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Reawakening Trilogy #2
Javelin Rain
The fast-paced, adrenaline-filled sequel to Gemini Cell, set in the same magical and militaristic world of the acclaimed Shadow Ops series.
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost...
Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded "Javelin Rain." Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not.
Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation...
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost...
Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded "Javelin Rain." Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not.
Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation...
331 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
29 people are currently reading
991 people want to read
About the author
Myke Cole
22 books1,737 followersAs a security contractor, government civilian and military officer, Myke Cole’s career has run the gamut from Counterterrorism to Cyber Warfare to Federal Law Enforcement. He’s done three tours in Iraq and was recalled to serve during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. After hunting terrorists and criminals in real life, he kept up the job on TV, first tracking fugitives on CBS’ 2017 show Hunted, and UFOs on Discovery Channel’s 2019 show Contact.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
All that conflict can wear a guy out. Thank goodness for fantasy novels, comic books, late night games of Dungeons and Dragons and lots of angst fueled writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
March 1, 2016
There's something really badly wrong with me. An example: I'm at the climax of a horrifically graphic battle scene where Jim Schweitzer, ex-SEAL and current super-zombie on the run from a secret government cell, is desperately trying to protect his wife and child from magic-wielding mercenaries who have come to take him back or take him down. Schweitzer's wife is fighting for her life, but another mercenary has her in his sights. Schweitzer acts. In the sudden silence, he gazes at the body of the man who tried to rip lightning out of the sky and use it to fry Sarah. And my brain immediately goes:
He's dead, Jim.
But here's the truly amazing thing about Javelin Rain: even with my brain inserting lyrics from "Star Trekkin" at inopportune moments, the book still managed to be nail-bitingly suspenseful, gut-wrenching, horrific, sad, and bittersweet in turn.
One of the things I love about Myke Cole is that when it comes to magic, he doesn't do pretty and he doesn't do nice. His zombies are no exception. Unlike the rest of the Operators in Gemini Cell, Schweitzer may still have his mind, but his face is sheet metal stretched over skull, his eyes are glowing silver orbs shining out from empty sockets. His body shows marks from all previous battles, carelessly stitched and duct-taped to hold it all together. Death has irrevocably changed him. ( It's life, Jim, but not as we know it. ) Throughout the story, Schweitzer struggles to come to terms with the fact that while consciousness remains, his life is over. He can never be a father to his son, never take him to soccer practice, never take his wife out to dinner. Even as he risks all to protect them, there are heartbreaking moments where even his loved ones treat him as the monster he is in so many ways.
Javelin Rain is a little bit hard to characterize in terms of plot. It's a second book, a "things fall apart" book, in which Schweitzer sets himself in direct opposition to Gemini Cell. It's a fugitive's story, a chase, a series of desperate last stands. But it's also a love story. An increasingly creepy, violent love story, because the longer Schweitzer stays dead, the more of his humanity he loses. If you read my reviews, you probably know by now that I don't do romance, but love stories aren't necessarily romances. They're not about passion; they're about commitment, about compromises, about trust, about two alien people trying to create something together. Throw in the fact that one member of the couple has veins of glycerol and is steadily losing his last vestiges of humanity, the other has a small child with a bad case of poison ivy, and they're both on the run from a relentless military black ops military organization, and the love story really takes on a unique flavor. As one character puts it,
Schweitzer and Sarah's story is not the only plot running through the book, but it was definitely my favourite. Perhaps half the pagetime is from the perspective of other members of Gemini Cell, including Eldredge, the chief scientist of the cell, and Jawid and Dadou, the sorcerers responsible for creating zombie beings like Schweitzer. I found the Jawid/Dadou subplot deeply and troublingly problematic. Jawid, the only Muslim character in the book, is a naive simpleton who parrots repressive religious dogma and wants nothing more than to own a wife and family. Religious simpleton characters irritate me in general, and to have Jawid the only Muslim character in the story left a bad taste in my mouth. Dadou, who has a history of abuse and sexual assault, uses her own sexuality to cynically dominate those around her, mostly because her higher command orders her to do so, something that isn't really dealt with in the story. I wanted to empathize with her, and certainly her story is tragic, but she makes it awfully difficult. My other major complaint with the story is that a bunch of major plot elements didn't make sense.
Schweitzer lived his life around the SEAL motto, "So others might live." But in this book, all of that starts to fall apart: we find out more about the Gemini Cell, their leadership, and their belief that they don't "have the luxury of ethical struggles." Gemini Cell suffers a bit from Second Book Syndrome. For one thing, I really don't think it can be read without the first book. For another, I can actually summarize the entire book, which demonstrates its simplicity. At the same time, it's an interesting step in the Gemini Cell saga, and there were plenty of shocking twists. Sarah underwent significant character development, and I find her one of the more interesting members of the cast. Javelin Rain also satisfied one of my biggest concerns with Gemini Cell. Schweitzer no longer sees himself as a sanctified paladin. He seeks to protect only his family by any means necessary. As he puts it:
~~I received an advanced reader copy of this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review. Quotes are taken from an advanced reader copy and while they may not reflect the final phrasing, I believe they speak to the spirit of the book as a whole.~~
Cross-posted on BookLikes.
He's dead, Jim.
But here's the truly amazing thing about Javelin Rain: even with my brain inserting lyrics from "Star Trekkin" at inopportune moments, the book still managed to be nail-bitingly suspenseful, gut-wrenching, horrific, sad, and bittersweet in turn.
One of the things I love about Myke Cole is that when it comes to magic, he doesn't do pretty and he doesn't do nice. His zombies are no exception. Unlike the rest of the Operators in Gemini Cell, Schweitzer may still have his mind, but his face is sheet metal stretched over skull, his eyes are glowing silver orbs shining out from empty sockets. His body shows marks from all previous battles, carelessly stitched and duct-taped to hold it all together. Death has irrevocably changed him. ( It's life, Jim, but not as we know it. ) Throughout the story, Schweitzer struggles to come to terms with the fact that while consciousness remains, his life is over. He can never be a father to his son, never take him to soccer practice, never take his wife out to dinner. Even as he risks all to protect them, there are heartbreaking moments where even his loved ones treat him as the monster he is in so many ways.
Javelin Rain is a little bit hard to characterize in terms of plot. It's a second book, a "things fall apart" book, in which Schweitzer sets himself in direct opposition to Gemini Cell. It's a fugitive's story, a chase, a series of desperate last stands. But it's also a love story. An increasingly creepy, violent love story, because the longer Schweitzer stays dead, the more of his humanity he loses. If you read my reviews, you probably know by now that I don't do romance, but love stories aren't necessarily romances. They're not about passion; they're about commitment, about compromises, about trust, about two alien people trying to create something together. Throw in the fact that one member of the couple has veins of glycerol and is steadily losing his last vestiges of humanity, the other has a small child with a bad case of poison ivy, and they're both on the run from a relentless military black ops military organization, and the love story really takes on a unique flavor. As one character puts it,
"Magic is like cancer. You don't ask for it, and it changes everything."
