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Watch Dogs: Legion #3
Watch Dogs Legion: Cold Reboot
DedSec’s investigation into competing cyber-gangs unearths a shocking plot that will send the world reeling into chaos, in this heart-racing thriller from Watch Dogs Legion
Freya Bauer’s revolutionary fervor has dimmed with age, but just as she’s about to hang up her DedSec mask, she’s recruited for one last mission to Berlin… with her ex-husband of all people. Yet upon her arrival in Germany, a series of betrayals mean she’s suddenly unable to distinguish between friends and foes. Meanwhile, Freya’s past has caught up with her – in the form of a mysterious hitman determined to take out the Bauer family in London. However, if he can’t immediately remove Freya from the board, her son might be the next best thing. Freya must navigate competing tech-gangs, reconcile with her ex, and save her son before everything she loves is destroyed.
Freya Bauer’s revolutionary fervor has dimmed with age, but just as she’s about to hang up her DedSec mask, she’s recruited for one last mission to Berlin… with her ex-husband of all people. Yet upon her arrival in Germany, a series of betrayals mean she’s suddenly unable to distinguish between friends and foes. Meanwhile, Freya’s past has caught up with her – in the form of a mysterious hitman determined to take out the Bauer family in London. However, if he can’t immediately remove Freya from the board, her son might be the next best thing. Freya must navigate competing tech-gangs, reconcile with her ex, and save her son before everything she loves is destroyed.
- GenresScience Fiction
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
47 people want to read
About the author
Robbie MacNiven
123 books114 followersRobbie MacNiven is a Scottish author and historian. His published fiction includes over a dozen novels, many fantasy or sci-fi works for IPs such as Warhammer 40,000 and Marvel's X-Men. He has also written two novellas, numerous short stories and audio dramas, has worked on narrative and character dialogue for multiple digital games (SMITE: Blitz and Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground), has written the colour text for multiple RPG rulebooks and has penned the scripts for two graphic novels and three comics, for Osprey Publishing and Commando Comics respectively. In 2022 his X-Men novel "First Team" won a Scribe Award.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
On the non-fiction front, Robbie specialises in Early Modern military history, particularly focussing on the 18th century. He has a PhD in American Revolutionary War massacres from the University of Edinburgh - where he won the Compton Prize for American History - and an MLitt in War Studies from the University of Glasgow. Along with numerous articles for military history magazines he has written six books on different aspects of the American Revolutionary War, five for Osprey Publishing and one for Helion Books. He has also written the scripts for ten episodes of the hit YouTube educational channel Extra Credits.
Outside of work and writing, his passions include re-enacting, gaming, and football.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 5, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte books.
I've been a fan of the Watch_Dogs games for years now - WatchDogs 2 is one of my most favorite games, actually, with an engaging cast of characters and a scarily prescient near-future setting that still manages to end of notes of hope, even after multiple, horrible hurdles. This scope and subject is made all the bigger in the third game, Watch_Dogs Legion, set in London. This book is set a couple of years after the end of that game, and puts the London DedSec org back in the spotlight. This is actually the first tie-in novel for this series that I've read, and I'll likely pick up the rest because I love this world.
I want to start, firstly, by saving I appreciate the namedrops and references to game characters. Having Helen Dashwood appear, in a larger supporting role than I expected, was a special and amusing surprise especially. I would honestly read a whole book about that super-spy hacker granny lol She's like if Ms. Marple had an intelligence background and knew her way around computers. Loved it. The other main characters though? Kind of forgettable. Freya Bauer, the actual main character, is a tough but emotionally damaged action woman (she refers to herself as DedSec muscle, not a hacker), jaded since she helped with the London resistance and the fall of Albion. Her family history feels like a footnote, even though it's the leading plot point for which all of the novel takes place.
And I appreciate Robbin MacNiven including some of the chaotic conflicts I feel the games are kind of known for, but it actually is kind of hard to follow... the final third of the book felt like a blur, with it's non-stop action and back-and-forth will-they-or-won't-they win situations. It was a bit much. And the main villain had less depth than Flat Stanley; he was basically a walking, talking caricature of a bad guy, but the secondary villain was a lot more interesting and is clearly being set up for a sequel. Lots of tropes in use overall, though.
I wish some of the action had been dialed back for character work, but then this novel felt long and wordy as it was and even now could probably use a bit more trimming to make it more appealing to the masses.
