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bezzarina's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this, it's very much along the lines of the first few odyssey one books, and I'd definitely recommend reading that whole series before you try this one.
debyik's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely brought up more questions than it answered, but that just left me dying to start the next book. It sounds like this is a spinoff or continuation of his Odyssey series and that you should start with Into the Black before reading this one. I didn't realize that until after I finished this one, but still felt Archangel One can stand on its own. The characters have names, nicknames, and call signs, so it gets a bit confusing on who is who, but once you realize it's all the same person (Steph, Stepanos, Michaels, etc.) it's not too bad. There are times when it gets a bit technical, but it's a SciFi, so I kind of expect that and kind of like that part of it. I could feel my heart rate increasing during the battle scenes and rooting for things to go well and cheering them on when they did, and feeling their disappointment when they didn't.
You jump back and forth between different ships and different races in each chapter. I feel like you need a chart to keep track of who is with who, I will definitely be doing that the next time I read it.
I never thought I would get so invested in the different characters in a book that is under 300 pages, but I did. Can't wait to dive into the second book and start on the series that came before this one. I am definitely an Evan Currie fan!
You jump back and forth between different ships and different races in each chapter. I feel like you need a chart to keep track of who is with who, I will definitely be doing that the next time I read it.
I never thought I would get so invested in the different characters in a book that is under 300 pages, but I did. Can't wait to dive into the second book and start on the series that came before this one. I am definitely an Evan Currie fan!
susanatherly's review against another edition
3.0
I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Unbeknownst to me, this is a new sequence in an existing ongoing series. It is a military Sci Fi story about a disgraced admiral and a team of volunteers who are tasked with going undercover as mercenaries and pirates to infiltrate vassel civilizations on the fringes of the Empire. Lots of space battles. A little political intrigue.
Most of this book was world building and explaining tech and tactics. Not a lot of plot. Maybe if I'd read the prior novels in the series, it would be enough to make me want to continue. Maybe I would have been more engaged with the characters. As it was, I was more engaged in appreciation of the various kinds of space ships. They were pretty cool.
If you like well written space battles, this is the series for you.
Unbeknownst to me, this is a new sequence in an existing ongoing series. It is a military Sci Fi story about a disgraced admiral and a team of volunteers who are tasked with going undercover as mercenaries and pirates to infiltrate vassel civilizations on the fringes of the Empire. Lots of space battles. A little political intrigue.
Most of this book was world building and explaining tech and tactics. Not a lot of plot. Maybe if I'd read the prior novels in the series, it would be enough to make me want to continue. Maybe I would have been more engaged with the characters. As it was, I was more engaged in appreciation of the various kinds of space ships. They were pretty cool.
If you like well written space battles, this is the series for you.
vimes_48's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
This effort hints at some interesting notions, particularly around panspermia and Lovelock’s Gaia Hypothesis. Unfortunately it makes no effort to do more than hint that these might be explored if we read the inevitable sequels. No thanks.
What we are left with is a tale of fighter jocks (from some indeterminate period where F-22 Raptor airframes are still available in boneyards, but Earth is now space-faring on an interstellar scale) playing at space privateering - Firefly but with none of the wit or charm.
Perhaps if I had read the previous seven (as of 2019) books in the Odyssey One series I would have more investment in the recurring characters, but on its own, Archangel One fails to give enough meaningful backstory, whilst throwing around too many assumed-knowledge acronyms. Not that I am a fan of books in a series rehashing or explaining the events of previous books - but as this is book one in a *new* series, some effort could go into explaining who the Block and other adversaries are.
The writing is also remarkably tepid - far too many uses of the word “said” and almost feels like a rejected film script which has been rehashed into a book. It does not encourage me to go back and explore the Odyssey One series.
What we are left with is a tale of fighter jocks (from some indeterminate period where F-22 Raptor airframes are still available in boneyards, but Earth is now space-faring on an interstellar scale) playing at space privateering - Firefly but with none of the wit or charm.
Perhaps if I had read the previous seven (as of 2019) books in the Odyssey One series I would have more investment in the recurring characters, but on its own, Archangel One fails to give enough meaningful backstory, whilst throwing around too many assumed-knowledge acronyms. Not that I am a fan of books in a series rehashing or explaining the events of previous books - but as this is book one in a *new* series, some effort could go into explaining who the Block and other adversaries are.
The writing is also remarkably tepid - far too many uses of the word “said” and almost feels like a rejected film script which has been rehashed into a book. It does not encourage me to go back and explore the Odyssey One series.
wintersavenger's review
1.0
Hmm
Idk what it was about this book but I just could not get into it. Couldn't get interested in the characters much either.
Idk what it was about this book but I just could not get into it. Couldn't get interested in the characters much either.
fbone's review against another edition
1.0
Nothing here was good. I'm surprised I finished it. There are much much better space operas out there. I'm moving on.
onemanbookclub's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Archangel One (Archangel One, #1)
Archangel Rising (Archangel One, #2)
By: Evan Currie
My Rating: Four out of five stars.
