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pjonsson's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the first in a new spin-off series (The Lost Stars) from Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series. I quite enjoyed The Lost Fleet series and, so far, it looks like I will enjoy this series as well.
I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant at first given that this series, to some extent, deals with a view from the side of the bad guys in the previous books. I usually never find that kind of story as amusing to read since I am always somewhat biased by the fact that the previous books, if they were any good, have instilled a certain animosity towards these guys in me.
One issue I had with The Lost Fleet series was the politics and bickering by useless commanders who thought the military was some kind of democracy and even their own political playground. This was another thing that I was afraid might be the case with this book since the two main characters obviously was not exactly going to be best buddies from the start.
Luckily none of my fears came true, at least not true enough to be a problem. I found the book quite enjoyable. Maybe not as enjoyable as the best of the Lost Fleet books but nonetheless, quite enjoyable.
It becomes quite clear from the start that the two main characters, Drakon and Iceni, are not Syndicate goons and wants nothing more to do with the Syndicate government. There are quite a bit of politics, mistrust and some behind the back scheming in the book but it is well managed in the plot and, unlike the plonkers in some of the Lost Fleet books, these two people are skilled professionals who are victims of a corrupt and totalitarian system.
Both of them struggle to trust other people, something which could not be done during the Syndicate rule, at the same time as they are trying to hold together and defend the star system that they have wrestled out of the syndicate hands.
There is of course a reasonable amount of action both on the ground and in space. As usual the author creates believable physics and, consequently, believable battles between space ships.
It’s definitely a good start. I’m looking forward to read the continuation of this and I hope the author manages to keep a balance between the politics and the real action. With this opening salvo it can go either way and personally, I would vote for the action and not so much for the politics as usual.
I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant at first given that this series, to some extent, deals with a view from the side of the bad guys in the previous books. I usually never find that kind of story as amusing to read since I am always somewhat biased by the fact that the previous books, if they were any good, have instilled a certain animosity towards these guys in me.
One issue I had with The Lost Fleet series was the politics and bickering by useless commanders who thought the military was some kind of democracy and even their own political playground. This was another thing that I was afraid might be the case with this book since the two main characters obviously was not exactly going to be best buddies from the start.
Luckily none of my fears came true, at least not true enough to be a problem. I found the book quite enjoyable. Maybe not as enjoyable as the best of the Lost Fleet books but nonetheless, quite enjoyable.
It becomes quite clear from the start that the two main characters, Drakon and Iceni, are not Syndicate goons and wants nothing more to do with the Syndicate government. There are quite a bit of politics, mistrust and some behind the back scheming in the book but it is well managed in the plot and, unlike the plonkers in some of the Lost Fleet books, these two people are skilled professionals who are victims of a corrupt and totalitarian system.
Both of them struggle to trust other people, something which could not be done during the Syndicate rule, at the same time as they are trying to hold together and defend the star system that they have wrestled out of the syndicate hands.
There is of course a reasonable amount of action both on the ground and in space. As usual the author creates believable physics and, consequently, believable battles between space ships.
It’s definitely a good start. I’m looking forward to read the continuation of this and I hope the author manages to keep a balance between the politics and the real action. With this opening salvo it can go either way and personally, I would vote for the action and not so much for the politics as usual.
mferrante83's review against another edition
3.0
Tarnished Knight marks the first book outside of Jack Campbell’s two Lost Fleet series. Part of a new subseries entitled The Lost Stars, The Tarnished Knight, is Campbells first work to feature protagonists not from the Alliance worlds. Picking just before the Alliance fleet arrives in the Midway star system (I believe it was in Dreadnaught) this novel features two former Syndicate CEOs Artur Drakon, and Gwen Iceni. The two CEOs, having formed a tenuous alliance, have hatched a plan to overthrow the Syndicate security forces in their system and take control of Midway. Assuming you’ve read Dreadnaught you know that their initial coup succeeds but Tarnished Knight delves deeper into the shaky alliance between these two individuals and the actions they had to take to ensure the safety of the people of Midway and the strength of their own positions.
