Halo: Point of Light

Halo #31

by Kelly Gay

August 2558. Rion Forge was once defined by her relentless quest for hope amidst the refuse and wreckage of a post-Covenant War galaxy—years spent searching for family as much as fortune. But that was before Rion and the crew of her salvager ship Ace of Spades encountered a powerful yet tragic being who forever altered their lives. This remnant from eons past, when the Forerunners once thrived, brought with it a revelation of ancient machinations and a shocking, brutal history. Unfortunately, the Ace crew also made dire enemies of the Office of Naval Intelligence in the process, with the constant threat of capture and incarceration a very real possibility. Now with tensions mounting and ONI forces closing in, Rion and her companions commit to this being’s very personal mission, unlocking untold secrets and even deadlier threats that have been hidden away for centuries from an unsuspecting universe....

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Video Games, Ebooks, Novels, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2021

About the author

Kelly Gay writes the critically acclaimed 'Charlie Madigan' urban fantasy series. Her work has been nominated for a double RITA, an ARRA, a Goodreads Choice Award, and landed on SIBA's Long List Book Award Finalists. Kelly is also a recipient of North Carolina Arts Council's fellowship grant in Literature. She is published in Young Adult fiction as Kelly Keaton.

Reviews

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy sh*t. Those are the words that constantly escaped my mouth while reading this book. The fact that Kelly Gay's Halo series isn't as popular as many of the other Halo books is absolutely criminal. They are easily my absolute favourite.

Point of Light creates a complete and compelling and uniquely Halo story without a single gun being fired or Spartan appearing. It is solely about adventure and exploring the beautifully rich and diverse universe that has been created and expanded upon over these last two decades throughout various bits of media.

The characters are strong, the story enthralling and the lore implications undeniably massive. The callbacks and even direct continuations of plot threads from the Forerunner trilogy are consistent and satisfying. Without saying any more, this book and its predecessors are phenomenal.

I can only hope we see even just a sliver of these places and stories in Infinite.

[T.R. Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much to say about this one. I've grown to like Rion much more, but the overall plot did not pull me in. I want to see a book about the Sangheili-Jiralhanae war that is STILL going on in the Halo galaxy, by the way. I don't know why no attention is ever paid to that, because it's so cool. It started during the Great Schism in Halo 2, and is still canonically being fought between the Elites and the Brutes.

This Forerunner mystery stuff has taken up too much of the series' focus. I want to see the entire war between the Elites and Brutes. That would be the best Halo content. I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sorely missed the crew..and closure.

[Brendan Kraus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Point of Light by Kelly Gay is the follow-up to her novel Renegades.

Taking place about a year after the events of Renegades the Ace of Spades is trying to help Spark complete his quest related to the Librarian.

While overall I enjoyed the book it was def a step down from Renegades. Gay has a lock on all these characters and the banter between the crew remains top notch. She doesn’t have as many emotionally hard hitting moments as the previous book but when she does do one boy does he kill it.

For me Rion and Spark’s perspective journey which is the main plot is what holds this back. Renegades most powerful and well written element is those two. Mirrors of each other who are chasing ghosts of the past (Rion her father and Spark the librarian) in hopes of finally getting answers and closure. Their arcs are Fantastic and by the end we see that both Rion and Spark despite not finding what they wanted realize. They still can honor their lost ones (finding the Spirit of Fire and doing the Librarians work) and that they have a family in Ace who care about them. Here there is not really character growth. They are both the same person from start to finish. Now characters don’t have to grow over the course of the book but sadly the story was not that engaging. For example we visit a halo ring and well….nothing really happens. Only is done so that we have an excuse for Rion to get separated from the crew. One might argue Spark's ending is an arc but that I would argue is more plot driven as opposed to character arcs at work, Good stories need good plot and or characters. While this has great characters we don’t get to see them do anything that’s super interesting or go through change. The plot is not bad, but it’s just not great like the first

Speaking of characters, the remaining Ace of Spades crew is so clearly an afterthought here. What made Renegades great is that Rion and Spark were accompanied on their journeys by a crew you came to care and love. Here they are all separated for most of the book. I think leaving Niko's storyline until the inevitable 3rd book is fine but in that case lead us on thinking it gets resolved here. Lessa and Ram are for the most part just kinda there. We hear that she wants to go to school and him take up Nor's spot but that's it. It is said and never really explored. Gay is clearly setting things up for a third book which hopefully has everyone finally meet back up.

