This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, Booklikes & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission.
Title: Petrodor
Series: A Trial of Blood and Steel #2
Author: Joel Shepherd
Rating: 2 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 525
Format: Kindle Digital Edition
| Synopsis: |
Sasha is now in the city of Petrodor. Various political factions are vying for the role of leading a new army against the Serrin. The Serrin in Petrodor are playing their own game, unfortunately for them, they don’t understand humanity nearly as well as they think. And the humans allied with the Serrin are split as well. Then once the Priesthood gets involved, all bets are off.
Sasha must navigate allies, enemies and some who are both at the same time.
| My Thoughts: |
I’ve given this series 2 books worth of my time. I simply didn’t like this one either.
Narrowed it down to the fact that I don’t like one single character. The story was intriguing, the political, religious and species aspect of things were well done and complex and the fighting was fun to read about.
But without even one character to like or root for, it wasn’t worth it. So I’m dropping this. I’m kind of hesitant about trying his Cassandra Kresnov series now. Sure glad I discovered him with his Spiral Wars series and not this.
Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road 
I eventually stopped reading The Wheel of Time for similar reasons… found it hard to like any of the manipulative opportunists even if the world building was superb
LikeLiked by 1 person
See, I LIKED Rand, Matt and Perin. That helped tremendously 🙂
LikeLike
I liked them a lot at first but didn’t much like what they were Rand and Matt were turning into (I guess I still liked Perin well enough)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never stopped liking Matt. But Rand lost me after his second acquisition to his lady harem.
LikeLike
Lol… I think that was about the time I got tired of him too
LikeLiked by 1 person
The women were the really obnoxious characters… I got the feeling the author had only ever known manipulative shrews
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure did feel that way!
LikeLike
Ugh, I hated Matt with a passion and even Perin got annoying after a while. Rand was just.. Rand 😀 I didn’t mind him so much, but I only read the first couple of books before I gave up.
I hated the ladies in it even more! Especially this Nynave, however you write it. And of course she is after the one cool guy in those books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jordan certainly seemed to try his best to make his group of people as unlikable as possible.
Makes you wonder what was going through his head…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry it wasn’t better, but I am the same way with series – if I’m on the fence about a book I’ll give the sequel a chance to win me over, but if not, see ya!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Forgot to add, I’ve actually read one of his Cassandra Kresnov books and it wasn’t bad – maybe not the best military sci-fi I’ve ever read, but if you’re into the genre it could be worth checking out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know, thanks!
LikeLike
Exactly. Too many other books to try…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of this one, but I can totally understand you! When I don’t like any of the characters it’s just not worth reading anymore.. Even if the worldbuilding is good and there’s nothing wrong with the writing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m definitely the kind of guy who needs someone likeable in their story. Not necessarily the hero, but someone with some page time has to be someone I can root for.
LikeLike
I guess you concur with: Character > Plot, huh? 🙂
– Lashaan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I need someone I can root for, someone I like. I really struggle with books where everyone is unlikable. One of the reasons I shy away from modern “literature” in fact.
LikeLiked by 1 person