Erik

Bottom line up front: This is solid young adult fiction that can be enjoyed by older readers. I can recommend it as I did enjoy the story.

The book does, however, use many of the tools used in the Harry Potter series. Kids separated from the adults, a grandfather figure, magic (in this case very advanced technology), etc. If you can accept this and not let it impede your experience, then you should be able to appreciate the imaginative aspects of this book.

The narrator was well matched to the work and put in a solid performance. This series should find a following in it's target audience, and it deserves to.

This true story would make a great horror movie. Sometimes life is more bizarre than fiction.

This a short story, so won't take up much of your time. Every minute you spend, however, is worth it. The author methodically lays out the background of the events that took place and describes, without undue graphical description, the events that led to more than 8 men allowing themselves to being restrained and murdered by one demented Captain.

Ms Dobson did a very good job of narrating the book, but her pace could have been a bit faster. Perhaps that's just me.

Highly recommended if you enjoy quirky historical stories, and even more so if you enjoy sea stories.

...this story seemed underdeveloped.

I understand that short stories can be challenging and are often used to lay the groundwork for a larger novel later. In this case, there was so many underdeveloped aspects that I believe it would best be made into a larger work.

The basic premise of children growing up in isolation but parented by a virtual reality machine has so much potential. Even the unethical scientists have their own story to be told.

So, do I recommend this? Yes, if you want to explore a neat concept. No, if you're looking for something with more depth.

I picked this up in a sale, so my expectations were low. Detective stories aren't my forte, but I like to mix things up occasionally. In this case, I was pleasantly surprised.

Some of the technological changes since this book was written (cell phones, modern computers, etc.) are glaring, but the overall story is compelling enough. The characters are solid and the narration matched very well. Of course, there is some formula writing here (why must the hero always sleep with the attractive co-worker?), but the story is good enough that it overcomes the predictability.

So, give this book a try. You find that you've discovered a new series worth following.

Perhaps I've been spoiled by better "Swords and Sandals" stories, but this book seemed very linear and uninspiring. It would appeal to the teenage male demographic, but the basic premise of a young man who seeks revenge was not very rousing.

I also found the premise of vengeance a bit one sided. The entire story was based on the punitive expedition to avenge the defeat of a Roman Army. The fact that this army was itself an invasive force doesn't get in the way of exterminating women and children in their quest for "justice".

The underlying theme of "Roman Good - other bad/inferior" started to wear thin. Every other warrior was inferior in all aspects to the Romans. Unfortunately the narrator, while adequate, wasn't able to breath enough life into this story.

Do I recommend this book? Well, I won't clearly speak against it, but there are better works in this genre out there.

Having read other works by Larry Correia, I expected anti-government rhetoric, machismo, and detailed descriptions of weapons, but this book brought in a new element, and that was a group of protagonists so despicable that you wanted them to get killed as much as the bad guys. Having a hero that is tainted is not a new concept, but in this case, mercenaries with a history of murder, extortion, and war crimes made it hard to cheer on the main characters.

The narration was also a bit odd. It took a while for me to understand the method being used by Mr. Pinochet. Over all though, I felt it could have been read at a faster pace.

In summary, the book did entertain me and it wasn't a wasted credit. I would place this in the middle of the "to read" list if you enjoy Larry Correia's other works.

A great combination of classic Bond narrated by Simon Vance, who works his magic here in bringing the story to life.

If you've never read the original stories, do yourself a favor and get this audio book. I find the books far superior to the Hollywood versions.

I looked forward to reading this book, and it didn't disappoint. One of the indicators I use to rate book is if I think on the story after I am finished. This book was one of those stories where I found myself reflecting back on it for a few days, so it made an impression on me.

Some of the other reviewers have placed this in the horror genre, while others place it in the fantasy category. I'm not sure where to place it. Is it a story told about how a child perceived parts of his childhood? Is it about being that really did exist in the story? I guess that's up to each audience.

The story itself is very engaging, but does require a good imagination. I wouldn't recommend this to a die hard non-fiction fan. If you're open minded, enjoy the mystical, and like alternate realities, then this story will appeal to you.

As a final note, the author id a very good job of narrating the work. Often times self narration can be unremarkable, but in this instance the reading complimented the story quite well.

Well worth a credit!

Having thoroughly enjoyed "Bloody Jack", I quickly jumped at the chance to read this book when I saw it on sale.

Bottom line up front: It's a good story, but not as good as "Bloody Jack". This may be unfair, given how solid the first of the series was, but I think it is an accurate assessment.

While Bloody Jack would be more gender neutral, specifically in that it could be enjoyed by all sexes, I think this story moves firmly into the female domain. In this regard, it gives young girls a solid heroine to follow and end enjoy. This isn't to say the story isn't fast paced and enjoyable, but I think it won't appeal to as broad of an audience.

Outside of gender categorization, the story itself isn't quite as engaging as "Bloody Jack". There's still lots of excitement, and the story provides a great illustration of the prejudices suffered by females two hundred years ago, but it isn't as gripping as the inaugural book.

Katherine Kellgren remains one of the best narrators out there, and her performance here is flawless. She really brings the story to life and her performance itself is worth purchasing the audio version.

I can highly recommend this to the YA audience, especially females, but it also worthy of a listen by a more mature reader.

This book has been on my "to read" list for many years and I wish I would have read it earlier. It is an essential work to understanding WWI, and in particular the opening moves by all belligerents that led to the following 4 years of bloodshed.

Even more important, however, is how the book illustrates the massive egos and ambitions of the elites in society that ultimately led millions to their ultimate demise. For this alone, the book is a "must read", so that we may go into the future better armed with the knowledge of the potential weaknesses of the ruling classes.

The author did a fantastic job of piecing together the myriad facets of the start of WWI. She did so in a well paced and interesting manner. This is something that not many could have done with such apparent ease. The narrator, did a superb job in reading the story, but i felt she could have picked up the pace slightly so as to work through the massive story more quickly. This, however, is minor criticism.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WWI or an interest in how the nature of the ruling elites can lead to disaster.

I can't really say much more. A novel that garnered multiple awards for one of America's top authors, paired with one of the best narrators in the business. This book sells itself.

My only criticism is one that is common to "high literature", and one that concerns over descriptive sentences. There are many occurrences of similes used to paint a picture of another simile in this book. That's a pretty picky point to raise, and it's a point you can easily get over as you listen to the story.

So, if you haven't read this book yet, what are you waiting for?