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  • Valkyrie: Expeditionary Force, Book 9
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,771 global ratings
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4 star
21%
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3%
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Valkyrie: Expeditionary Force, Book 9

Valkyrie: Expeditionary Force, Book 9

byCraig Alanson
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Top positive review

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Chad Granum
4.0 out of 5 starsDeparture from the "formula"
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2019
People who read this series only to re-experience the "formula" of the previous books: "Oh no, emergency, wallow in agony, hey here's an idea, Book fixed!" Will not be disappointed, we have a bit of that for the first half. People who are tired of the formula and want the story to move on and do something different, you will REALLY not be disappointed, wow. People who want to know more, have questions answered, etc... there is even a (very) small nod to you at the very end to keep you happy.

That said, if you like the ending, and are not angry/devastated, than I wonder if you actually read the first books? It is good to feel negative things because of the ending. BUT PLEASE!!!! do not direct that anger towards Craig, give him the benefit of the doubt, expect that the next couple books will pick up where this left off, and pay off in the end. IF the next few books do not pay off and he goes Game Of Thrones on us then maybe come back and say "This is where it all went wrong". But for know be thankful that an author has given us a series so good that this book is able to punch you in the gut, that shows how much he has already touched your soul. Recover from the punch, and lets see where it goes!

Then again some people live to complain and be unhappy, no pleasing you in that case... Except Craig did please you! He gave you another place to shout your endless complaints into the void for us to ignore!
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70 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Kevin
1.0 out of 5 starsA chore to read. A disappointment and repetitive. First half was decent.
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2019
I'm pretty upset. I'm not going to lie. I download and binge the books as they are released. Pulling all nighters...

I've been patient. I've been calm. I've defended the series from justified criticism... but I'm so disappointed with this book. Half the book was nothing but filler that didn't need to be there.
The first half of the book had me fist pumping the air.
The second half made me tired, annoyed, upset, and honestly it was a chore to finish the book. I've never felt so bored and annoyed by an author's choice to create a problem that doesn't need to exist, ONLY TO THEN SHOEHORN the advertised revealing of everything. It felt unnatural. And it was as if he simply got tired of writing the filler and just wedged in the reveals.

It made me mad that the MBOP also never seem to actually show appreciation of Skippy. They are jerks to him. Yes he's a jerk at times, but look at some of the statements towards him.... I cannot recall a genuine thank you or anything. It's unnatural and a poor attempt at foreshadowing.

The ending.. I'm glad we know, but I'm certifiably mad that Craig decided to waste the second half of the book on some mission that did not need to be in the book at all. There's literally no reason for that problem to exist.

I'm so tired of the filler dragging the books out. Honestly, I'm seriously debating giving up on my second favorite book series. I'm a diehard fan and have read each book at minimum 4 times each.

The cliffhanger wasn't clever or exciting, it was annoying. We deserved better after waiting so long for answers.

I'm genuinely disappointed that after everything, our heros have yet again waste their time, nothing matters, no one respects Joe for some darn reason, and he still might not get the girl. It's been 9 books, do your thing or get off the pot with the relationships.

The repetitiveness of the story arches and the repetitiveness of the books plot points is unnecessary and filler. We get it, the earth is doomed. Okay. You told us that 7 times in the last 20 pages. We.get.it.
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172 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Chad Granum
4.0 out of 5 stars Departure from the "formula"
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
People who read this series only to re-experience the "formula" of the previous books: "Oh no, emergency, wallow in agony, hey here's an idea, Book fixed!" Will not be disappointed, we have a bit of that for the first half. People who are tired of the formula and want the story to move on and do something different, you will REALLY not be disappointed, wow. People who want to know more, have questions answered, etc... there is even a (very) small nod to you at the very end to keep you happy.

