Well I suppose this could have been better but unlike Exodus which was amazing with the history of the war and all. I liked how we got to explore moreWell I suppose this could have been better but unlike Exodus which was amazing with the history of the war and all. I liked how we got to explore more of the Quintessons. This book was all wet in its way but still pretty interesting. ...more
I wanted to read this because I absolutely loved the film adaptation when I was younger, and as an avid sci-fi reader. This isn't a negative review byI wanted to read this because I absolutely loved the film adaptation when I was younger, and as an avid sci-fi reader. This isn't a negative review by the way, it's more like a neutral one. I don't know, maybe I needed to be more thorough and give it another read just to get into the groove of the way things were going in this book. Yes it was entirely different in many ways, but there was something about it that didn't engage me as much as some previous sci-fi novels have. I don't love it, but I certainly don't hate it. I may have to give it another chance at some point to form a more broad opinion but I felt like what was happening did not engross me as much. I don't think it was boring or anything but when I tried to picture the Martians annihilating everything it was harder to do so. Perhaps I need to read this one again, we shall see....more
Okay, I don't know where to begin on this because once I started this little novella yesterday, I couldn't put it down. It's a short story but easily Okay, I don't know where to begin on this because once I started this little novella yesterday, I couldn't put it down. It's a short story but easily a memorable one with a straightforward plot.
Centered around Rtas 'Vadum the Half-Jaw Sangheili Shipmaster of the Covenant Assault Carrier of the same name as the book's title, I was sure for certain something was going to prevent him from getting the well-deserved rest after the battle for Earth.
Meet the Half-Jaw everyone! [image]
Rtas Vadum has been one of my favourite characters in the Halo universe that I have already engrossed myself in his backstory from his birth all the way up to the end of the war in 2553 on Halopedia. But I wanted more! I really did, and Joe delivers it quite well.
The classic idea of the San Shyuum (spoilers!) Prelate wanting revenge for Rtas supposedly being responsible for killing his family sets out to lure our lovable Half-Jaw into a trap. Who's ever heard of a female Sangheili Scion and a Forerunner facility with a replica of the real Halo Rings with the same firepower? Well now you know!
At first I didn't like the Prelate, but then I began to have some sympathy once I read about his frequent nightmares that caused his desire for revenge. Tragic, honestly, completely tragic. So it's no surprise he attacks Sangheili colonized worlds to get Rtas's attention to then eventually try to steal his ship, put an end to him and use this mini-Halo to put an end to the entire Sangheili race!
Not if Rtas can help it! Reading him pass through space and fight his way through the bunker just had me on the edge of the bed while reading.
It was a major surprise to see a powerful Prelate outwitted, captured and then betrayed by his partner in crime and sacrifices himself to save the Sangheili race. I have more respect for that long necked guy now.
Despite Rtas choosing to remain on his ship to deal with any other San Shyuum wanting blood, it's not something unexpected.
This is the type of stories we need from Halo, more alien focused to show how vast its universe really is, how it is more than just humanity and the UNSC like the games portray it as. We have the Forerunner Saga (one of my all-time favourite sci-fi series now in case you didn't know), Broken Circle, and perhaps it's safe to say Hunters in the Dark falls into that category though.
I loved this book, I loved its story, I loved it's continuous shift of third person perspective between Rtas 'Vadum and the Prelate, Tul 'Juran our female Sangheili, (who in the end is accepted on to Rtas's crew, defying gender roles in the species). The Sangheili are what got me in to Halo in the first place and I had waited months for this novella's release because I was like YES! FINALLY WE GET TO READ ABOUT RTAS 'VADUM!
Spartan fanboys please exit stage left if all you want to do is kill Sangheili in your minds and in the games.
Alright, I'm ready for Broken Circle next once I've tackled my currently reading list. Wort!...more
I was hoping for something more because of the whole truce between humans and sangheili. I loved Luther Mann's baNot the greatest Halo book out there.
I was hoping for something more because of the whole truce between humans and sangheili. I loved Luther Mann's backstory on how he loves to study the Covenant but Olympia Vale was poorly introduced. Where did she come from exactly? Everyone acts like she's all that and one thing I can't stand is the shipping of her and Usze just because there were a couple of pages in two chapters where they interact. Usze tells us about himself in a whole page, for some reason finds Vale an interesting human, and saves her when the portal malfunctions.
