Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: Spheres of Influence: Stellar Heritage, Book 2

Reviewed in Australia on 14 July 2019

I just now finished reading Spheres of Influence, the best in the series yet! At the end I was exhausted by the epic battles so many characters fought. The author has a secret weapon that draws the reader in, causes them to be invested in every facet of life in the Alliance, and to feel the results of every single moment. For me it is the best space story since I read Dune. I hope it isn’t too long before the next book comes out. No pressure Mr Mauldin!

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Kindle Customer

Great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2019

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The book takes the series to the next level great character development and the storyline is expanding to space opera level loved it keep them coming

Amazon Customer

I loved this book!

Reviewed in Canada on 5 October 2019

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I loved this book!

Cruz

Great story but

Reviewed in Canada on 27 October 2019

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Great story but too many foul words and sexual innuendo. Stick to the story and it would be truly amazing

STEALERSHIPS

A GREAT READ

Reviewed in Canada on 31 July 2019

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Real characters. Looking forward to the follow up.

Didn't feel anything like book 1

Reviewed in the United States on 25 April 2020

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Now, book 1 started out as a pretty basic "We found a spaceship" tale with some good characters and a reasonable plot. Sadly, it ended in a very poor way and I know even the editor mentioned it to the author as there is a foreword to this book that talks about the ending too book 1.

It sounds like the author thought "I've got a great twist to the plot and I'll subvert everyone's expectations". Well, it definitely is a subversion, but I'd say to any author who says they want to "subvert expectations" to take that work and flush it down a toilet. It almost never works because the very things that made people like your work won't be there.

And that happened here. Book 1 is anchored by Simon and Katherine Hawke, but by 50% of the way through book 2 those characters are afterthoughts completely. Worse, we have no chapter break marks and we have 2 new factions (the aliens) introduced with their own scenes, but there is no clear "We're looking at faction X" note or break so it can take a moment to realize the focus has just jumped light years.

I'd also argue that both alien races were boring. I had no interest in them at this time because they weren't directly interacting with the Terran Alliance.

In all this was a sloppy book, with a plot that never got focused on anything solid, and lacking the two best characters the author created because he wanted to subvert expectations.

Its bad, and I don't recommend it.

I hate to bash on an author who I understand has passed away, but in this case I stand by my feeling. DON'T PURCHASE THIS BOOK.

8 people found this helpful

Ronald

Right on the edge of putting it down.

Reviewed in the United States on 2 August 2020

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Like the twist. Overall the story seems interesting and a new take on several issues (IE humans meeting aliens and how they are actually treated well, though whether that's just a tactic remains to be seen when they meet each other in the Terran home system.)
My problem, which is keeping me right at the edge is, Jeesh, can he drag things out even more, IE Simon and the rescue.. how many damn pages are we going to fill with the back and forth, okay now send him out, how do I know you won't hurt my agents, fine nothing as long as you send him out, okay but how do we know, send him out, ok we'll discuss it, now I really mean this is your final chance, ok but don't mistreat us, ok now send him out.. and on and on and on...
Also, how many times do we have to go through the whole basic breakdown of what their goal is to every single ambassador or politician they meet... we get it, we get it, we get it.. I've been skimming two or three pages at a time when the Captain is talking with Switzerland, and missed nothing...
Look, less filler and more actual new content please. I am pretty sure I'm going for book 3, and I really hope we don't spend half the book again rehashing every little thing again and again and again, how tough command is, why me, a united vision, nuclear war if one power gets the tech, kidnapping friends and relatives, a big rescue with a big rock if you do... oh oops, we find out in book 2 that not only are they STILL KIDNAPPING PEOPLE, they just did the same damn thing with the TOP COMMANDER OF THE WHOLE ALLIANCE, and then instead of calling up the White House and demanding he be released, the Terrans have to sneak around for 3 or 4 days to rescue him, even with the consequences.... oops, I would think that the last thing the Terrans at this point would be worried about would be the consequences of being treated fairly. Gods... do I really want to go for book 3? We'll see how 2 ends.

UPDATE: About 3 quarters of the way through, and I am REALLY getting tired of endless crew manning monologues, and prancing around in Switzerland making deals. I fondly remember the days of Honor Harrington where there was actual action and all this admin stuff was minimized in the background or with minor mentions. Does the author just not have any idea how to get to actual action so he's filling the book?

2 people found this helpful

BritMick

Interesting follow up book

Reviewed in the United States on 14 July 2019

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I had the pleasure of getting a copy of this book as a member of the author's sec group. It picks up where book one ended, with the attack on the leader of the alliance force at camp david. But all is not what it seems, once again earth governments seem to think that if they cannot control it kill it. But that is not the only problem the new fledgling alliance with have to deal with. The aliens that attacked them, and taken two of their group prisoner are also in the mix. Plus another alien force who could turn out to be an ally. Looking forward to the next book.

4 people found this helpful

Amanda Ben

I really enjoyed the first book, then the 3nd one just slumped..

Reviewed in the United States on 28 May 2021

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The first book was amazing, but then the second book just drones on and on about nothing. While I like a little bit of the political aspect, it was just too much. Unfortunately the author will not see my rating, and I do not mean it in a malicious way, but this book only gets three stars from me.

Kindle Customer

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on 24 June 2020

Verified Purchase

Well... I'm still reading... That says a lot. I've bought the next in the series... Even though the first book was disappointing for the first half,it got better after that. I only wish the author could have found a way to get people trained in a more realistic manner.

One person found this helpful

5 star		59%
4 star		27%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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