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caitcoy's review
2.0
While I wasn't a big fan of the first volume of this series, I ended up reading this for a review series which required reading the entire series. I don't think Eclipse is the worst series I've ever read but I think it has some serious flaws.
In this second volume, David Baxter and Rose AKA Cielo (probably just gonna stick with Rose for the purposes of this review) Brandt have dealt with the serial killer that hunted Rose. Unfortunately, the issue doesn't end there. Rose doesn't feel safe, nor should she, and so she goes investigating in the Underground while Baxter is assigned to check out some shady dealings in the wastelands.
Happily, many of the flaws that annoyed me in the first volume were at least lessened in this one. There's less vague, scientific "who even knows?" type narrative comments by the main characters. Unfortunately, they're not a whole lot more compelling. My main issue with both main characters in the first volume was that neither is terribly interesting. Rose is a semi-rebellious eighteen year old who spends a lot of her time running away or being confused by things. Sure, she's been a sheltered kid but most people have a bit more in terms of motivations or personalities, even if they haven't seen terrible things all their lives (as she pretty clearly has). Baxter is the typical heroic character who is the sole good person who made some choices in the past that haunt them. Beyond the tragic loss of his wife and kid, there isn't much to him. Neither of those things really changes in this volume. Both characters remain "good guys" even among the corruption that surrounds them but I never really cared if they lived or died.
The story certainly improved as more of the background of the company Solarity and the Brandt family in general is revealed but it still feels too much like a standard dystopian evil company story. I'm frustrated that the series has a relatively interesting concept and just can't deliver a tone that feels original. If you like environmental disaster turned dystopia stories, you may enjoy it more than I did. As it is, I'm unsure of whether I'll continue reading this series to see if it improves.
In this second volume, David Baxter and Rose AKA Cielo (probably just gonna stick with Rose for the purposes of this review) Brandt have dealt with the serial killer that hunted Rose. Unfortunately, the issue doesn't end there. Rose doesn't feel safe, nor should she, and so she goes investigating in the Underground while Baxter is assigned to check out some shady dealings in the wastelands.
Happily, many of the flaws that annoyed me in the first volume were at least lessened in this one. There's less vague, scientific "who even knows?" type narrative comments by the main characters. Unfortunately, they're not a whole lot more compelling. My main issue with both main characters in the first volume was that neither is terribly interesting. Rose is a semi-rebellious eighteen year old who spends a lot of her time running away or being confused by things. Sure, she's been a sheltered kid but most people have a bit more in terms of motivations or personalities, even if they haven't seen terrible things all their lives (as she pretty clearly has). Baxter is the typical heroic character who is the sole good person who made some choices in the past that haunt them. Beyond the tragic loss of his wife and kid, there isn't much to him. Neither of those things really changes in this volume. Both characters remain "good guys" even among the corruption that surrounds them but I never really cared if they lived or died.
The story certainly improved as more of the background of the company Solarity and the Brandt family in general is revealed but it still feels too much like a standard dystopian evil company story. I'm frustrated that the series has a relatively interesting concept and just can't deliver a tone that feels original. If you like environmental disaster turned dystopia stories, you may enjoy it more than I did. As it is, I'm unsure of whether I'll continue reading this series to see if it improves.
joshgauthier's review
5.0
I continue to love this series. The art is great, the story is complex, the characters are interesting, and there's enough continued mystery to keep the plot moving forward at a good, quick pace.
There were a couple moments in this volume where it felt like things could have been explained a touch more clearly (and other such nit-picky issues) but I very consistently enjoyed reading this and look forward to seeing where it goes in the next installment.
There were a couple moments in this volume where it felt like things could have been explained a touch more clearly (and other such nit-picky issues) but I very consistently enjoyed reading this and look forward to seeing where it goes in the next installment.
eagereyes's review
4.0
Pretty well constructed, with looks back interweaves with current action. I like the drawing style and the story is moving nicely and is pretty interesting.
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