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vingilot's review against another edition
5.0
The answers to many questions are within reach, but it will be one hell of a struggle to get them.
The race to the planet with all the answers is on, and it is going to be tight. The federation crosses the finish line first, but it does so by crashing into it and the race for answers becomes a desperate bid to merely survive till rescue. They might yet find some answers along the way though, including the face of the new mysterious enemy. In the meantime a new colony president is as stubborn as it gets putting her people in danger and Starfleet can't share how precarious their situation truly is.
Truly fantastically written, as we have come to expect from David Mack. It is curious though, the story ramped up faster than I expected, so I wonder what the rest of the series will bring. I look forward to finding out!
The race to the planet with all the answers is on, and it is going to be tight. The federation crosses the finish line first, but it does so by crashing into it and the race for answers becomes a desperate bid to merely survive till rescue. They might yet find some answers along the way though, including the face of the new mysterious enemy. In the meantime a new colony president is as stubborn as it gets putting her people in danger and Starfleet can't share how precarious their situation truly is.
Truly fantastically written, as we have come to expect from David Mack. It is curious though, the story ramped up faster than I expected, so I wonder what the rest of the series will bring. I look forward to finding out!
graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Powerful story, indeed. I was told it was good, but I hadn't realized HOW good. VERY good.
My favourite character is Commodore Reyes. I cannot say that I've agreed with every decision that he's made, but I was impressed at his resolve to make the hard decisions. In this story, he has been rocked. It seems that the culimation of ALL these decisons has broken a good man. I have a good idea on what's going to happen to him, but I hope there is a way that he can survive (instead of being ground up BY the machine).
Quinn and Pennington are also favourites...and in this book, we see them "stepping up". Neither of them had gotten this "leg up" WITHOUT the help of others, but deep down, each of them have heart's of gold and the moral fortitude to "do the right thing", even when it is the hardest thing they will EVER have to do.
Tim was "allowed" to write the story that needed to be written, but also at the expense of another. I'm hoping that through Tim's pursuit of the "right" story, he'll also be able to repay Commodore Reyes for the kindnesses that he's give him.
The story of T'Prynn is also tragic. From an outward POV, Starfleet can "drum her out", but I'm holding out HOPE that she will survive this latest struggle with Sten and all the torment that she's been afflicted with through his Katra being "a constant companion" of torture. She's unwavering, and she's NOT done yet. I truly wondering what's it going to look like when she wakes up...and how far she'll have to go to recover. Maybe not be in Intellegence, but righting the wrongs in the universe. A very logical thing for her to do.
As we know, we have NOT seen the last of the Sedai, nor the Tholians. The longer they stay in the Tauris Reach, they will have to navigate this issue. It is going to get far worse, before it gets better. Many thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of lives are yet to be lost. I wonder IF the Federation, at the end...will have believed it was worth it? Hmmm?
This was a great story.
Does anyone feel that Anna Sandjesjo is STILL alive? I do. I think that she's the one that blew the pod OFF the ship. She's actually still alive (cannot keep a Klingon down).
I cannot wait to start the next book in the series.
My favourite character is Commodore Reyes. I cannot say that I've agreed with every decision that he's made, but I was impressed at his resolve to make the hard decisions. In this story, he has been rocked. It seems that the culimation of ALL these decisons has broken a good man. I have a good idea on what's going to happen to him, but I hope there is a way that he can survive (instead of being ground up BY the machine).
Quinn and Pennington are also favourites...and in this book, we see them "stepping up". Neither of them had gotten this "leg up" WITHOUT the help of others, but deep down, each of them have heart's of gold and the moral fortitude to "do the right thing", even when it is the hardest thing they will EVER have to do.
Tim was "allowed" to write the story that needed to be written, but also at the expense of another. I'm hoping that through Tim's pursuit of the "right" story, he'll also be able to repay Commodore Reyes for the kindnesses that he's give him.
The story of T'Prynn is also tragic. From an outward POV, Starfleet can "drum her out", but I'm holding out HOPE that she will survive this latest struggle with Sten and all the torment that she's been afflicted with through his Katra being "a constant companion" of torture. She's unwavering, and she's NOT done yet. I truly wondering what's it going to look like when she wakes up...and how far she'll have to go to recover. Maybe not be in Intellegence, but righting the wrongs in the universe. A very logical thing for her to do.
As we know, we have NOT seen the last of the Sedai, nor the Tholians. The longer they stay in the Tauris Reach, they will have to navigate this issue. It is going to get far worse, before it gets better. Many thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of lives are yet to be lost. I wonder IF the Federation, at the end...will have believed it was worth it? Hmmm?
This was a great story.
