Mel’s Reviews > First Against the Wall > Status Update

Yes.

ETA: *hangs head* I didn't really mean that.

^^^^

Well, I'm sorry. It's not a bad story or anything, but this one seems to be a favorite for everyone and so far I'm just underwhelmed.
The whole story feels surreal. I know part of it is the plot, but I have trouble getting my head around how the Administration was overthrown successfully, how Carnac got to be the master mind and how Toreth thinks he's going to fix it all.

Besides that, the dialogues seem off. It seems like all the characters are really in their own heads and the dialogues only serve as a means of inner reflection, not as an interaction.
For instance, the bantering with Chevril seemed natural to me. The conversations with Warrick and Sara seem off.
There is very little of Warrick. He's a service character at this point.

Hope it gets better.

I think it will get better. I don't remember a lot of the details, but there is an EPIC scene towards the end that took my breath away with it's brilliance.

I hope you'll end up liking this one. It's still early...I think it'll turn itself around for you. :)

Thanks Susan :)

You are just trying to be a problem, aren't you?

It does get better. The beginning is all setup. There were hints of instability in Quid Pro Quo and then, in the published books, Ipsos Custodiet lets you into Carnac's intent to upset things. This revolution doesn't really happen out of the blue.

However, it's a pretty Toreth-centric book. Well, Toreth and Carnac. Warrick shines in the last third or so, but doesn't have much of a role until then. If you're a Warrick-only fan you might be disappointed.

Ha, you're one to say!

I'm not a Warrick-only fan. In fact, I have a slight preference for Toreth. I just want those both, and not feel like Warrick is just the wall Toreth is bouncing balls of off.