These are part of a series and while individual characters’ story arcs diverge after the 1st book, Five Roads to Texas – they also start to come back together. These no longer stand alone as the storylines build off events from previous books. Also, this review may contain spoilers to previous books.
Ian & Kinsey are trying to secure an airport while Toby, Mara, Pint & Scar work to overthrow another homegrown dictator. All as newly conscripted military – which gives them more resources, but also more rules to follow.
I adore the way that Toby, Mara, Pint & Scar work together. Toby jokingly refers to himself as an uncle and that’s very much what the experienced operators become to these young adults. The banter back & forth brings some levity and humanity to very tense situations.
You know those authors that kill off a character only to bring them back and leave you rolling your eyes. Not here. I was literally screaming at my phone (as if Hansen can actually hear me and change his book) that he could not kill off one of my favorite characters. I’m so distraught and waiting for the “just kidding, they’re really OK”. But it never came and I’m totally gutted.
This is part of what makes this book and this series so good. It’s real, it’s ugly, and despite many victories the heroes aren’t safe.
Like the other books – there are several action packed completed missions/ops. The pacing and maneuvering is great. It was a wild ride and I listened to it in one day. As there is still more of the country to protect, the story definitely isn’t over. I immediately grabbed the audio for Salvation – I’m excited to catch up on Ram & Jesse.
Narration:
Andrew B Wehrlen continues to be easy to listen to. The series has an enormous cast of characters and he gives them all a unique voice.