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fbone's review against another edition
4.0
This was interesting but thought it fell short of its potential. Much of the story line was left unfinished so I expect (and hope) a sequel to appear in the future. The author is a genetics researcher so maybe he will incorporate that into his next book. A few sudden conveniences to explain the unbelievable. Competent writing skill on the YA side.
I see there may be a sequel expected May 2017. I'll definitely put it on my TBR list.
Update: After reading The Island Deception, the second in the series, I decided to increase my rating to four stars.
I see there may be a sequel expected May 2017. I'll definitely put it on my TBR list.
Update: After reading The Island Deception, the second in the series, I decided to increase my rating to four stars.
tfrohock's review against another edition
4.0
If you're a bit overwhelmed by the world right now, and the grimdark seems a bit too dark, I want to recommend The Rogue Retrieval, because Koboldt's story is the perfect "take me away from the real world" novel.
Quinn Bradley is trying to win his spot on the Vegas strip when he is offered a job he can't refuse. Corporate espionage, a true fantasy setting, and a likeable cast of characters make this a fast and enjoyable read. Although the story is light, in no way does it become trite. Koboldt keeps a firm grip on the characters, their relationships, and the story with a tight, rollicking adventure filled with humor, magic, and fun.
Quinn Bradley is trying to win his spot on the Vegas strip when he is offered a job he can't refuse. Corporate espionage, a true fantasy setting, and a likeable cast of characters make this a fast and enjoyable read. Although the story is light, in no way does it become trite. Koboldt keeps a firm grip on the characters, their relationships, and the story with a tight, rollicking adventure filled with humor, magic, and fun.
laura_hippos's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book when taking care of a newborn. It definitely helped make those long nights fly by faster!
jlennidorner's review against another edition
4.0
This book is magic realism and portal fantasy. It takes place in our current time. The main character is a performer in Las Vegas who is very good at stage magic. He's recruited to go on a journey, which is all very secretive, and leads him through a portal to another world where there is real magic, which he might have (it's likely but not proven beyond the shadow of a doubt in this first book).
I admit that I had very high expectations going in. Do I know Dan? No, not personally. But he did defeat me in a WriteClub battle a few years ago. (A well-deserved win. That short story was fantastic. He ended up as the champion that year.) I'm glad to see his stories, characters, and worlds in print.
This story had a bit more technical knowledge than I'm used to reading. (Which, if you like lots of details about weapons and fighting, you'd love this.) There were some lines that I didn't understand the purpose of the explanation (example: "the stone was as solid as he could have wanted"), but that is probably more to do with me than anything else.
My favorite part, due to the humor in an action scene:
"He's not a (*spoiler)."
"I figured that out when I saw his submachine gun."
The last 30% percent of the book is worth five stars. That's when everything is established, the story really picks up the pace, and the twists start slamming in.
I admit that I had very high expectations going in. Do I know Dan? No, not personally. But he did defeat me in a WriteClub battle a few years ago. (A well-deserved win. That short story was fantastic. He ended up as the champion that year.) I'm glad to see his stories, characters, and worlds in print.
This story had a bit more technical knowledge than I'm used to reading. (Which, if you like lots of details about weapons and fighting, you'd love this.) There were some lines that I didn't understand the purpose of the explanation (example: "the stone was as solid as he could have wanted"), but that is probably more to do with me than anything else.
My favorite part, due to the humor in an action scene:
"He's not a (*spoiler)."
"I figured that out when I saw his submachine gun."
The last 30% percent of the book is worth five stars. That's when everything is established, the story really picks up the pace, and the twists start slamming in.
etoiline's review against another edition
4.0
Disclosure: I've met the author as part of my role as the Municipal Liaison for the St. Louis NaNoWriMo region. I received the book as a free digital ARC via Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
THE ROGUE RETRIEVAL brings the magic of the stage together with magic of the world. Quinn is a stage magician about to get his big break in Vegas when he's approached with a very strange job offer. The world of Alissia lies just on the other side of a portal, and a megacorporation has been studying it for over a decade. They need his help to recover one of their people who has gone rogue, because Quinn would be an unknown to the man gone missing. Oh, and magic exists in Alissia, so they need their own magician. But it's not going to be easy, especially since impersonating a true magician carries a death sentence.
It's fun to see the juxtaposition of illusions or sufficiently advanced science against true magic. Alissia is a well-developed world, and has many secrets, quite a few of which aren't revealed, so there's plenty left for other books in the series. I'm a sucker for magic, stage or actual, and I always want to know how it works--it doesn't ruin the effect for me, so I would have liked to have known how Quinn does some of his more spectacular tricks that the R&D guys at the megacorp didn't have a hand in developing (and I want to know how long they worked on that laser sword). Quinn finds something about himself in Alissia, which I would definitely like to know more about!
