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A review by atagarev
The Guns of Empire by Django Wexler
2.0
Despite my low rating most of the strong suits of the series are still present in this installment. My disappointment is entirely based on two specific events in the book that are totally nonsensical yet absolutely fundamental to the way the story unfolds.
I'll try to keep my complaint as generic as possible but I am still putting it in a spoiler tag.
In both instances she sets out to do something, overcomes all obstacles to get to the point where she can do it but then doesn't for no good reason. In both cases her inaction leads to disasters and massive losses of life. It left a really bad taste in my mouth because now the only reason the story continues at all is Winter's mind-blowing incompetence.
Otherwise the story continues the vague yet definite parallels to the Napoleonic Wars. The fourth novel brings us the invasion of a powerful northern nation with massive territories and inferior military where inclement weather, poor roads, long supply lines and guerrilla warfare are the primary opposition. In that way it is more like the first book rather than the previous as the conflict takes place away from civilization and the emphasis is placed on survival and running a military.
Basically I would have enjoyed the book as much as the previous installments if not for those few moments where the really inexplicable frustrating events happen. Unfortunately they are so out of place that I see no reason to continue reading the series.
I'll try to keep my complaint as generic as possible but I am still putting it in a spoiler tag.
Spoiler
Basically both actions I have a problem with are things Winter does in the latter half of the book. One comes about 2/3rds of the way through and causes the problems in the final third and the other happens near the very end of the book and is the cause of the series not finishing.In both instances she sets out to do something, overcomes all obstacles to get to the point where she can do it but then doesn't for no good reason. In both cases her inaction leads to disasters and massive losses of life. It left a really bad taste in my mouth because now the only reason the story continues at all is Winter's mind-blowing incompetence.
Otherwise the story continues the vague yet definite parallels to the Napoleonic Wars. The fourth novel brings us the invasion of a powerful northern nation with massive territories and inferior military where inclement weather, poor roads, long supply lines and guerrilla warfare are the primary opposition. In that way it is more like the first book rather than the previous as the conflict takes place away from civilization and the emphasis is placed on survival and running a military.
Basically I would have enjoyed the book as much as the previous installments if not for those few moments where the really inexplicable frustrating events happen. Unfortunately they are so out of place that I see no reason to continue reading the series.