| Title | : | Kinetic Strike (Drop Trooper, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 316 |
| Publication | : | First published May 18, 2020 |
Cam Alvarez is a Drop-Trooper. A warrior-knight wrapped in the futuristic armor of a high-tech battlesuit, and he’s one of the best. When he’s promoted to sergeant and asked to become a leader, he faces a whole new challenge. The Marines are striking deep into enemy territory and the casualties are mounting.
Cam is torn, knowing his job is to follow orders and carry out the battle plan, even if he doesn’t agree with it. But his squad has become his family, and now he’s being asked to lead his family into battle, knowing it will mean their deaths.
Can a Marine squad leader come up with a better battle plan than the high command? And will anyone listen if he does?
Grab the explosive second installment of Rick Partlow's newest Military Sci-Fi Series and find out!
Kinetic Strike (Drop Trooper, #2) Reviews
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Cam Alverez continues his advance against the enemy as a Drop-Troop Marine in Drop Trooper Book 2, Kinetic Strike. This is a solid stand-alone military mech SF novel and you need not have read Book 1 to enjoy it. Though I think you’ll want to follow the series from the beginning in order to tag along with Cam as he goes from a desperate loner in Trans-Angeles on Earth to a seasoned soldier and talented leader battling an alien invasion among the stars.
The author, Rick Partlow, is a really good story teller, balancing important description (without a heavy dose of techno-jargon) with well-rounded characters in tense situations. This is definitely a plot-driven, fast paced, exciting adventure but Cam is ‘real’, his friends are not two-dimensional, and the action is believable. This is an adult military SF book, so rough language is sprinkled throughout, but not overused, imo. I enjoyed book one immensely and was glad to read book two. Will definitely follow the series. -
Continued Excellence!
Overall, this book is excellent and continues to be one of the best sci-fi series that I have read in a long time. I continue to appreciate that the main character has both flaws and relatable growth.
I did take 1 star off for a couple of continuity issues that bothered me. If I recall correctly, in the first book, it was states that Highborn (?) Tahni troopers were categorically better than Human ones, and that humans suffered upwards of 5+ casualties for each Highborn they took down. In this book, that was not shown; in fact, the Human troopers took on equal numbers and won without many losses. I found that change confusing.
The main character has some decidedly out of character references throughout the book. At times, the main character claims ignorance of things like where Australia is, yet at other times makes references to things like "the ghost of Christmas past". I found it jarring to have the "ignorance" of the main character repeatedly shown while also having him make timely references to 300+ year old literature.
On the topic of continuity, the main character also stated that he had never fired his grenade launcher in combat before, yet I distinctly remember him using it against a bunker in book one.
In short, the overall story, writing style, and characters are great and I highly recommend the book. For the astute reader, you may encounter some continuity issues; ignore it and enjoy the ride! -
The first part was a little more interesting. It's a little too repetitive, but the last battle of the book is well written, with good suspense.
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I really like this series. It’s just my kind of military science fiction. We’re with a young guy who is growing up real fast. He’s a Drop Troop Marine and has found out that the top brass considers him and his fellow Drop Troopers as very expendable assets as long as the overall mission gets done.
Well, that’s the military for you. The mission comes first. Yet, Sergeant Cameron (“Cam”) Alvarez isn’t necessarily going to accept that he and his battle buddies are just “throw-away” Marines. He believes the current attack tactics used by the Fleet is nothing but suicide attacks with almost a zero chance that his Drop Troopers will survive. They have to go in on attack shuttles and are exposed to a lot of devastating enemy missile and beam attacks while flying through way to much empty space. The carriers that drop the shuttles can only get in to a system at a certain distance and it’s always no where close to the planet they are attacking. Cam doesn’t like seeing his guys die before they even hit the ground. He’s watched it once and won’t do that again. He’s also been lucky that the attach shuttle he’s been on hasn’t been directly hit, yet!
