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evil_jj's review
2.0
I wasn't very impressed with this to be honest. It felt like the story really dragged for over half of the book, and when things finally started happening, it still didn't hold my interest. I was also disappointed with how little Merq and Armise interacted. Since neither the plot nor the relationship has me intrigued, I don't see any reason to continue the ser
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Wowwwwww. This review is impossible to write. How can I possibly get across to you the utter brilliance of the world that S.A. McAuley has built here? Or the amazement and sometimes utter speechlessness I felt while reading? How can I possibly describe the complexity of the characters of Merq and Armise? And, by the end of the series, will I even truly understand what they have gone through in the name of political causes and country, and ultimately, for each other? I guess that last one will have to wait to be answered until I finish the final book – but, let me try to convey some of the passion and emotion rolling through me after reading the first two books of S.A. McAuley’s The Borders War series…
One of the marks of great storytelling is when the reader doesn’t know what’s coming. Throughout both One Breath, One Bullet and Dominant Predator I NEVER knew what was coming. Any understanding you think you have of the world, or politics, or even people, has to be thrown out the window, and you must completely immerse yourself in this new landscape. We begin in the year 2539, where a sixteen-year-old Merq Grayson is already deep into his training to become a Peacemaker (soldier) for the Continental States – one of only five remaining countries in the world. This is FIVE HUNDRED years beyond the world as we know it. There are five countries fighting for territory, and there is even more at stake in the political backdrop of the war – groups fighting for not just geographical boundaries, but for the right to promote and protect their very belief systems. And, at sixteen, Merq is not even the youngest soldier trainee; some begin much younger. In fact, we learn early on that Merq was literally born and groomed for his role in the war.
Told from Merq’s POV, as are all of the books in the series, One Breath, One Bullet is the beginning of the story of how Merq became a pawn in the Borders War, and in the political agenda of Continental States leader, President Wensen Kersch, and his constituents. During an assignment, Merq comes in contact with a black ops soldier from an opposing side; and from the first time he hears the man’s laugh, Merq can’t get him out of his mind. He learns that the other soldier is Armise Darcan, an assassin from Singapore who, as it turns out, is just as affected by Merq as Merq is by him. Through some very effective time jumps, and various flashes of their volatile meetings, McAuley conveys the developing relationship between Armise and Merq, and gets us to the final, explosive twenty percent of the book, where the events leading up to and at the Olympics change EVERYTHING for both men.
Dominant Predator picks up right where the heart-racing action of the first book left us. What happened at the Olympics has restarted the Borders War, and Armise has rocked Merq to the core by exposing some of his true self and feelings, adding to Merq’s confusion and stress over how he feels about his position in the revolution. The methods of fighting have changed, and Merq has been exposed to parts of the world, mainly the living conditions of the general populace, that have altered his perceptions considerably. The action in this book is still incredibly intense, but we also have a lot of time to really dig into both men’s psyches. Merq continues to question the wisdom of his relationship with Armise – he stated in the first book that he “wouldn’t allow someone else to be his fatal flaw,” and that is still a concern in his mind. I loved getting to know Merq even more, but my love for Armise absolutely exploded in this book. His growth as a character was incredible, and I found myself just sinking deeper and deeper into their story.
So much action. So much intrigue. So many heart-stopping situations and incredible characters. Neveed, Simion, Jegs, President Kersch…you’ll be fascinated by them all for different reasons. But, at the core of it all are Merq and Armise. Fighting for the cause, but perhaps even more so, for each other. I can’t describe how amazing they are – and, I can’t get enough of this story. Go grab these first two books while they are free and 99 cents respectively! Because believe me, you are going to want to read the rest of the series.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/release-day-reviews-one-breath-one-bullet-and-dominant-predator-by-s-a-mcauley/
One of the marks of great storytelling is when the reader doesn’t know what’s coming. Throughout both One Breath, One Bullet and Dominant Predator I NEVER knew what was coming. Any understanding you think you have of the world, or politics, or even people, has to be thrown out the window, and you must completely immerse yourself in this new landscape. We begin in the year 2539, where a sixteen-year-old Merq Grayson is already deep into his training to become a Peacemaker (soldier) for the Continental States – one of only five remaining countries in the world. This is FIVE HUNDRED years beyond the world as we know it. There are five countries fighting for territory, and there is even more at stake in the political backdrop of the war – groups fighting for not just geographical boundaries, but for the right to promote and protect their very belief systems. And, at sixteen, Merq is not even the youngest soldier trainee; some begin much younger. In fact, we learn early on that Merq was literally born and groomed for his role in the war.
Told from Merq’s POV, as are all of the books in the series, One Breath, One Bullet is the beginning of the story of how Merq became a pawn in the Borders War, and in the political agenda of Continental States leader, President Wensen Kersch, and his constituents. During an assignment, Merq comes in contact with a black ops soldier from an opposing side; and from the first time he hears the man’s laugh, Merq can’t get him out of his mind. He learns that the other soldier is Armise Darcan, an assassin from Singapore who, as it turns out, is just as affected by Merq as Merq is by him. Through some very effective time jumps, and various flashes of their volatile meetings, McAuley conveys the developing relationship between Armise and Merq, and gets us to the final, explosive twenty percent of the book, where the events leading up to and at the Olympics change EVERYTHING for both men.
