***THIS REVIEW ASSUMES YOU HAVE READ THE 3 PREVIOUS GFL BOOKS AND THE THREE NOVELLAS IN THE GFL TIMELINE***
Scott Sigler has done it again with his Galactic Football League series. Football that’s part Star Wars, part Godfather, part Any Given Sunday is the best way that it can be described, and this is no exception. Book three (The All-Pro) left us on a HUGE cliff-hanger as the Ioneth Kraken team bus was kidnapped in Prawatt territory after trying to elude pirates attacking The Touchback.
The suspense and tension doesn’t let up throughout the entire part of this book, as the team fields the problems that arise from the most feared species in the galaxy. You can’t say much about this part of the book without giving away a major plot point in the book that came as a shock and surprise later on. But lets just say that a galactic war hangs in the balance based on a decision that Quinten Barnes needs to make.
While each book of the series does have a lot of on field action, this book tends to lean more towards dealing with prejudice and relationships. That works out perfect as Quinten is now the one trying to keep peace when early on he was the one that thought everyone except humans were evil devil creatures that should burn. So it’s really interesting to watch this character develop, and how subtly he does is a great testament to how well this series has been planned out. It’s natural, and fluid.
When they finally do get to the on field action here is where Sigler really shines. The whole structure of the multi-tiered GLF (like Soccer), the various home planets of each team, and even letting the reader connect with the opposing teams are so fleshed out, it feels like it’s been around for a long time. On the field he creates so much tension it’s almost like watching and rooting for your favorite team. And the added plus is that based on previous novels, you really don’t know how things are going to turn out. One thing that really puts me over the edge with this, is that with each victory, I kind of give out a little yes! or when they do poorly I shake my head with each missed play that is described. The visuals are so well presented that I actually feel like I’m there at times.
Whether it’s making the reader connect with alien species, or dealing with prejudice and racism, or relationships or on field grid-iron action, Sigler does a FANTASTIC job of keeping everything working together. Every piece builds on each other to one fantastic climax. And of course no GFL book would be complete if it didn’t end on a cliff-hanger….DAMN YOU SIGLER!!!!! AAARGGHHH!!! Till next football seasons opening week, I’ll just have to deal with not knowing what comes next.
You don’t have to be a football fan to be interested, and if you don’t know anything about football, start with book one, The Rookie, and you get a crash course in American Football. There is enough here to keep those interested that have no real interest in sports. It’s a book about the relationships and bonds that we form over time, setting aside jealousy, hatred, angry, and doing what is right for the team, for the family.
Keep this book, hell the entire series, up towards the top of your heap, it’s exciting, it makes you want to jump out of your seat, it makes you want to throw it against the wall in frustration, and any book that can give you that sort of emotional reaction, is a good thing.
You can purchase this book and the entire GFL series here or over at www.scottsigler.com