This review is written with
a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede
all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing
without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at
WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission
Title: Empire’s Gambit
Series:
Empire Rising #13
Author: David Holmes
Rating:
3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: SF
Pages:
515
Words: 204K
Publish: 2022
Oh man, this was long. It felt long too. The main issue is that Holmes needs an editor to hack and slash and force him to write tighter. I’ve noted this in previous volumes, where he goes into world building detail mode and suddenly, 5 pages later, the scene ends but the story is still at the same exact place. World building should NOT be indulged in at the expense of the overall story pacing. With this being the thirteenth book in the series, I’m obviously not going to abandon it over this, but it is a continual little irritant to me. I’m sure there are other people out there who love it. Those people probably only read this series, or stuff just like it, so they don’t care. I do care however.
The other irritation is the flow of time. This one could very easily be on me and thus I’m not knocking any half stars off, but it really feels like almost no time has passed since the first book. I “know” it has, and events prove that (James losing his first wife, getting re-married, having a child, now having twins) but James feels exactly the same as Emperor as he did as the captain of a small ship. James’ voice hasn’t aged or changed. I think that is what I’m picking up on here. Other authors are guilty of this literary sin as well. Dean Koontz and his Odd Thomas. Terry Brooks and ANY of his Shannara characters. Dan Willis and his Alex Lockerby creation. A counter example would be Simon, from Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, Thorn epic fantasy trilogy. You get the idea. Once again, it’s not something I’m going to stop reading this series over, but it is a weakness.
This volumes ends the War of Doom with the karacknids. From the little chapter headers in previous books, I know there will be a second War of Doom plus other wars with even more insidious species. I also know there will be a civil war that almost tears the Empire apart. This is a good stopping place. I wondered, for several days, if I wanted to continue the series. Book 21 was just released in January, so there’s still a LOT of Empire Rising ahead of me if I want it. I decided that I will continue. I was not surprised by my own decision. As I’m sure you aren’t either.
I have been reading this series for over two years now. I read the first book (The Void War) back in February of ‘23. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If this series sounds like something you might enjoy, read my review and then for a 180degree difference, read Nancy’s Review. Between us, hopefully you can decide if starting this series would be good for you or not.
★★★✬☆
From the Publisher & Bookstooge
With no way to compete with the Karacknids’ superior numbers and industrial might, Emperor Somerville has proposed one final stratagem. The Allied fleet must strike right at the heart of the Karacknid empire in a last ditch effort to try and end the war. Yet to do so would mean venturing into the enemy’s most fortified systems and leaving the Allied worlds at the mercy of Tanaka-lan. Risking everything, James has no choice but to attempt the impossible. No sacrifice can be too great to save his people and his family.
James challenges the Imperator to a one on one duel, Imperator vs Emperor. James wins and the karacknids immediately fall back along clan lines and thus begins a civil war. This gives humanity and the Alliance a chance to regroup and begin recovery. Empress Christine also gives birth to twins, setting the stage for the next series of adventures in the Empire Rising chronicles.
No comments:
Post a Comment