Best for: 14 and up
Finally, a true military-in-space story!
I've read plenty of spaceship books, but I've never read one that I'd consider convincingly militaristic. This story is--military strategy, complexity, military roles, war ship configuration and function, stuff like that. I really enjoyed that element, but even more I enjoyed the fun, engaging, and cleverly crafted story that made the complex space-based military stuff accessible to even me!
It didn't take long to realize this series of books is a spin off of another, larger series called Odyssey One. I'm pretty certain if I'd read that series first, I would have enjoyed the Archangel One books even more.
In THIS story, Humanity has just won a great, but costly victory against an alien force. There's now a period of peace, but The Empire (Hmm...why does than sound so familiar...?) is lurking and it's clear peace will be short lived. If we don't take the fight to them, our little corner of the galaxy is toast. The Empire assimilates everyone who isn't, well...them.
The Empire...assimilates? Hold on...
Whatever. Re-used or not, the ideas works. The story was a blast: wimpy space noobs like Earthlings can't take the battle to the mighty Empire and win! It's impossible! No one can do that! It's never happened!
Bad guys, meet Earth.
I enjoyed the space battles, the clever use of military strategy, and the cool spaceships. The deep-space undercover mission was a ton of fun, too. I didn't love that what I thought was a stand alone turned into a duology...that turned into a trilogy...that is now a series of books with no ending written yet. It's my fault for not doing the research, but still. In retaliation I'm not going to read book 3 until the series is finished AND I've read the original series I didn't know about--so take that!
You might not be as obnoxious about starting a series before it's finished as I am, so if you're in the mood for an excellent ScyFy, space-based, military adventure, look no further!
No sex or violence. A couple of swears. Best for 14 and up.
Happy Reading!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Archangel One (Archangel One, #1)
Archangel Rising (Archangel One, #2)
By: Evan Currie
My Rating: Four out of five stars.
Best for: 14 and up
Finally, a true military-in-space story!
I've read plenty of spaceship books, but I've never read one that I'd consider convincingly militaristic. This story is--military strategy, complexity, military roles, war ship configuration and function, stuff like that. I really enjoyed that element, but even more I enjoyed the fun, engaging, and cleverly crafted story that made the complex space-based military stuff accessible to even me!
It didn't take long to realize this series of books is a spin off of another, larger series called Odyssey One. I'm pretty certain if I'd read that series first, I would have enjoyed the Archangel One books even more.
In THIS story, Humanity has just won a great, but costly victory against an alien force. There's now a period of peace, but The Empire (Hmm...why does than sound so familiar...?) is lurking and it's clear peace will be short lived. If we don't take the fight to them, our little corner of the galaxy is toast. The Empire assimilates everyone who isn't, well...them.
The Empire...assimilates? Hold on...
Whatever. Re-used or not, the ideas works. The story was a blast: wimpy space noobs like Earthlings can't take the battle to the mighty Empire and win! It's impossible! No one can do that! It's never happened!
Bad guys, meet Earth.
I enjoyed the space battles, the clever use of military strategy, and the cool spaceships. The deep-space undercover mission was a ton of fun, too. I didn't love that what I thought was a stand alone turned into a duology...that turned into a trilogy...that is now a series of books with no ending written yet. It's my fault for not doing the research, but still. In retaliation I'm not going to read book 3 until the series is finished AND I've read the original series I didn't know about--so take that!
You might not be as obnoxious about starting a series before it's finished as I am, so if you're in the mood for an excellent ScyFy, space-based, military adventure, look no further!
No sex or violence. A couple of swears. Best for 14 and up.
Happy Reading!
tuftymctavish's review
3.0
A satisfying space action romp with characters I like being pirates. Yarrr!
debyik's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely brought up more questions than it answered, but that just left me dying to start the next book. It sounds like this is a spinoff or continuation of his Odyssey series and that you should start with Into the Black before reading this one. I didn't realize that until after I finished this one, but still felt Archangel One can stand on its own. The characters have names, nicknames, and call signs, so it gets a bit confusing on who is who, but once you realize it's all the same person (Steph, Stepanos, Michaels, etc.) it's not too bad. There are times when it gets a bit technical, but it's a SciFi, so I kind of expect that and kind of like that part of it. I could feel my heart rate increasing during the battle scenes and rooting for things to go well and cheering them on when they did, and feeling their disappointment when they didn't.
You jump back and forth between different ships and different races in each chapter. I feel like you need a chart to keep track of who is with who, I will definitely be doing that the next time I read it.
I never thought I would get so invested in the different characters in a book that is under 300 pages, but I did. Can't wait to dive into the second book and start on the series that came before this one. I am definitely an Evan Currie fan!
You jump back and forth between different ships and different races in each chapter. I feel like you need a chart to keep track of who is with who, I will definitely be doing that the next time I read it.
I never thought I would get so invested in the different characters in a book that is under 300 pages, but I did. Can't wait to dive into the second book and start on the series that came before this one. I am definitely an Evan Currie fan!