Jonathan W. (runeweaver) -
The book holds your interest with a series of fairly well written military action sequences. Though you do have to turn a blind eye to the less than stellar military tactics of the Commonwealth troops.
The trouble with the book is a weak ending. I read the book twice because I could not remember the ending. And I knew I had read the whole thing before.
While writing this review, I arrived at a conclusion that the Federation was there just to tear the place up while avoiding the Commonwealth troops and then withdraw. A few pages stating this, or something as plausible, would have made a world of difference. Since there were not, the reader is left with the impression that there was no ending, thus nothing to remember.
The trouble with the book is a weak ending. I read the book twice because I could not remember the ending. And I knew I had read the whole thing before.
While writing this review, I arrived at a conclusion that the Federation was there just to tear the place up while avoiding the Commonwealth troops and then withdraw. A few pages stating this, or something as plausible, would have made a world of difference. Since there were not, the reader is left with the impression that there was no ending, thus nothing to remember.
The citizens of Coventry are under attack. Federation troops have stormed the planet with devastating speed, burning civilians out of their homes and leaving them to starve. Now it is time for armies of the Second Commonwealth to battle the flames - and return their own fire. But even the most technologically advanced army in the galaxy may not be enough against the most primitive elemental force in the universe...
Military SF and not a heavy read. Characterization is a little light in all books by this author but is made up for by the great insight into military tactics.
