Finished Alien Sea of Sorrows
Love it. From the start I was hoping the pace and mood would continue throughout and I wasn't disappointed.
The character of Decker was really interesting and a different take to follow through an alien novel. Being kidnapped and forced to find the aliens is kind of how he goes about finishing the journey, never wanting to be there to begin with. And the introduction of him being an empath was such a change in direction that I Welcomed it. Kinda like a force sensitive 😎
But the connection to him being a blood descendent of Ripley is plausible, yet still felt like a stretch. I think I would've been fine with the aliens being attracted to him for just being an empath, and wanting to introduce him into the hive mind or something along those lines.
Also writing from the aliens/hive mind point of view was great, well written and effective. The author wrote just enough to get what these things motives were, other than just the killing of course.
The overall story wasn't anything super new but welcomed little new things that kept me reading it non stop (Never really thought of the alien acid blood being spilled on the queens eggs and the affect seems to do nothing). I really got behind how the author introduced three different settings, (above, mid level and ground level of the mine) and the several different characters. Instead of writing all of them the second the mercenaries show up, he introduces them as the story unfolds and the character becomes relevant.
Rollins, the WY employee in charge of the mission, is a merciless character. It's interesting that decker isn't able to get a read on her throughout which makes me think she's an android of some kind, but is never mentioned otherwise.
My issue would be with the communication or lack there of between all the merc teams, miners and the main ship in space. There's jammers making it impossible for anyone to use motion sensors or comms. It's never fully addressed other than Rollins being able to stay in contact with one of the WY coats down on the planet with them. I guess I'm to assume she had a part in blocking all communication. Which would leave a host of other questions, mainly being what's the point?
The ending was satisfying in that it ended the story of the mine but could begin a whole new one. I mean, WY actually won and succeeded in getting several specimens (one of them might even be an alien queen in a mercs body)
So, out of shadows and sea of sorrows have both introduced two cool main characters and it looks like we'll never hear from them again....unfortunately...
Enjoyed this one thoroughly, onto River of Pain...