I enjoyed it mainly for the tie-in to the game world, but I think anyone reading it with no familiarity of the video games will just be lost and uninterested.
I've been a fan of the Watch_Dogs games for years now - WatchDogs 2 is one of my most favorite games, actually, with an engaging cast of characters and a scarily prescient near-future setting that still manages to end of notes of hope, even after multiple, horrible hurdles. This scope and subject is made all the bigger in the third game, Watch_Dogs Legion, set in London. This book is set a couple of years after the end of that game, and puts the London DedSec org back in the spotlight. This is actually the first tie-in novel for this series that I've read, and I'll likely pick up the rest because I love this world.
I want to start, firstly, by saving I appreciate the namedrops and references to game characters. Having Helen Dashwood appear, in a larger supporting role than I expected, was a special and amusing surprise especially. I would honestly read a whole book about that super-spy hacker granny lol She's like if Ms. Marple had an intelligence background and knew her way around computers. Loved it. The other main characters though? Kind of forgettable. Freya Bauer, the actual main character, is a tough but emotionally damaged action woman (she refers to herself as DedSec muscle, not a hacker), jaded since she helped with the London resistance and the fall of Albion. Her family history feels like a footnote, even though it's the leading plot point for which all of the novel takes place.
And I appreciate Robbin MacNiven including some of the chaotic conflicts I feel the games are kind of known for, but it actually is kind of hard to follow... the final third of the book felt like a blur, with it's non-stop action and back-and-forth will-they-or-won't-they win situations. It was a bit much. And the main villain had less depth than Flat Stanley; he was basically a walking, talking caricature of a bad guy, but the secondary villain was a lot more interesting and is clearly being set up for a sequel. Lots of tropes in use overall, though.
I wish some of the action had been dialed back for character work, but then this novel felt long and wordy as it was and even now could probably use a bit more trimming to make it more appealing to the masses.
I enjoyed it mainly for the tie-in to the game world, but I think anyone reading it with no familiarity of the video games will just be lost and uninterested.
August 13, 2023
Great new novel in the world of Watch Dogs.
I have completed the DLC, and now I am focusing on the normal game.
Let us hope Watch Dogs 4 is in development. Which city will they choose next? I would love to see a Watch Dogs in Paris with french voice-overs or in Japan, with japanese voice-overs. It would be superb and extremely interesting. You could even have some guest stars in France with the rappers from 13 Organize, and in Japan, members and former members of the Yazuka or something.
I have completed the DLC, and now I am focusing on the normal game.
Let us hope Watch Dogs 4 is in development. Which city will they choose next? I would love to see a Watch Dogs in Paris with french voice-overs or in Japan, with japanese voice-overs. It would be superb and extremely interesting. You could even have some guest stars in France with the rappers from 13 Organize, and in Japan, members and former members of the Yazuka or something.
May 4, 2024
The story was good, but the biggest disappointment is that the author repeats same things over an over again. First 100 pages are really bad. The story of those could fit in 20-30 pages easily. It could be the publisher who pushes authors to write more pages.
Then there were issues with some illogical stuff and unanswered questions that seemed somewhat important (while unimportant stuff was repeated over and over again).
Then there were issues with some illogical stuff and unanswered questions that seemed somewhat important (while unimportant stuff was repeated over and over again).
April 6, 2023
ARC COPY...yep very much the narrative has the high tech and high stakes of the Watch Dog world with no clear morality lines. Very much liked and could see the "London" faction equals in Berlin with the hacktivist group (not the warmest welcome), paramilitary (in the upstart phase) and the criminal group (with personal links to the protagonist) present.
May 4, 2023
Enjoyed this book so much. I was looking forward to a bit of fast paced action, some thrilling twists, some political struggle activism and interesting, fun and strong characters. That’s exactly what Robbie NacNiven delivered from beginning to end. Thank you to Aconyte Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
October 8, 2023
Excellent story in the Watch Dogs universe. Would be great for a Watch Dogs 4 game. Was very surprise of two prestige operators appearing in the book. Which now feels great to play Legions with them.