There's good gender representation in this novel, which made me happy. The commander of the mission to retrieve the rogue is a woman, and the science officer is a female POC (huzzah!). It just goes to show you that diversity is possible in fantasy! It's an unfortunate fact that most people's default character design is a white male, so why not give readers a chance to change that setting?
I felt like the ending was a little rushed, with a great big aerial battle that I had a little trouble picturing in my mind. But the story wraps up nicely while leaving plenty of room for a sequel. Also, I would like some Valteroni Gold now.
This book started life as a NaNoWriMo novel, so it just goes to show you that actual published books DO come from this writing program. I better get writing on mine!
THE ROGUE RETRIEVAL brings the magic of the stage together with magic of the world. Quinn is a stage magician about to get his big break in Vegas when he's approached with a very strange job offer. The world of Alissia lies just on the other side of a portal, and a megacorporation has been studying it for over a decade. They need his help to recover one of their people who has gone rogue, because Quinn would be an unknown to the man gone missing. Oh, and magic exists in Alissia, so they need their own magician. But it's not going to be easy, especially since impersonating a true magician carries a death sentence.
It's fun to see the juxtaposition of illusions or sufficiently advanced science against true magic. Alissia is a well-developed world, and has many secrets, quite a few of which aren't revealed, so there's plenty left for other books in the series. I'm a sucker for magic, stage or actual, and I always want to know how it works--it doesn't ruin the effect for me, so I would have liked to have known how Quinn does some of his more spectacular tricks that the R&D guys at the megacorp didn't have a hand in developing (and I want to know how long they worked on that laser sword). Quinn finds something about himself in Alissia, which I would definitely like to know more about!
There's good gender representation in this novel, which made me happy. The commander of the mission to retrieve the rogue is a woman, and the science officer is a female POC (huzzah!). It just goes to show you that diversity is possible in fantasy! It's an unfortunate fact that most people's default character design is a white male, so why not give readers a chance to change that setting?
I felt like the ending was a little rushed, with a great big aerial battle that I had a little trouble picturing in my mind. But the story wraps up nicely while leaving plenty of room for a sequel. Also, I would like some Valteroni Gold now.
This book started life as a NaNoWriMo novel, so it just goes to show you that actual published books DO come from this writing program. I better get writing on mine!
heathertruett's review against another edition
5.0
Mercedes Lackey meets military suspense... plus a witty Vegas magician.
Do I have to say more?
Do I have to say more?
fbone's review
4.0
This was interesting but thought it fell short of its potential. Much of the story line was left unfinished so I expect (and hope) a sequel to appear in the future. The author is a genetics researcher so maybe he will incorporate that into his next book. A few sudden conveniences to explain the unbelievable. Competent writing skill on the YA side.
I see there may be a sequel expected May 2017. I'll definitely put it on my TBR list.
Update: After reading The Island Deception, the second in the series, I decided to increase my rating to four stars.
I see there may be a sequel expected May 2017. I'll definitely put it on my TBR list.
Update: After reading The Island Deception, the second in the series, I decided to increase my rating to four stars.
kilbourneknight's review
5.0
Contrary to popular belief, what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas. In fact, in Dan Koboldt’s debut science fantasy The Rogue Retrieval, what happens in Vegas ends up out of this world.
Literally. A multinational corporation has discovered a portal to another world—Alissia. They’ve been sending in covert teams, led by scientist Richard Holt, to scout around and learn all about this new land—it’s left a bit to the reader’s imagination as to how they’re going to exploit this discovery. But Richard Holt has disappeared and his employer wants the rogue scientist retrieved before he can cause major headaches.
Enter Quinn Bradley, a second tier stage magician who’s positive he’s ready for the big time. He just doesn’t realize how big. When what he thinks is going to be an offer to headline a top casino turns out to be a mystery ‘offer he can’t refuse’, complete with strings attached, Quinn finds himself plunged into a top secret quest. As his reticent employers reveal all to little of what Quinn’s in for, he finds himself learning sword fighting techniques (don’t engage anyone older than 12, he’s told, or you’re a goner) and horsemanship. Alissia is a medieval culture, and while directing his employer in the creation of all major of technology-based illusions to dazzle the Alissians. Unfortunately, no one realizes there are actually true magicians in Alissia—and that to impersonate one is a mortal offense. Oops.
Dan Koboldt’s book is a merry blend of science and sorcery that's reminiscent of Christopher Stasheff’s marvelous The Warlock in Spite of Himself. And this comparison is not made lightly, for TWISOH is one of my all-time favorites. While I confess to not immediately taking a shine to Quinn, he grew on me as the story progressed, and by the end of the book I was definitely rooting for him. Quinn is no hero, and he darned well knows it. But he finds himself thrown into ever more dire situations which require him to be just that. It’s actually a lot of fun watching Quinn grow and change throughout the story arc.
