A worthy and highly enjoyable finale to the Lost Stars spinoff series. Campbell wraps up the series neatly while at the same time leaving plenty of room for future development. I guess one could make the criticism that not a whole lot changes from the start to the finish of the series in terms of the fledgling Midway system and where its at in terms of surviving the threat of the collapsing-but-still-around Syndicate and the alien threat of the Enigmas. But there are some entertaining adventures along the way. Its recommended for those who enjoyed the Lost Fleet books and wanted more in the same vein. ( )

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90 points, 4 ¾ stars!

President Gwen Iceni and General Artur Drakon have established a stable new government at Midway Star System. They're trying to find new allies which will help keep them safer from the continually splintering Syndicate Worlds. There are only a few things left, including a renewed interest by the Enigma race in Syndicate territories. More personally, Gwen and Artur each have to deal with once trusted underlings turning on them. Can they survive those who know them best?

Shattered Spear is a fantastic ending to the The Lost Stars series. I enjoyed reading it. There are some things I wanted more of, but everything I wanted out of the series has been fulfilled. I'm actually really sad it is over.

The main battle of the book was utterly brilliant. I loved it. Most exciting one yet. I can't believe how good it was, even. In Shattered Spear, we still had the Enigma hanging around looking to butt in on former Syndicate territory, and some Syndicate forces on the way to make Midway's life difficult, and also a pirate controlled system nearby.

And it all crashes together at once.

And it was amazing.

As a result of the big, long battle, Shattered Spear was a bit light on other things, and a it was even a bit shorter than the previous books. That is okay though, because everything else is handled great, too.

For a book that in no way should have been cute, this was insanely cute. I loved the characters throughout the series. Shattered Spear just made them even better, and their relationships made me happy. This book hit hard, though, because of what the characters have to go through together. I'm sad right now, for the first time in a Jack Campbell book. My only regret is I never got the chance to see the answer to the joke of how do two CEOs choose who is on top.

Everything really was wrapped up nicely, if not completely. There are still a bunch of answers I want to questions that I have had for 15 books now. I know the next series is actually a prequel to The Lost Fleet following Geary, but I'm hopeful that Campbell will return to Drakon and Iceni. It wouldn't be unprecedented. I just enjoyed that the ending to The Lost Stars wasn't needlessly dragged out and that I got everything I hoped for.

Except for the sex. ( )

A good entry in this quite entertaining series. Iceni and Drakon, former Syndicate CEOs continue their work in creating new model worlds from those that have escaped from Syndic dominance. New allies are sought and the Enigma's expansion creates a curious four-way battle. A good tactical adjunct to the larger Black Jack and the Alliance issues. ( )

Fourth book in The Lost Stars--a side-series to Campbell's long-running Lost Fleet series--focusing on the planet Midway, which has broken away from the faltering, repressive Syndicate Worlds. President Iceni and General Drakon, former Syndicate CEO's, are learning how to build a functional government based on trust instead of fear. They are making progress, but although the long war with the Alliance has ended, peace--an almost forgotten concept--is still far away. The Syndicate Worlds want their rebellious colonies back, the alien enigmas want all humans destroyed, and the neighboring pirate queen has a bitter grudge against Iceni. And there are multiple assassins threatening the leaders of Midway. All of this means political plotting, military maneuvering, and multiple space battles.

Campbell writes good, non-jingoistic military SF. This side series is worth reading. But this book is a bit flatter than the first three. And it is very definitely not the place to start the series. ( )