I'm really torn with this book. Some parts I'd like to give only 2 stars, but others were better and deserve at least 3 stars. The basic issue with this one is it's based on a first person shooter, and the author tried to keep it true to the game. I loved the Halo storyline, but the constant enter a room, shoot everyone/thing in sight, then move on, became very tiring. On the other hand, fans probably would have raised hell if it had not stayed true.

The best parts of this book came from scenes not from the game. There are several side stories about other people (and even some of the Covenant). They added fresh content to the story, and better paced action scenes. I was more interested in these subplots than the main storyline.

However, very few of these characters had anything resembling depth or unique personality. There were so many side characters, that all the names being thrown around blurred together. Besides the main side characters, I could not keep track of them. There were maybe six people (besides the Spartan) that I recognized their names on sight: four humans and two Covenant. But names were thrown around constantly. Some people were named and only in one scene. It was a literary slop bucket. And, worse, almost no one (including the names I consistently recognized) had any personality or quirks. Even though the banter was entertaining and authentic-military sounding, any line could have been said by anyone without sounding out of place.

During the scenes from the Spartan's POV, the constant fight scenes were tiring and formulaic. Somehow, they slowed the pace. Action should be exciting, not bog the story down. There were so many constant fight scenes that several were begun and finished in a single paragraph, only to have another start on the next page. However, it is based on a first-person shooter, and that's how the game played. It was very true to that storyline. I admit I felt nostalgic reading lines I remembered from the first Halo. Many lines, mainly from Cortana but also some of the marines, came word for word from the game. It was fun remembering each of those scenes.

The writing was done well. The author is a skilled writer. But having to stay true to the game hurt this book in most parts. I'm not sure what he could have changed, and still followed the original storyline. For what it is, this book fulfilled its role, and is well written. If this had been an original novel, and not been based on a game I enjoyed so much, I probably would have given this book 2 stars.

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