Genesis Wave books 1 & 2
Book 1 is very good. Lots of action, interesting characters (particularly Maltz), and an intriguing mystery concerning just who unleashed the Genesis wave. There are a couple of odd choices by the author near the ending of the book that, unfortunately, portend some sloppy writing in book 2.
Book 2 has some serious flaws.
-The wave is defeated half-way through the book in an anticlimactic fashion. The Enterprise doesn't have much to do with it.
-The alien foes have potential, but turn out to be duds. They are highly intelligent, but have zero personality. The author hints that they may have burgeoning sense of morality, but all of their actions contradict this.
-The scenes on the mining colony are filler.
-The introduction of the character, Herbert, is implausible, and his ultimate role in the story is ludicrous.
-The Bolian planet subplot was very interesting, but it felt unresolved.
-Lovesick Geordie is awful in both books. I really disliked him here.
I think that this story would have worked better as one book. Plot A is Maltz and a ragtag group of Wave survivors on a quest to kill Marcus and mysterious alien threat. Plot B would be the Enterprise stopping the wave itself. Keep the Bolian subplot for worldbuilding, suspense, and as a useful way to remind the reader just how high the stakes are. Either flesh out the bad guys properly or let them remain a cipher. And, for God's sake, do not include several chapters of Geordie acting like a heartbroken teenager.