Schweitzer and Sarah's story is not the only plot running through the book, but it was definitely my favourite. Perhaps half the pagetime is from the perspective of other members of Gemini Cell, including Eldredge, the chief scientist of the cell, and Jawid and Dadou, the sorcerers responsible for creating zombie beings like Schweitzer. I found the Jawid/Dadou subplot deeply and troublingly problematic. Jawid, the only Muslim character in the book, is a naive simpleton who parrots repressive religious dogma and wants nothing more than to own a wife and family. Religious simpleton characters irritate me in general, and to have Jawid the only Muslim character in the story left a bad taste in my mouth. Dadou, who has a history of abuse and sexual assault, uses her own sexuality to cynically dominate those around her, mostly because her higher command orders her to do so, something that isn't really dealt with in the story. I wanted to empathize with her, and certainly her story is tragic, but she makes it awfully difficult. My other major complaint with the story is that a bunch of major plot elements didn't make sense.
Schweitzer lived his life around the SEAL motto, "So others might live." But in this book, all of that starts to fall apart: we find out more about the Gemini Cell, their leadership, and their belief that they don't "have the luxury of ethical struggles." Gemini Cell suffers a bit from Second Book Syndrome. For one thing, I really don't think it can be read without the first book. For another, I can actually summarize the entire book, which demonstrates its simplicity. At the same time, it's an interesting step in the Gemini Cell saga, and there were plenty of shocking twists. Sarah underwent significant character development, and I find her one of the more interesting members of the cast. Javelin Rain also satisfied one of my biggest concerns with Gemini Cell. Schweitzer no longer sees himself as a sanctified paladin. He seeks to protect only his family by any means necessary. As he puts it:
"He didn't want to hurt anyone, but if he was going to be a monster, then he may as well be one to protect his own."As always, the sequel is automatically on my to-read list. I'm dying to find out how Schweitzer's saga ends, not in least because hyperintelligent zombies don't make an appearance in the later Shadow Ops books, and I'm awfully curious about why. If you have any interest in creative, gritty, and graphic military urban fantasy, you definitely need to check out Cole's Shadow Ops.
~~I received an advanced reader copy of this ebook through Netgalley from the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review. Quotes are taken from an advanced reader copy and while they may not reflect the final phrasing, I believe they speak to the spirit of the book as a whole.~~
Cross-posted on BookLikes.
January 19, 2016
Wonderful! Full review to come closer to release.
April 4, 2016
Myke Cole’s Gemini Cell was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was looking forward to Javelin Rain with a lot of excitement.
These two books comprise the opening gambit of a new trilogy that serves as a prequel to Cole’s Shadow Ops series (which I haven’t read, but since these are prequels they’re as good as place as any to start, I think), and like a number of middle entries, Javelin Rain struggles as its own entity. It has to continue the story began in Gemini Cell of Jim Schweitzer, an undead SEAL who has been resurrected by a secret cabal within the US military, and picks up literally seconds after the last page of the prior book. It also has to tell a story that progresses the overarching narrative without providing too much in the way of resolution (because that’s what book three in a trilogy is for!) while also serving as a satisfying entry in its own right.
Cole adheres to these points fairly solidly, but Javelin Rain gets a bogged down in its own elements. As a middle entry, it lacks the freshness of discovery the prior book possessed, and as a reader I’m no longer thrust into exciting, unfamiliar territory but instead get a lot of the same elements I was already familiar with. This book is basically Schwietzer On The Run In The Forest, and its a scenario that occupies a lot of pages. A side plot introduces Dadou, a new sorcerer inducted into the Gemini squad to kick up their capabilities a notch, and she’s a pretty cool character tasked with working alongside Jawid, resident Binder of souls to corpses. There relationship helps make Jawid a more interesting character here as Cole explores the depth of his religious fervor and the mental brainwashing of his faith.
Mostly, though, this book just lacked the excitement and freshness I found in last year’s novel. The action wasn’t quite as exciting, although Cole delivers a few welcome surprises here and there and lays out enough details to inch us toward the big finish in book three. If Gemini Cell was great (and I thought it was), then Javelin Rain is merely good. It’s readable, and leaves the characters in an interesting place, but it lacks energy. Still, I’m on-board for the long haul, even with slightly dampened enthusiasm.
February 28, 2016
Although his popularity seems to increase with each new published novel, it often feels as though Myke Cole remains the genre's best-kept secret. I'm well aware that military fantasy is not everyone's cup of tea, but Cole's two series are as accessible as they are compelling. The Shadow Ops trilogy was fresh and unlike anything else I have ever read. All three volumes were fun, intelligent, action-packed, and entertaining reads, each packing a good dose of ass-kicking! Breach Zone closed the show with style and aplomb and it was evident that Cole was now one of speculative fiction's brightest new voices.
But this new series would focus on the early days of the Great Awakening, when magic first returned to the world and changed everything. Featuring new characters and new storylines, I was wondering if the author could do it again. The Shadow Ops trilogy generated some lofty expectations for whatever came next, and with Gemini Cell Myke Cole proved that his first trilogy was no fluke. With four quality yarns under his belt, there was no reason to doubt that Javelin Rain would be another gripping read. And once again, Cole delivers on basically all fronts!
Here's the blurb:
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost…
Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded “Javelin Rain.” Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not. Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation…
Myke Cole continues to grow as a writer, getting more mature and in better control of his craft with each new book that see the light. As was the case with his previous works, the fact that he served for years in the military and seen active duty allows him to imbue his books with a credibility regarding the realism of the use of magic in military operations and its ramifications up and down the chain of command. Ultimately, this is what gives Cole's books their unique flavor and what differentiates him from his peers. The early days of what will come to be known as the Great Awakening form the backdrop of this new trilogy. Magic has returned to our world and the US military is trying to harness these new powers for their own gain. I was particularly looking forward to finding out how the top secret unit known as the Gemini Cell would grow to become the SOC. Alas, it appears that this second series takes place too early during the Great Awakening, so it won't fill in the blanks created by the questions raised in the Shadow Ops trilogy.
Speaking of which, that first series was a more far-reaching work of fiction, with more protagonists and more multilayered storylines. Though it is no less ambitious, the focus is much tighter in this second trilogy, what with it occurring within a more limited time frame and following the events taking place through the eyes of a smaller cast of characters. Originally, I expected these new books to be as sprawling as the Shadow Ops installments. Yet it appears that Jim Schweitzer's tale, though it will likely kickstart the Great Awakening and everything it will engender, won't be as vast in scope.
As was the case with its predecessors, Javelin Rain is another character-driven affair. Myke Cole always had a knack for creating genuine three-dimensional protagonists with interesting back stories. The smaller cast featuring basically the same POVs as the ones in Gemini Cell allows readers to connect with the characters at a deeper level. Once more, I felt that there was a good balance between Jim Schweitzer's point of view and that of his wife Sarah, at least early on. The undead Navy SEAL's escape and its aftermath will have a profound impact on Doctor Eldredge, who will grow a conscience and realize that the Gemini Cell project goes beyond anything he has ever envisioned. Dadou Alva, another magic-wielder from Port-au-Prince working for another top secret cell, is an interesting addition. Her POV, along with Jawid's, allows readers to discover to what lengths the Director is willing to go to in order to revive the Virgo Cell project. As I mentioned in my review of Gemini Cell, I feel that Cole never did receive the credit he deserves for having a deft human touch which allows him to come up with unexpected emotional scenes packing a powerful punch. This is certainly the case once again in Javelin Rain.
