Rating: 
Summary: Certainly one of Voyager's finest
Review: Shadow of Heaven was an incredible ending to an equally amazing epic that stretches across three volumes. One of the book's most compelling points is the masterful exploration of Romulan society and their people's frame of mind, a segment of the Star Trek universe that is too often neglected. The storyline is complex and yet its points, both superficial and philosophical, are easily grasped by the most casual readers. The characters are developed and believable. The readers will find them very easy to emphasize with. The story takes a most innovative approach to the all too typical "end of the universe" plot. Despite getting off to a slow start in book one, the story line accelerates to warp speed near the end of volume one and takes the reader on a ride of their life through volume 2 and brings them to a climatic conclusion that is bitter sweet in volume 3. Truly, Dark Matters shines brightly as one of Voyager's finest.
Rating:
Summary: Certainly one of Voyager's finest
Review: Shadow of Heaven was an incredible ending to an equally amazing epic that stretches across three volumes. One of the book's most compelling points is the masterful exploration of Romulan society and their people's frame of mind, a segment of the Star Trek universe that is too often neglected. The storyline is complex and yet its points, both superficial and philosophical, are easily grasped by the most casual readers. The characters are developed and believable. The readers will find them very easy to emphasize with. The story takes a most innovative approach to the all too typical "end of the universe" plot. Despite getting off to a slow start in book one, the story line accelerates to warp speed near the end of volume one and takes the reader on a ride of their life through volume 2 and brings them to a climatic conclusion that is bitter sweet in volume 3. Truly, Dark Matters shines brightly as one of Voyager's finest.
Rating:
Summary: As only Christie Golden can...
Review: This is a fantastic trilogy! The third book was as engaging as the first two, I simply could not put it down. Not only were the Voyager regulars beautifully written, but the Romulan characters were excellent. Jekri Kaleh was absolutely captivating, and I came to really care what became of her. I've heard several comments from various Star Trek fans who feel there were flaws with technobabble. And I also noticed the slip up where someone speaks to Paris on the bridge, when he had been missing since early on in the story. But to be completely honest, I don't see the big deal. When I saw Tom being addressed in that scene, I simply smiled to myself and went on. It didn't distract me from the story. Why? Because the story isn't really ABOUT the technobabble. It's about the hearts of these characters that I have come to love and adore so much. Christie Golden has a way of capturing the essence of the Voyager characters that seems to elude most authors. She gives them depth and a realism that many Voyager novels lack. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Voyager not only for the space battles and futuristic technology, but for the heart and the character interaction. Shadow of Heaven is a wonderful conclusion to a brilliant story. If you love Janeway's wry humor mixed with her deep devotion to her crew, or B'Elanna's Klingon temper toned down by her newly found sense of belonging and acceptance, and all the things that make each character unique ... if you love action, humor, and emotion all rolled up neatly into one story - this trilogy is for you. Kudos to Christie Golden! Once again, she wrote a book that touched my heart, and took my mind off of reality for a short while. What a gift. Thank you, Christie!
Rating:
Summary: As only Christie Golden can...
Review: This is a fantastic trilogy! The third book was as engaging as the first two, I simply could not put it down. Not only were the Voyager regulars beautifully written, but the Romulan characters were excellent. Jekri Kaleh was absolutely captivating, and I came to really care what became of her. I've heard several comments from various Star Trek fans who feel there were flaws with technobabble. And I also noticed the slip up where someone speaks to Paris on the bridge, when he had been missing since early on in the story. But to be completely honest, I don't see the big deal. When I saw Tom being addressed in that scene, I simply smiled to myself and went on. It didn't distract me from the story. Why? Because the story isn't really ABOUT the technobabble. It's about the hearts of these characters that I have come to love and adore so much. Christie Golden has a way of capturing the essence of the Voyager characters that seems to elude most authors. She gives them depth and a realism that many Voyager novels lack. I recommend this book to anyone who loves Voyager not only for the space battles and futuristic technology, but for the heart and the character interaction. Shadow of Heaven is a wonderful conclusion to a brilliant story. If you love Janeway's wry humor mixed with her deep devotion to her crew, or B'Elanna's Klingon temper toned down by her newly found sense of belonging and acceptance, and all the things that make each character unique ... if you love action, humor, and emotion all rolled up neatly into one story - this trilogy is for you. Kudos to Christie Golden! Once again, she wrote a book that touched my heart, and took my mind off of reality for a short while. What a gift. Thank you, Christie!
Rating:
Summary: ST-Voyager Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven
Review: This is the third installment of the three part series, Dark Matters: Shadow of Heaven written by Christie Golden. What a wrap-up! All along you were hopeful that things would turn for the better... with the Voyager characters and the universe... the Romulans, the Shepards... even the deceitful rogue... as if I should doubt. Christie Golden pulled it off in her unique way... I was riveted to the whole series, not only were they fast reading, but captivating till the end. And, yes, I too had a chuckle when Paris was not on the bridge... ahh just a little brain flatulence nothing more... something a good proof reader should have caught. Nonetheless, a good story told well. To get the whole story reading all three volumes is a must. The Romulans were excellently portrayed, true to the essence of their character... even some redemption.
Rating:
Summary: What a climax!
Review: This last book in the series of three really packs a punch. Its' crossover aspects gives a fresh distration to the overall storyline. Well written, especially in regards to the character authenticity. You have to ge all three - don't try and read just this one by itself.
Rating: 
Summary: So-so series
Review: This series started off great. Romulans, a new threat, a shadowy new race, good characterizations. Then it hit a bit of a downspiral that the last book helps pull out. The Romulan universe in these books works well. I liked the people secretly studying the Vulcan Way, and kudos for not dragging Spock into it. I love Spock, but it's nice to see that his influence has spread enough that it's not necessary he be there. And the whole sequence of events on that side of the Neutral Zone worked well. However... The author made a couple major character flaws. Chakotay is a vegetarian. It's mentioned mutiple times in the show. And yet, the author has Chakotay salivating over meat roasts many times. How Christie Golden could get so many details correct and mess up with this one, I don't know. Second, the crew of the Voyager has more than once regretted relying on Neelix cooking and not having full acess to replicator; it's why their replicator rations are so important to them. yet, in these books, everyone cheers on when they get to kill something and cook it, plus Neelix and his concoctions are prized highly. Huh? My guess is, the author is a hunter and mistakenly put her preferences on the Voyager characters, but it doesn't fit. It works better with the race she created. Unfortunately, that whole conflict dragged on too much. Also dragged out was the secret of who the Entity was. You can guess it at the beginning of the second book at the latest. That means you have TWO books to sit through. Perhaps the second and third book could have been better edited to be one book. It would have helped a lot.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Premise, Good Plot, Good Writing!
Review: While it's certainly not the best Star Trek book I have ever read, it is certainly in the to fifty percent. One warning, however, the book will take quite a while to make sense if you have not yet read the other two proceeding it in the series (kind of like watching the second half of an episode, minus the montage at the beginning that summarizes the first part). Other than that, however, it is a good read -- by itself, or as the final book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Good Premise, Good Plot, Good Writing!
Review: While it's certainly not the best Star Trek book I have ever read, it is certainly in the to fifty percent. One warning, however, the book will take quite a while to make sense if you have not yet read the other two proceeding it in the series (kind of like watching the second half of an episode, minus the montage at the beginning that summarizes the first part). Other than that, however, it is a good read -- by itself, or as the final book in the series.
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