I agree! I felt like we jumped right into the book without much background info on the main characters. I found myself with a lot of questions about themHowlan wrote: ↑10 Oct 2019, 10:19Yes, it's true one can read this book totally as a standalone, the story is easy is follow and it seems fine. The only problem is that the characters of Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah are not properly introduced in this book and I feel that we need to know about them more.Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 23:23 The reviewer said that this book could be read as a standalone book in the series and after reading and reviewing this book too, I find that I agree completely.
Reading as a Stand Alone Book
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Re: Reading as a Stand Alone Book
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And that is the aspect I found myself questioning while reading this one as I have not read the first two booksKitabuKizuri wrote: ↑16 Oct 2019, 01:42 I have read the first book in the series before this one and can confidently say the basic story does not rely on the other two books to be appreciated. The only thing I think would be important to some readers is understanding where the main characters have come from relationship-wise.
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I did have a lot of questions I felt could be answered in the first two books - I just didnt love this one enough to want to pick up the othersRoadWell wrote: ↑19 Oct 2019, 14:59 Yes, indeed, as the reviewer said, the third book can be read as a standalone. However, I would definitely recommend readers to give the other books a go as they will have a better understanding of the relationships between characters. For example the beginning of Jamie and Jacko's friendship and how it initially developed or the relationship between the two main characters and Colonel John Cook which began in book number one.
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Idk I didnt find it all that suspenseful and had to force myself to finish this one because I was so bored with it! Lolfaint9 wrote: ↑21 Oct 2019, 05:20 The manner in which Greg Kater has connected the three books is professional. One cannot feel or detect the flow disconnect. He’s done it so well that one would mistakenly dare say it’s a standalone book. There are two books prior to Skills of the Warramunga i.e. The Warramunga’s War and The Warramunga’s Aftermath of War. The three are historical fiction books.
Being a very suspenseful book, one would feel like reading over and over again without having any feeling of boredom. Nevertheless, having squeezed the juicy part of the story, it is in order and urge to read the other two series. It’s irresistible. After having read this book, one cannot avoid the other two. You have to go back if you’ve not yet done so.
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I agree, I just had questions about the main characters backgrounds that i am sure would have been answered in the first couple of booksNuel Ukah wrote: ↑22 Oct 2019, 01:01Reading series from the first book gives better understanding. But this one can be read as a standalone because it is a new mission entirely. That's the author's concept. He's not continuing one particular mission in all the series. Each book has a unique mission, but with the same characters and setting.CommMayo wrote: ↑02 Oct 2019, 13:37 Despite being third in a series, some reviewers have said that Skills of the Warramunga could be read as a stand alone book, while other reviewers expressed some confusion because they didn't read the first two books.
Personally, I have a hard time not reading a series in order. What important details does a reader need to know if they are picking this book up without reading the two prior books in the series? Or would you say that this is truly a stand alone novel?
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The flow was definitely not interrupted reading this as a stand-aloneCharlyt wrote: ↑25 Oct 2019, 02:10 I've only read the first book before this and I think this third book can stand on its own. I think reading the previous books would give an advantage of deeper understanding the relationships between the characters, and also having already know and like the personalities of recurring characters. if one would read it as a stand alone, I don't think there would be any problem regarding the flow of the story.
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I'm curious about jacko andmonique, because I thought the ending was not very good. I have only read this third book thoughkdstrack wrote: ↑30 Oct 2019, 21:08 This book does work as a standalone. However, readers would be enriched by a deeper understanding of how Jacko and Jamie met and solidified their relationship. A knowledge of how Jacko and Monique met makes the ending sweeter. The more background information you have about the characters, the easier it will be to relate to the characters and connect with their experiences.
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But I dont think you have to know how they became friends to know that they are really good friends in the third book
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It was difficult getting everyone and every organization straight in the beginning!MsH2k wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 17:45 This was my first book of the series. I rarely read all of the books in a series. Knowing that this was not a standalone book, I anticipated having to get up to speed on the characters quickly. It was like drinking from a firehouse reading the first few chapters and learning all the players and organizations. I don’t know if that particular aspect would have been easier if I had read any of the previous books or if this is just how the author started this book. It was not critical to the plot, but I would like to have known more about Jacko and Sarah’s family history. I wonder if it was addressed in either of the previous books. That was the only thing I felt I missed.
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I heartily agree. The first book lays the groundwork and gives you the background on the characters. This helps you understand their behaviors and motivations in the following books in the series.
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I think it's great that you considered reading the first two books! I think how Jamie and Jacko's relationship started was a bit fast yet the development of the friendship was just impressive and superb.Ummiii wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 14:14Yes I would like to go back and read the first two. Not only to understand the relationship between some of the characters like Jacko and Sarah but because I really enjoyed the story and I want to know how it all started.briellejee wrote: ↑29 Oct 2019, 02:31Did it, in any other way, made you interested in the other books? because I could see other people saying somehow after reading this, they would want to read the first two books. Was this not the case for you?Ummiii wrote: ↑21 Oct 2019, 10:47 I really think this book could be read as a stand alone. I haven't read the previous books in the series, this is the only one I have read so far but the author wrote the story in a way you wouldn't feel the need to check the other books for recaps. He included all the necessary information you need to know for this book.
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Yes you should read the other books in the series. You would enjoy the story even more.Kro92813 wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 21:39I agree! I felt like we jumped right into the book without much background info on the main characters. I found myself with a lot of questions about themHowlan wrote: ↑10 Oct 2019, 10:19Yes, it's true one can read this book totally as a standalone, the story is easy is follow and it seems fine. The only problem is that the characters of Jamie, Jacko, and Sarah are not properly introduced in this book and I feel that we need to know about them more.Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑03 Oct 2019, 23:23 The reviewer said that this book could be read as a standalone book in the series and after reading and reviewing this book too, I find that I agree completely.
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Yes their friendship started at post WWII Cairo which is very important for the whole series.briellejee wrote: ↑01 Nov 2019, 01:16I think it's great that you considered reading the first two books! I think how Jamie and Jacko's relationship started was a bit fast yet the development of the friendship was just impressive and superb.Ummiii wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 14:14Yes I would like to go back and read the first two. Not only to understand the relationship between some of the characters like Jacko and Sarah but because I really enjoyed the story and I want to know how it all started.briellejee wrote: ↑29 Oct 2019, 02:31
Did it, in any other way, made you interested in the other books? because I could see other people saying somehow after reading this, they would want to read the first two books. Was this not the case for you?
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Yes it was so confusing sometimes i had to reread some parts of the book again.Kro92813 wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 22:06It was difficult getting everyone and every organization straight in the beginning!MsH2k wrote: ↑31 Oct 2019, 17:45 This was my first book of the series. I rarely read all of the books in a series. Knowing that this was not a standalone book, I anticipated having to get up to speed on the characters quickly. It was like drinking from a firehouse reading the first few chapters and learning all the players and organizations. I don’t know if that particular aspect would have been easier if I had read any of the previous books or if this is just how the author started this book. It was not critical to the plot, but I would like to have known more about Jacko and Sarah’s family history. I wonder if it was addressed in either of the previous books. That was the only thing I felt I missed.
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Yes but it would have been difficult to get invested in the characters otherwise.