The overall story has become more interesting and deeper from previous books. While the Second Ship was mostly about 3 high school kids with superpowers, this book thankfully puts them in the background. Jack and Khal Teth are a much more fascinating story. Jennifer, Raul, Dgarra, and VJ are great. Likewise with Prokaorov and Shalegha's interactions. My only negative is that every sub-plot seems to end the same. While there are chapters from the POV of the antagonists, it doesn't matter what surprises they unleash on the good guys,as there are never any serious consequences. Oh innocents are slaughtered by the millions, but nothing seriously bad ever happens to the Smythes or Gregorys. Once you realize that, the story loses a sense of suspense. Like James Bond under the laser, you know he's going to escape, you are just waiting to see how.
The different POV narratives were good. You get inside each character's head and see their motivations. The problem is the author created likeable antagonists, unlike the Stephenson character, from the first book who was utterly without morality or empathy. We wanted him to die.
The Galina character POV chapters created empathy for her such that I began to resent Jack and Janet always winning. I wanted to see them lose just once or at least face some consequences. Khal Teth saved Jack and it seemed they were working together for a bit, but they both betrayed each other and one could argue what right did Jack have to invade an alien world and overthrow its government and genetically alter its people without asking. Is he not as bad as the Kasari? But that moral dilemma was not explored and Jack suffered no consequences for his actions.
Still a good story, in the classic Good vs. Evil sci-fi genre
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