Pros
- Some advancement in the direction of Earth and its future in the empire
- Series moving beyond the domestic concerns and toward larger, broader concerns
Cons
- Plot perhaps not as exciting as previous books in the series
Throne World Review
Throne World by B. V. Larson again delivers on the action and likable and goofy protagonist James McGill. Longtime fans of the Undying Mercenaries know exactly what they’re going to get when they read the next book in the series, and Larson delivers on those expectations.
Unlike many characters who learn and grow, McGill remains fairly static—or perhaps stagnant. While he does learn from some of his mistakes, he still continues to make the same ones despite the consequences. McGill’s penchant for lying, for instance, often gets him into trouble. Likewise, his lies get him out of trouble even though his friends and enemies should know better.
Perhaps the constant revivals inhibits maturity—after all, can a person truly learn the consequences of his actions if death is just an inconvenience? The same must be true for the characters around McGill—they believe him despite a history of lies he’s otherwise told. This aspect of the story—McGill’s lies and their consequences—has perhaps become a more endearing quality about character and story.
Throne World sees Legion Varus and James McGill flying toward the center of the galaxy in order to put down a potentially rebellious species recently conquered by Earth’s favorite former Mogwa admiral. While the job is originally sold as a piece of cake, the massive reward suggests otherwise. What McGill doesn’t understand is that the success of this job will result in an imbalance in delicate power struggles within the Empire.
Consequently, McGill must balance the needs of his client and contract with the desires of Earth, specifically of one powerful Turov. It doesn’t help that McGill’s on-again-off-again girlfriend Galina Turov has plans contradictory to her father’s goals.
Shenanigans, lies, and promiscuity abound in this twenty-first book of Undying Mercenaries. Readers should find no surprise with regards to McGill’s motivations and his ability to fumble his way through any obstacle.
Throne World by B. V. Larson is another exciting adventure starring James McGill that is not only enjoyable but also manages to advance the overall context of the series, reminding readers that it’s not just one long series of constant death, resurrection, and domination with no clear purpose or goal.
Read reviews of other works by B. V. Larson.