That my friends is all that happens between them so I find the shipping of them to be illogical as fuck. I can't believe some Halo fans are shocked that I don't support it. Most shippings out there are pretty irrational anyway.
Fans, if you really want to ship characters in this book, ship Vale and Holt instead. Much more interaction between them.
Kodiak is your typical Spartan with a long time grudge and points his gun at everything and I've already seen enough of that since Halo was handed to 343. As someone who loves the aliens more than the UNSC, do you really have to point your gun at anything and everything that is non-human. It may not even be a threat!
I felt like the story in this book was too rushed in my opinion, and I read sci-fi books with much more development than this....more
So, this book was difficult to go through when it comes to the Halo universe. But I picked it up because I wanted to read something about the CovenantSo, this book was difficult to go through when it comes to the Halo universe. But I picked it up because I wanted to read something about the Covenant, which grabbed my interest in the lore before the Forerunners.
If you like the political side of things in the Halo universe and how factions are formed, then this is the book for you. For me, my feelings are mixed, I didn't feel as engaged with this book as I did with the Forerunner saga.
It was still good though, but it was the first part I enjoyed more....more
I swear, this book was so good I couldn't put it down. It may seem to confuse you at first because the chapters are strings told from perspectives of I swear, this book was so good I couldn't put it down. It may seem to confuse you at first because the chapters are strings told from perspectives of different characters, there is no set one, and they cycle between them. At first the end of the Forerunner empire is nearing quickly and we find out the truth, and finally get to read things about the Didact and the Librarian. Catalog I often pictured as a floating carapace when he meets with the Librarian and the IsoDidact (who she has now accepted as her husband. But there is more than one Catalog as they are collecting testimony from both Didacts, Faber, and the Librarian of crimes against the Mantle. I really wanted to know what crime that was. Reading about the Librarian's last meal with the Ur-Didact before he enters his Cryptum I try really hard to picture what their estate on Nomdagro looks like because I am writing a sequel to my original Didact fanfiction, and most of it takes place there. I am glad the Ur-Didact refused to stop making shield worlds submit authority to Faber. Superweapons don't always have to be the answer right? Plus, he believed it went against the Mantle.
Now, the one part that makes things really interesting, is that we go back forth for the next several chapters of the Ur-Didact and the Librarian in different times. Right after the Ur-Didact enters his Cryptum, the Librarian goes to Path Kethona to learn the origins of the Flood, and met with prehistoric Forerunners. This part really confused me, so I'm reading about it on Halopedia as I type this. Most of the time I'm absorbing myself in the Ur-Didact's history when it comes to Forerunner-specific part of the lore! But I'll say, I know that the Librarian learned something: Precursors were chased to Path Kethona after Forerunners rebelled against them.
Now, I got so excited when we got to the chapters from the Ur-Didact's perspective, taking place simultaneously as Bornstellar's time home then the Capital, and Chakas on the rogue Halo. Stranded in a Burn, he, Catalog, Sharp-by-Striking, and Maker-of-Moons gotta escape because of incoming star roads and Forerunner vessels that may be Flood-infested are approaching. Maker I never liked, but Sharp still remained loyal as a former Warrior.
I really had a heavy heart as the Ur-Didact and Catalog stayed behind and upon entering the star road, they encountered the Gravemind. I couldn't stop reading once I read about the Ur-Didact describing what he saw and it ends with "Stop this! Stop the pain!" and that was the last I ever read from his POV.
Things get really emotional when we cut to the Forunners losing ground to the Flood as it infects them and spreads throughout the galaxy. The IsoDidact is back and one really suspensful chapter would definitely be Faber talking to the Master Juridical about how he saved the Ur-Didact.
