3.4⭐ Rounded Down*Updated 02/17/23 - Review Added; Rating Adjusted*Running on fumes and way past its expiration date, Black Jack Geary finally brings the fleet home in Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5. I honestly can't explain why I'm re-reading this series, especially with my never-ending 'to-read' pile, other than it being a quick pick-me-up to cure the late-winter blues. I’m a shameless fan of escapist fiction anyway, so no excuses are really needed for diving back into this Jack Campbell c...

The sunk cost fallacy occurs when you’re reluctant to abandon a hopeless project simply because you’ve already poured so much into it. But continuing doesn’t bring those resources back; instead, you end up "throwing good money after bad," as the saying goes.There’s a reason I’m bringing up the sunk cost fallacy while reviewing the fifth installment of The Lost Fleet series, Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5.This was, once again, a somewhat entertaining but extremely predictable—and honestly, bo...

The penultimate novel in The Lost Fleet series is a fantastic way to wrap up the primary story arc—the fleet’s arduous journey back home. Author Jack Campbell demonstrates a masterful grasp of character development; he’s laid enough groundwork in previous installments that this entry feels like a smooth, well-earned landing after a long, intense flight. If you are looking for a gripping military sci-fi book review, this is a series you need to follow. The premise follows Captain John "Black Jac...

More of the same, except for the ending.Genre: Science Fiction.What it's about: Despite his lingering doubts, Geary finally decides to steer his battered fleet toward the Heradao system, where they know prisoners of war taken by the Syndics in a previous clash are being held. However, not all of his subordinates share his point of view, and some might even be considering more drastic measures. This is the fifth book in the Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5 series by Jack Campbell.Want to know m...

Another fun installment in The Lost Fleet saga. Geary and the fleet are finally closing in on the frontier, nearly back in Alliance territory after wreaking havoc on the Syndicate navy. Victory feels so close! But, naturally, there are complications. The fleet is running low on just about everything—fuel cells are scarce, and their munitions are nearly exhausted. Meanwhile, the Syndicate reserve fleet is massing to trap them, and those mysterious, nefarious aliens are moving in the shadows. To t...

Man, I absolutely love this series. I don't know if everyone gets as much out of it as I do, but I’m certain I’m not the only retired 'old salt' out there. As a retired Operations Specialist Chief, so much of this reminds me of my time in the United States Navy, standing watch in the Combat Information Center during those long shifts. I remember formation steaming and training Junior Officer after Junior Officer on how to work a maneuvering solution on a 'Mo-Board' to get us on station and keep ...

What is going on with this series? It seems like it can’t keep a good thing going for more than one book at a time. After finishing the previous installment, I actually felt a renewed sense of optimism about the direction of the story, but Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5 seems to have gone out of its way to systematically undo everything I enjoyed. At the end of the previous book, I praised the series for finally giving Geary some meaningful character development, only to be immensely disapp...

These are excellent reads—fast-paced, well-plotted, and set in a truly creative universe. Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5 is the fifth entry in the series, and it holds up remarkably well. This is top-tier, exciting science fiction that acts as perfect brain candy. The ship maneuvering, the intense space battles, the overarching plot, and the characters are all fantastic. This installment kicks off with a brief recap, which is a nice touch. It quickly establishes the conflict for this leg of ...

When I was reading the first book in this series, I told my wife what it was about, and she mentioned that the concept would surely get old and boring after a while. I didn't realize how prescient that comment would be until, at one point, I realized I had skipped an entire book in the series and hadn't even noticed. Relentless: The Lost Fleet, Book 5 by Jack Campbell is light and fun to read, but ultimately, the plot just gets repetitive. How many star systems can these characters fight their ...

Still a solid read. Sometimes "Blackjack" Geary manages to win a bit too easily, and the love triangle subplot is starting to wear thin, but overall, it’s good enough to make me jump straight into the final book. For the honor of our ancestors, I really hope they stick the landing! Nate, out. If you are looking for an immersive space opera book review, this series remains a must-read.