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faileskye's review
4.0
I recommend this book to those that enjoyed the first as well as anyone that thinks a buddy cop story taking place in a swords and sorcery fantasy setting sounds as amazing as it is novel.
Since Friendly Fire is a sequel, this book has our two protagonists’ relationship fully figured out and developed, so it is not the focus this time around. What is the focus is Torval’s own life and relationship with his past, as well as that of two factions within the Fifth Ward. The plot, while certainly fantastical at its roots, is one that has happened throughout real life history and even in current days as a powerful guild goes up against the dwarf community. This setup, which is explained in the synopsis, actually kept me from the book for a year because I didn’t want to deal with that kind of thing in my escapism. This was quite honestly a mistake and you shouldn’t make the same one. The message and action are certainly poignant, but it isn’t preachy or distracting from the story of Rem and Torval being given a case and told to solve it no matter what.
So if you liked the first book, police procedurals with a spin, and a serious book with a good peppering of humor, I would go ahead and continue this series. I know I will, and I won’t wait a year this time around.
Since Friendly Fire is a sequel, this book has our two protagonists’ relationship fully figured out and developed, so it is not the focus this time around. What is the focus is Torval’s own life and relationship with his past, as well as that of two factions within the Fifth Ward. The plot, while certainly fantastical at its roots, is one that has happened throughout real life history and even in current days as a powerful guild goes up against the dwarf community. This setup, which is explained in the synopsis, actually kept me from the book for a year because I didn’t want to deal with that kind of thing in my escapism. This was quite honestly a mistake and you shouldn’t make the same one. The message and action are certainly poignant, but it isn’t preachy or distracting from the story of Rem and Torval being given a case and told to solve it no matter what.
So if you liked the first book, police procedurals with a spin, and a serious book with a good peppering of humor, I would go ahead and continue this series. I know I will, and I won’t wait a year this time around.
theamazingmrg's review
4.0
I was a little critical of the first book in this series, First Watch, which was a fun fantasy romp with an interesting setting, but suffered, in my opinion, from the inclusion of an onslaught of traditional buddy cop clichés that began to irritate me. I nearly didn't buy the second book as I was torn between enjoying the setting and POV, and frustrated with the ham-fisted delivery of the buddy cop tropes.
I'm pleased to say that Friendly Fire managed to avoid the irritation and instead delivered a solid tale of simmering racial tensions in the city-state of Yenara. All-in-one a worthy purchase and I look forward to the third book.
I'm pleased to say that Friendly Fire managed to avoid the irritation and instead delivered a solid tale of simmering racial tensions in the city-state of Yenara. All-in-one a worthy purchase and I look forward to the third book.
mferrante83's review
4.0
I was really looking for a bit on an escape from the current situation in the world today.
This book was a bad choice in that regard.
The main plot involves racial tensions between dwarves and humans. There is rioting and racism backed by religious belief. So really, not much an escape.
This was still an entertaining read. This is a very underrated series that fans of fantasy should definitely looking at.
This book was a bad choice in that regard.
The main plot involves racial tensions between dwarves and humans. There is rioting and racism backed by religious belief. So really, not much an escape.
This was still an entertaining read. This is a very underrated series that fans of fantasy should definitely looking at.
jasonabbott's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
liz_keeney's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
diesmali's review
2.0
1,5 stars rounded up.
This book has all the most boring antagonists: the brutish zealot, the mindless monster, the proudest ruler who won’t back down. And they must all be overcome in the simplest way: by death. There’s little to none imagination to be found in this volume.
This book has all the most boring antagonists: the brutish zealot, the mindless monster, the proudest ruler who won’t back down. And they must all be overcome in the simplest way: by death. There’s little to none imagination to be found in this volume.
trackofwords's review
3.0
The second novel in Dale Lucas’ The Fifth Ward series, Friendly Fire continues the interspecies fantasy buddy cop story that was started in First Watch. In the city of Yenara, where men, elves and dwarfs live side by side in some form of harmony, watchwardens Rem - a human - and Torval - a dwarf - are hard at work keeping the streets safe at night. When tensions start to rise between rival factions within the city, however, the watchwardens find themselves hard pressed to keep the peace and get to the bottom of what’s really going on.
There’s lots to enjoy here, predominantly in the exploration of Yenara, its watchwardens, and the ongoing developments in Rem and Torval’s partnership. These are fundamentally engaging characters, and they do carry the story for the most part. With a lighter story, and perhaps a little less description to try and keep the pace up and the page count (a hefty 430+) down, there’s real potential in the characters and the setting, but as it is this doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.
Read the full review on the British Fantasy Society website: http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/reviews/the-fifth-ward-friendly-fire-by-dale-lucas-book-review/
There’s lots to enjoy here, predominantly in the exploration of Yenara, its watchwardens, and the ongoing developments in Rem and Torval’s partnership. These are fundamentally engaging characters, and they do carry the story for the most part. With a lighter story, and perhaps a little less description to try and keep the pace up and the page count (a hefty 430+) down, there’s real potential in the characters and the setting, but as it is this doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.
Read the full review on the British Fantasy Society website: http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/reviews/the-fifth-ward-friendly-fire-by-dale-lucas-book-review/
teri_b's review
5.0
With this book I went through stages. From having a slight question mark of, Where is this book going now? And what is the authors view point with regards to racism, with 'others' whoever they might be?
And then I continued reading. And the story is good. Really, really good. Some parts of it feels scarily real, with hate thoughts being fostered and kindled and then one action leads to another, and all of a sudden you have mayhem.
On the other hand you have Rem and Torval working for the ward watch and it is so good to see their relationship grow, their friendship and their respect. Rem also grows in his relationship with Indilen, and it is beautiful to see how he grows and changes and finds a new family, a home of his own.
This book is partly fantastical, magical, holds a lot of banter, tight moments, brawls and fights, quite some blood is spilled and dark forces are called forth. The mixture for me is just right. And, I just love reading about Rem and Torval or Torval and Rem and the people, friends, family, work mates that surround them.
And then I continued reading. And the story is good. Really, really good. Some parts of it feels scarily real, with hate thoughts being fostered and kindled and then one action leads to another, and all of a sudden you have mayhem.
On the other hand you have Rem and Torval working for the ward watch and it is so good to see their relationship grow, their friendship and their respect. Rem also grows in his relationship with Indilen, and it is beautiful to see how he grows and changes and finds a new family, a home of his own.
This book is partly fantastical, magical, holds a lot of banter, tight moments, brawls and fights, quite some blood is spilled and dark forces are called forth. The mixture for me is just right. And, I just love reading about Rem and Torval or Torval and Rem and the people, friends, family, work mates that surround them.
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