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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
A very good debut novel about a team of metahuman soldiers. It has one of my favourite romance tropes, lots of likable characters and a great plot. I wasn't too keen on all the sex stuff (I honestly wish there was a "skip the sexy bits" option sometimes...); I'd like it even better with one or two sex scenes less, because it just gets repetitive. I would've liked to read more about the emotional side of their relationship, but considering the time frame it actually is more believable to focus on the physical side, I think.
I had fun reading this and really hope there'll be a part two!
I had fun reading this and really hope there'll be a part two!
Really loved this world. I like that even though it’s set 200+ years in the future, that future landscape is plenty realistic based on the issues we’re dealing with today. The fact that metahumans are “made” because they’re essentially immune to a toxic chemical bomb created by terrorists is, again, a believable scenario.
Jamie, Kyle, and all of Alpha Team are great characters. I know that their relationship is brand new in this book so I accepted that the storyline basically was BOOM action adventure boom sex, rinse and repeat. I hope future installments might slow that down a little. Not that I don’t appreciate the sex but I guess I’m getting older and pages and pages and pages of it end up having me skipping those sections after a while. *sorrynotsorry*
I really loved how this isn’t insta love not even at the end. It’s a definite HFN edging towards an HEA but they haven’t made it yet. I also completely respected Jamie’s ability to stand up to his wealthy and powerful bio family without batting an eye.
Can’t wait to jump into the next book.
Merged review:
Disappointed to see that this is basically just a long, sex scene. I have nothing against sex, I just like to get a little more. Oh well.
Jamie, Kyle, and all of Alpha Team are great characters. I know that their relationship is brand new in this book so I accepted that the storyline basically was BOOM action adventure boom sex, rinse and repeat. I hope future installments might slow that down a little. Not that I don’t appreciate the sex but I guess I’m getting older and pages and pages and pages of it end up having me skipping those sections after a while. *sorrynotsorry*
I really loved how this isn’t insta love not even at the end. It’s a definite HFN edging towards an HEA but they haven’t made it yet. I also completely respected Jamie’s ability to stand up to his wealthy and powerful bio family without batting an eye.
Can’t wait to jump into the next book.
Merged review:
Disappointed to see that this is basically just a long, sex scene. I have nothing against sex, I just like to get a little more. Oh well.
Wow. This book had it all, great love story, hot sex scenes, action packed, ass kicking, awesome plot, banter, friendship, loyalty, twists and turns and a unique world. I am impressed and thoroughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the rest of this series. I can’t get enough of Jamie and Kyle. Alpha Team can be my heroes any day.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Re-reading this in audio was a fun experience, though I would have appreciated more variety in the voice actor's performance of the different characters.
Regardless of what format I read this in, I greatly enjoy Alpha Team's dynamics and their action-packed missions. It is a super fun series to read, and I like all the characters.
That said book 1 in particular suffers from a lack of emotional connection between the two main protagonist's and POV characters, Kyle and Jamie. They have undeniable sexual chemistry (and their sex scenes are SUPER long, though that is very in-character given their superhuman abilities of super strength/endurance and super healing, combined with their slightly kinky dynamic of mild D/s, orgasm control and rough sex) and I can totally see how they are drawn to each other - but their claims of fitting perfectly into each other's lives when they have only had sex and gone to work together, and wanting to move in together after knowing each other for 3 days, stretches my suspension of disbelief.
That said, they do not claim to love each other even at the end of the book (in fact they only use the term "I think I can grow to love you" in a very sweet moment at the end) so I guess it is not really insta-love, either.
While the action-scenes and military strategising are very fun to read and keep me engaged and tensions high and are never boring, I do find myself bothered by how unreflective any of the intense violence an highly unethical means the characters use. The military is always right and justified in their use of weapons and mass destructions, never questioned or criticised at any point. Instead, having to wait on judges to sign off on dangerous use of weapons or abilities that go again human rights or something are brushed off or mentioned as being an annoying hindrance.
Of course I am aware that this is a power fantasy, a fictional version of our world set over 250 years in the future, and there is a very clear division between the good guys and the bad guys with no moral greyness whatsoever.... but that lack of any sort of relection does make me uncomfortable.
Still, for the most part I could look past that while reading, and it's a fun and very entertaining read when I just want to get out of my mind - as evidence by this being my third time reading the series.
Regardless of what format I read this in, I greatly enjoy Alpha Team's dynamics and their action-packed missions. It is a super fun series to read, and I like all the characters.
That said book 1 in particular suffers from a lack of emotional connection between the two main protagonist's and POV characters, Kyle and Jamie. They have undeniable sexual chemistry (and their sex scenes are SUPER long, though that is very in-character given their superhuman abilities of super strength/endurance and super healing, combined with their slightly kinky dynamic of mild D/s, orgasm control and rough sex) and I can totally see how they are drawn to each other - but their claims of fitting perfectly into each other's lives when they have only had sex and gone to work together, and wanting to move in together after knowing each other for 3 days, stretches my suspension of disbelief.
That said, they do not claim to love each other even at the end of the book (in fact they only use the term "I think I can grow to love you" in a very sweet moment at the end) so I guess it is not really insta-love, either.
While the action-scenes and military strategising are very fun to read and keep me engaged and tensions high and are never boring, I do find myself bothered by how unreflective any of the intense violence an highly unethical means the characters use. The military is always right and justified in their use of weapons and mass destructions, never questioned or criticised at any point. Instead, having to wait on judges to sign off on dangerous use of weapons or abilities that go again human rights or something are brushed off or mentioned as being an annoying hindrance.
Of course I am aware that this is a power fantasy, a fictional version of our world set over 250 years in the future, and there is a very clear division between the good guys and the bad guys with no moral greyness whatsoever.... but that lack of any sort of relection does make me uncomfortable.