Never been a fan of Didact, Librarian, Forerunners post Halo 3(i just don't like how 343 decided to handle their lore and think they took away to much of the mystery) so all those Rion/librarian chapters just did not hit. In Renegades she had Ram, Niko and Lessa to talk with. The Librarian is def not as interesting to talk about.
3/5

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book via Audible.

Point of Light continues the chronicles of Guilty Spark, Rion Forge, and the crew of the Ace of Spades as they're on the run from ONI after the events of Renegades. It's a galaxy-hopping adventure that will keep you guessing about where they end up next and what they will discover.

Although it's been a couple of years since the last time we saw Rion and her team, it was easy to fall back in with them and their salvager lives. They are still hoping to not be caught by the UNSC and still trying to learn what they can from the Librarian's message and key. There are definitely some answers inside, but also plenty more questions that arise. I enjoyed the alternating periods of action and rest, which gave the story a nice tempo and gradually built up into a crescendo and the finale.

If you love the Halo lore, you will definitely learn some interesting things and see how Spark and Rion fit into the events of Halo 5: Guardians, and possibly what comes next. There are some big implications here, and things are left somewhat open-ended, which I suppose gives them flexibility for the future but resulted in a lack of closure in this particular narrative.

Overall I enjoyed Point of Light right up until the end, and then I wondered if there was supposed to be more. What we got was great, but it felt like it lacked a satisfying conclusion. Hopefully that means we'll see these characters again and soon, because I don't want that disappointment to linger too long.

[Peter Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Staggering, elegant and beautiful understanding of halo lore wrapped with flowing prose and excellent characters.

[Sami_salami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just as disappointing as the second, plot wise.

[Matthew Ochal · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You have seen me as more than just metal and code, and for that—and the adventure—I can never thank you enough.”

Ouchie. Ew ew ew halo book cant be good ew ouch

[Jared Delcamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Could have used more bullets.

If you liked the Greg Bear Halo books, you’ll probably like this one too.

[Chris The Lizard from Planet X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halo: Point of Light by Kelly Gay is media Tie-in novel based on Microsoft’s/343 Studios Halo Video Game franchise, and is the latest novel to expand on the lore of the Halo universe and marks the conclusion to Kelly Gay’s Ace of Spades trilogy. As the follow-up to Halo: Renegades, it certainly has a lot of ground to cover. However, Point of Light is definitely a step in the right direction for the franchise, as Gay does a superb job in bringing the universe to life and telling a far-reaching story. This comes at a time when quality Halo content is needed to draw attention back to the franchise as Halo: Infinite approaches.

No doubt most readers are already familiar with the events of the prior two books. Reading Halo: Point of Light without the context and details of the prior novels in the trilogy would make this a bit of a confusing read, though not hopeless. The novel continues the personal tale of Rion Forge, but it also deals with greater Forerunner affairs this time around. 343 Guilty Spark really shines in this one. This should come as no surprise following the duo’s revelatory meeting with the Librarian in Renegades. A large question within Rion’s personal arc was also answered at the climax of the previous novel. With that in mind, there are still loose ends for her to tie up.


Kelly Gay does a respectable job in dealing with the emotional conflicts within Rion throughout the story. An early development allows Rion to contemplate family matters throughout the rest of the narrative arc, even after the pacing begins to take off. I was pleasantly surprised to see how the personal narratives integrated into the Forerunner-themed adventure. Gay clearly demonstrates her aptitude for crafting a cohesive web of major events with supporting subplots in Halo: Point of Light, and at no point does the pacing drag or meander. The story progresses smoothly while exploring details along the way.

This is important, as several of the side characters feel like they’re just along for the ride at times. While it is true that the crew of the Ace of Spades is a close-knit bunch, they do not come across as treasure-seeking salvagers or self-preservationists. The camaraderie is nice, if a bit dull. They each do their part to usher the plot forward though, and no details about them go unaddressed by the end.