Does anyone feel that Anna Sandjesjo is STILL alive? I do. I think that she's the one that blew the pod OFF the ship. She's actually still alive (cannot keep a Klingon down).
I cannot wait to start the next book in the series.
sidetracked's review against another edition
5.0
The more books by David Mack I read, the more I believe that he is the number one Star Trek writer out there at the moment. Having written one of the most meaningful stories of the Star Trek Universe (the Destiny trilogy) and having made contributions to numerous other Star Trek series, he is, in my opinion, the author who manages to best capture the Star Trek atmosphere. When reading his books I am totally immersed in the story and location. Totally involved in the character progression.
Reap the Whirlwind is again one of those books. Having written the opening book of the Vanguard series (Harbinger), David Mack returns with the third book. And what a book it is. Packed with action, exploration, character development. The way he portrayed the Shedai race reminded me of the Caeliar in Destiny. In his skilful hands the Shedai became more than an instrument of destruction carrying the plot forward, they became a collective character in the story, as they should have been.
Reaching the end of the book left me with a feeling that this was initially intended to be a trilogy with Reap the Whirlwind as the conclusion. I truly hope that the decision to continue the series beyond this book does not end up hurting the series as a whole and that the following books manage to at least maintain the bar set by David Mack in this one.
Reap the Whirlwind is again one of those books. Having written the opening book of the Vanguard series (Harbinger), David Mack returns with the third book. And what a book it is. Packed with action, exploration, character development. The way he portrayed the Shedai race reminded me of the Caeliar in Destiny. In his skilful hands the Shedai became more than an instrument of destruction carrying the plot forward, they became a collective character in the story, as they should have been.
Reaching the end of the book left me with a feeling that this was initially intended to be a trilogy with Reap the Whirlwind as the conclusion. I truly hope that the decision to continue the series beyond this book does not end up hurting the series as a whole and that the following books manage to at least maintain the bar set by David Mack in this one.
jecamp86's review against another edition
5.0
I have really enjoyed this series. There are so many mysteries that are uncovered but of course there are an equal amount of new questions asked that will leave you wanting more. This feels like it would be a perfect tv series if adapted and the ending of this book is incredible
fbone's review against another edition
3.0
Better than the previous two titles in the series. More action and story arcs pretty much resolved. No surprises in the end does make the series a bit of a downer.
thetarantulalounge's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jonfucius's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bdplume's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of payoff in this book for things set up in "Harbinger" and "Summon the Thunder." The Vanguard books have a broader range of characters than a lot of Star Trek installments. Since the crew of a starship character set has been done so many times, it's nice to have something a little different (a journalist, intelligence operative, smuggler, JAG officer, civilian scientist, colonial officials, ambassadorial staff) featured prominently. Vanguard also makes a lot of sense of the Tholians. I'd say these are a lot more worth reading than just another installment in the tie-ins for the various series, for those into Star Trek literature at all.
midwinter's review
5.0
The more books by David Mack I read, the more I believe that he is the number one Star Trek writer out there at the moment. Having written one of the most meaningful stories of the Star Trek Universe (the Destiny trilogy) and having made contributions to numerous other Star Trek series, he is, in my opinion, the author who manages to best capture the Star Trek atmosphere. When reading his books I am totally immersed in the story and location. Totally involved in the character progression.
Reap the Whirlwind is again one of those books. Having written the opening book of the Vanguard series (Harbinger), David Mack returns with the third book. And what a book it is. Packed with action, exploration, character development. The way he portrayed the Shedai race reminded me of the Caeliar in Destiny. In his skilful hands the Shedai became more than an instrument of destruction carrying the plot forward, they became a collective character in the story, as they should have been.
Reaching the end of the book left me with a feeling that this was initially intended to be a trilogy with Reap the Whirlwind as the conclusion. I truly hope that the decision to continue the series beyond this book does not end up hurting the series as a whole and that the following books manage to at least maintain the bar set by David Mack in this one.
Reap the Whirlwind is again one of those books. Having written the opening book of the Vanguard series (Harbinger), David Mack returns with the third book. And what a book it is. Packed with action, exploration, character development. The way he portrayed the Shedai race reminded me of the Caeliar in Destiny. In his skilful hands the Shedai became more than an instrument of destruction carrying the plot forward, they became a collective character in the story, as they should have been.
Reaching the end of the book left me with a feeling that this was initially intended to be a trilogy with Reap the Whirlwind as the conclusion. I truly hope that the decision to continue the series beyond this book does not end up hurting the series as a whole and that the following books manage to at least maintain the bar set by David Mack in this one.
fbone's review
3.0
Better than the previous two titles in the series. More action and story arcs pretty much resolved. No surprises in the end does make the series a bit of a downer.
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