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walford's review
3.0
An effort to stick with. But I'm glad I did. Very satisfying conclusion.
It's really not the same without Andrej. He experiences Matthews' world at its most extreme, and thus his situation is the most interesting.
Our protagonist here is Karol Vogel, who's a good guy and means well, while serving his Evil Empire and trying not to lose his soul in the process. But we know much less about him and his struggle than is revealed about Andrej in the other books of this series. So harder to care.
However, if you're a completist and love Matthews' work and wish she would write more, as I do, you must read this.
It's really not the same without Andrej. He experiences Matthews' world at its most extreme, and thus his situation is the most interesting.
Our protagonist here is Karol Vogel, who's a good guy and means well, while serving his Evil Empire and trying not to lose his soul in the process. But we know much less about him and his struggle than is revealed about Andrej in the other books of this series. So harder to care.
However, if you're a completist and love Matthews' work and wish she would write more, as I do, you must read this.
brownbetty's review
3.0
This book is so mystifying. I mean, on one level, it's perfectly competent milsf with all the markers: interest in ship movements, and rank, and vectors. On the other hand: WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE READING THIS?
Because a normal reader doesn't start with book three, they start with book one. And if you read [b:An Exchange of Hostages|144301|An Exchange of Hostages (Jurisdiction, #1)|Susan R. Matthews|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1172162879s/144301.jpg|139223], you got to about one third of the way through, went "HOLY SHIT, NOPE" and nope-octopused out of there as fast as your eight legs would carry you, or you went "HOLY SHIT YES" and bought the next five books. And this book will appeal to the first group.
So, if you are in the second group, and are reading The Jurisdiction series for the further fucked-up adventures of Andrej Koscuisko, there's nothing for you here. Koscuisko technically does appear in one scene, but it's a walk-on role which could have been done by an extra.
If you... don't want to read about self-loathing torturer who platonically kisses his slave-soldiers a lot, you can read this book? It has none of that?
What this book is actually about:The refugee ethnic group on this planet are being framed as terrorists by a group of religious extremists. Small band of refugees, LEOs, civilians, and gay monk(?) reveal plot, prevent genocide.
What is learned in this book about the Jurisdiction universe, which you might want to know if you skip it:
- As unofficial punishment for making trouble, Koscuisko has been put on the ship Ragnorak, whose captain is widely believed to have snapped.
- There is something called gonebeyond space which is outside of Jurisdiction territory.
- The Malcontent Koscuisko sometimes swears by has an order of gay outcast priests who are chaotic-good-to-neutral and go on secret missions.
- The Jurisdiction as experienced by your average citizen is pretty much a nice orderly place to live.
Because a normal reader doesn't start with book three, they start with book one. And if you read [b:An Exchange of Hostages|144301|An Exchange of Hostages (Jurisdiction, #1)|Susan R. Matthews|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1172162879s/144301.jpg|139223], you got to about one third of the way through, went "HOLY SHIT, NOPE" and nope-octopused out of there as fast as your eight legs would carry you, or you went "HOLY SHIT YES" and bought the next five books. And this book will appeal to the first group.
So, if you are in the second group, and are reading The Jurisdiction series for the further fucked-up adventures of Andrej Koscuisko, there's nothing for you here. Koscuisko technically does appear in one scene, but it's a walk-on role which could have been done by an extra.
If you... don't want to read about self-loathing torturer who platonically kisses his slave-soldiers a lot, you can read this book? It has none of that?
What this book is actually about:
What is learned in this book about the Jurisdiction universe, which you might want to know if you skip it:
- As unofficial punishment for making trouble, Koscuisko has been put on the ship Ragnorak, whose captain is widely believed to have snapped.
- There is something called gonebeyond space which is outside of Jurisdiction territory.
- The Malcontent Koscuisko sometimes swears by has an order of gay outcast priests who are chaotic-good-to-neutral and go on secret missions.
- The Jurisdiction as experienced by your average citizen is pretty much a nice orderly place to live.
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