From the get go Tarnished Knight is going to draw comparisons to Campbell’s other Lost Fleet series. This is not necessarily the best comparison to make since unlike the majority of the Lost Fleet series Tarnished Knight is much more about the politics and government than it is about military action. We, the readers, have been told (and seen demonstrated) countless times over the course of the Lost Fleet series just what kinds of people the Syndicate Worlds have placed in charge and it is in Tarnished Knight that we get to seem people who defy established conventions; at least to an extent.
While Campbell has never provided an inside look at how the core Syndicate Worlds work through the two protagonists seen in Tarnished Knight readers can quite easily draw some conclusions about several things. The level of distrust between Iceni and Drakon ties into the emphasis on personal power that the title CEO has come to represent. Countless times over the course of the novel the seeds of distrust are expressed by both characters and are frequently enhanced by their subordinates. The level of fear and mistrust that must exist in the Syndicate Worlds is palpable over the course of the novel and the way both Iceni and Drakon walk a thin line in trying to be something more that a Syndicate CEO, they even change their titles to President and General, while struggling against the type of cutthroat brutality ingrained by their past is both interesting and engaging.
At many times over the course of the novel watching Iceni and Drakon emerge from the yoke of Syndicate rule is like watching a newborn calf take its first stumbling steps. Except for this calf those missteps end in assassination and murder. Nowhere is this more evident than in Iceni’s and Drakon’s opinion of the judicial system. To them it is a tool of CEOs, a thing meant to punish, their version of the law all that matters. It is fascinating to watch the bafflement when the notion of actual justice is brought up. There is another wonderful moment in the novel when, in a somewhat candid conversation, Drakon and Iceni try to imagine who or what they might be had they not grown up in the Syndicate Worlds and find themselves with a rather depressing shortage of answers.
Tarnished Knight is not without its stumbling blocks. The novel feels like it meanders and while there is some action over the course of the novel it doesn’t quite engage the same way that the Lost Fleet novel do. Tarnished Knight is a book targeted more at Campbell’s establish reader base and I don’t think that someone picking this book up at random would enjoy it though Campbell does provide enough background that new readers could definitely grasp what was going. Character relationships remain a bit of a problem for Campbell, particularly when it comes to romance, there is an awkward almost adolescent feel to the realtionships that often feels a bit forced.
Overall I enjoyed my times with Tarnished Knight. While it didn’t grab me with fervent need to plow forward it provided a consistent and entertaining read that served as a mid-meal snack during the wait for the next new Lost Fleet novel; in fact the ending of Tarnished Knight leads directly into that next novel. All in all I’m definitely looking forward to more novels in the Lost Stars series and it will be interesting to see if Campbell continues with the characters seen here or moves to a different system all together. While I can’t honestly recommend Tarnished Knight to Campbell newbies I can say that long-term fans of Campbell’s Lost Fleet series should find a lot to like in this interesting diversion.
From the get go Tarnished Knight is going to draw comparisons to Campbell’s other Lost Fleet series. This is not necessarily the best comparison to make since unlike the majority of the Lost Fleet series Tarnished Knight is much more about the politics and government than it is about military action. We, the readers, have been told (and seen demonstrated) countless times over the course of the Lost Fleet series just what kinds of people the Syndicate Worlds have placed in charge and it is in Tarnished Knight that we get to seem people who defy established conventions; at least to an extent.
While Campbell has never provided an inside look at how the core Syndicate Worlds work through the two protagonists seen in Tarnished Knight readers can quite easily draw some conclusions about several things. The level of distrust between Iceni and Drakon ties into the emphasis on personal power that the title CEO has come to represent. Countless times over the course of the novel the seeds of distrust are expressed by both characters and are frequently enhanced by their subordinates. The level of fear and mistrust that must exist in the Syndicate Worlds is palpable over the course of the novel and the way both Iceni and Drakon walk a thin line in trying to be something more that a Syndicate CEO, they even change their titles to President and General, while struggling against the type of cutthroat brutality ingrained by their past is both interesting and engaging.
At many times over the course of the novel watching Iceni and Drakon emerge from the yoke of Syndicate rule is like watching a newborn calf take its first stumbling steps. Except for this calf those missteps end in assassination and murder. Nowhere is this more evident than in Iceni’s and Drakon’s opinion of the judicial system. To them it is a tool of CEOs, a thing meant to punish, their version of the law all that matters. It is fascinating to watch the bafflement when the notion of actual justice is brought up. There is another wonderful moment in the novel when, in a somewhat candid conversation, Drakon and Iceni try to imagine who or what they might be had they not grown up in the Syndicate Worlds and find themselves with a rather depressing shortage of answers.
