“I find that most reviews of this book either find a genuine love for the book (and presumably the series) or are composed of angry rants against the characterizations of millenial Christians and the military. If so, get over your own personal issues and just let the book stand on its own.
A close read would show that, yes, the main character is an elite SF operator, but this doesn't make him Rambo, just a master of training indigenous elements, which *ding* would constitute the post-Change society at large.
Knowing skills and translating them so others can learn them are two different things and while some many find it pro-forma, the need actually finds a place here in this book.
As for religion, if you believe a cataclysmic event wouldn't bring out the worst in organized religion, you're living a pipe dream. There are good individual Christians - and other religions - and bad organized ones throughout the book. Not only is this the writer's bent to show this, it seems true to form as I understand the world we live in.
As for focusing on wiccans and "ignoring" others, once again, the author is intended to tell his story his way. If you don't care for it, write your own book that comforts you without any challenges.
Personally, I enjoyed reading the book, and the series total. I didn't find the need to cry about bruised sensibilities and find it humorous that many seem to do so.
I did find some sections overly wordy, but The Hobbit is considered a classic in some venues and that book has a song on every third page. As for lots of talents embodied in few people, I would rather read that than know about the fifty extra characters that would be required to fill the need.
Suspension of belief is key in the art of reading and letting go of hang-ups is apparently harder for many than I thought.”