So, Sgt Alvarez sets about studying some ancient military history. He’s forced to do that since all the current tactics he would like to see are classified way beyond his level. In fact, he’ll get into some trouble just trying to ask some innocent questions. The thing is, Cam comes up with a possible new attack tactic that could work in a certain situation. It would save a whole lot of Drop Troopers and Recon Marines as well. But, he’s only a Squad Leader and not any where near high enough to propose something like this to the brass. They would laught their heads off — that is until they didn’t!
The computers tell Sgt Alvarez that his new attack plan could indeed save a lot of Marines, except for those executing the plan and their chances of survival are, you guessed it, zero. It’s still his plan and someone’s got to do it, but really, what will it cost?
Good read and on to the next one, “Danger Close”. -
3 stars. Still light on the scifi and very VERY heavy on the military action. Tbh, just not really my taste though I will not rule out returning to the series at some point, particularly as you can't go wrong with offers on Kindle Unlimited.
I do think "Drop Trooper #2" was a better overall book than the first in the series. The gaps Partlow created in order to get the series started were missing - or at very least not as apparent - and it was a relief that the main character wasn't just some poor kid caught in a bad situation this go 'round. The strategic and execution part of the primary (but not only) big battle in this book was pretty exciting, too, even if the reader is being asked to think that the 'enemy' is pretty naive about how wars are fought. Overall, it kind of struck me as when I was a kid drawing stick figures shooting at each other (pew pew'ing the hours away in trig classes) but at least we are pulled in enough to feel things when the stuff hits the fan.
On the negative side, just as with the first book, I felt that once again we needed far too long to ramp things up into a smooth-flowing and overall well-plotted book. Sure the characterizations are somewhat better handled this time but only just. And to be honest, it all comes across as something only barely beyond a two-dimensional lovefest intended solely for glorifying the Marines, Oorah, Oorah. There are also far too many uncomfortable undertones here- um, are we SURE we're the good guys? - including borderline blatant (redacted) characterizations of the Tahni - but I don't want to vocalize those in this forum at the risk of encouraging arguments that I would have no intention of engaging in anyway.
Look if you love military scifi, these books are for you. For me, I need something else to go alongside that and will stick to a level embraced by writers like Scalzi, N.S.Smith and co. particularly if there's hardcore gun-play involved (which again, in itself doesn't bother me BUT...). Call me nuts, call me an old tree-hugger, whatever... but I just want to understand the stuff around it at the same time. -
Kinetic Strike - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Rick Partlow's new Drop Trooper series moves on to its first sequel, in Book 2, Kinetic Strike.
MC and former Trans-Angeles (Earth) Marine, Cameron 'Cam' Alvarez is part of the eponymous Drop Troop Fourth Squadron, who, with his girlfriend Private Vicky Sandoval Corporal Graciano, Captain Covington, are now 'starship troopers', ready to be deployed in their Vigilante mech suits to engage in missions across the galaxy, in tandem with Recon Trooper Squads.
One such mission leads to some fatalities and nanite-repair in special medi tanks, but overall, things end well, as Cam now gets
sent to Officer's Candidate School on planet Inferno, with a brilliant future ahead on his return.
His only regret, ahead of Book 5, is that he and Vicky will be separated... what will he decide?
A great all-action thriller that will leave you digging your fingernails into your chair arms, so exciting is Kinetic Strike by Rick Partlow.
Its galactic adventures of camaraderie, loss, bravery and changing fortune, together with epic battle scenes, will make you forget your Covid-19 fears and Lockdown Blues for as long as you're part of this riveting storyline.
Get your copy today - it's sure to be an 'out of this world' experience! -
Jeez! One thing I hate about these books on war and battles is that you get to know and like all these characters and then they die and you tell yourself you don't want to read anymore. BUT, you go on to the next book anyway.
In this one Cam came up with an idea that would stop so many from dying but even with his good idea there was still so many dead, marines Cam didn't know and one he particularly liked, as well as me. I was very pissed off when she died. But, at least they were able to take the Tahni's planet that supplied their other planets with food.
I'll remind all of you that I'm doing these 4 books separately because I bought them as a bundle of 4 books in the Drop Trooper series.
Again, no sex and the F-bomb was used 393 times in the 4 books.