Halo: Point of Light is ultimately an adventure, and it exudes wonder. Much like how the characters themselves venture forth to parts unknown, you will regularly feel a sense of uncertainty as to what could happen next. The story is shrouded in secrecy and difficult to predict due to its mysterious and cunning characters, and Gay’s writing keeps you in the moment. Point of Light is just as much about the journey as it is the destination.

The Forerunner personas like 343 Guilty Spark tend to command the most attention. Spark’s compartmentalized attitude feels spot-on. It’s quite elegant how Gay applies personification to the AI, but the depth provided by Spark’s backstory certainly enhances his presence. You’ll find yourself reading along in that iconic voice as Spark narrates.

Although the previous entries in this trilogy touched on events and themes that most Halo fans can understand, the finale of Renegades moved events in a new direction to tie up the adventure. As such, you will want to set your expectations for delving deep into the Forerunner side of Halo lore.

A familiarity with the Forerunner saga is definitely recommended to appreciate the developments that unfold. In that sense, Halo: Point of Light is not necessarily a book for all Halo fans. Gay doesn’t completely hang you out to dry though. There’s just the right amount of context sprinkled throughout the novel to help you along without ruining the pacing. If for some odd reason you were to jump into this trilogy finale without having read the previous entries, you’d still fare decently thanks to the carefully selected summarizations.

We got a taste of what was to come in prior novels, but Halo: Point of Light dares to explore the universe and initiate a journey through space and time to carve out its own memorable experience. Rion and gang certainly see their fair share of technological marvels and danger to boot. Fortunately, those who felt more invested in the modern affairs of the prior novels won’t feel completely alienated.

Kelly Gay does an excellent job of bridging the gap between ancient times and the modern developments that characterize the mainline games. There are still plenty of moments where the story feels grounded in reality and human affairs. Halo: Point of Light does its own thing, but it also seems like a sendoff for several themes of Greg Bear’s Forerunner Saga in addition to an opportunity to show the rippling effects of Halo 5: Guardians.

The novel has its minor flaws along the way, but these things are forgivable considering all that the story does right. Some plot holes and convenient coincidences crop up here and there. A couple conflicts simply fizzle out. Considering the sheer amount of juggling Kelly Gay does with different ideas though, she does a commendable job of accounting for most details. The hiccups that are noted along the way are easy to forget about as interesting new situations arise.

However, there is one topic of concern that sticks with me. While it is difficult to discuss without mentioning spoilers, my one major qualm pertains to an instance of telling rather than showing in regards to an emotionally fueled conversation Rion has. I’m not a fan of windy explanations of internal character feelings when a mode exists to express the feelings through conversations, interactions, or careful suggestions. Fortunately, this only disrupts a single scene and the rest of the narrative recovers with little penalty.

Ultimately, Halo: Point of Light is one of the best Halo novels I’ve read recently. I could easily recommend it along with its accompanying entries in the trilogy. It’s not another entry in the story of Master Chief, but it plays a huge role in the overarching lore.

You won’t find grand fleet battles or Infinite-altering events here (although the narrative’s conclusion certainly presents its own universe-shattering implications). Instead, Kelly Gay keeps the focus on themes of humanity and what it’s like to deal with deep-running resentments. The exotic locations and epic recounting of the Librarian’s grand plan certainly help to keep things interesting though. It’s a brilliant pairing with Rion’s personal conflict. The Librarian’s obsession with atonement for the sins of the Forerunners provides an incredible example for Rion to learn from. It shows her that no one is without their faults and that sometimes sacrifices must be made for better eventualities.

And yet despite Point of Light remaining engaging every step of the way, it does feel like Kelly Gay came up short with Rion’s personal story. While Rion come to terms with her father through the events that unfold and the meaningful relationships she builds with the Forerunners, we don’t get the satisfaction of seeing her reunite with her family in a meaningful way. The notion is suggested, but that’s pretty much how things end for the whole crew. Everyone pretty much goes their separate ways (though they don’t necessarily say final goodbyes).

343 Guilty Spark, or Chakas, gets the best ending out of everyone. A new lease on life, one might say. It’s odd, but Halo: Point of Light offers a more satisfying ending for those who wanted additional closure to the Forerunner saga, though a weaker ending for the characters we began with in this trilogy. Still, these greater developments are what make the story such a far-reaching entry in the franchise, and I can only hope for a bright future for the Halo franchise.

