This is the 5th book in the series. If you haven't read the previous ones, don't read this review.At first read, it's not quite as good as the first books, but Knight brings up a theme that is haunting - why do people fight the Kurians? This isn't a black & white world, but a very real one in many ways. Most people do the best they can with what they have. The very real problems of eating regularly versus being ruled by monsters & there are monsters on both sides. More on the Kurian side, but life is often generally better, too.Why does Valentine fight? I wasn't all that thrilled with the way he just let Martinez take the credit for the last fight & now it's bit him in the ass in a big way. Very realistically, too. The politics were excellent. His continuing faith to The Cause & adherence to Southern Command is barely understandable. He doesn't seem to be pissed off by the way he's been screwed, just goes on. When I first read it, that hurt the book. On this re-read (listen) I decided it wasn't that bad. It was a great counterpoint to those who live in the Kurian zone & those that have opted out of both sides.In addition, more real estate was added to the world. We get to explore Kentucky a bit & more about the leg worms. There's more, too, but that would be a spoiler.All told, it was a pretty good read. Again, there is a short introduction by Knight in the audio edition & the reader was excellent. I have a little trouble with a voice or two & some of the whispering when I'm operating machinery, but it was pretty minor. I'm looking forward to listening to the next.
Another adventure with David Valentine. Unfortunately for Valentine, he gets arrested not very far into the book and is preparing to hang for crimes that he supposedly helped perpetrate in the last book. Not to worry though, he has friends all over the place that will save him! As he is on the run, he decides to help his friend William Post find his missing wife. What Valentine discovers along the way will change the fight against the Kurians. This book was more suspenseful than exciting since Valentine and Ahn-Kha are back undercover for most of the book. The end of this book was sad and left me wanting to jump into the next book so I could find out what happened next. (view spoiler)[Ahn-Kha sacrifices himself so that Valentine and the others can get away and we never find out what happens to him at the end of this book!! One of the sadder parts of the series was that moment where Ahn-Kha has to hastily say goodbye to Valentine and us. (hide spoiler)]
What do You think about Valentine's Exile (2007)?
.E. Knight’s Valentine’s Exile begins shortly after the events of Valentine’s Rising. David Valentine and his platoon of Razorbacks have just finished playing the key role in saving Southern Command from complete destruction. Valentine’s troops are mobilized to Dallas, a city currently held by the Kurians. When the Razorbacks save the day again, Valentine is promoted and is given three months leave. Unfortunately, Valentine hardly sets out before he discovers himself exiled from his homeland under suspicion of murder.Valentine’s Exile is a standard addition to the Vampire Earth series. Like the rest of the series, it is a violent romp through a post-apocalyptic war zone of gooey vampires and enemy agents. The Vampire Earth series does ... Read More:http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
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