This fleet-footed debut—a blend of suspense, ethical quandaries, and flashes of humor—hits full tilt right out of the gate, and the action never slows from there. That breakneck speed sacrifices some build up in places, but fits well with Brayden’s blistering, no-holds-barred quest to uncover the truth, made more gripping by his penchant for not “follow[ing] the rules” and growing awareness that he’s being set up by the very people he trusts the most. Clark plumbs the dual battle perspective skillfully, adding a rich layer of complexity to the narrative that makes Brayden's fight both charged and pensive.

One of the novel’s most notable features is Clark’s skillful use of humor, with moments of levity strategically injected into an otherwise dramatically intense story, a strategy that humanizes the characters while deepening reader connection. That humor never undermines the seriousness of Brayden’s mission, though; rather, it underscores the human spirit's ability to find light even in the darkest of situations. The dense, expository passages that serve as background for the story’s military framework impede the flow and somewhat mute Brayden’s ability to fully convey his trauma, but still, this is a brisk, engaging debut.

Takeaway: Brisk military fiction with deeper themes of betrayal and corruption.

Comparable Titles: Bradley Wright’s The Secret Weapon, David Bruns and J.R. Olson’s Order of Battle.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: A