As far as the rhythm is concerned, this book is paced perfectly. Javelin Rain is another smart and action-driven military fantasy offering. You may recall that I felt that both Breach Zone and Gemini Cell suffered from rushed endings. Indeed, I thought that a 300-page set-up and only 30-something pages to close the show felt a bit incongruous. I opined that Cole probably needed more pages to do justice to the story he was telling. Be that as it may, likely because the plot was better balanced this time around, even though Javelin Rain doesn't feature a bigger word count than its predecessors the ending doesn't feel rushed at all. Which is a good thing. But it is another cliffhanger, which is not as good. Still, Javelin Rain is another novel that grabs you and won't let go, so you can be sure that I'll be lining up to read the conclusion!
Myke Cole is definitely for real! If you have yet to give him a shot, please do so ASAP! Decades separate the two series, so you can start with either without missing a beat. Whatever you do, whether you go for the Shadow Ops books or the second series, you can't go wrong!
Myke Cole is not only one of the best military fantasy novelists around. He's fast becoming one of the best fantasy authors out there, period!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
But this new series would focus on the early days of the Great Awakening, when magic first returned to the world and changed everything. Featuring new characters and new storylines, I was wondering if the author could do it again. The Shadow Ops trilogy generated some lofty expectations for whatever came next, and with Gemini Cell Myke Cole proved that his first trilogy was no fluke. With four quality yarns under his belt, there was no reason to doubt that Javelin Rain would be another gripping read. And once again, Cole delivers on basically all fronts!
Here's the blurb:
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost…
Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded “Javelin Rain.” Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not. Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation…
Myke Cole continues to grow as a writer, getting more mature and in better control of his craft with each new book that see the light. As was the case with his previous works, the fact that he served for years in the military and seen active duty allows him to imbue his books with a credibility regarding the realism of the use of magic in military operations and its ramifications up and down the chain of command. Ultimately, this is what gives Cole's books their unique flavor and what differentiates him from his peers. The early days of what will come to be known as the Great Awakening form the backdrop of this new trilogy. Magic has returned to our world and the US military is trying to harness these new powers for their own gain. I was particularly looking forward to finding out how the top secret unit known as the Gemini Cell would grow to become the SOC. Alas, it appears that this second series takes place too early during the Great Awakening, so it won't fill in the blanks created by the questions raised in the Shadow Ops trilogy.
Speaking of which, that first series was a more far-reaching work of fiction, with more protagonists and more multilayered storylines. Though it is no less ambitious, the focus is much tighter in this second trilogy, what with it occurring within a more limited time frame and following the events taking place through the eyes of a smaller cast of characters. Originally, I expected these new books to be as sprawling as the Shadow Ops installments. Yet it appears that Jim Schweitzer's tale, though it will likely kickstart the Great Awakening and everything it will engender, won't be as vast in scope.
As was the case with its predecessors, Javelin Rain is another character-driven affair. Myke Cole always had a knack for creating genuine three-dimensional protagonists with interesting back stories. The smaller cast featuring basically the same POVs as the ones in Gemini Cell allows readers to connect with the characters at a deeper level. Once more, I felt that there was a good balance between Jim Schweitzer's point of view and that of his wife Sarah, at least early on. The undead Navy SEAL's escape and its aftermath will have a profound impact on Doctor Eldredge, who will grow a conscience and realize that the Gemini Cell project goes beyond anything he has ever envisioned. Dadou Alva, another magic-wielder from Port-au-Prince working for another top secret cell, is an interesting addition. Her POV, along with Jawid's, allows readers to discover to what lengths the Director is willing to go to in order to revive the Virgo Cell project. As I mentioned in my review of Gemini Cell, I feel that Cole never did receive the credit he deserves for having a deft human touch which allows him to come up with unexpected emotional scenes packing a powerful punch. This is certainly the case once again in Javelin Rain.
As far as the rhythm is concerned, this book is paced perfectly. Javelin Rain is another smart and action-driven military fantasy offering. You may recall that I felt that both Breach Zone and Gemini Cell suffered from rushed endings. Indeed, I thought that a 300-page set-up and only 30-something pages to close the show felt a bit incongruous. I opined that Cole probably needed more pages to do justice to the story he was telling. Be that as it may, likely because the plot was better balanced this time around, even though Javelin Rain doesn't feature a bigger word count than its predecessors the ending doesn't feel rushed at all. Which is a good thing. But it is another cliffhanger, which is not as good. Still, Javelin Rain is another novel that grabs you and won't let go, so you can be sure that I'll be lining up to read the conclusion!
Myke Cole is definitely for real! If you have yet to give him a shot, please do so ASAP! Decades separate the two series, so you can start with either without missing a beat. Whatever you do, whether you go for the Shadow Ops books or the second series, you can't go wrong!
Myke Cole is not only one of the best military fantasy novelists around. He's fast becoming one of the best fantasy authors out there, period!
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
September 26, 2016
Javelin Rain had so much potential. I loved the first book, Gemini Cell, and hoped for more awesome, namely SEAL Jim Schweitzer, who's super noble and badass and determined to save his family. In this sequel, for some reason, we're introduced to two other unlikable main characters, one of whom is borderline offensive.
I realize Cole's style leans towards archetypes, but Javid's a walking, talking stereotype- no, even more so, a caricature. Not that there isn't repression and chauvinism among some Muslims, but it simply doesn't present like this, with guys getting erections from hand shakes from women, etc. like a bad joke.
Also, I have no problem with cultural critique vis-à-vis Muslims, but Muslims from "the Caucasus" are different and therefore have different issues from other communities- that aren't girl's schooling. There was that too. I know he's tolerant from his blog, and he does write other normal Muslim or Muslim-descended characters, but I get the impression he's not that familiar with them. This could have used beta reading or maybe just cutting. These unlikable characters had a LOT of page time, and that doesn't really contribute to an enjoyable read. It was the same problem he had with his debut novel.
Anyway, I'll read this author because I still enjoy his work. Hoping for good things!
I realize Cole's style leans towards archetypes, but Javid's a walking, talking stereotype- no, even more so, a caricature. Not that there isn't repression and chauvinism among some Muslims, but it simply doesn't present like this, with guys getting erections from hand shakes from women, etc. like a bad joke.
Also, I have no problem with cultural critique vis-à-vis Muslims, but Muslims from "the Caucasus" are different and therefore have different issues from other communities- that aren't girl's schooling. There was that too. I know he's tolerant from his blog, and he does write other normal Muslim or Muslim-descended characters, but I get the impression he's not that familiar with them. This could have used beta reading or maybe just cutting. These unlikable characters had a LOT of page time, and that doesn't really contribute to an enjoyable read. It was the same problem he had with his debut novel.