June 13, 2023
Introduction
I was given a copy to review for a book tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #WatchDogLegionColdReboot #RobbieMacNiven #NetGalley #ARCReview #AconyteBooks #BookReview #gifted #ad
Review
I will obviously go into more detail but I will say this to preface my review. If you enjoy the Watch Dog Universe and love fast paced action, cyberpunk-ish settings with bits of political activism struggles thrown in you are going to love Watch Dogs Legion: Cold Reboot.
Now that I got that out of my system (pun intended) we can discuss Cold Reboot in a little more detail. We are introduced to Freya Bauer whose revolutionary fervour has dimmed with age but just as she is about to hang up her DedSec mask she is recruited for one last mission to Berlin and with her ex-husband of all people. Only when she arrives in Germany a series of betrayals means she is suddenly unsure who is a friend and who is a foe. If that was not enough her past is finally catching up with her in the form of a mysterious hitman who is determined to take out the Bauer family in London but if he can’t remove Freya immediately her son may be the next best target. Unsure who she can turn to Freya must navigate competing tech-gang, reconcile with her ex and save her son before everything she loves is destroyed.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, pulse-pounding thriller this one is for you. MacNiven takes us by the hand and drags us, high speed, into the world of Watch Dogs Legion and the action does not slow down. Ties in fiction can be hit or miss sometimes but I have to say I have yet to find an author within the Aconyte expanding world of fiction that doesn’t nail it every time. You honestly feel like you are being pulled into the game, or rather world of the game in this novel and that is something I adore.
I also adore the characters in this novel. Freya was a wonderful protagonist and I adored she was a little older than one might expect for a high stake thriller. Despite me saying this is fast-paced and action-packed we really get a chance to see the type of woman Freya is and I found it easy to bond with her as a character and protagonist. I also adored how brutal she could be when needed. On top of this and adored the twists and turns of the narrative.
This is definitely one for fans of the Watch Dog universe, obviously, but more than that I think it’s a great way into the universe if you haven’t played the games in depth or for a while. Also because of the way it is written you do not need an intimate knowledge of the world of Watch Dogs to enjoy this one so if you like a sprinkle of cyber punk, a lot of action and a good thriller this one is most definitely for you!
I was given a copy to review for a book tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #WatchDogLegionColdReboot #RobbieMacNiven #NetGalley #ARCReview #AconyteBooks #BookReview #gifted #ad
Review
I will obviously go into more detail but I will say this to preface my review. If you enjoy the Watch Dog Universe and love fast paced action, cyberpunk-ish settings with bits of political activism struggles thrown in you are going to love Watch Dogs Legion: Cold Reboot.
Now that I got that out of my system (pun intended) we can discuss Cold Reboot in a little more detail. We are introduced to Freya Bauer whose revolutionary fervour has dimmed with age but just as she is about to hang up her DedSec mask she is recruited for one last mission to Berlin and with her ex-husband of all people. Only when she arrives in Germany a series of betrayals means she is suddenly unsure who is a friend and who is a foe. If that was not enough her past is finally catching up with her in the form of a mysterious hitman who is determined to take out the Bauer family in London but if he can’t remove Freya immediately her son may be the next best target. Unsure who she can turn to Freya must navigate competing tech-gang, reconcile with her ex and save her son before everything she loves is destroyed.
If you are looking for a fast-paced, pulse-pounding thriller this one is for you. MacNiven takes us by the hand and drags us, high speed, into the world of Watch Dogs Legion and the action does not slow down. Ties in fiction can be hit or miss sometimes but I have to say I have yet to find an author within the Aconyte expanding world of fiction that doesn’t nail it every time. You honestly feel like you are being pulled into the game, or rather world of the game in this novel and that is something I adore.
I also adore the characters in this novel. Freya was a wonderful protagonist and I adored she was a little older than one might expect for a high stake thriller. Despite me saying this is fast-paced and action-packed we really get a chance to see the type of woman Freya is and I found it easy to bond with her as a character and protagonist. I also adored how brutal she could be when needed. On top of this and adored the twists and turns of the narrative.
This is definitely one for fans of the Watch Dog universe, obviously, but more than that I think it’s a great way into the universe if you haven’t played the games in depth or for a while. Also because of the way it is written you do not need an intimate knowledge of the world of Watch Dogs to enjoy this one so if you like a sprinkle of cyber punk, a lot of action and a good thriller this one is most definitely for you!