Tarnished Knight is not without its stumbling blocks. The novel feels like it meanders and while there is some action over the course of the novel it doesn’t quite engage the same way that the Lost Fleet novel do. Tarnished Knight is a book targeted more at Campbell’s establish reader base and I don’t think that someone picking this book up at random would enjoy it though Campbell does provide enough background that new readers could definitely grasp what was going. Character relationships remain a bit of a problem for Campbell, particularly when it comes to romance, there is an awkward almost adolescent feel to the realtionships that often feels a bit forced.
Overall I enjoyed my times with Tarnished Knight. While it didn’t grab me with fervent need to plow forward it provided a consistent and entertaining read that served as a mid-meal snack during the wait for the next new Lost Fleet novel; in fact the ending of Tarnished Knight leads directly into that next novel. All in all I’m definitely looking forward to more novels in the Lost Stars series and it will be interesting to see if Campbell continues with the characters seen here or moves to a different system all together. While I can’t honestly recommend Tarnished Knight to Campbell newbies I can say that long-term fans of Campbell’s Lost Fleet series should find a lot to like in this interesting diversion.
erinequalspeace's review against another edition
I picked up this book for free at San Diego Comic-Con. I was unfamiliar with this author and his previous series set in the same world.
It moves pretty quickly, although the plot is basically just a series of military maneuvers. Sort of Tom Clancy in space.
If that's your jam, check this out, but perhaps start with the first series.
It moves pretty quickly, although the plot is basically just a series of military maneuvers. Sort of Tom Clancy in space.
If that's your jam, check this out, but perhaps start with the first series.
thestarman's review
2.0
Book 1 in series. Military SF starring 2 former 'bad' guys (ex-Syndicate CEOs) who are tossed into the role of protectors. They face a myriad of new challenges, including the evil Syndicate proper--still reeling from an a$$-whupping, but not to be underestimated.
Better than I expected, but not a full 3 stars for me. The characters are a bit stiff, as usual. The action bits were enjoyable if too brief. There's never any doubt these new heroes will overcome, which takes away from any real suspense.
As with most Campbell books, I sped-read to the action bits or the more interesting dialogues. The tiresome worship of 'BlackJack' Geary continues, even though he's not seen in this particular book.
VERDICT: ~2.5 for me, or 3 to 4 if you dig military SF.
Would I read Books 2+ in this series? Maybe.
Better than I expected, but not a full 3 stars for me. The characters are a bit stiff, as usual. The action bits were enjoyable if too brief. There's never any doubt these new heroes will overcome, which takes away from any real suspense.
As with most Campbell books, I sped-read to the action bits or the more interesting dialogues. The tiresome worship of 'BlackJack' Geary continues, even though he's not seen in this particular book.
VERDICT: ~2.5 for me, or 3 to 4 if you dig military SF.
Would I read Books 2+ in this series? Maybe.
istiel's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Torture
bobf2d33's review against another edition
4.0
This starts a new series of novels set in Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series universe. The series itself is one the best in the military SF genre - I would highly recommend it. This particular book is not as good as the prior in that the main characters are not as "attractive" as the characters in the Lost Fleet novels. However I will read each new novel in the series as it comes out.
lindalou's review against another edition
2.0
Not liking this as much as the original Lost Fleet series. The characters and relationships was not given attention compared to the action scenes.
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
3.0
While set in the same universe as Lost Fleet, this is a similar sort of tale told from the opposing side, the syndicated worlds. So we get a different view of Geary and his fleet, and an entirely different set of issues. And yet still we have characters who convey volumes with a look or a muscle twitch. So really it's more of the same, just themed differently!
I actually liked the overlapping nature of this and the previous few books. It links in well, especially when I followed straight on from this into Guardian, another Lost Fleet tale. So where previously we saw a thin slice of some new, key, Syndic characters, here we get the full deal.
I actually liked the overlapping nature of this and the previous few books. It links in well, especially when I followed straight on from this into Guardian, another Lost Fleet tale. So where previously we saw a thin slice of some new, key, Syndic characters, here we get the full deal.
rajathon's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
4.0
This was a good book and the ground battles were very satisfying.