VALKYRIE: Into the Heavens, an American science fiction Light Novel series, doesn't break entirely new ground, but the first two volumes (which are the only ones released as of this writing) are decent enough reads for a low price.
The plot involves humanity at war with the Ixo, a race of insectoid aliens. They have been pushed back into space, but in order to fight more effectively against them, humanity needs a weapon that can effectively fight back against them in space. Daniel Logan, an exceptionally bright teenager, is recruited along with three others from various nations to pilot experimental spacecraft that operate on systems that are incompatible with adult brains. All in all, the plot is not particularly original, but it's done well enough to keep you reading and hoping humanity will win.
The characters aren't especially interesting, and some come off as less than believable. Daniel has an unbelievably high IQ and his supporting himself while hiding the government and having fabricated an adoptive family comes off as less than plausible. His relationship with Michiko takes the standard Belligerent Sexual Tension route, combined with the almost obligatory part in which they become closer by learning each other's deepest secrets. As such, they're slightly difficult to relate to.
Many of the side characters don't get much personality or development, even, to some extent, Danny and Michiko's fellow pilots Lana and Rosa. Still others, particularly the Wolf's Point Academy cast, fade into the background before long, which makes one wonder what the point of spending so long at the school was.
The Ixo come off as stereotypical Insectoid Aliens bent on conquering Earth for reasons unknown. Perhaps it's fairly early on in the series, but it would have been nice to see more to their motivations, or for them to be portrayed as more than faceless enemies for the protagonists to kill.
The space battles are the best part of the series, with tense and well-written ship to ship combat between the humans and the Ixo, and the stakes rising over time. Humanity suffers quite a few casualties even in their victories, and struggles desperately to keep their enemy at bay, even if the war doesn't always seem quite as desperate as it should.
Overall, if you don't expect too much, especially in terms of originality, VALKYRIE is worth your time.
Literature Not especially original, but decent enough
VALKYRIE: Into the Heavens, an American science fiction Light Novel series, doesn't break entirely new ground, but the first two volumes (which are the only ones released as of this writing) are decent enough reads for a low price.
The plot involves humanity at war with the Ixo, a race of insectoid aliens. They have been pushed back into space, but in order to fight more effectively against them, humanity needs a weapon that can effectively fight back against them in space. Daniel Logan, an exceptionally bright teenager, is recruited along with three others from various nations to pilot experimental spacecraft that operate on systems that are incompatible with adult brains. All in all, the plot is not particularly original, but it's done well enough to keep you reading and hoping humanity will win.
The characters aren't especially interesting, and some come off as less than believable. Daniel has an unbelievably high IQ and his supporting himself while hiding the government and having fabricated an adoptive family comes off as less than plausible. His relationship with Michiko takes the standard Belligerent Sexual Tension route, combined with the almost obligatory part in which they become closer by learning each other's deepest secrets. As such, they're slightly difficult to relate to.
Many of the side characters don't get much personality or development, even, to some extent, Danny and Michiko's fellow pilots Lana and Rosa. Still others, particularly the Wolf's Point Academy cast, fade into the background before long, which makes one wonder what the point of spending so long at the school was.
The Ixo come off as stereotypical Insectoid Aliens bent on conquering Earth for reasons unknown. Perhaps it's fairly early on in the series, but it would have been nice to see more to their motivations, or for them to be portrayed as more than faceless enemies for the protagonists to kill.
The space battles are the best part of the series, with tense and well-written ship to ship combat between the humans and the Ixo, and the stakes rising over time. Humanity suffers quite a few casualties even in their victories, and struggles desperately to keep their enemy at bay, even if the war doesn't always seem quite as desperate as it should.
Overall, if you don't expect too much, especially in terms of originality, VALKYRIE is worth your time.