Anyway, I'll read this author because I still enjoy his work. Hoping for good things!
March 29, 2016
First of all, The Shadow Ops books are automatic buys for me, and if you follow my ranting reviews you should have already read this series, and I will not spoil any of you slow arses who haven't yet. (so there)
Myke Cole's world and storytelling gets tighter, better and more bad ass with each book and how the HELL that's possible is beyond me. It is the perfect storm, the balance between strong well developed fantasy and sheer fist pumping badassness (that's not a word, I'm on a roll I don't care) Even though it is the middle book in this current trilogy it really doesn't in my opinion suffer from middle book syndrome, matter of fact, I think it is among if not his current best book.
Yes, I am a unabashed fan, and not objective at all, but if you want a terrific read for the upcoming summer months, go buy all the Shadow Ops books, give this man MONEY! He has stories to tell, and wargame stuff to buy. A strong 27 out of 5 stars from me! (common core math)
Myke Cole's world and storytelling gets tighter, better and more bad ass with each book and how the HELL that's possible is beyond me. It is the perfect storm, the balance between strong well developed fantasy and sheer fist pumping badassness (that's not a word, I'm on a roll I don't care) Even though it is the middle book in this current trilogy it really doesn't in my opinion suffer from middle book syndrome, matter of fact, I think it is among if not his current best book.
Yes, I am a unabashed fan, and not objective at all, but if you want a terrific read for the upcoming summer months, go buy all the Shadow Ops books, give this man MONEY! He has stories to tell, and wargame stuff to buy. A strong 27 out of 5 stars from me! (common core math)
May 15, 2016
Eh. I really enjoyed Cole's first few books but this one was just... unnecessarily macho. Lots of action, lots of talk about protecting women, lots of non-white characters who die. I don't think I'll read the next.
October 21, 2018
“He channeled his despair into a stomp that collapsed the Gold’s chest, crushing the sternum and revealing the gray edges of a heart pierced by its shattered ribs. He lifted the thing by its neck and hauled it over his head, slamming it on the ground again and again, stomping and wrenching.
Crack. Crack. Crack. Bones crunching like gunshots. The thing writhed in his grip, but it was helpless to fight, first against his brutal strength and then its own steadily reducing armature, as its own bones broke into fragments.”
Javelin Rain is the sequel to Gemini Cell, which I read in August. It picks up immediately after those events. I’m assuming that you’ve read that or at the very least, are a monster who reads reviews of books further in a series like some kind of savage with no fucks given. In either case, there will be a few spoilery bits because with a series like this, it’s virtually impossible not to write about what previously happened. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
This is Universal Soldier meets Terminator meets Jason Bourne.. a gut-punchy, action-packed military fantasy. It’s like a frantic storm that is over before you know it.
I loved most of Javelin Rain. However, it wasn’t without fault. I had issues with the stereotyping of one character in particular. As I said in my review for Gemini Cell, Cole did a fantastic job of writing characters with actual depth. “Because representation matters. So goddamn much. Myke Cole handles this with such care and attention. Jim’s wife Sarah was written with such depth. She could have easily become a stereotype, but Myke didn’t allow that to happen and I am incredibly grateful for that!” Unfortunately, much of the characterization of Jawid in Javelin Rain got under my skin and stayed there longer than I would have liked.
Jawid is a Muslim. In a military book filled with white dudes, he is one of the main antagonists. He is the only one that demonstrates any religious beliefs in the story. See where I’m getting at here? My problem is, I’ve read Myke’s work before and have followed him for ages on Twitter. Do I think he meant to write a problematic character? I truly don’t. Not at all. But I write honest reviews and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it. I imagine there are some issues surrounding Dadou Alva, the Haitian sorcerer that has a tragic backstory as well. Although I couldn’t stand her for most of the book.. I did find myself sympathizing with her. Personally, I think she is another successful female character from Cole. There is more to her than meets the eye. Even if you find her hard to relate to, you can’t deny that she is a complex, intriguing character.
Javelin Rain is an intensely emotional, unrelentingly violent read. This is probably Cole’s least hopeful book that I’ve read, yet. Which.. if you’ve read The Queen of Crows, you know that book is grim and Heloise goes through quite the ordeal. But goddamn. Jim Schweitzer goes through some SHIT, man.
Ultimately, this is a story about the love a man has for his partner and child. The struggle to hold onto his humanity, while being decidedly inhuman. This pulled on my heart strings a bit (A LOT). There is something so fucking raw and beautiful about the relationship between Jim and Sarah. It’s quite literally.. magical.
“But the magic that linked them would not be denied. She could feel it dragging at her chest, a physical thing, a ship’s line tying them together..”
Jim is essentially a monster. He died in Gemini Cell and then came back as this.. zombie warrior. His skin is grey and pulled over mechanical prosthetics, his eyes are silver orbs and his body is pumped full of chemicals. These creations are spirits that are binded to corpses by sorcerers. He escaped the Gemini Cell and is now a fugitive on the run with his family, trying to survive just the most harrowing shit thrown at him by these magic-wielding mercenaries. It’s bonkers!
I’m a fan of chase books and action movies. If you aren’t, perhaps you would feel that this installment is just a bridge between the first and last in the trilogy, but I didn’t think it suffered from the second book syndrome at all. In fact, I am continuously impressed with the worldbuilding and explosive storytelling that Myke Cole is able to produce in such compact volumes. No matter the series, he writes compulsively readable books!
Crack. Crack. Crack. Bones crunching like gunshots. The thing writhed in his grip, but it was helpless to fight, first against his brutal strength and then its own steadily reducing armature, as its own bones broke into fragments.”
Javelin Rain is the sequel to Gemini Cell, which I read in August. It picks up immediately after those events. I’m assuming that you’ve read that or at the very least, are a monster who reads reviews of books further in a series like some kind of savage with no fucks given. In either case, there will be a few spoilery bits because with a series like this, it’s virtually impossible not to write about what previously happened. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
This is Universal Soldier meets Terminator meets Jason Bourne.. a gut-punchy, action-packed military fantasy. It’s like a frantic storm that is over before you know it.
I loved most of Javelin Rain. However, it wasn’t without fault. I had issues with the stereotyping of one character in particular. As I said in my review for Gemini Cell, Cole did a fantastic job of writing characters with actual depth. “Because representation matters. So goddamn much. Myke Cole handles this with such care and attention. Jim’s wife Sarah was written with such depth. She could have easily become a stereotype, but Myke didn’t allow that to happen and I am incredibly grateful for that!” Unfortunately, much of the characterization of Jawid in Javelin Rain got under my skin and stayed there longer than I would have liked.
Jawid is a Muslim. In a military book filled with white dudes, he is one of the main antagonists. He is the only one that demonstrates any religious beliefs in the story. See where I’m getting at here? My problem is, I’ve read Myke’s work before and have followed him for ages on Twitter. Do I think he meant to write a problematic character? I truly don’t. Not at all. But I write honest reviews and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it. I imagine there are some issues surrounding Dadou Alva, the Haitian sorcerer that has a tragic backstory as well. Although I couldn’t stand her for most of the book.. I did find myself sympathizing with her. Personally, I think she is another successful female character from Cole. There is more to her than meets the eye. Even if you find her hard to relate to, you can’t deny that she is a complex, intriguing character.
