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kkomo's review
4.0
Intriguing & Fast Paced
It took me a bit to get into the rhythm of the author’s writing. I understand the reason for the style & rhythm, it just took getting used to.
The story was very intriguing and I can’t wait to start the next installment. It definitely kept me entertained!
It took me a bit to get into the rhythm of the author’s writing. I understand the reason for the style & rhythm, it just took getting used to.
The story was very intriguing and I can’t wait to start the next installment. It definitely kept me entertained!
maitland's review against another edition
3.0
I'd like to thank Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book and the chance to read and review it.
Did you like classic action movies from the '80s and '90s like Raw Deal, Commando, Death Wish ( 2,3, and 4), The Substitute, Lionheart, etc? Then you will enjoy this tale of revenge by Paul Heatley.
Synopsis
After seeing too many travesties overlooked by the government Tom Rollins goes AWOL from his CIA Black-Ops unit. When Tom's brother Anthony and Anthony's girlfriend Alejandra are attacked by The Right Arm of the Republic, a Nazi white supremacist group in Harrow, Texas Tom sets out on a bloody path of revenge.
Review
I really liked this book. From the very first chapter, I got a big 80's action movie vibe from it. I could just picture Van Damme, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, or Norris sitting in that bar waiting for a fight. And the action started right away. With most scenes, I couldn't help but get that Deja Vu feeling of seeing or reading this before. But not in a bad way. I never felt as if the scenes were simply ripped off from other works. Instead, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia as I read. I really looked forward to reading about Tom hunting down each of the people responsible for his “family's” attack and the action that would ensue.
And that was one of the parts of the book I was a little disappointed in. While I love reading about the hero really going to town on some evil characters, there needs to be some back and forth. If there is no struggle then a story falls short. Without a good villain, a story becomes bland and easy. Nobody wants to see a movie where Superman faces off against a 95lb purse snatcher. And that's what the action seemed like in this book, at least to me. There was not enough pushback against Tom to give any sense of real danger or urgency.
The story also has a subplot involving mercenaries and the FBI. While they are brought up regularly, in a novel about a brother's revenge these parts always just seemed out of place and forced into the story. I understand why they were added but for me, they just didn't do much other than distract from the real story I wanted to read about and that I was hoping there was more of.
One of the things I liked about this book (though I know some people will find it lazy or a cop-out) was the lack of technical details. Heatley has a very blunt, straightforward style of writing. When someone hacks a computer in this book, they tap a keyboard for a few minutes and it's hacked. There isn't a page and a half of technical explanations that only a real-life hacker or computer software engineer would understand explaining what they are doing. And while I feel there could have been a little more effort put into those scenes I did like having the break from those paragraphs that mean absolutely nothing to me and that make me feel like I stepped into the wrong advanced physics class lecture.
Like the classic movies I referred to earlier, this book isn't something you pick up when you want to form a deep emotional connection with characters or story-line. This is for when you want a quick enjoyable read that you can just enjoy without having to put a lot of thought into it. I know sometimes that is just what I'm looking for.
I'd give it another half star if that was possible for 3.5 stars.
Did you like classic action movies from the '80s and '90s like Raw Deal, Commando, Death Wish ( 2,3, and 4), The Substitute, Lionheart, etc? Then you will enjoy this tale of revenge by Paul Heatley.
Synopsis
After seeing too many travesties overlooked by the government Tom Rollins goes AWOL from his CIA Black-Ops unit. When Tom's brother Anthony and Anthony's girlfriend Alejandra are attacked by The Right Arm of the Republic, a Nazi white supremacist group in Harrow, Texas Tom sets out on a bloody path of revenge.
Review
I really liked this book. From the very first chapter, I got a big 80's action movie vibe from it. I could just picture Van Damme, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, or Norris sitting in that bar waiting for a fight. And the action started right away. With most scenes, I couldn't help but get that Deja Vu feeling of seeing or reading this before. But not in a bad way. I never felt as if the scenes were simply ripped off from other works. Instead, I found myself riding a wave of nostalgia as I read. I really looked forward to reading about Tom hunting down each of the people responsible for his “family's” attack and the action that would ensue.
And that was one of the parts of the book I was a little disappointed in. While I love reading about the hero really going to town on some evil characters, there needs to be some back and forth. If there is no struggle then a story falls short. Without a good villain, a story becomes bland and easy. Nobody wants to see a movie where Superman faces off against a 95lb purse snatcher. And that's what the action seemed like in this book, at least to me. There was not enough pushback against Tom to give any sense of real danger or urgency.
The story also has a subplot involving mercenaries and the FBI. While they are brought up regularly, in a novel about a brother's revenge these parts always just seemed out of place and forced into the story. I understand why they were added but for me, they just didn't do much other than distract from the real story I wanted to read about and that I was hoping there was more of.
One of the things I liked about this book (though I know some people will find it lazy or a cop-out) was the lack of technical details. Heatley has a very blunt, straightforward style of writing. When someone hacks a computer in this book, they tap a keyboard for a few minutes and it's hacked. There isn't a page and a half of technical explanations that only a real-life hacker or computer software engineer would understand explaining what they are doing. And while I feel there could have been a little more effort put into those scenes I did like having the break from those paragraphs that mean absolutely nothing to me and that make me feel like I stepped into the wrong advanced physics class lecture.
Like the classic movies I referred to earlier, this book isn't something you pick up when you want to form a deep emotional connection with characters or story-line. This is for when you want a quick enjoyable read that you can just enjoy without having to put a lot of thought into it. I know sometimes that is just what I'm looking for.
I'd give it another half star if that was possible for 3.5 stars.
jillyrabb101's review
2.0
2.8
A decent little story. Kinda basic with detail but kept my attention and I finished it in one sitting. The messed up family dynamic was probably the main point holding my interest.
A decent little story. Kinda basic with detail but kept my attention and I finished it in one sitting. The messed up family dynamic was probably the main point holding my interest.
abibliofob's review against another edition
4.0
If you like actionfilled thrillers this one is for you. Blood Line by Paul Heatley is the first in a new series about ex soldier and AWOL CIA agent Tom Rollins. He is trying to keep under the radar so the CIA don't find him but when his brothers girlfriend is killed and his brother left dying he must take action. This was a pleasant surprise for me and I bought all the books in the series at once, they are only .99 cents at the moment. I really like this kind of books with a strong main character that rights wrongs.
edensgrief's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
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