Customer Reviews

Hellgate: London, Bk. 3: Covenant

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read the first two books as they came out and thought they were pretty good. This one starts off in the same manner, entertaining and engaging. It follows the adventures of Simon, Leah, and Warren as they battle demons. It becomes evident that this book is supposed to end where the game Hellgate: London begins...

...except it doesn't! Well it does, but in a rushed, hardly-satisfying manner. There are so many loose ends that never get tied up, never even get MENTIONED. For example, every chapter with Warren in it until the last builds up to a final climax which never even happens. Simon and Leah's relationship of course is examined, but never resolved. The status of the three separate groups at the end of the book is still a question, only answered for me because I know the video game. The final resolution of a problem brewing since book 1 is over and done with in a couple sentences.

It feels like this book was rushed out at the end. This isn't too surprising considering the state of the game, but I am still a little disappointed. The final chapter was very unsatisfying. Like eating a piece of chocolate cake to find a raw onion in the last bite.

That being said, I still think this is a good read and if you liked the first two, you might as well give this one a try.

Re SciFiChick's review: The Truths storyline is completed in the video game.

The 1st and 2nd books were really great and i was hoping that in the 3rd book they managed to gain access to knowladge that helped the templar kick some demon arse!!!

But unfortunatly it was just more of the same, demon kicking butt and the templar kick a little arse where they could. I must admit i hate demon and invasion books where they dont finally beat those buggers back to where they came from.

Otherwise the triligy was good and entertaining but i guess not all storys will end the way we want it too.

3/5

Nice story
Exiting
Ending was a let down but i enjoyed the book none the less!!

This last installment in the Hellgate: London trilogy follows three people. Templar Knight Simon Cross has been trying to protect civilians from the invading demons as well as try to keep them fed. As scientists discover some startling revelations from the Goetia Manuscript, not only do the Templars gain a powerful weapon against the demons, but also a hope of a hidden Truth that may save Earth from devastation.

Leah Creasey's secret organization allows her to try to convince Simon Cross to lead the Templars and form an alliance. But she discovers Simon has hid something from her. And when Leah is captured by a demon with a powerful machine, no one is safe once they fall asleep.

Warren Schimmer has once again been reluctantly recruited by a powerful evil force, this time the legendary Lilith. Warren trusts no one, but must depend on his companions to help keep each other alive.

With the action and intensity heating up, this latest installment is the most exciting yet. The demons are meaner and stronger, the humans are getting more desperate, and the Goetia Manuscript begins spilling its secrets just in the knick of time. Odom has created wonderfully fascinating characters, each with troubling decisions that have to be made, with lives on the line. But with all of humanity struggling for survival from the demon infestation, can separate human factions join forces to discover the Truths, the only hope against the demons?

As events culminate towards a climactic ending, it soon becomes obvious that the entire story cannot be resolved in this latest book. I really hope that Pocket Books decides to pick up another trilogy to follow the hunt for the Truths storyline. This has been a fabulous series based on the computer game. And author Mel Odom, has brought the story alive on print, artfully blending fantasy, futuristic science fiction, and intense military action.

I'm ignoring the fact the book is based on a computer game.

The book has all the ingregients one needs to make a master piece. Demons. Inter dimensional invaders. Magic. Knights. Sharpshooters. An apocalyptic London. But somehow it manages to botch everything up.

The plot is only half believable, as if describing the demons is more important. You have to have a story, not only monsters! it's as if the author forgot it. The characters are only paper thin, no real depth to anyone. And you can guess what will happen next and be right seventy precent of the time.

But, Why did I still gave it three stars? Because the demon description is pretty good, as are the fights. And the scenery. It's fun to read, if you don't put too much thought into it.

It could have been so much better ! Such a shame.

Why stop at three.
I'll buy a number 4.
There was a lot left unresolved.
**** Hey Mel, get writing! ***

I want number 4.

Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this series. I never played the game; I picked up the book at an airport and gave it a shot. I really hope there's gonna be more on the way. However, the sad realization is there probably never will be. Poor Warren...

So since I've posted my thoughts on the first two, I thought I'd do the same here.

And fortunately, there's not much to say about the final book that wasn't already said by me in the other reviews. The story is excellent, I honestly can't find a problem in the least with it. Granted, I haven't played the game itself, and prolly won't do so ever, but the story is still solid.

The problem lies in Mr. Odom's writing. There are flaws here and there that tripped me up each and every time I ran into them, and although they weren't EVERYWHERE, there were still enough that I just had to chuckle a bit at that fact that even at the final book, he still hasn't slowed down enough to catch those errors.

It's sloppy, and a true insult to the book, and indeed the series itself.

I really enjoyed reading this series. As "end of the world" saga's go this is a good one. There is enough depth in the writing to make the series enjoyable. In ^I Covenant ^i the relationship between Simon and Lean is further explored but the real treat is seeing Warren mature in the realization of his ability to control his own destiny. He's not there yet, but hope is kindled from the low point we experienced in book 2.

Lilith is the wild card in this book. She's a Demeon, so it's clear she will be serving her own adjenda, but will that help or harm the humans?

For the first time the humans have a way of protecting themselves from the Demon's entering our world through the Hellgate but developement of that protection is costly in time, and the Demons have technology of their own.

I look forward to additional Hellgate books from Odom.

I loved this book, this series, mostly because it was ingenious, but i loved it because it made HellGate something more to me as a gamer. It gave me a history to the game. As to those that might read it, take the time to play the game as well, It is good as well as realistic. Mel Odom, you are a genious.

The first two in this series weren't bad considering they were tie ins to a pc game. This fizzles out after some unnecessary drawn out filler never advancing the story, then the weakest battle scene in entire trilogy quickly resolved and pffttt it's over.