Javelin Rain is an intensely emotional, unrelentingly violent read. This is probably Cole’s least hopeful book that I’ve read, yet. Which.. if you’ve read The Queen of Crows, you know that book is grim and Heloise goes through quite the ordeal. But goddamn. Jim Schweitzer goes through some SHIT, man.
Ultimately, this is a story about the love a man has for his partner and child. The struggle to hold onto his humanity, while being decidedly inhuman. This pulled on my heart strings a bit (A LOT). There is something so fucking raw and beautiful about the relationship between Jim and Sarah. It’s quite literally.. magical.
“But the magic that linked them would not be denied. She could feel it dragging at her chest, a physical thing, a ship’s line tying them together..”
Jim is essentially a monster. He died in Gemini Cell and then came back as this.. zombie warrior. His skin is grey and pulled over mechanical prosthetics, his eyes are silver orbs and his body is pumped full of chemicals. These creations are spirits that are binded to corpses by sorcerers. He escaped the Gemini Cell and is now a fugitive on the run with his family, trying to survive just the most harrowing shit thrown at him by these magic-wielding mercenaries. It’s bonkers!
I’m a fan of chase books and action movies. If you aren’t, perhaps you would feel that this installment is just a bridge between the first and last in the trilogy, but I didn’t think it suffered from the second book syndrome at all. In fact, I am continuously impressed with the worldbuilding and explosive storytelling that Myke Cole is able to produce in such compact volumes. No matter the series, he writes compulsively readable books!
March 30, 2016
Javelin Rain by Myke Cole is the second book of his second, prequel trilogy. If you haven’t read Myke’s four other books, I’m going to at least assume you’ve read the first book in this trilogy, Gemini Cell. This review will contain spoilers for that book. So fair warning.
In the first trilogy, magic had fully re-entered the world. People are aware of it in the sense that they are aware of icebergs. Most of it is hidden away behind military contracts and classification. But in this trilogy, humans are only getting their first taste of magic. Only a few people know about it, and all they really know is how little they do know because of experiments. Experiments like Jim Schweitzer–a former Navy SEAL whose reanimated corpse was endowed with super powers thanks to a malevolent djinn that shared Schweitzer’s body. When we last left Jim, he had cast out the djinn, taken sole custody of his body, and reunited with his wife and young son. Javelin Rain picks up right where the last book leaves off with Jim’s family on the run, and it doesn’t slow down.
The introductory materials to the book state:
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost…
Think loose nuke. Only this time, Jim is the nuke. And he’s on the loose. And the people that made him will go through anyone and anything to get him back, with the blessing of the U.S. government. Jim may be a one of a kind monster, but he’s not the only monster. And on top of the monsters, there are also operators like Jim used to be joining in on the hunt.
And while Jim, a reanimated corpse, can go without food and rest, his wife and son cannot. And it’s that division between human and monster that drives a large portion of Javelin Rain. Although Jim wants nothing more than to be a happy family again, it’s just not going to happen. He can’t be a husband or a father when he is essentially a modern Frankenstein’s monster. He’s cut off from his wife, and his death and reappearance are clearly scarring his son’s young mind. It’s a painful realization. And combined with the dangers Jim and his family face in this book, it makes for a relentless, dark read.
This is a bit of a change from Cole’s earlier books. While there are still plenty of action sequences that mix magic and the military, this is a chase novel with a tight focus on the negative consequences of exposure to magic. Previous protagonists worked to forge a new life or a new world view. That process was difficult and not without costs. But the protagonists survived. Jim, on the other hand, is utterly wrecked, physically and emotionally, over the course of this novel.
And he’s not the only one. Back at the center that created Jim, they went from triumph (the creation of Jim) to utter defeat (Jim’s escape). And management’s decisions regarding the hunt for Jim are making employees question their priorities. Only, there is no walking away from this program. They are trapped and growing desperate. The center threatens to either implode or explode. Can it remain secret? Can it continue to experiment with magic? What happens when they bring in a new sorcerer, a ruthless who isn’t too concerned about collateral damage? (By the way, she is an incredible character–broken, cold, and utterly compelling. She steals the scene, every time she’s “on stage”)
Look, this is Myke Cole’s fifth book. Ever since Control Point, I’ve been on board, snapping up his books as quickly as I can. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a fan. Cole has always had great world building, and his characters have continued to improve with each book. This is no exception–it’s his best yet. His pacing has also sped up, making this book incredibly hard to put down. I just wonder how he will go from Javelin Rain to Siege Line, the final book in the prequel trilogy. There are a lot of questions left to answer. And I can’t wait to see what Myke Cole has in store for readers.
In the first trilogy, magic had fully re-entered the world. People are aware of it in the sense that they are aware of icebergs. Most of it is hidden away behind military contracts and classification. But in this trilogy, humans are only getting their first taste of magic. Only a few people know about it, and all they really know is how little they do know because of experiments. Experiments like Jim Schweitzer–a former Navy SEAL whose reanimated corpse was endowed with super powers thanks to a malevolent djinn that shared Schweitzer’s body. When we last left Jim, he had cast out the djinn, taken sole custody of his body, and reunited with his wife and young son. Javelin Rain picks up right where the last book leaves off with Jim’s family on the run, and it doesn’t slow down.
The introductory materials to the book state:
Javelin: A code denoting the loss of a national security asset with strategic impact.
Rain: A code indicating a crisis of existential proportions.
Javelin Rain incidents must be resolved immediately, by any and all means necessary, no matter what the cost…
Think loose nuke. Only this time, Jim is the nuke. And he’s on the loose. And the people that made him will go through anyone and anything to get him back, with the blessing of the U.S. government. Jim may be a one of a kind monster, but he’s not the only monster. And on top of the monsters, there are also operators like Jim used to be joining in on the hunt.
And while Jim, a reanimated corpse, can go without food and rest, his wife and son cannot. And it’s that division between human and monster that drives a large portion of Javelin Rain. Although Jim wants nothing more than to be a happy family again, it’s just not going to happen. He can’t be a husband or a father when he is essentially a modern Frankenstein’s monster. He’s cut off from his wife, and his death and reappearance are clearly scarring his son’s young mind. It’s a painful realization. And combined with the dangers Jim and his family face in this book, it makes for a relentless, dark read.
This is a bit of a change from Cole’s earlier books. While there are still plenty of action sequences that mix magic and the military, this is a chase novel with a tight focus on the negative consequences of exposure to magic. Previous protagonists worked to forge a new life or a new world view. That process was difficult and not without costs. But the protagonists survived. Jim, on the other hand, is utterly wrecked, physically and emotionally, over the course of this novel.