Dominant Predator picks up right where the heart-racing action of the first book left us. What happened at the Olympics has restarted the Borders War, and Armise has rocked Merq to the core by exposing some of his true self and feelings, adding to Merq’s confusion and stress over how he feels about his position in the revolution. The methods of fighting have changed, and Merq has been exposed to parts of the world, mainly the living conditions of the general populace, that have altered his perceptions considerably. The action in this book is still incredibly intense, but we also have a lot of time to really dig into both men’s psyches. Merq continues to question the wisdom of his relationship with Armise – he stated in the first book that he “wouldn’t allow someone else to be his fatal flaw,” and that is still a concern in his mind. I loved getting to know Merq even more, but my love for Armise absolutely exploded in this book. His growth as a character was incredible, and I found myself just sinking deeper and deeper into their story.
So much action. So much intrigue. So many heart-stopping situations and incredible characters. Neveed, Simion, Jegs, President Kersch…you’ll be fascinated by them all for different reasons. But, at the core of it all are Merq and Armise. Fighting for the cause, but perhaps even more so, for each other. I can’t describe how amazing they are – and, I can’t get enough of this story. Go grab these first two books while they are free and 99 cents respectively! Because believe me, you are going to want to read the rest of the series.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/release-day-reviews-one-breath-one-bullet-and-dominant-predator-by-s-a-mcauley/
haletostilinski1's review
5.0
4.5 stars!
This was so good! Seeing the gradual deepening of Merq and Armise's relationship is so fun to read. Merq has to deal with the knowledge now that Armise is not his enemy as he was for so long before, and what that means for himself and Armise and whatever their thing is - not quite a relationship, but getting there.
Plot wise, this was more of a transitional book, I think - between the start up of the Borders War again at the end of the first to getting into the meat of what the series is about, I think. Because Armise is definitely hiding something and there is more going on that Merq doesn't know, I can feel it - and Armise too.
But I felt this was more setting up what's to come, and furthering Meq and Armise's relationship along. And Armise's POV chapter at the end was awesome but of course just left me with more questions! (Of course we can't have the answers yet.) The ending was a tad abrupt for me, but seeing as this is a part of the series I wasn't too put off by it.
Also, there are several hot sex scenes in this *fansself* yesss.
This was a solid second installment, and I will definitely be reading the third in this series soon!
This was so good! Seeing the gradual deepening of Merq and Armise's relationship is so fun to read. Merq has to deal with the knowledge now that Armise is not his enemy as he was for so long before, and what that means for himself and Armise and whatever their thing is - not quite a relationship, but getting there.
Plot wise, this was more of a transitional book, I think - between the start up of the Borders War again at the end of the first to getting into the meat of what the series is about, I think. Because Armise is definitely hiding something and there is more going on that Merq doesn't know, I can feel it - and Armise too.
But I felt this was more setting up what's to come, and furthering Meq and Armise's relationship along. And Armise's POV chapter at the end was awesome but of course just left me with more questions! (Of course we can't have the answers yet.) The ending was a tad abrupt for me, but seeing as this is a part of the series I wasn't too put off by it.
Also, there are several hot sex scenes in this *fansself* yesss.
This was a solid second installment, and I will definitely be reading the third in this series soon!
mindforbooks's review
5.0
Okay. I'm all in. Totally on board. Ready to join the revolution over here. That was awesome!!!
Myself and Merq found ourselves on rocky ground during this. There were times I got really angry and frustrated with him. He is so closed off and distant. I felt like giving him a slap and telling him to stop behaving like a teenager on more than one occasion. He and Armise are so similar. Both men are weapons whose soul purpose for being is to be used by their respective countries to achieve a goal, be it independence or total domination. Therefore I couldn't understand why Merq behaved the way he did. As the story progressed however I started to see the vast differences between them. It's almost like Merq is just learning how to be a person. He has little to no ties and sees a potential traitor in almost everyone. Armise at least has some sense of himself, he can think for himself and make decisions based on his wants and needs. He also has tradition to fall back on and I think it is what puts him in a much more stable mindset than Merq. Both men are deeply scarred but Armise seems to be the more stable of the two. I say that now, we shall see in the future if that remains true.
Both these men are incredibly dangerous and it is important to keep in mind that they don't walk in the shadows, they prowl in the dark. They are killers and empathy is not something they understand never mind recognise in others.
"We exist to kill. To be the darkness that descends and wipes out hope. Others are meant to be leaders and to strive for greater good, but not us. We cover our hands in blood so the righteous can disavow any knowledge of the evils that must occur for there to be peace. And in our world, if you're not behind the rifle you're in front of it."
This makes for some interesting scenarios in their relationship. They really have no idea what to do with each other. It's fantastic.
Dominant Predator is dark and at times it feels like there won't ever be any light in the future. I can't wait to see how the revolution progresses because right now things feel kind of bleak. What I love the most is I couldn't even begin to guess about what is coming.
It's also important to note that I'm so in love with Armise it's not even funny. I think he might be giving Hooch a run for his money!!
*Note:You must look at this photo while mentally adding lots of scars and lots of black tattoos. It makes it even better. Promise.
"Fuck that. You could have compromised the mission. You're the one who said this war goes on whether we live or die."
Armise's nostrils flared and he cracked his neck. "I'm also the one who said my loyalty is to you, not any of them. We stand together on this. There is no other option. Not for me."
That quote is positively romantic when it comes to these two!!
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