Halo: New Blood

By: Matt Forbeck

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling series based on the blockbuster Xbox® games!

While Spartans get all the glory, no soldier - not even the legendary Master Chief - wins a war on his own. Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck and his team of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODSTs) played a major role in saving the Earth from all-out invasion at the end of the Covenant War - acts of bravery and ingenuity that did not go unnoticed by the United Nations Space Command.

Now, after many Spartans have been killed in battle, and the Master Chief is listed as MIA, the UNSC decides to create a new generation of Spartans to defend humanity from threats both outside and within. When they come to Buck with an extraordinary proposition, he is forced to make a life-altering decision. With the Covenant War finally over, is it time for him finally to retire to the sidelines for a life he could only dream about...or is he prepared to step up and become part of the military's new blood?

©2015 Microsoft Corporation (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Decent story, let down by a few factors.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator - overall (once things got moving) he was good, but there's something about his tone of voice, the way he finishes sentences etc. that didn't excite the text like other narrators do.

Then there's the amount of metaphors and similes that colour the book - at some times it felt like the author was trying to squeeze too many 'descriptors' into one paragraph, and was more like a collection of metaphors and similes strung together by other text. It wasn't horrible, but made it feel more teenage than young adult / adult in audience.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Halo: New Blood?

It was great to go on such a journey across the Halo timeline and tie in so many things - the twist near the end was good, showing some raw emotion which up until then had just been bottled up into characters that were constantly "on mission". Dont want to spoil anything though.

Did Halo: New Blood inspire you to do anything?

Not particularly - was happy to go onto the next audiobook, where the difference in Narrator is like chalk and cheese (currently listening to No Country for Old Men).

I'll still be listening to future Halo books, even if narrated by Scott Brick.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Awesome

Connects Halo ODST to the Halovers even better than the game. Narrator is very good.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Awesome Story

Definitely sheds light on the Spartan 4 program and events after the covenant war had ended.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great bridge between Halo ODST and Halo 5

Explains how Buck joined the Spartans in Halo 5. Jumps around a bit much but gives just enough plot in each arc to keep things interesting.

I could only improve on it by adding sound effects and background music a La the Star Wars Audiobooks.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another perfect entry in the series

Awesome, top notch halo story. Must read. Pick it up and enjoy it mucho mucho mucho mucho caliente gjallarhorn for everyone

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Right on target

This story really expanded the Halo canon. It took a character from one game and really fleshed out other characters, plots, and backstory of other games. It was told in a way that is unique compared the other Halo books. It also did a good job of dealing with some heavy issues of loyalty, death, relationships and honor. I enjoyed this story very much.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Somewhat Lazy

Almost a quarter of the story was retelling Halo : ODST's storyline. If I wanted to hear that I would just play the game again. The rookie's plight was bull added to bring some ill faded depth to a mediocre addition to the Halo universe. Not to mention the creators of this audiobook should have had Nathan Fallon "Buck" from the game narrate the freaking boo seeing as it Is written entirely from his point of view!!!!!

You may think my critique to harsh, but Eric Nylund has some large shoes to fill and these new writers are disappointing me left and right. Magazines are called clips more than 20 times I a freaking chapter, and there is barley and mention of the advanced technology we crave to hear details about.

If this is the direction the Halo universe is being taken in I may have to take to writing my own fan fiction. It will hold more closely to the universe and feature more fantasy detail about the Spartan equipment and training we all love to read about.

Get it together people, we love this universe and these poor additions are not going to fly for long.

17 of 25 people found this review helpful

Halo New Blood was gorgeous.

This euphoric experience is a must for any fan of halo 3: ODST, or halo in general.
I was compelled the whole time, this was the story telling I've been dying to hear. I was skeptical about the pacing at first, but then it all flawlessly full circled. The way Buck explained his way of story telling really was amazing, I could relate, being a somewhat controlled scatter brain when it comes to telling long tales of the past times.
Matt Forbeck really pulled on my heart strings, making me hate yet love his plot choices. it never felt like certain characters were made just to be a plot device. All the new and old characters were given a breath of fresh air, delving deep into the psychology of just why they're, the way they're. Expanding onto Buck, showing a side that couldn't be portrayed in the video game. It let you feel the weight he carried around, the loss, the longing for veronica, the helplessness and betrayal.
Finally giving Dutch what he truly wanted, made me tear up. After following all his journeys through the years, it felt like a well deserved reward, not only for him but the fans.
with out spoiling anymore, I will say, I truly loved this novel and hope matt can make more in the future. thank you so much for putting so much heart into the ODSTs that I've grown to love and admire through the years. A big shout out to Scott Brick, you did an amazing job narrating.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Disappointing performance from a good story.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would pick a different narrator. I have listened to Scott Brick narrate many of the Dune audiobooks, which I enjoyed. I don't exactly know what was different about this story, but his voice just did not go well when portraying these characters. I know it is a huge stretch, but Nathan Fillion performing his ODST character would have made my month.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved getting the backstory on Gunny Buck and his crew, and hearing a new, original story with these characters

Would you be willing to try another one of Scott Brick’s performances?

Yes, I have enjoyed his performances in the past, but for some reason I don't feel he is a good fit for this particular book.

Do you think Halo: New Blood needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, but that does not take away from Halo: New Blood by itself. I enjoyed the story, felt it used these characters well to tell a new story and chapter of Halo, and effectively wrapped up their story arc. Another book may make these characters booring and overstayed their welcome.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Yea! For Buck!

It was nice to hear the afterstory for Alpha 9! Was only disappointed that Nathan Fillion didn't narrate it himself!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

loved every second.

Must buy. I loved every second of this story. Best for halo fans like me.

An odst to a sparten

to good to describe but if i had to i would describe it as stunning

one of the best halo books out

absolutely amazing book you can really get into it .the next book is great to. defiantly worth a listen.

great story but short. 6 odd hrs

the story was very good. the reader was easy to listen to, although not great with different voices, some times i forgot which character was talking. but still a solid 7/10.

10/10 would be more variety in character voices and maybe around a 9 or 10 hr story length

Great, and surprising

It took me ages to work out that it was based around the Halo 3 ODST game... so after listening, I played the whole thing to be sure. This book shows more story compared to the gam; yet combined, it brilliantly brings us further into the Halo universe 😁

Amazing

What an amazing book cannot get enough of the halo books. looking forward to the next one!

it's great

the story and story telling are amazing and the voice acting just selled the whole thing

just what I need

perfect to understand buck on a deep analysis of PTSD symptoms for good or bad how odd

good to hear how Spartan 4s came about

Also how buck became a Spartan but on that note wtf..
10/10 good book i am going to buy it.

Just fantastic.

An amazing addition to the halo universe, great performances, and an interesting story, this book does a great job of filling in the blank spot between Buck’s time in the ODST and his rise to a Spartan. Highly recommend.