And he’s not the only one. Back at the center that created Jim, they went from triumph (the creation of Jim) to utter defeat (Jim’s escape). And management’s decisions regarding the hunt for Jim are making employees question their priorities. Only, there is no walking away from this program. They are trapped and growing desperate. The center threatens to either implode or explode. Can it remain secret? Can it continue to experiment with magic? What happens when they bring in a new sorcerer, a ruthless who isn’t too concerned about collateral damage? (By the way, she is an incredible character–broken, cold, and utterly compelling. She steals the scene, every time she’s “on stage”)
Look, this is Myke Cole’s fifth book. Ever since Control Point, I’ve been on board, snapping up his books as quickly as I can. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a fan. Cole has always had great world building, and his characters have continued to improve with each book. This is no exception–it’s his best yet. His pacing has also sped up, making this book incredibly hard to put down. I just wonder how he will go from Javelin Rain to Siege Line, the final book in the prequel trilogy. There are a lot of questions left to answer. And I can’t wait to see what Myke Cole has in store for readers.
May 4, 2016
The tragedy of Jim Schweitzer's undead existence continues with Javelin Rain.
At the beginning of the book, Jim is trying to go on the run with his wife and toddler son. However, he is pursued by undead soldiers whose bodies have been melded with "demons", souls torn from the afterlife and pushed into corpses. Most of these other soldiers have been taken over by their demons and are almost uncontrollable. When Jim reanimated, however, he was able to hold on to himself and even eventually banished his demon while maintaining his existence on the mortal plane. It's a long story, and you really should read Gemini Cell to understand all the background.
Meanwhile, we the readers begin to learn more about who really pulls the strings of the Gemini operation. There is, of course, more than meets the eye going on and things are even worse than they seemed. A new necromancer is introduced. Her goal is to be able to put a demon into a living person and she hasn't succeeded yet, but is very enthusiastic about her project.
I didn't think this book was quite as strong as Gemini Cell. It's a second book, and most of its purpose was to set up the players for a future conflict that will probably be the resolution of the series. Myke Cole had a hard task here, because the idea of a woman and small child going on the run and avoiding supernatural powers in pursuit is very difficult to write "realistically", and I think he ended up pulling a punch. However, he still followed at least one character through to a logical conclusion of their fate. These aren't exactly feel-good books, and although Jim is a viewpoint character, I really don't see how a positive outcome could happen for him.
On another level, the book continues to be a meditation on what makes monsters, how combat changes a person and how monstrous people feel they've become after they have taken lives.
I can't say that I'm "enjoying" this series, because it is mighty grim. However, I'm in it for the story- I have to find out what happens next. I hope that Cole writes a living protagonist for his next series, though.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
At the beginning of the book, Jim is trying to go on the run with his wife and toddler son. However, he is pursued by undead soldiers whose bodies have been melded with "demons", souls torn from the afterlife and pushed into corpses. Most of these other soldiers have been taken over by their demons and are almost uncontrollable. When Jim reanimated, however, he was able to hold on to himself and even eventually banished his demon while maintaining his existence on the mortal plane. It's a long story, and you really should read Gemini Cell to understand all the background.
Meanwhile, we the readers begin to learn more about who really pulls the strings of the Gemini operation. There is, of course, more than meets the eye going on and things are even worse than they seemed. A new necromancer is introduced. Her goal is to be able to put a demon into a living person and she hasn't succeeded yet, but is very enthusiastic about her project.
I didn't think this book was quite as strong as Gemini Cell. It's a second book, and most of its purpose was to set up the players for a future conflict that will probably be the resolution of the series. Myke Cole had a hard task here, because the idea of a woman and small child going on the run and avoiding supernatural powers in pursuit is very difficult to write "realistically", and I think he ended up pulling a punch. However, he still followed at least one character through to a logical conclusion of their fate. These aren't exactly feel-good books, and although Jim is a viewpoint character, I really don't see how a positive outcome could happen for him.
On another level, the book continues to be a meditation on what makes monsters, how combat changes a person and how monstrous people feel they've become after they have taken lives.
I can't say that I'm "enjoying" this series, because it is mighty grim. However, I'm in it for the story- I have to find out what happens next. I hope that Cole writes a living protagonist for his next series, though.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2016
Javelin Rain is an outstanding fantasy/sci-fi thriller that moves fast and doesn't let you catch your breath. It is book two in the series but you can jump right in, the author catches you up immediately and the race is on. The black op government program by putting jinns inside soldiers so once they are dead, they can come back and fight some more. Now the soldiers will be under the control of the sorceress or wizard, or should be under the control. Jim is the only one that fought off the jinn and is in control of his own dead body. He needs to stop the program because they are after his family now. There are terrifying robotic soldiers, crazed politicians, non-stop action, amazing imaginative ideas, great plot, wonderfully crafted characters, and even a romance! I can't tell too much, don't want to spoil it, but this is a book for the library of a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, it has both. The story draws you in, I was hooked. The fight scenes are blow by blow but seem to fly by. The feelings of the characters seem so real. Great story, I have to read book number one now! I received this book for a honest review and it in no way affected my ratings or content of the review. I am very glad I had the chance to read this exciting book.
May 22, 2016
I've been waiting for this book before reading Shadow Ops books, having read Gemini Cell last year. I've heard that the authors books have got better with each book and this his latest just blew me away. Just so good. I really hope that I'm not disappointed when I read his earlier work. Wondering if choosing to read in chronological order rather than publishing order doesn't spoil the experience.?? I couldn't put this down and it's been years since I've kept reading like I have with this one, my attention span not being what it once was. Age is a cruel thing sometimes! lol!
Highly recommend this - read the other reviews for more details, others give those details so much better than I could
Highly recommend this - read the other reviews for more details, others give those details so much better than I could
April 10, 2016
This book starts off moments after Gemini Cell and doesn't stop moving. No spoilers, but now I need to hire someone in Boy Scout cosplay to follow Myke around at a con asking him "why, Mr. Cole? Why?" Disclaimer- the author is a marvelous chap at cons, also very funny in Twitter.
December 29, 2016
Hızlı okunuyor, eğlenceli ama ilk kitaba göre bir şeyler eksik. İlk kitaptaki yenilik hissi bunda yok. Temel problem artık kahramanın özdeşleşilemeyecek kadar insanlıktan çıkmış olması. Onun mücadelesi gerçek hissi vermiyor.
February 15, 2020
Another solid offering, looking forward to the finale.
March 29, 2016
Javelin Rain by Myke Cole picks up immediately after Gemini Cell, the first novel in the precursor series to Cole's Shadow-Ops Trilogy - Control Point, Fortress Frontier and Breach Zone. The Great Reawakening (the return of magic to the world) has not yet happened. However, magic is being used and probed and the Gemini Cell has created 'zombies' - dead animated by the souls of powerful and evil jinn pulled from the soul storm by a sorcerer. Jim Schweitzer (now an immortal undead ex-Navy SEAL) is on the run from Gemini Cell with his wife, Sarah, and their young son, Patrick. Gemini Cell wants Jim back or dead. Jim wants to protect his family.
In Javelin Rain plot nearly takes a back seat to the characters. For me this was really a story about a man's love for his family (Jim 's love for Sarah and Patrick) and the lengths he will go to protect them. Jim realizes, but somehow does not really get, that he can't be with his family anymore. His love for his wife is magical and drives him to behave in ways not at all consistent with his training as a SEAL. He's at the point where he has nothing to lose - he's already dead. - and nothing and no one will stop him from protecting his family.
