Mass Effect: Revelation

Mass Effect: Revelation is a novel within the Mass Effect universe.

Tropes used in Mass Effect: Revelation include:

Anti-Hero / Villain Protagonist: Saren.
Call Forward: The retired Admiral Grissom (not fond of visitors) goes to answer his door and wonders who it might be. "If it was a reporter, he'd punch him -- or her -- right in the mouth."
Eye Scream: Groto Ib-ba, a mercenary member of the batarians, a species whose members each have four eyes, gets one of them burst -- not removed, burst -- by his torturer during interrogation. This particular instance is also one of Pay Evil Unto Evil, as the victim in question was also hateful of humans and had planned to use one of them as a means of "stress relief".
First Contact: The book begins just after this happens.
Foreshadowing: Ambassador Goyle suggests that there could already be an advanced AI out there somewhere in the galaxy (besides the geth).
Framing Device: Set up the Mass Effect universe, since the game was unreleased during its publication.
Freudian Excuse: Apparently Saren's hatred of humanity was caused by his brother's death during the First Contact War. Of course, that does nothing to defend Saren's brutal treatment of every other species that gets in his way.
Prequel
Rule Number One:

"I have two rules I follow," Saren explained. "The first is: never kill someone without a reason."
"And the second?" Anderson asked, suspicious.
"You can always find a reason to kill someone."

Start of Darkness: Saren
Take That Us / Call Forward / Hilarious in Hindsight: There's a line somewhere about a lengthy elevator ride.
Token Romance: Anderson and Kahlee Sanders, though it does not actually go anywhere.
Vasquez Always Dies: Subverted; Dah is 6' 3", stated to be stronger then most of the men in her squad and with an attitude that's kept her from advancing in her career. She gets ambushed and badly hurt, but ends up recovering to full health.