I’m not going to mince words. I’m not a mecha fan. I don’t mean that I don’t like the genre, but that I’ve never watched or consumed anything in the genre, unless you count seeing Pacific Rim (which was awesome). I backed the author’s indiegogo campaign more to support an awesome author, not because I had any real desire to read a novel about giant robots duking it out. I bring this up to let you know that I’m not this novel’s target audience, and yet, I still had a blast reading Combat Frame XSeed.
There’s a lot of backstory and history that might make the plot feel more complicated than it actually is. Basically, we have a coalition of space colonies that decides future Earth has become too violent. To solve this problem, the coalition sends in the next generation of mechs called combat frames to ensure victory over Earth once and for all. Unfortunately for the Coalition, the people of earth have more fight left in them as well. Now there’s a lot more to story, as different factions on both sides each have their own agendas, which, quite predictably, leads to a lot of intrigue and backstabbing.
The best thing about the novel is that it grabs you right from the start and refuses to let go until the conclusion. Between the various factions and characters, there is a lot going on given the fairly basic overarching plot. Mr. Niemeier also manages to pull the rug out from under your feet multiple times without it feeling too gimmicky. The twists are foreshadowed without being too obvious. If you pay enough attention, they won’t feel like they came out of left field because Mr. Niemeier does an excellent job at feeding you these crumbs.
The characters, for the most part, get the job done. I can’t say much about the villain because it might spoil some things, but the author has created quite a memorable villain. Keep an eye out, as Mr. Niemeier has a tendency to zig when you expect him to zag. My favorite character, by far, was Zane. He’s be bit of a headcase with co-dependency issues. He needs his mech, and will stop at nothing to recover it and keep others from stealing it from him.
Now for a bit of a warning. The author bills this novel as a mix of mecha and military SF and espionage. While it certainly isn’t false, it didn’t quite feel like military science-fiction or an espionage thriller. I’ve read a few in both genres, and Combat Frame XSeed felt… different somehow. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I was kinda of disappointed at first.
But then something happens about halfway through the novel that changed my perception and made things click. More than anything else, Combat Frame XSeed is the best anime you’ve never seen in novel form.
Once this clicked, everything suddenly made sense. The characters, the twists, and the mysterious history of the world al remind me of all the anime I’ve watched. While I’ve never watched any mecha anime, I’ve seen enough anime from other genres to recognize a lot of the tropes present in Combat Frame XSeed. If anything, this shift in perception made me enjoy the novel all the more.
In short, if you have even a passing interest in the kind of storytelling you see in anime, pick this up. It’s hard to put down, full of interesting backstory, and lots of fun. A fantastic novelization to an awesome yet non-existent anime. Buy this book and hope the author makes enough money to create an anime series out of it.
4.5 stars out of 5
*Disclosure: I’ve hired the author to edit the manuscript of a short novella of mine. I haven't let that affect this review.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
All 3 for you in this series
See full series
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Top reviews from other countries
Michael Feather
A Fantastic Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2019
Scott Osmond
Giant Mecha As They Should Be!
Reviewed in Australia on January 12, 2019Michael Strauss
Very fun and interesting read
Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2021