Jawid Rahimi and Dadou Alva are sorcerers and are able to pull jinns/souls from the soul storm into a dead body. Jawid is quickly unraveling. Events from the Gemini Cell seemingly have unhinged him in ways that don't appear to be completely recognized by the people he's working with. He's always been quiet and loner. He's portrayed as a simple person in many ways, but he is constantly fighting against his very strict Muslim upbringing. What he does for the Gemini Cell can't be more antithetical to his religious upbringing and he is constantly at war within himself.
Dadou Alva is a horrible person. She is brought in to work with Jawid. She has no redeeming qualities. She's manipulative, murderous and mean. Her background is explained but it is not enough to elicit any sympathy for the psychological / emotional wreck that she is. I honestly kept hoping she would meet an unpretty demise. However, while I despised her she is incredibly memorable.
Jim is becoming more and more the immortal 'zombie' than in Gemini Cell - a thinking 'zombie' but still losing more and more of his humanity. He's constantly fighting his new self. He deeply loves his family and it is heartrending to watch him realize that he can not be with them anymore. He knows he can't, yet he yearns and hopes. There are times when his love for his wife overwhelms his training as a Navy SEAL, but he is always determined to protect his family no matter what.
Javelin Rain is a transitional novel between Gemini Cell and the next novel in the series. This is not a bad thing. Nothing is really resolved, but Jim knows what he must do. Bad things happen. Frightening things are revealed, but the novel left me with more questions than answers.
As always Cole's writing is taut and the pacing intense. This is Cole's most deeply emotional work. Having a window seat on Schweitzer's emotions and thoughts is devastating. Cole has deepened the history of the Gemini Cell program and there is still more to be revealed and more uncovered.
In Javelin Rain plot nearly takes a back seat to the characters. For me this was really a story about a man's love for his family (Jim 's love for Sarah and Patrick) and the lengths he will go to protect them. Jim realizes, but somehow does not really get, that he can't be with his family anymore. His love for his wife is magical and drives him to behave in ways not at all consistent with his training as a SEAL. He's at the point where he has nothing to lose - he's already dead. - and nothing and no one will stop him from protecting his family.
Jawid Rahimi and Dadou Alva are sorcerers and are able to pull jinns/souls from the soul storm into a dead body. Jawid is quickly unraveling. Events from the Gemini Cell seemingly have unhinged him in ways that don't appear to be completely recognized by the people he's working with. He's always been quiet and loner. He's portrayed as a simple person in many ways, but he is constantly fighting against his very strict Muslim upbringing. What he does for the Gemini Cell can't be more antithetical to his religious upbringing and he is constantly at war within himself.
Dadou Alva is a horrible person. She is brought in to work with Jawid. She has no redeeming qualities. She's manipulative, murderous and mean. Her background is explained but it is not enough to elicit any sympathy for the psychological / emotional wreck that she is. I honestly kept hoping she would meet an unpretty demise. However, while I despised her she is incredibly memorable.
Jim is becoming more and more the immortal 'zombie' than in Gemini Cell - a thinking 'zombie' but still losing more and more of his humanity. He's constantly fighting his new self. He deeply loves his family and it is heartrending to watch him realize that he can not be with them anymore. He knows he can't, yet he yearns and hopes. There are times when his love for his wife overwhelms his training as a Navy SEAL, but he is always determined to protect his family no matter what.
Javelin Rain is a transitional novel between Gemini Cell and the next novel in the series. This is not a bad thing. Nothing is really resolved, but Jim knows what he must do. Bad things happen. Frightening things are revealed, but the novel left me with more questions than answers.
As always Cole's writing is taut and the pacing intense. This is Cole's most deeply emotional work. Having a window seat on Schweitzer's emotions and thoughts is devastating. Cole has deepened the history of the Gemini Cell program and there is still more to be revealed and more uncovered.
March 30, 2016
Being a US Navy SEAL was Jim Schweitzer’s life right up until the day he was killed. Now, his escape from the government who raised him from the dead has been coded "Javelin Rain." Schweitzer and his family are on the run from his former unit, the Gemini Cell, and while he may be immortal, his wife and son are not.
Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation
My Review:
Would you believe me if I said I have no idea why I like this book so much? I mean really. I don't like zombies, I don't get the apocalypse stuff, there are a crazy amount of plot holes, some stuff just feels thrown in, I only picked it up because of its cover.
I mean seriously. I love the cover work for this book. That's the only reason I requested it.
However I couldn't put it down once I started it. You get suspense, you get these crazy ass fight scenes, you get the angst/family/tortured hero aspect, you get so much that comes with this book but a lot of it doesn't seem to mesh but you want it anyway. I love the weirdness.
Its the whole Gears of War Dom saying "We're screwed" with bonus the crazy shit in the middle of those pause slow motion moments when you're staring down the scope with a bullseye right between your eyes mixed with a pinch of fairy dust.
Hell considering I don't tend to like these kinds of books I read it twice.
I have to really credit Cole for creating a character and a world that I enjoyed so much despite not liking it at all. Its a winner. My poor broken Itz. Half his story doesn't make sense but I still like it anyway.
My Rating:
Reviewed By:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Booklikes
Goodreads
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Amazon
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Source:
Received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing via Netgalley
Note:
If any of Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! Thank you!
Jim must use all of his strength to keep his family safe, while convincing his wife he’s still the same man she once loved. Only what his former allies have planned to bring him down could mean disaster not only for Jim and his family, but for the entire nation
My Review:
Would you believe me if I said I have no idea why I like this book so much? I mean really. I don't like zombies, I don't get the apocalypse stuff, there are a crazy amount of plot holes, some stuff just feels thrown in, I only picked it up because of its cover.
I mean seriously. I love the cover work for this book. That's the only reason I requested it.
However I couldn't put it down once I started it. You get suspense, you get these crazy ass fight scenes, you get the angst/family/tortured hero aspect, you get so much that comes with this book but a lot of it doesn't seem to mesh but you want it anyway. I love the weirdness.
Its the whole Gears of War Dom saying "We're screwed" with bonus the crazy shit in the middle of those pause slow motion moments when you're staring down the scope with a bullseye right between your eyes mixed with a pinch of fairy dust.
Hell considering I don't tend to like these kinds of books I read it twice.
I have to really credit Cole for creating a character and a world that I enjoyed so much despite not liking it at all. Its a winner. My poor broken Itz. Half his story doesn't make sense but I still like it anyway.
My Rating:
Reviewed By:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Booklikes
Goodreads
Google Plus
Blogger
Amazon
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Source:
Received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing via Netgalley
Note:
If any of Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! Thank you!
August 8, 2016
This book is the direct sequel to Gemini Cell, and it's very much the middle book in a trilogy. It won't stand by itself, but it develops more characters and more background, and that effort takes away from a more complete plot.
But...a good action scene can't just have excitement and a descriptive narrative so you can follow what's going on.
A good action scene has a sense of PERIL; you have to believe there are stakes, that the characters are in danger, and that the author will kill them the same as anyone could die in that situation.
Javelin Rain had scenes so tense I found myself clenching my fists on the book.
I can't wait for the third book.
But...a good action scene can't just have excitement and a descriptive narrative so you can follow what's going on.
A good action scene has a sense of PERIL; you have to believe there are stakes, that the characters are in danger, and that the author will kill them the same as anyone could die in that situation.
Javelin Rain had scenes so tense I found myself clenching my fists on the book.
I can't wait for the third book.
April 28, 2016
I was fortunate to find and follow Myke Cole shortly after the release of his first book. You will always read expert opinions about people that they are better with each work. Half the time that's not true. In Myke's case it is. Each book leading you to the next, impatiently waiting for the author to finish.. hint, hint. To date this is the best which is hard to believe sense I'm sure I said that about his last.
April 18, 2016
Been a fan of Myke's from the start and love the first trilogy , so this series had a hard act to follow the first book was slow starting and built up towards the end But this Wow from start to end just wow feel this is by far the best work yet ....! Now for the next instalment Myke needs to better this I know he can
October 6, 2016
Now this is more of my pace for reading! This book was kick ass from start to finish. With all the super hero movies and shows that are being made someone needs to jump on this ASAP! So much action so much cool stuff happening. The first book in the series was good but man this one just took off after the first chapter. Keep writing Mr. Cole I wanna find out what happens!
October 18, 2017
Myke Cole improves with each book. I expected the action to be stellar and it was. However, Myke surprised me with how compelling the POV's of the villains were. I bought this as an e book but like it so much i bought a paper copy to put on my shelf.
September 23, 2016
This book didn't hit the heights set by Gemini Cell but it still was an entertaining read. Javelin Rain is non stop action from the start which never lets up. No real conclusion to this book but it sets things up nicely for the next installment. Looking forward to it. 3.5 stars .
March 3, 2016
Full review soon on www.tor.com and www.farbeyondreality.com.
October 23, 2016
3-3.5 stars.
I actually listened to this via Audible but that edition isn't listed on Goodreads.
I actually listened to this via Audible but that edition isn't listed on Goodreads.
July 16, 2025
2.75 out 5 stars
The book did not resonate with me and part of the problem may of have been that I was not in the right frame of mind to appreciate the story.
Javelin Rain is the second book in the second arc of the Shadow Ops series. This series has a navy seal, Jim Schweitzer, who has been killed and reanimated and is now on the run from the agency that brought him back to life. In the last book Jim had found his wife and son and he is now trying to evade pursuit and protect his family at the same time. In the ensuing pursuit, his wife is killed and comes back as a pseudo-Djinn in the body of a mercenary killed early in the book. In the end Jim leaves his son with Eldredge, the former director of the agency, who has had an epiphany about the direction the agency is going in. Jim saves the life a Senator Hodges, one of the few people who might have the resources to shut the program down.
The book never delivered on a few interesting points hinted at in the first book. There was the question of who killed him and why (from the first book). Also, there seemed to be a dark menacing conspiracy within his unit that seemed to incriminate them in Jim’s death. Both these elements were teased at nicely in the first book, but never really addressed in Javelin Rain.
The book did introduce two news characters, The Director - who turns out to be a reanimated zombie like Jim who seems to have his own agenda - and, Dadou Alva, a sorceress who can bring the dead back to life. Dadou, was a well written, conflicted character with an amoral view who dies at the end of the book. The Director, seems to be the guy with all the answers and hopefully he will be sharing them in the last book Siege Line.
The book did not resonate with me and part of the problem may of have been that I was not in the right frame of mind to appreciate the story.
Javelin Rain is the second book in the second arc of the Shadow Ops series. This series has a navy seal, Jim Schweitzer, who has been killed and reanimated and is now on the run from the agency that brought him back to life. In the last book Jim had found his wife and son and he is now trying to evade pursuit and protect his family at the same time. In the ensuing pursuit, his wife is killed and comes back as a pseudo-Djinn in the body of a mercenary killed early in the book. In the end Jim leaves his son with Eldredge, the former director of the agency, who has had an epiphany about the direction the agency is going in. Jim saves the life a Senator Hodges, one of the few people who might have the resources to shut the program down.
The book never delivered on a few interesting points hinted at in the first book. There was the question of who killed him and why (from the first book). Also, there seemed to be a dark menacing conspiracy within his unit that seemed to incriminate them in Jim’s death. Both these elements were teased at nicely in the first book, but never really addressed in Javelin Rain.
The book did introduce two news characters, The Director - who turns out to be a reanimated zombie like Jim who seems to have his own agenda - and, Dadou Alva, a sorceress who can bring the dead back to life. Dadou, was a well written, conflicted character with an amoral view who dies at the end of the book. The Director, seems to be the guy with all the answers and hopefully he will be sharing them in the last book Siege Line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2019
(14) c2015: Mr Cole does not usually pull his punches and this book follows in the same vein. A lot of people die! In various and inventful ways. The inner dialogue sometimes got a little too much but I suppose that as there isn't much external dialogue this is the one way the author can build up the character although, at time, it really jarred. Despite this, it is an exploration of what it means to be a 'good' person and despite all the bloodshed, action packed pages, the characters of Jim Schweitzer and Dadou Alva will linger. So will the image of Jim being held together with duct tape fighting a mercenary whilst missing one arm. Definitely recommended to the normal crew. ' Sarah was silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, the defeat in her voice made him cringe. "Jim, you're dead. Patrick and I are alive."
September 6, 2017
Couldn't finish. The first few chapters, the ones available for free on goodreads or whatever, were nice and intriguing. But when you get the book and read further on, the story is bland. Nothing special. With the sort world-building or plots that are easily forgotten or become hollywood movies featuring mediocre white men. A man that must save his family is such a snore and repetitive story for me, apparently. They'd fit right in with Hollywood, nothing that would really make you think or cause surprise.
November 13, 2017
This book was not as strong as the first book but it was still fast fun. There wans't as much of a character struggle, mostly just plot and action. Not good enough to be a favorite or be recommended to anyone who isn't specifically looking for military fantasy (admittedly that's a very small sub-genre), but it was a quick read that was good enough to keep the pages turning. Although I did take a very long break in the middle to finish some Star Wars books, I still wanted to finish it after I was done.
May 28, 2020
What went wrong
Having read the previous books in the series I had high hopes for this book, oh how disappointed I was. I got to 70% through the book and gave up. To put this in perspective I have 840 books on my kindle, I have only ever give up on 3 other books previously
The positive, it's fundamentally a good story
The negatives are unfortunately plentiful, but the primary one being the story is all over the place and so verbose I became bored reading the words to get any meaningful progress of the story itself
Having read the previous books in the series I had high hopes for this book, oh how disappointed I was. I got to 70% through the book and gave up. To put this in perspective I have 840 books on my kindle, I have only ever give up on 3 other books previously
The positive, it's fundamentally a good story
The negatives are unfortunately plentiful, but the primary one being the story is all over the place and so verbose I became bored reading the words to get any meaningful progress of the story itself
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