The Cost of Victory

Crimson Worlds, Book 2

By: Jay Allan

Narrated by: Jeff Bower

The Third Frontier War is raging, and all across human-occupied space worlds are burning. Massive fleets struggle for dominance and kilometer-long war ships exchange thermonuclear barrages.

Battered in the early years of the war, the Western Alliance is resurgent. The brilliant Admiral Augustus Garret leads the Alliance fleet from victory to victory, taking the war to the very heart of the enemy empires. And on the ground, Colonel Erik Cain, hero of the Marine Corps, leads his crack troops again into combat, seeking the final battle.

In the background, the secretive intelligence agencies of the despotic Superpowers plot and scheme, using their own soldiers as pawns in the great game for control of space.

But the final battle will be fought in the reddish sands of a backwater world, and the prize will be the staggering secret that has lain hidden in a remote cave for untold centuries.

All the Powers struggle for the ultimate victory, but at what cost?

The Cost of Victory is the second book in the Crimson Worlds series and the sequel to Marines.

©2012 Jay Allan Books (P)2013 Jay Allan Books

Short changed

This book is actually better than the 1st book. However, the author short changed his readers by taking the last 3 chapters of his 1st book and inserting them as the 1st 3 chapters of this book. I don't like paying for something twice. I hope the 3rd book is not this way. That is why I gave it 3 stars and not 4.

Regardless, the story is becoming much more interesting and the character play and storyline is much improved and involved which is good. It is becoming more than just an external milk toast narrative of events. The reader has a chance to feel more involvement in the story.

Although I still am not overly impressed with the narrator's style, and his "nasally" voices, the storyline is getting more exciting and involved and I will get the next book in the series. The narrator style is annoying (at least to me and my apologies) and I nearly went ahead and bought the "hardcopy" version just so I wouldn't have to listen to him. Maybe I am becoming "desensitized" to him or maybe he has slightly improved, but i will get the next audio version of the book.

Awesome

Some of the battle tellings move me to tears!! The meaning of heroism is truly defined!! “We will win or die trying” overwhelming odd!!

Has so much potential.... But....

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I am not sure if this will happen in the following books... But a great deal of this book was spent retelling of the 1st book. Then towards the end, we start retelling information again! Then Were done!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It made me write this review....

Did The Cost of Victory inspire you to do anything?

Weigh the facts of the potential of this series to the delivery of it! Do I want to continue and chance purchasing another filler, or give up before I waste more money....

narrator cannot do female voices

The story is good but as soon as the narrator does any other voice the immersion is gone. he cannot do female voices at all.

Fun Story but Narrator is Annoying

I like the story and the battles are entertaing, but really don't like the narrator. A lot of his voices are annoying. one of his best moments is pronouncing the "bow" of a ship like bow and arrow. He also makes the Scottish colonel sound like a Hollywood leprechaun, an accent which despite having lived in Ireland and Scotland, I have never heard outside of a movie...

Great story with lots of action

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story is awesome with lots of action and intrigue. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for drama, action, suspense, and of course, Sci-Fi!

What other book might you compare The Cost of Victory to and why?

Lost Fleet - lots of space action and the reality of physics is not ignored.

What didn’t you like about Jeff Bower’s performance?

His delivery was weak and without emotion. Most of his voice were childish squeaky and without emotion.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely not! It wasn't the story that was the problem it was Jeff Bowers! I want someone reading the book that can get some emotion showing and can do decent character voices. I will definitely look to see if he is doing any books I listen to in the future. I still like to actually read and I may just opt to read vs listen if he is narrating.

Any additional comments?

Drop Jeff as a reader!

Love of Tatics

If you are a fan of military tactics this book is a good choice. With a little effort you can get past the sometimes stilted speech and voice variations the narrator tries to employ (not terrible but not good). Though interesting this book does not spend a lot of time, developing the characters but rather infuses a fair bit of action.

Dr. Arenz

Bring Back Jeffrey Kafer, Please!!!

I absolutely love Jay Allan’s books! Okay, I wasn’t to happy with “Marines”, book one of the Crimson Worlds series. I found it boring, but that could very well have been the fault of the narrator! Jeff Bower is the first narrator I have ever disliked. He just doesn’t have the ability to grab my attention, make me feel like I’m right there in the action, and bring the characters alive and show their different personalities. And for some reason, his voice just grates on my nerves!

He does a LITTLE bit better in this book, but honestly, if I wasn’t such a big fan of Jay Allan, I probably wouldn’t have gotten past the first chapter! But it’s hard, if not impossible, to NOT like a Jay Allan book!

TERRIFIC, LIKE BEING THERE

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES, IF YOU ENJOY SCI FI AND OR MILITARY ACTION, YOU WILL WANT TO READ ALL 6.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cost of Victory?

EVERY TIME ERIC GETS A PROMOTION OR MEDAL IS A LEAD IN FOR MORE TROUBLE.

Which character – as performed by Jeff Bower – was your favorite?

STARK

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

ALWAYS THE DEATH OF CHARACTERS WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH CAN CAUSE A DAMP EYE.

Any additional comments?

I HAVE READ ALL SIX AND WIL ONLY REVIEW OR RATE A FEW. BUT THESE ARE ALL ATLEAST 4 STARS.
JAY WRITE AS WELL AS IF NOT BETER THAN SOME BIGGER NAMES.
I WANT TO ADD THANK YOU FOR REDUCING THE PRICE OF A KINDLE AND AUDIOBOOK SO A PERSON CAN AFFORD THEM.
I AM A DISABLED FF PARAMEDIC ON SOC SEC NOW AND ALL I CAN DO WITH MY INJURY IS EXIST. BUT THESE NOVELS TAKE ME THERE AS IF I AM LIVING IT.
I CAN FEEL ALL THE EMOTION AND EXPRESSION AS IF I M WATCHING A MOVIE.
THANK YOU.

well told 2nd story

very well told story. backstory is revieled with good timing and the story carries forward without lag. i was not a huge fan of Jeff Bower as a narrator but he really came through in his work on this series.