Terijo

This is one of those where I don't the writing is technically as good as I'd like. It's a little formulaic, the characters are drawn as if the writer wasn't too deeply involved with them. Having said that, I keep listening to it and I was interested in the romance.

Some of the characters arent as complicated as I liked and the story line is pretty direct and to the point - not many hidden aspects - but overall I really enjoyed. I just finished the second one and expect to get the third as well.

I was sorry to reach the end of this one and was carried along just as well or better as the others. Excellent, great entertainment.

The writing was just a little bit stiff but somehow I was able to believe the story and it gets pretty bizarre. The world is interesting and even picturesque, the bad guys are really, really bad and the social dynamics are believable. I became very fond of Stone and was very sympathetic to the hero, Moon.

I spent more time trying to analyze what I love about OSC than listening to the actual story. I don't think I liked the switching around in perspective so much and some of the bits I had a little issue with.

I did get into it and did listen to it clear through which is a good sign I am engaged, if some of that time my eyebrows were trying to connect in the middle.

I think the painful childhood was a little too painful and hard to take. Also the character seemed like Ender Wiggen all over again at times, though not driven to safe the planet so much as save himself. (a worthy enough goal)

It felt like the story was sort of patched together out of pieces and I think he came on at the end and affirmed this to be the case.

OSC may be the best living author of fantasy fiction, there is a strong earthy flavor to his characters which never fails to impress - and probably keep my attention.

I don't like blood and guts, I find two dimensional monsters kind of tedious normally - but I loved this book. I loved Owen, I loved Owen's story, I slogged through all the battles where he gets beaten half to death by a monster which refuses to die or even stay wounded.

I never lost my enthusiasm for Owen Pitt and the good guys nor my interest in the sort-of-bad guys, which is to say, not the bad guys but certainly not friendly to Owen and his team of heros.

Correia's sense of humor is a lovely theme throughout and keeps me smiling.

I just could not get into it. I listened to maybe half an hour and had to quit. If you are male and maybe in your ealy teens, go for it. When the main character has his third interaction with a gloriously hot female within the first chapter - sorry, the third gloriously hot female - I can't keep my eyes from crossing.

The writing is almost 'there' in parts but it just asked for more of a stretch than I was capable of making.

Correia is a little weak on the female characters but I think that may be part of his charm. He may identifiy so much with Owen, or Owen with him, that he has a hard time putting the mechanics of the male/female romantic relationship into words.

I don't think it matters much as the story moves along at such a heady clip that there may not be time for such fripperies, anyway.

I don't know much about guns (though I have one and there are more around) other than the point and shoot aspect which seems to me the critical bit but I still love the professional talk about the weapons buried in the books. My husband does understand all the nomenclature did understand and probably walked away with an even better appreciation. I was gratified that he is laughing at all the points I did.

Corriea has the gift of a very pleasant writing voice, sort of invites you to keep listening, invites you to sympathize with the characters - and, invariably, I do.

Okay, the premise is absurd and unbelievable but jump past that and it's an enjoyable little story. Maybe in part because the basic premise is so silly. My rule of thumb is that it is good writing if we readers enjoy reading it. Nothing else matters, not precision grammar or university approved style. This one I did enjoy.

I have a little bit of a crush on Earl Harbinger. The story held me and kept me engaged. This is actually no small thing considering that I don't really enjoy all the blood and guts aspects of this sort of story but so far Correia has paced it enough and made the characters interesting enough that I don't mind the rest.

I wish the ending had been a little different but it made sense, unfortunately.

I stayed engaged and smiled a lot and walked away feeling sad for the whole family. This is a very human story, very real world stuff. The best thing, the most clever thing, was that the sad nature of their particular drama isn't revealed until late in the book. As the book is told by the boy who is full of interesting facts but so painfully short on understanding the weight of meaning doesn't strike you fully until it is almost over. I am glad I listened to it. I walked away more thoughtful than sad and that kind of thoughtfullness is always a good thing.