explored, and I'm excited to do so in its finale.
December 12, 2021
The “western manga/anime” thing continues in book two, with more cool mecha-on-mecha action, but the middle book syndrome can be felt hard as the novel starts to seriously drag around the middle. This is made up for by the excitement of the finale, although the, errr, alienness of everything in the book at times makes it hard to follow what’s happening where. But this is definitely a cozy and familiar story frame set in a very unique future post-disaster world, and after the shortest of breaks I’ll be coming back to part 3 to see what happens next.
November 12, 2020
Great second book to the series! I loved the gritty combat descriptions. The interaction between the characters has developed into a band of brothers and sisters with who is left alive. Anvil squad has definitely seen their fair share of scrapes and bruises. I liked where the book left off and I look forward to listening to the next book.
April 11, 2020
An extension of Cry Pilot, Burn Cycle continues the story of Anvil Squad and its rag tag members. There’s not a lot of depth to the story but plenty of action and a few surprises. Hoping book #3 turns it up a notch.
August 11, 2025
Fun story to read, but difficult because of all of the made up new words and descriptions. It would have been a better and easier read without all of the crazy descriptions. Also too many characters. Slow start but picks up half way in.
April 5, 2020
What a trip!!
May 27, 2020
10% gutterdamn, gehenna, fatherfucks
40% CAVs fighting Lampreys
50% Masey misses his family (✿◠‿◠)
40% CAVs fighting Lampreys
50% Masey misses his family (✿◠‿◠)
June 26, 2020
Fun, well-written, engaging.
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