That said, if you like the ending, and are not angry/devastated, than I wonder if you actually read the first books? It is good to feel negative things because of the ending. BUT PLEASE!!!! do not direct that anger towards Craig, give him the benefit of the doubt, expect that the next couple books will pick up where this left off, and pay off in the end. IF the next few books do not pay off and he goes Game Of Thrones on us then maybe come back and say "This is where it all went wrong". But for know be thankful that an author has given us a series so good that this book is able to punch you in the gut, that shows how much he has already touched your soul. Recover from the punch, and lets see where it goes!

Then again some people live to complain and be unhappy, no pleasing you in that case... Except Craig did please you! He gave you another place to shout your endless complaints into the void for us to ignore!
70 people found this helpful
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A. D. DeLong
4.0 out of 5 stars It depends on where we go next
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
A lot of the reviews for this book are pretty bad and I understand why many feel that way. I am not feeling quite as harsh as many of them about it.

My feeling is that whether or not this book is worth reading totally depends on where the story goes next. It's not somehow worse than the previous books really, but it does end on a cliffhanger. That is annoying to many people. On the plus side some lingering questions are answered though.

At a surface level it does seem like more of the same. The usual banter and relationship dynamics we've seen in the other books are there. But, I think in this book there is more going on beneath the surface than the previous ones. It is undeniably darker in many ways.

I am glad that the story has finally moved in a direction at all. However, I am not clear on what that direction is yet.

My final verdict is that if you have read the entire series until now, you should also read this book. If you aren't sure whether you want to continue the series and are on the fence about this book, then wait until the next one comes out so you can resolve the cliffhanger at the end of this one.
60 people found this helpful
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Porcelain Throne Review
4.0 out of 5 stars A typical entry in the series
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
In summary I feel this series has been worth a steady three stars, the books are compelling enough to turn the pages, but there are flaws. The audiobook narration however is top notch, RC Bray has done an amazing job and really sells the material well. That warrants an extra star, we're getting quite a bit more from this than a typical narration.

If you've been in this series for the past 8 books, you know what it's about: The Joe and Skippy show featuring a cast of varied characters. This book is another installment, with the usual mix of slow moving meta-plot with a side quest to save humanity from a hostile universe. All the usual criticisms apply: this series needs serious editing in two forms. First, it just needs some heavy proof reading, a few issues are making it to us readers, and there's a lot of repetition. Second, and more significantly, it needs the author to slow dow and evaluate the story arc, where it's going, and what the incremental value is in each of these installments. Fundamentally this isn't moving quickly enough, and I'm questioning why a few books exist. This book is no worse, but are all these sub-stories contributing to the plot or world building, or are they also-rans? Basically this feels like old ST:TNG episodes that are, at best, loosely connected. I feel like a novel series needs to have a strong focus, what works in TV doesn't work in books with a 15-20hr time commitment on my part. More importantly, each novel should be more self contained, this one feels like an end to Armageddon, some Valkyrie episodes, and then beginning of something else.

While the book does wait until the very end to finally move the meta-plot along, let's be honest: if you've been reading this far, nothing that is "revealed" is unexpected. In fact all the breadcrumbs thus far just confirmed what you've probably been thinking about the nature of the species and major characters. The universe the author has been building has a few very noticeable quirks that readers should have been noting, and a lot of questions should have been asked. The ending suggests answers to many of those questions, without closing the story. While I'm upset at having all that dropped at the tail end only to go nowhere in this novel, I am choosing to take this as a sign that the author is ready to pivot to the main plot.

By now, we're way overdue for that.
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Texican
4.0 out of 5 stars Started well and Meh
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Unlike a lot of other reviewers, I don't think the second half or the book was a waste or un-necessary, To me it showed that the Pirates have not forgotten the true objective of the Military to protect the weak and defenseless,

I do think that the Beer Can and Joe missed a good way to save the Earth with the worm holes, and maybe they will do it in the next book (no I won't give my idea here).

I di agree with a lot of my fellow readers that the cliff hanger ending of this book really, really sucked. To me. Craig violated the unspoked agreement between an author and his readers. He did not leave the book in a reasonable place. We can assume that Joe is alive, but that is about it.