[Carl Malmborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a superb Halo book. Kelly Gay has proven herself once again and she carries Greg Bears’s legacy gracefully.

[Ian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the eleventh Halo novel I have read and the third of three novels by Kelly Gay in a box set of ten Halo novels that I bought after giving up any idea of reading the Halo novels in chronological order. I’ve since discovered that Goodreads has a definitive list of Halo novels and I’m jumping around all over the place like a fugitive scavenger ship trying to avoid the Office of Naval Intelligence. However, I will stick with the box set for the time being.
This novel is set in 2558, a few months after Halo: Renegades. The war with the Covenant has ended and humans are now mingling with some of the more tolerant – or less hostile – of the various Covenant species. The central character, Rion Forge, is a kind of futuristic scrap metal dealer, one of a breed of scavengers who scour the galaxy hunting for kit left over from the Covenant war. There is a thriving market for weaponry, ammunition, software, hardware and – above all – Forerunner artefacts. However, the Office of Naval Intelligence is determined to get its hands on as much of that Forerunner kit as possible. The ostensible reason for that is to stop it falling into the hands of Covenant die-hards who want to renew the war against the human race. However, the ONI also wants to stop human scavengers from obtaining advanced technology, presumably to stop them passing it on to those insurrectionists who still hanker for independence from Earth.
Rion and her crew have obtained an advanced life form, 343 Spark, who is part-Forerunner and part-human, and the ONI want to get their hands on it. Early in the novel, Rion visits her mother, who has left Earth and taken up farming on a remote planet. The encounter with her mother after seventeen years is painful enough but made worse when a teenager waltzes in and she realises she has a half-brother that her mother had never thought to tell her about. As Rion is about to leave she has a conversation with her brother, Cayce, and he intimates that although their mother seems not to give a damn about Rion (and her late father), in secret she weeps over Rion’s photos. We hear no more of Cayce and Rion’s mother in this novel but the seeds have been sown for a future novel involving them.
Unfortunately, while Rion is visiting her mother, an ONI spy manages to slap a bug on her vehicle and this enables the ONI to track down her ship and crew…..
I’ll say no more about the plot. This novel has plenty of action and human interest. It compares well with the other Halo novels I’ve read. At times it bridges the gap (if there is one) between science fiction and myth. I’d recommend this book to Halo fans or anyone who enjoys a bit of science fiction escapism. I note that there are a couple of novels about the Forerunners, so it might be worth reading them first.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! This is the latest installment in a series that follows some of my favorite characters in the Halo universe. It all began with a short story called Into the Fire, featured in the anthology Fractures. That story was expanded into a novella called Smoke and Shadow, which was followed by the full length novel, Renegades.

These stories focus on Rion Forge, the captain of a private starship, and her crew. At the beginning of their story, they are small-time salvagers; but they get caught up in an ever-expanding, cosmically fascinating adventure, running into some very interesting characters and situations along the way. These are character-driven stories about a tight-knit group of likable people. But they're also more than that - they shine a light on the lives of ordinary people (something the Halo universe is often lacking) and they dive deep into the lore and ancient history of the galaxy. A winning combination if I ever saw one!

When I found out that Renegades was getting a sequel, I could hardly have been more excited. I pre-ordered Point of Light back in January. It wasn't supposed to release until March 2. But yesterday, I drove down to a local bookstore on a whim, and there it was on the shelves! I went home grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. I sat down and didn't stop reading until I was finished.

I had high expectations for this book, and even then it completely blew me away. There were a few things I hoped to see that didn't happen, so I can't truly say I'm 100% satisfied - but this book was full of so many surprises, exciting moments, and incredible revelations - it more than makes up for any shortcomings!