Koboldt deftly blends humor, adventure, magic and mayhem into his science-cum-magic tale. In lesser hands this could have been a complete disaster, but Koboldt always seems to have one more trick up his sleeve, like Quinn, and The Rogue Retrieval is an engaging, well told, fast-paced tale that leaves the reader wanting more. There are a number of unresolved issues, and the ending pretty much guarantees that Quinn will have to pull himself out of a top hat for another engagement in Alissia.
Takeaway: 5 Stars--Highly Recommended.
Literally. A multinational corporation has discovered a portal to another world—Alissia. They’ve been sending in covert teams, led by scientist Richard Holt, to scout around and learn all about this new land—it’s left a bit to the reader’s imagination as to how they’re going to exploit this discovery. But Richard Holt has disappeared and his employer wants the rogue scientist retrieved before he can cause major headaches.
Enter Quinn Bradley, a second tier stage magician who’s positive he’s ready for the big time. He just doesn’t realize how big. When what he thinks is going to be an offer to headline a top casino turns out to be a mystery ‘offer he can’t refuse’, complete with strings attached, Quinn finds himself plunged into a top secret quest. As his reticent employers reveal all to little of what Quinn’s in for, he finds himself learning sword fighting techniques (don’t engage anyone older than 12, he’s told, or you’re a goner) and horsemanship. Alissia is a medieval culture, and while directing his employer in the creation of all major of technology-based illusions to dazzle the Alissians. Unfortunately, no one realizes there are actually true magicians in Alissia—and that to impersonate one is a mortal offense. Oops.
Dan Koboldt’s book is a merry blend of science and sorcery that's reminiscent of Christopher Stasheff’s marvelous The Warlock in Spite of Himself. And this comparison is not made lightly, for TWISOH is one of my all-time favorites. While I confess to not immediately taking a shine to Quinn, he grew on me as the story progressed, and by the end of the book I was definitely rooting for him. Quinn is no hero, and he darned well knows it. But he finds himself thrown into ever more dire situations which require him to be just that. It’s actually a lot of fun watching Quinn grow and change throughout the story arc.
Koboldt deftly blends humor, adventure, magic and mayhem into his science-cum-magic tale. In lesser hands this could have been a complete disaster, but Koboldt always seems to have one more trick up his sleeve, like Quinn, and The Rogue Retrieval is an engaging, well told, fast-paced tale that leaves the reader wanting more. There are a number of unresolved issues, and the ending pretty much guarantees that Quinn will have to pull himself out of a top hat for another engagement in Alissia.
Takeaway: 5 Stars--Highly Recommended.
primmlife's review
4.0
Fantastic portal fantasy that is driven by the characters. The trip to Alissia is worth your time.
vinayvasan's review
4.0
This turned out to be quite a fun book subtly drawing inspirations from a lot of sources but retaining enough charm to differentiate it from the others. Charming, I think, thats the word for this book. The characters are not very complex but are extremely charming and good humored. There is a vein of darkness but that's mostly hidden away to an extent.
The classic fish-out-of-water scenario heres involves a Vegas magician being hired by a large faceless corporation to hunt a rogue scientist who has gone missing in another world, a world fuedal in set up but containing magic. Which gives our unlikely lead a chance to get involved in things beyond his control, in a world where impersonating magicians could sentence you to death. Quick with his feet and words, Bradley Quinn tries to charm, wheedle and negotiate his way out of the situations that he manages to land and make worse. The supporting cast is also adequately covered and has great chemistry.
There is a nice easy pace to the book and a great comfort level from the way it is written, the moment you pick it up. There is hardly a dull moment in the book. The ending however seemed a bit too pat and rushed. At a point in the book, around 80%, I was resigned to a sequel given how things were going but surprisingly enough, the threads all converge together, if too conveniently to let you off with a decent resolution even if there are enough ancillary threads to make you want to visit the world if there are any sequels planned (Please let there be)
The classic fish-out-of-water scenario heres involves a Vegas magician being hired by a large faceless corporation to hunt a rogue scientist who has gone missing in another world, a world fuedal in set up but containing magic. Which gives our unlikely lead a chance to get involved in things beyond his control, in a world where impersonating magicians could sentence you to death. Quick with his feet and words, Bradley Quinn tries to charm, wheedle and negotiate his way out of the situations that he manages to land and make worse. The supporting cast is also adequately covered and has great chemistry.
There is a nice easy pace to the book and a great comfort level from the way it is written, the moment you pick it up. There is hardly a dull moment in the book. The ending however seemed a bit too pat and rushed. At a point in the book, around 80%, I was resigned to a sequel given how things were going but surprisingly enough, the threads all converge together, if too conveniently to let you off with a decent resolution even if there are enough ancillary threads to make you want to visit the world if there are any sequels planned (Please let there be)
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