June 14, 2023
Watch Dogs: Legion takes players into a dystopian London, dropping them into the shoes of hackers from the organization known as DedSec. The masked hackers have a twofold goal: clear their name of the terrorist attacks for which they've been accused, and free the public from the Big Brother-ish influence of Albion.
If you're not aware of any of this as you begin Cold Reboot, that's fine—Robbie MacNiven skillfully spins out the game's lore as you read on. Besides which, this book steps outside London, taking the fight to Germany and its own tangled web of hacktivist groups. At the center of this web is Freya Bauer, a DedSec hacker attempting to leave the job behind and settle into her role as single mom to a newly-minted college student.
But, of course, it's never that easy. DedSec comes knocking with an offer she can't refuse: head to Berlin for one last job, after which she'll be allowed to hang up her mask for good. Her ex-husband, fellow DedSec member Will, has been made the same offer. But as the two partner up for a farewell gig, Freya's past catches up to her. The same killer who took out her father years ago has set his sights on the rest of the Bauers. And it will take groups inside and outside DedSec, in both Berlin and London, to keep Freya and her loved ones safe.
Cold Reboot spreads itself thin in terms of action and characters, but maintains its integrity even so. For an outsider to the games like myself, it was an easy, engaging read. The history of the various hacker groups, Albion, and Zero Day were sufficiently explained, as were the equipment and aesthetics of the setting. Impressively, no characters feel especially overlooked. Freya and Will get their fair dues, as do the villainous Kaiser and Teuton... an important task as the story races to its action-packed finale.
The highlight of the book, though, is the team of Helen Dashwood and Harriet Park. The brilliant pensioner hacktivist and her college-age, cat-ear-wearing protégé were an enchanting addition to the story. It seems these two are DLC characters in the game itself—meaning fans of the games will get to see the pair working in tandem. It's a match made in heaven, and their presence does a lot for the book's B-plot.
Even if you're not into the Watch Dogs games, Cold Reboot is an exciting, intriguing read. It was a delight to see the character of Freya—who seemed positioned to be a stereotypical Hollywood Strong Female—handled well. New readers don't have to fear getting lost in the jumble of game references, but I also get the sense that game fans will get a lot out of it. As ever, Aconyte shows itself to be a master of approachable tie-in books: approachable for everyone, and perhaps even a gateway for potential fans.
If you're not aware of any of this as you begin Cold Reboot, that's fine—Robbie MacNiven skillfully spins out the game's lore as you read on. Besides which, this book steps outside London, taking the fight to Germany and its own tangled web of hacktivist groups. At the center of this web is Freya Bauer, a DedSec hacker attempting to leave the job behind and settle into her role as single mom to a newly-minted college student.
But, of course, it's never that easy. DedSec comes knocking with an offer she can't refuse: head to Berlin for one last job, after which she'll be allowed to hang up her mask for good. Her ex-husband, fellow DedSec member Will, has been made the same offer. But as the two partner up for a farewell gig, Freya's past catches up to her. The same killer who took out her father years ago has set his sights on the rest of the Bauers. And it will take groups inside and outside DedSec, in both Berlin and London, to keep Freya and her loved ones safe.
Cold Reboot spreads itself thin in terms of action and characters, but maintains its integrity even so. For an outsider to the games like myself, it was an easy, engaging read. The history of the various hacker groups, Albion, and Zero Day were sufficiently explained, as were the equipment and aesthetics of the setting. Impressively, no characters feel especially overlooked. Freya and Will get their fair dues, as do the villainous Kaiser and Teuton... an important task as the story races to its action-packed finale.
The highlight of the book, though, is the team of Helen Dashwood and Harriet Park. The brilliant pensioner hacktivist and her college-age, cat-ear-wearing protégé were an enchanting addition to the story. It seems these two are DLC characters in the game itself—meaning fans of the games will get to see the pair working in tandem. It's a match made in heaven, and their presence does a lot for the book's B-plot.
Even if you're not into the Watch Dogs games, Cold Reboot is an exciting, intriguing read. It was a delight to see the character of Freya—who seemed positioned to be a stereotypical Hollywood Strong Female—handled well. New readers don't have to fear getting lost in the jumble of game references, but I also get the sense that game fans will get a lot out of it. As ever, Aconyte shows itself to be a master of approachable tie-in books: approachable for everyone, and perhaps even a gateway for potential fans.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews