Terran Armor Corps

A short review this time as life got a bit too hectic and it was 2 weeks after finishing Volume 2 before I found the time to type up the review. However, that should in no way detract from the quality of this book. It was brilliant, from start to finish. If you are in to your military sci-fi, which I very much am, this series is an absolute must with the sequel matching Volume 1’s quality.

Volume 2 again follows Roland and co not just through turbulent combat but internal turmoil as well. When I first started this series, I thought that the phrase ‘I am Armor’ was a bit cheesy, but by the end of Volume 2 I am right there with Roland and every other member of a lance chanting to my very core. Each of the three books that make up Volume 2 follow a continuous story but with very different feels, with Book 1 being more of an internal squabble of the Terran Union, Book 2 being middle-intensity combat with a wide range of expansion on this brilliant universe, and Book 3 being an all-out action-fest of ground and space combat that was awesome in the original sense of the word. All three hit a different mark and together produced an extremely well-round volume.

I know when a book is going to score high when it gets a truly emotional response from me. It can take a lot to get these book-weary bones of mine to truly feel anything anymore, but Volume 2 did this to me not once but twice. Once was a clash of loyalties the like of which I have read so many times that I thought it would be just another example of a common narrative device, but here this oft used storyline was distilled to perfection. And I mean, absolute, heart-rending perfection. I tangibly felt the conflict tearing the characters apart as they were forced to choose between what they believed was right and what they saw as their duty. I felt genuine grief that lingered with me long after I pressed pause, and that alone would have been enough to make Volume 2 score high. The second depth-welling emotional response this Volume delivered was a plot twist. I shan’t give anything away about it other than it made me stop what I was doing at the time (pruning a tomato plant) and shout out loud ‘oh my god!’. It was perfectly done, and I had no idea it was coming. A true gut punch that left you reeling for hours after. Perfection.

In summation, Volume 2 is a great successor to Volume 1. I feel like I know each of the main characters, the universe they live in, and the trials and tribulations they have to wade through as if I were one of them myself. It’s an awesome set of books, and once again, a very smart move to bunch the three of them together in one volume. The whole thing was all around brilliant.

As for narration, Luke Daniels was once again fantastic. I’ve never heard him as a narrator prior to this series, but now I will certainly look out for him again. The man has range, morphing seamlessly from up-tight military types to slathering aliens. A true professional.

Personal Score: 5 stars

Professional Score: 5 stars

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