[Shadow Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my brother from another mother from the Insta game community - @waynes.games

I just hope he’s cool with it

I haven’t played any games coz as of August 1st I’m on break from playing video games till I get back to playing games in September so I could read some books from my tbr

2021 marked 20 years of Halo so happy 20th birthday Halo a huge congrats to the team at Bungie & 343 Industries for making the most successful 1st person shooting franchise on the Xbox

I haven’t played that much Halo games apart from playing either Halo 1 or 2 on the Xbox with my cousin but I happen to collect a ton of Halo books since 2015. Some are great some may be a little bit ok but none of those books would beat The Fall Of Reach. Feel free to tell me what’s your favourite Halo book later but without any spoilers from the other books I still haven’t read yet. Thanks

Picked up Halo Point Of Light by Kelly Gay at a local QBD store probably around mmm… June 2021 maybe? Oh wait it was June

Setting in the future of 2558 where it follows the story of Rion Forge spent her quest looking for her family & fortune. But before that she encountered a powerful but tragic moment of her life alongside her crew mates at the Ace Of Spades ship

Kelly Gay’s writing on this book is actually good. May not be as good as The Fall Of Reach but this totally makes this 1 of the best Halo books Kelly Gay has ever wrote since Greg Bear’s Forerunner trilogy

Halo Point Of Light is a must read

[Ben LaBelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Kelly is held back solely by how short she makes her books in the series, as in I feel like we didn't spend enough time going into certain things that happens throughout the books. The fact that everything goes right for Rion and her crew used to bother me but it's not as egregious as it was in Renegades. The problem in this book is I felt like everyone in the Ace of Spades crew is an idiot.
Let's start with how Niko kept being blackmailed a secret when he could've just lied about what he was being blackmailed for and let the crew know to help him, we still don't know what he was blackmailed about. Then halfway through the book they decide to split up for...reasons...? They say it's to lose ONI but it serves no purpose other than to split the crew up so they can do their own things. I still don't understand why Niko gave Spark the key then just...stayed..? Why didn't he come with him? Surely he could've helped? Why did spark need to leave him????? STUPID!!!! What this is all to say is it feels like Kelly doesn't really care about the series anymore and is trying to wrap it up fast and forced which really sucks because I genuinely do want to know where the story goes.
Also somehow they made the cover art even worse. Everything about the books just seems rushed but I AM invested. Hope it continues (and makes the fucking books longer )

[Ricky Beckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final installment of the Rion Forge trilogy, Rion and her crew continue to evade the Office of Naval Intelligence after their escapades in the previous book alongside their new, powerful ally they met in the prequel. They aid this being on their personal quest, leading to a tremendous secret held by the Librarian that has awe-inspiring implications.

Like the previous novel, there are a couple predictive narrative arcs and typical tropes: someone keeping a secret from the rest of the crew until it leads to a negative outcome, and misunderstandings between characters. Some of these weave together nicely, but my main complaint about the book is that some of these personal narrative arcs do not reach a conclusion. It’s not a well-written Alfred Hitchcock ending; rather, it comes across as if Gay forgot to include the conclusions or didn’t care enough to write them. Smoke and Shadow, Renegades, and Point of Light are the only Rion Forge books, so unless another one is written, we’ll never know how Niko’s, Lessa’s, and Ram’s stories end, which is rather frustrating.

[Ricardo Rojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going into this trilogy after being away from the Halo expanded universe since Karen Traviss' HALO trilogy was a fresh of breath air for me. After hearing a lot of negative reactions to current halo books I went into this trilogy with not very high hopes.
But book after book of Kelly Gay's HALO trilogy continued to impress me and it left me wanting more.

This trilogy for intended purposes is the story of Rion and Guilty Sparks as they journey through the Halo Universe and go on adventures. With an interesting cast of characters. I am amazed that Kelly Gay was able to make a long lasting character in the Halo Universe(Guilty Sparks) be as memorable as when he was introduced to us back in 2001 in the video game HALO: Combat Evolved. While Greg Bear expanded on Guilty Spark's history, its Kelly Gay that humanized him.

[Thijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good Halo novel, set in an interesting time period, and with lots of varied connections to different lore.

Though I still find Rion unsympathetic, I enjoyed this book mostly because it focussed as a sort of sequel for the Forerunner Trilogy by Greg Bear. Mainly thanks to Spark/Chakas, whom I've grown more comfortable with. Even if I'm still not entirely in favour of him having survived Halo 3.
The Sangheili myth story was pretty cool too. And the semi-intelligent predator things.

The Reveal at the end was also pretty neat.

I do still find it a shame that Rion never followed up to actually finding the SoF on the Ark, and I'm hoping this will happen in the next Halo book, from the Point of View of the Ferrets, who are on the Ark.

