Sci-Fi Worth Reading: Abandoned Book Review
Abandoned by W. Michael Gear (Donovan Series #2)
Abandoned is the second book in W. Michael Gear’s Donovan series, a compelling mix of mystery, exploration, and survival on a harsh alien planet. Gear does a fantastic job of drawing you into the world of Donovan, a planet that is as unforgiving as it is mysterious. It’s a place where survival isn’t just difficult, it’s life-threatening, making every action the characters take feel high-stakes.
What I Loved:
One of the things that stands out most about Abandoned is the world-building. The planet Donovan itself is a central character in the story. As the characters try to survive, the planet’s alien ecosystem and its strange interactions with the Earthlings they encounter provide a constant source of intrigue. This sense of wonder, as well as the constant mystery surrounding the planet, keeps the reader hooked. It’s a place that feels genuinely otherworldly, and Gear does an excellent job of making it both hostile and fascinating.
The character arcs are another strong point. Many of the characters experience significant growth over the course of the book. Watching them adapt to their environment and face their own personal challenges makes them feel real and relatable. Some of them even find themselves in unexpected places, which is always a pleasure in a series like this.
What I Didn’t Love:
While I enjoyed much of the book, there were a few elements I found less compelling. The main issue for me was the portrayal of the antagonists. There are a couple of bad guys whose transformations feel forced and out of place in the otherwise grounded story. Rather than feeling like complex threats, they come across as more like caricatures of evil, and their presence felt a bit unnecessary. It’s clear that there’s already plenty of internal and external conflict to fuel the narrative, so these stereotypical villains seemed almost like an afterthought. I found myself skipping over chapters that focused on them, as the ongoing battle for survival and the relationships between the characters were much more engaging.
Final Thoughts:
Despite these minor issues, Abandoned is still a gripping, well-crafted continuation of the Donovan series. The exploration, survival elements, and character development make it a solid read, and I’m definitely interested in picking up the next book in the series to see where it goes. If you enjoy hard sci-fi, mysteries, and survival stories set on a harsh, alien world, this one is worth your time.
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