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lillanaa's review against another edition
5.0
This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this book definitely stepped up from the last. The characters finally feel like characters and not shallow stereotypes; I was especially impressed with Ting and M'Bari's character developments, becoming someone who you could actually understand being here. There's still a lot to work on with that side of things, definitely, but they're a heck of a lot more tolerable than they were in [b:Cry Pilot|43514595|Cry Pilot|Joel Dane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546995891l/43514595._SY75_.jpg|67677661].
The story, for what's it's worth, is making logical progression; small bases, to taking down the home field, to space. It makes sense as a way to up the ante without feeling forced. I'm also a fan of the fact that we know this is a trilogy along that line. It doesn't feel like the author is forced to up the ante again after the next book.
Ending each book with a relief moment also helps the story flow; tension is definitely built with every final line, but prior to that we get to actually wind down, have a moment of what feels like genuine rest before the characters are thrown into another major moment, something that's necessary and lacking in a lot of current longstanding series.
All in all, can't wait for the next one! The author is getting better book by book and I'm excited to continue this series.
I have to say, this book definitely stepped up from the last. The characters finally feel like characters and not shallow stereotypes; I was especially impressed with Ting and M'Bari's character developments, becoming someone who you could actually understand being here. There's still a lot to work on with that side of things, definitely, but they're a heck of a lot more tolerable than they were in [b:Cry Pilot|43514595|Cry Pilot|Joel Dane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546995891l/43514595._SY75_.jpg|67677661].
The story, for what's it's worth, is making logical progression; small bases, to taking down the home field, to space. It makes sense as a way to up the ante without feeling forced. I'm also a fan of the fact that we know this is a trilogy along that line. It doesn't feel like the author is forced to up the ante again after the next book.
Ending each book with a relief moment also helps the story flow; tension is definitely built with every final line, but prior to that we get to actually wind down, have a moment of what feels like genuine rest before the characters are thrown into another major moment, something that's necessary and lacking in a lot of current longstanding series.
All in all, can't wait for the next one! The author is getting better book by book and I'm excited to continue this series.
brian9teen's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
chromatick's review against another edition
4.0
Burn Cycle is the excellent follow up to the first book in the Cry Pilot trilogy. In a future earth that has experienced Armageddon because of bio-weapon wars we are left with a few large corporations trying to rebuild the world through terraforming. Unfortunately, sentient A.I. has other things in mind and continues to attack the world with eel like creatures called Lampreys.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
This story continues with the exploits of Anvil squad. A group of ex-criminals who now pilot mech units as the only hope to combat the remorts and the lampreys. There is some excellent action, some great world building, and another exciting climax to the book. I can't wait for book three to come out this summer.
could_be_better's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
contesauce's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, actually more than I did the first book. Don’t get me wrong, the first one was pretty great you can check my “review” of it there. This one was more to the meat of things. The first book was great but I felt like the stakes were much higher in this book. When people passed away it was shocking and painful because we’ve developed a longer relationship with them and been through so much with them. I have concerns for different characters for different reasons, as if they were real people. I worry about Tingting for completely different reasons than I worry about Cali, or Kaytu. There’s a dimension and depth to the characters I feel.
There were a lot of good ups and downs in this book that didn’t let it get stale. There were sub plots that kept good pace while the main plot was moving along. As always I couldn’t wait to get to the end and when the climax came I almost felt like it was here too soon. (My wife probably feels the same way more often than not, heyooo)
This is a great read honestly and I’m stoked as I start book 3. Honestly it ended in such a good place in book 2 that I could stop reading here, but I want to see what happens to the crew of course :) although I am worried about who will die off before this whole thing ends. I pray it’s not Tingting or Jag.
There were a lot of good ups and downs in this book that didn’t let it get stale. There were sub plots that kept good pace while the main plot was moving along. As always I couldn’t wait to get to the end and when the climax came I almost felt like it was here too soon. (My wife probably feels the same way more often than not, heyooo)
This is a great read honestly and I’m stoked as I start book 3. Honestly it ended in such a good place in book 2 that I could stop reading here, but I want to see what happens to the crew of course :) although I am worried about who will die off before this whole thing ends. I pray it’s not Tingting or Jag.
polarcubby's review
Finally! The painful slog through this book is over. I'll try book 3 but I don't have high hopes of being able to finish it.
colossal's review
4.0
In the next installment of this military SF series, Maseo Kaytu's success manually pairing with and piloting a CAV serves as the new strategy for the Earth's military against the lamprey remorts. The only problem is that the military have no idea that Kaytu's squad-mate Ting is a technopath and responsible for that pairing, and now Kaytu faces the problem of being the only Cry Pilot while the military try to pair people with CAVs. The problem is that the fate that awaits Ting if she's found out is truly horrible, but mankind may not survive at all unless the lampreys can be fought.
This was much better written than the first one, giving much of the descriptive text I was missing from that volume. There's also satisfactory answers for many of the mysteries of the first book as well as establishing even more depth to this dystopic future where loyalty to ones corporation is meant to trump everything else. It also goes a bit more in-depth into some of the social structures that exist both in and out of the military that are an interesting evolution from today's society. (I thought the use of the term "grim" to describe someone who wasn't the default bisexual and that it was treated as a slur was an interesting touch).
Now I'm really looking forward to the next book and I hope that it can sustain the level of quality that this one lifted to.
This was much better written than the first one, giving much of the descriptive text I was missing from that volume. There's also satisfactory answers for many of the mysteries of the first book as well as establishing even more depth to this dystopic future where loyalty to ones corporation is meant to trump everything else. It also goes a bit more in-depth into some of the social structures that exist both in and out of the military that are an interesting evolution from today's society. (I thought the use of the term "grim" to describe someone who wasn't the default bisexual and that it was treated as a slur was an interesting touch).
Now I'm really looking forward to the next book and I hope that it can sustain the level of quality that this one lifted to.
tome15's review
4.0
Dane, Joel. Burn Cycle. Cry Pilot No. 2. Ace, 2020.
Joel Dane is the nom de plume of an Army brat who grew up to be a bicoastal screenwriter and novelist. I also suspect he grew up playing first-person shooter videogames. Burn Cycle is a close sequel to Cry Pilot, and like its predecessor, it is straight-ahead military science fiction. A future earth city has been taken over by a nonhuman intelligence that seems intent on wiping out anyone it contacts. The action here involves small-unit, high-tech ground assault. The grunts don’t always trust their leaders, and they constantly worry that their tech has been hijacked. The character conflict is good enough that it inspired a positive review from C. J. Cherryh. One missed opportunity—we are told there are very advanced Ais, but Dane keeps them at a distance and never lets one become a character in its own right.
Joel Dane is the nom de plume of an Army brat who grew up to be a bicoastal screenwriter and novelist. I also suspect he grew up playing first-person shooter videogames. Burn Cycle is a close sequel to Cry Pilot, and like its predecessor, it is straight-ahead military science fiction. A future earth city has been taken over by a nonhuman intelligence that seems intent on wiping out anyone it contacts. The action here involves small-unit, high-tech ground assault. The grunts don’t always trust their leaders, and they constantly worry that their tech has been hijacked. The character conflict is good enough that it inspired a positive review from C. J. Cherryh. One missed opportunity—we are told there are very advanced Ais, but Dane keeps them at a distance and never lets one become a character in its own right.
cavergrrl's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5