Still, for the most part I could look past that while reading, and it's a fun and very entertaining read when I just want to get out of my mind - as evidence by this being my third time reading the series.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Thoughts while reading:
-why does Alexei have to tell his family anything? Shouldn’t their unit be classified?
-wow, one night of sex and Jamie is already thinking forever
-so Jamie is possessive and gets upset about the thought of Kyle with anyone else, and Kyle is okay with that, but then Jamie says there;s one person he’d share him with. Wtf? Didn’t happen in this book, but seemed unnecessary and inconsistent. Although part of me wants to read that, more of me likes them exclusive
-you have a team of metahumans, great, but do they have to always work solo, especially on such a hugely important extraction. Perhaps another team of metahumans, or even *gasp* human soldiers could help the 6 or so people go up against a huge cartel attack. I mean, just a thought
-would kind of think technology in the future would make a sniper redundant
-why do they need a special bio weapon against metahumans when a bullet works fine Iexcept for a rare few like Kyle)? They killed metahumans no problem. I don’t see one more way to die, an extra complex way at that, a huge threat
-too many overly long sex scenes
I gave it a 4, because the world building is excellent and I can recognize the story is well written and well done. Most will love it, but I was bored early on, and I’m sure it’s a case of it’s me. I’m mostly interested in the romance, and that was resolved early on (though I did enjoy the scene where Jamie first chose duty over love and his jealousy when Kyle was going out to get relief), but the type of angsting and relationship development I enjoy was thin and just didn’t carry me through the book. All the drama with work, etc. while intriguing, is just not my jam, but I didn’t think it was fair to take that out on the book. But this is one I almost DNF and I definitely won’t read again.
Read on kindle
-why does Alexei have to tell his family anything? Shouldn’t their unit be classified?
-wow, one night of sex and Jamie is already thinking forever
-so Jamie is possessive and gets upset about the thought of Kyle with anyone else, and Kyle is okay with that, but then Jamie says there;s one person he’d share him with. Wtf? Didn’t happen in this book, but seemed unnecessary and inconsistent. Although part of me wants to read that, more of me likes them exclusive
-you have a team of metahumans, great, but do they have to always work solo, especially on such a hugely important extraction. Perhaps another team of metahumans, or even *gasp* human soldiers could help the 6 or so people go up against a huge cartel attack. I mean, just a thought
-would kind of think technology in the future would make a sniper redundant
-why do they need a special bio weapon against metahumans when a bullet works fine Iexcept for a rare few like Kyle)? They killed metahumans no problem. I don’t see one more way to die, an extra complex way at that, a huge threat
-too many overly long sex scenes
I gave it a 4, because the world building is excellent and I can recognize the story is well written and well done. Most will love it, but I was bored early on, and I’m sure it’s a case of it’s me. I’m mostly interested in the romance, and that was resolved early on (though I did enjoy the scene where Jamie first chose duty over love and his jealousy when Kyle was going out to get relief), but the type of angsting and relationship development I enjoy was thin and just didn’t carry me through the book. All the drama with work, etc. while intriguing, is just not my jam, but I didn’t think it was fair to take that out on the book. But this is one I almost DNF and I definitely won’t read again.
Read on kindle
That was bad, really, really bad, especially the sex scenes.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very good. Excessively spicy. Much of the run time is just gratuitous sex scenes specifically focusing on power and pain exchange. But it's done very well.
Much of the non-romantic scenes were about the universe, with it making way for a small but solid plot. With much of the superhero concept already explained in this book, the following books will need to have a larger plot to balance out the smut.
The universe doesn't make complete sense. If I were pregnant in this universe, I'd just keep making babies until I got one that was immune. It seems a bit strange to handicap the next generation and insist on looking for a vaccine or cure, when what they should be doing is infecting the world (in a careful and measured way) and making the transition less painful and traumatic.
Much of the non-romantic scenes were about the universe, with it making way for a small but solid plot. With much of the superhero concept already explained in this book, the following books will need to have a larger plot to balance out the smut.
The universe doesn't make complete sense. If I were pregnant in this universe, I'd just keep making babies until I got one that was immune. It seems a bit strange to handicap the next generation and insist on looking for a vaccine or cure, when what they should be doing is infecting the world (in a careful and measured way) and making the transition less painful and traumatic.
"In the Wreckage is a 100k word steamy m/m sci-fi military romance with a HFN ending. There is military violence within the story that may not be suitable for everyone, as well as explicit intimate scenes not suitable for readers under 18."
According to my book tastes, this should have been a guaranteed 5-star read for me.
It started out hot as hell so I was all in from the get-go.
I really did like the first part of the book. I also liked the last part. But, I didn't love it. :-(
It had a lot of typos, but besides that I didn't really feel the connection between the two MCs. I loved both of them. But I didn't 100% believe in their relationship. Their feelings happened too fast and seemingly without reason other than hot sex. The sex was very graphic and dirty. I didn't mind the first scene, but it was a bit too much for me in subsequent scenes. Maybe because I wasn't really feeling their togetherness.
I loved the family threads. But again, felt they were underdeveloped. I wanted a lot more angst from the story of both of their families. Their friendships could have been more explicitly detailed too. I didn't catch on that Jamie's NCO was his best friend until very late in the story.
Let me finish up with what I did love about the story.
The ins and outs of their military life fascinated me. Their physical enhancements and artillery were wonderful. The world building is also great since it's set in near enough future to make most everything believable. Last, but not least, the action scenes were riveting. Especially the ones with Kyle which got emotional for me.
Overall a really good book with super hot sex scenes, good action scenes and a host of paranormal abilities. All of it set a couple of hundred years in our future.