I will probably read the next installment, but Craig better start knitting some threads together
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lazerbeam
4.0 out of 5 stars Did not see the ending coming!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2020
Verified Purchase
I've read all 8 prior EF books in the series and have loved all of them. I really liked this one as well until the very last page. I do not wish to spoil it for other potential readers but the author could have ended it a lot better than this. What was the author you thinking? The author did a real disservice to your loyal readers who have followed this series through it trials, tribulations and great humor. Oh heck, I'm going to spoil it for others, but it looks like you killed off the series. I hope not, but I can understand that an author just wants to move on and so something else. Hopefully the author can resurrect this series but it looks like its over. Still a great read to up until the final page... Would have been 5 stars otherwise.
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ReaderOne
4.0 out of 5 stars Cliff-hanger ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am not sure why this book received low ratings. I thrive on cliff-hangers in serial books. This book, Valkyrie, has a doozy.
Sure, Alanson may have slowed the action a bit, made the volume more cerebral, but it had to happen to advance the plot.
There were a few lulls, a bit of repetition in the descriptions of the character’s personalities, but the build up was excellent, the end, certainly worth the expectations. I thought as I read the ending, “Oh my God!Craig, what have you done!?” But it was a good place to leave the pirates. I am hoping Alanson has the next book in the fast lane, because it is going to be a bumpy ride as we all wait to see what happens next. Not as bad as the one star ratings say. I like suspense and this book built a “by the fingernails” hanger.
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Viacheslav Vasiliev
4.0 out of 5 stars Cliffhanger was inevitable at some point.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
Spoiler Alert. Seriously, don't read.

The story starts at a decent pace, everything exploding and all, just what you'd expect from the Merry Band of Pirates. Nice light-hearted jokes, killer bedsheets and my fav uncle Edgar. Then... signs of the forthcoming banter about feelings began sneaking in. By the second half (the rescue op) the story becomes rather dull, and all of a sudden it explodes in your face with Skippy's revelation and the imminent death of everyone - and then THE END. I personally understand pretty well what the author had in mind with a set-up like this, BUT and it's a capitalized BUT - I now have a pretty good idea what'll happen in book 10. And worst of all, the Maxolhx investigation mission storyline (Illiath) just vanishes like it never started at all. Nevertheless, I'm NOT giving up on the story (hence 4 starts, not 2) and will be buying the next book. But something about storytelling needs revising, in my opinion.
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Tone
4.0 out of 5 stars Valkyrie is Incredible
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2020
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One of the qualities of the series I love is the portrayal of the characters themselves. They are independent of the main protagonist in the sense that they have depth, backgrounds, dreams and desires of their own. I also appreciate the non-linear plot lines to the missions themselves, the intricate political and military situation of the main theater mirrors real life in a way that the reader can get lost in the story. Valkyrie in itself copies the same themes as the previous books in the series, but the change in direction of the story by the author signals a conclusion or a new dynamic for which I am very excited. Overall I cant wait for the next book, it is sure to be interesting.
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Omega
4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Will Save You ( Or Not)
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020
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The first half of the book was perhaps Alanson's best effort as a storyteller in the Expeditionary Force series. Full of Skippy smartassery, crew interactions, and quick paced action against one of the Senior Species. The second half of the book became tedious with details. The ending of the book was a bewildering "to be continued". Or was it? Sometimes sagas need to conclude in a way to make the reader think and speculate instead of having a neatly wrapped happy ending. While I am sure book ten is in the making, the series could conclude with this installment.
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Tom Duffy
4.0 out of 5 stars Well, the next book will certainly be interesting. 😏
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
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The story progresses in Craig’s normatively excellent style as the characters deal with the aftermath of the death and injury of the previous book. The Pirates do get payback in that fine balance between kick ass and disaster. Joe spends most of the book channeling John Hinckley Jr. to impress Adams and the story arc moves along ever so nicely, even including further evidence that the humans and the Jeraptha are forming a good basis for alliance.
Then come the last few pages of the book. Nobody’s dead yet, the story arc got a major shove and you have to believe that Craig will keep the faith with his readers.
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