1634: The Baltic War (The Assiti Shards) by David Weber, Eric Flint
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Book Reviews of 1634: The Baltic War (The Assiti Shards)
Book Review: 1632 world
Summary: 5 Stars
this book restored the series quality, while the last 2 books were good, this one comes back to quality of 1632 and 1633.Book Review: Too sunny and romantic!
Summary: 3 Stars
The history presented and the plot are excellent. Characterization is less so, and is related to my main complaint about this book -- it is just too sunny! "Sunny" is how Eric Flint described "1632", and I hated it. I liked "1633", while I find "1634" about in-between. What put me off is that all romances click instantly (even if the participants do not realize it right away), proceed predictably, and have happy endings. I would have liked the book much more if say, Warder's daughter were turned off by Darryl or even better (or worse, depending on POV), began competing with Gayle for attention of Oliver Cromwell. This would make escape from Tower MUCH more uncertain!
Or, along similar lines, if during one of his drunken bouts with King Christian, Eddie Cantrell asked the king for a couple prostitutes -- to take his mind off Anne Cathrine (not that he would say that!). Surely an easy request -- except for what a monkey wrench it would throw into king's and prince Ulrik's scheme.
Or if Caroline were just plain not interested in Thorsten, thus adding sense of despair and doom to his battle heroics.
I am not saying ALL these things should have happened in "1634", but it would definitely benefit from at least one unhappy and/or betrayed romance.
Book Review: Eric Flint Finds his Perfect Formula
Summary: 5 Stars
When Eric Flint published 'Cannon Law' last year I wrote a review stating that this was the return to the promise for the series held by the first 2 books. This was no fluke, because 'The Baltic War' is even better than 'Cannon Law,' standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the first books of the series.
There is some political drama along the lines of 'The Galileo Affair' for those who want it. Along with some technical geekery of the sort that 'The Ram Rebellion' was laden with. But this latest offering is more driven by characters, good writing and by vivid descriptions of the USE finally exercising the industrial and military might that we have watched them plot and work towards in previous books. Every daydream you've had about what would happen if the budding USE Navy ever finished those ironclad warships and sent them off on the warpath - it's in here. All of the years of build-up are totally worth it as the reader finally witnesses 'West Virginia uber alles.'
Eric Flint and his group of co-writers have hit on the exact right formula with 'The Baltic War.' Some geeking, but not too much. Some political drama and historical education, but not too much. And plenty of dramatic battles of all sorts. I'm already impatient for the next book.
Book Review: Ties up loose ends
Summary: 3 Stars
I thought 1632 and 1633 were much better. If your familar with this series
the character and story development was really good. In 1634 it just dragged along in places. Honestly I thought it was longer than it needed
to be for the same story. I am not sure if he was getting paid per word
but I wanted to skip a paragraph or three at times and I don't think it would have hurt me. Gretchen Ricther storyline is old to me. The tower of
london went on to long for me. The book is good but shorter would have
been greater. By the way Eddie Cantrell Love intrest I was never so glad
that it finally ended. These signed he is sealed he is delivered has got
stop in these books.
Book Review: 1634: The Baltic War
Summary: 3 Stars
This wasn't a bad book, although at times it did drag. I'm not a big military history buff, so I don't really care about the construction of the USE ironclads and why Admiral Simpson did this or that. It might have been nice if they had devoted a little more detail to the Tower of London plot. Also, if I'm being completely honest, I'm more than a little tired of the current Grantville characters. I did enjoy the book, but I think from now on I'll wait for any future Ring of Fire novels to come out in paperback. They're good, but not good enough to keep me buying the hardbacks.