[Jayna Rubich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not one to write reviews. Literature at it's core is so personal to each individual I generally don't find it to be my place. However, I have been reading the Halo works of Kelly Gay since the short story in Fractures and what started as an uninteresting narrative has blossomed into what I can only describe as some of the best literature in Halo. Point of Light stands above and has proven that Kelly Gay can and will stand among Greg Bear, Troy Denning and Karen Travis as the best the Halo universe has to offer. (Honorable mention to Matt Forbeck). My only hope is she continues to write for Halo and we can see even more.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding. This is the best book I’ve read in over 10 years. The emotions felt by the characters feels real to me, the reader. Point of Light brings peace to three of the most compelling characters in the Halo saga: Rion Forge, the Librarian, and, of course, Chakas; 343 Guilty Spark; or, just Spark. This book answers some questions originally posed in the in-game terminals from Halo 3 (2007), in the Forerunner trilogy (2010-2012), and from Halo Wars (2009). So satisfying, this story touched on humor, dread, fear, death, joy, excitement, and peace.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what Kelly Gay has been building up to across two previous stories. This also fulfills the emotional payoff from Greg Bear's Forerunner trilogy. All the elements of character building built up to over the last two books come to fruition and enough of Chakas' history and character is brought back to make Guilty Spark feel like a character we know twice over. All of the development of him as a monitor, and the development of his human character unite beautifully. Expect to cry, if you don't cry well then you must be a monster.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly solid, but I found myself laboring through the end and disappointed in how it concluded. It seemed a bit anticlimactic, though I’ll admit it’s hard to wrap up such a huge story in a nice, neat bow. I’ll also admit that I don’t know anything about the Forerunner Trilogy books (started reading them and really tried to like them but couldn’t get into them), and this book leans heavily on all that backstory. It tries to fill in what gaps it needs to in order to keep the reader informed, but I found myself getting annoyed with it. Time for me to read one about Spartans or something haha

[necronizer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably went into this book with different set of expectations hoping to know more about Zeta Halo and the events leading up to Halo Infinite but oh boy I had my expectations very very wrong.

It still is a great book and just goes on to prove that Kelly Gay is very well versed with the Halo universe and more than capable of writing stories for this universe and I absolutely love how she picked up Greg Bear's work and expanded so much on it!

The Rion Forge trilogy has gotta be a sequel to Greg Bear's Forerunner Saga for sure!

[Michael Shelburne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has become one of my fav Halo novels

It took me a while to pick up the Rion Forge trilogy but once I started I didn’t want to stop. Getting to know 343 Guilty Spark as a human instead of a robotic villain from the games was really enjoyable and this book gives him a very good end to his story I feel like. Now it seems like there maybe could be more for Forge in the future but even if they don’t do another book for her and the crew it still wraps up in a reasonable satisfying way.

Man I love Halo.

[Bob Stone]

This sub-series of Halo is interesting to follow. It ties in and maybe brings some closure to the Cryptum, Primordium, and Silentium books. But like those books, the Forerunner portions are not as easy to read and follow as the rest of the story line. I am interested to see if any of this ties back into the new game being released. It may be setting the stage for an eventual confrontation between AIs or bring the next generation of Forges into the larger fight.

[Spen Cer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really the authors fault. But after such a break in the cannon of halo to include basically magic it’s hard for me to get behind these new short books. There are tons of stories to be told at the time of the covenant that don’t have to involve fantastical visions and confusing forerunner back stories. Also, the UNSC being portrayed as evil in these new books just stinks of people being proud to be so individualistic and anti-government. It makes no sense.

[Lukas Kawika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was really good! It expanded on everything that came before while still standing out on its own, and throughout all of this managed to stay rooted in what I've come to enjoy from the Halo books. I really liked all of these characters, and am excited to see if we ever come back to revisit them and tie up some of the other stories left open at the end here.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic novel in its own right. Whether one is into the Halo video games or not, the fluid writing and excellent plot and pacing of the storyline make it worth anyone's time to read. There's a lot of philosophy and morality throughout the book blended with AI and other tech, both of which worked really well. Great book!

[Josh cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I am a sucker for Halo lore - especially when it comes to forerunners and precursors. I might have to read it again to catch any missed details. Can’t wait to see other reviews on this book!