As for the narration: James Patrick Cronin continues to do a fantastic job. -
Kinetic Strike by Rick Partlow, is the second book that follows the Drop Trooper, Cam Alvarez, in the battle against the Tahni. It also follows his battle with personal demons.
This is an old theme – a criminal offered a chance to change his life by enlisting in the Marines but it has seldom been told as well or as believably. Shades of the Master, Heinlein, and other are here. I cut my sci fi teeth on Have Spacesuit – Will Travel and other tales, most recently the Honor Harrington series and Partlow is right up there. Engaging, growing characters and a nice meaty plot.
No, I am not going to reveal anything else. Read for yourself. As for me, I am reading book 3 and waiting for book 4. -
This series just gets better and better! This second book centers around one incredibly risky and dangerous mission that Cam dreamed up out of frustration from watching fellow Marines die needlessly. There was a point in their clandestine insertion for that mission that I had to stop reading, put the book down, and had a mild panic attack over what Cam was decsribing he was seeing...the scale of space FREAKS ME OUT! You'll know the part when you get there.
I can't wait to dive further into this excellent series! -
The first book did a great job of character development. The first about half of this book is accounts of multiple battles, so no development. I was getting close to rating this book lower because it just did not tell a good story. Then I got to the real meat of the book.
About halfway through, the book goes back to the great story and character development of the first one. Yes, there is a massive battle at the end, but it is as much story and emotion as is it explosions.
Overall, this book isn't as good as the first, but it is a good sequel to a very good book. -
Wow, just wow. I practically inhaled this book over the weekend. Very well written and a TON of action.
I really enjoyed this second installment of the series and book 3 is in preorder right now.
As a prior military person I really enjoyed the nuance added to the characters. Top is never really one dimensional, you just have to recognize responsibility varies at levels. The LT portrayal was also fantastic. Not one one dimensional dumb butter bar.
Just an overall great read. -
A fantastic follow-up
Kinetic Strike is the second in the Drop Trooper books and it is literally non stop action. This second book starts off the now Sergeant Alvarez, along with his fellow Marines are taking the fight to the Tahni, humanity's implacable foe.
The book is well written and it is at a high speed pace. Rick Partlow is an accomplished storyteller and it will be well worth the investment to grab this book and read it. -
I really enjoyed this and can't help but wonder why I stubbornly refuse to give away that 5th star. I have technically rated as 5 star books in other genres that weren't as good. But I can't help but think there's a certain criterion of memorability involved.
Maybe in a year I'll come back and change this series to a full 5 stars. In the meantime, this is still a fun series that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys military sci-fi and space marines specifically. -
Great exciting, hard to put down read! I felt like I was right there with Cam fighting by his side through the good and the sad. It is great reading about Cameron Alvarez grows from a kid on the streets to being a sergeant in the Marines.
I can’t wait to start reading book three.
I recommend this book to everyone you will not be sorry. -
Even better than the first one...
A prime example of well crafted hard military sci-fi. Complex main character, simple story, contemplative situations, realistic reactions, and all expertly paced with suspense and satisfying action. My only wish would be for the antagonists and supporting characters to be better developed and significant. -
Another great entry by Partlow
This is another great book in the Tahni universe. Partlow is a master at exploring many details of this universe he has created. There is plenty of action with just the right amount of character building. If science fiction is your taste, this is a great read. -
This was really fun. I enjoyed it even more than the first book. I'm starting to know the characters (and fear for their lives), the universe, and the nature of the conflict in this world. I also really like the balance between action and everyday life in between battles. I think I may add this series to my favorite military sci-fi list. Very much recommended.
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The second installment is a rollercoaster ride as Cam Alvarez faces the Tahni in further battles on there own turf.
The character’s are strong and the story builds steadily pulling you in the first page.
Would definitely recommend this new series -
Better than the first!
Cam is a solid and quite likeable hero. You want him to succeed. This series is great military science fiction. Partlow is knocking it out of the park. I read this on Kindle Unlimited. -
This was an outstanding addition to the Drop Trooper series. It is obvious that it was written by someone with a military background, and an understanding of infantry troop movements. I look forward to continuing the adventures of Cam Alvarez!