The one thing that bugs me, is that when the Ur-Didact, IsoDidact and the Librarian meet at the estate on Nomdagro. There was never any mention in the book that the Ur-Didact had those failed experiments that changed his appearance, so I assumed it had already changed when he meets with his duplicate and his wife. Reading the meeting part is proof that he has gone mad, and abandons them at the Greater Ark to compose the human colony on the Ark's Omega Halo. I was like, YES when the Librarian eventually said that the Ur-Didact is no longer her husband. MINE!!! (sorry not sorry, I have a crush on the Ur-Didact)
I should probably wrap this up because this one's going longer than I thought! I'd say that by the time this book came to an end, the most exciting chapters were when the Librarian confronts the Ur-Didact and locks him in his Cryptum on Requiem. She even enlisted the Ur-Didact's former lover Endurance-of-Will to help her, despite her loyalty to him. Also, the remaining Forerunners make the choice to fire the Halo Array from the Lesser Ark to stop the Flood. The IsoDidact almost died but was saved by monitor Chakas, then to be named 343 Guilty Spark and guards the Halo Installation 04. Surprise surprise. But I almost cried because just about all the other Forerunners die including Faber and the Librarian who went back to Earth to draw off the Flood.
But Rebirth is a fresh bonus to learn that Riser is still alive as well as Vinnenvra and Forerunners including Chant-to-Green, Growth-Through-Trial-of-Change and the IsoDidact. I was relieved to see them all at peace together celebrating before they leave the humans to restart their lives on their new home.
Definitely my favourite Halo book so far.
And the Ur-Didact, he's my favourite! He's such a great character with a tragic past yet with noble actions.
**spoiler alert** Just like Cryptum, this book too had parts where at times I'm like "okay I know what's going on," while other times I'm so confused.**spoiler alert** Just like Cryptum, this book too had parts where at times I'm like "okay I know what's going on," while other times I'm so confused.
But then again, I couldn't put this book down, due to the fact I've been dying to learn more about the Forerunners.
A good sci-fi book to me is one with a good story, sometimes one where you have so many questions and have to recap to find your answers. I have to say that, I liked this book, but not as much as I liked Cryptum.
When I read the first chapter, I was surely wondering something is going to happen to Chakas, and he becomes someone that every Halo fan should be familiar with, and I was surprised to learn of his fate. The book ended in a way that left me with many questions, but I loved every moment, especially when the IsoDidact meets the Captive who surprise surprise turns out to be a Gravemind. The IsoDidact, like him but I don't like him as much as I love the Ur-Didact, I have a feeling I'm going to be engrossed in the third book.
**spoiler alert** I started reading this saga because I wanted to plunge deeper into the backstory of the Didact, who is one of my favourite character**spoiler alert** I started reading this saga because I wanted to plunge deeper into the backstory of the Didact, who is one of my favourite characters in the Halo universe. It's nice to have a series in this franchise that revolves around the Forerunners instead of the UNSC.
Now, for those of you who already know or are currently reading this; it can go back in forth where you understand something and then you get confused. Example: I understood Bornstellar's mutation with the Didact but I nearly got lost when the Master Builder captured them all. There were times when I understood what was happening and other times I got totally lost, but I still couldn't put this book down. If you're curious about the Forerunners, read this series. I am starting the second one now and I can assure you once I have finished the series I doubt I will be disappointed....more
**spoiler alert** As a serious Transformers fan I did not find myself as satisfied with this book as I was with the other Transformers books I've read**spoiler alert** As a serious Transformers fan I did not find myself as satisfied with this book as I was with the other Transformers books I've read. Why? Because since this is from the movies era, cue the less robots more humans scene. One thing I did like however was parts of the story that were told in Optimus's point of view and the fact that he doesn't get an arm chopped off in the final battle. But I find that there was too much on Sam's point of view which is not what I was hoping for. I would give this book more stars if it focused a little more on the robots....more
If you're a really serious Transformers fan then this is a must read for you. I have been a Transformers fan since 2009 and picked up this book after If you're a really serious Transformers fan then this is a must read for you. I have been a Transformers fan since 2009 and picked up this book after playing the War for Cybertron game. This book is basically a more detailed version of the story in this game. There are some interesting facts that some of you may not have known until you read this book like cybertronians have different castes and Orion Pax (that was his name before he was named Optimus Prime) was a librarian in the Hall of Records working for Alpha Trion before he became that Autobot leader that you recognize him as today. And Megatron was a gladiator fighting in Kaon. You learn how these two Cybertronians were once like brothers until the two factions Autobots and Decepticons were formed and how they went their separate ways.
If you want to learn more about how it all began. This is a book for you....more
Loading...
