**POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THIS & DEFINITE SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS**
If you thought Nemesis’ death in the previous book meant the end of the series, maybe it was supposed to but lord knows you can’t keep a monster down if you have a story to tell or there’s money to be made. Luckily for this series, it’s either the former or both with a MUCH heavier emphasis on the former.
One important difference is that this serves as a sequel to both the previous Nemesis Saga novels AND Island 731. We see more involvement with the three Island 731 characters (Mark Hawkins, Avril Joliet, and Lilly) as well as the big threat of that novel, the BFS (ultimately renamed to the less crude “Tsuchi”). In addition, we see that there’s an even more shadowy organization than the ones in previous books. Finally, we get to see how Nemesis and Maigo function while away from each other.
I enjoyed Maigo’s addition to the cast of characters and how it affects others, especially the unlikely hero of the series Jon Hudson. We see them grow more attached to each other and their struggle reconciling their past relationship with each other and with Nemesis. The relationship between Maigo and Nemesis takes a new turn as Maigo struggles with her role in Nemesis’ previous rampages yet still cares for the kaiju’s well-being. Coupled with not knowing what she is (accepting she’s not the original Maigo but wondering if she’s a monster even without Nemesis), Maigo’s a great addition to the series.
It’s great seeing more of Mark Hawkins after his smaller role in Project Maigo and seeing more how the events of Island 731 affected him. He’s still fundamentally the same but, without the novel outright saying it, seemingly suffers from PTSD over the incident and driven to avenge the friends he lost in the previous book. Avril Joliet is still fun but has a subdued role compared to Mark and adopted daughter Lilly. Lilly, on that note, is a hoot. Stubborn without being annoying or unkind, she’s has great chemistry with most of the characters and is second to only Jon as the character with the best dialogue, spoken or inner. The new villains are fun, having well rounded characteristics without being sympathetic enough you don’t smile when things go wrong for them. There’s not much to say about the returning characters; they continue to grow based on how events change them, never becoming cheap caricatures based on one trait (although Jon still has a delightfully filthy vocabulary).
One thing I really enjoyed about this novel was its exploration of family, especially when it comes from (EXTREMELY) unexpected places. We see how Jon and Mark react to becoming fathers at practically a moment’s notice and how everyone at the FC-P treat Maigo and Lilly as either daughters or nieces. It’s just among the many things that make this series thoughtful and heart-warming. It makes the funny moments feel warmer and raises the stakes of the action scenes since it has the potential of breaking up a family as well as weaken a badass monster fighting team.
Another interesting concept Project 731 explores is what Nemesis is without Maigo’s consciousness fighting to curb her excessive anger/hatred. Even without Maigo reining her in, the novel does a great job showing there’s still a thoughtful soul behind the monster while illustrating just how screwed humanity is with an incomplete Nemesis.
The novel does great in continuing to raise the stakes with not only the Tsuchi making it to the mainland (an understood danger that turned out to only be delayed by the characters’ action in Island 731) but also showing that there were/still events and secrets going on behind the scenes of the previous novels. It merges Jeremy Robinson’s earlier novel Raising the Past into the Nemesis Saga and, like Project Maigo merging in Island 731, Raising the Past fits in with no problem and without needing to have read the earlier novel although it is a good novel if you enjoy the Nemesis saga. (word of caution; reading Project 731 first spoils Raising the Past’s twist).
Once again, Jeffrey Kafer’s narration elevates Jeremy Robinson’s already awesome, elevated writing. Not much to add if you’ve read my earlier reviews, the dude’s makes funny lines funnier and intense scenes more heart-pounding. Not always clear when one character starts and another ends in multi-character scenes but those are very rare. Jeffrey’s on point again in this series.
Project 731 makes the Nemesis Saga 3 for 3 in good storytelling, 4 for 4 counting Island 731 (and 5 for 5 adding Raising the Past). Jeremy Robinson once again expands his universe in fun, creative ways and we get to enjoy the ride. You’ll not be disappointed when it becomes clear not all the threads will be tied up by the last page or when Rick Lewis says “Audible hopes you have enjoyed this program” because Jeremy Robinson is clearly getting ready for something epic.