Me: the book could really use some more focus to it
The Book: *introduces three more narrators and a subplot about monster race betting*
Me: hmmmmm

My new pet peeve: using the phrase "women and children" to mean noncombatants. It's especially bad when the book has established the military is gender mixed.

Feels like the author didn't think through his attempt at feminism. This is also seen in how the wife of the MC is only told to us that she's a warrior. She's shown to us as an overly emotional, takes-care-of-the-baby (by herself, no thanks from the husband) liability.

But the real failure of this book is that the main characters are more reactionary than active. They don't have goals or wants that they're working towards.