Spire Climbers
Even titans can bleed.
Iro and Emil have opened their first Gates, unlocked new talents, and proved the fleet’s Hoppers aren’t stalled. Despite leaving the rank of trainee, they find their training is just beginning.
Thrown into a new squad with an explosive Mage, a cursed Surveyor, and a Vanguard with shady motives, Iro and Emil will delve deeper into the titan than ever before. There are bizarre things in the depths; pitch black oceans, nests of swarming monsters, and Spires that rip through the hull of the titan.
But what purpose do the Spires serve and can Iro and Emil reach the top in time?-Goodreads
Title: Spire Climbers
Series: Titan Hoppers #2
Author: Rob J. Hayes
Page Count: 428
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Date Read: May 23rd, 2023
Opening
I received a copy of Spire Climbers shortly before it's release last month. This of course pushed me to get through book one Titan Hoppers last month allowing me to continue with the series here in May. I've now experience three different series if you include the standalones from Mortal Techniques and one thing I can depend on from Rob J. Hayes is some exciting, easily read books for entertainment.
Pacing
The clearly already elude to the pacing of Spire Climbers from my introduction statement. I'm really clicking with the author's writing style from everything of his that I've read so far. As I wrapped this one up just this morning, I was thinking to myself just how book two had almost a not stop feeling of excitement to it. It wasn't always action, but even the parts between the action were always tense for one reason or another.
World Building
The worldbuilding is very unique as well. Sure we are somewhere in the universe but the amount of detail and exploration we have on the home fleet ships and the titans are their own regions or worlds alone. AS we continue to find other factions or creatures we are also finding out there are different cultures out there as well. This is far beyond the different castes we are seeing among the home fleet.
Character Development
Even though I often feel the character development is stronger in the first book of a series, I almost feel it was even better in Spire Climbers. Not only do our main characters grow considerably in book two, but we also have several new characters that also seem to make leaps and bounds in this department. We certainly end up having some "heel" type of characters introduced early in this one but getting to understand them and watch their changes over time was great as well.
Closing
Seeing as I just finished this a couple of hours ago this morning and things are so fresh in my mind, I just wanted to say I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment to Titan Hoppers. We have so many new things going on in the last 20% of the book that we need answers to still. Well done keeping this reader wanting more good sir!
I'd certainly recommend this book and series to any readers who happen to be a fan of the authors other works. This is definitely science fiction so if you typically lean toward the more fantastical type stories, I'd still urge you to give this a try. You me be surprised how well Rob seems to be able to transition between genres. His style seems to be ever present with only the settings truly changing in my mind.
Scoring
Pacing 5.0 / 5.0
Worldbuilding 5.0 / 5.0
Character Development 5.0 / 5.0
