Scan barcode
A review by lexxorfern
Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
3.0
Dominika Egorova danced all her life. When her career as a ballerina spirals down after a jealous dancer injures her, she has nowhere else to go. Not until her Uncle Ivan (Vanya) Egorov goes to her father's funeral and offers her a job in SVR, the Russian Intelligence Agency. She accepts and becomes the bait for an assassination of a Russian mobster who openly criticizes the government and the prime minister. As the sole witness, Dominika has be eliminated as well. Instead, Vanya sends her to Sparrow school where she will learn to become a seductress for SVR. After finishing her training with high marks, she goes to Helsinki to seduce and operate against Nathaniel Nash.
Dominika, as a child, has been diagnosed of synesthesia. She interprets sound and emotions as colors. She uses this gift as a gauge to assess her allies and foes. While she is a top spy assigned to hunt for the mole in the Russian intelligence, Dominika is compassionate and strong-willed. It is her love for her mother that keeps her going despite her abhorrence to her profession. Though she is expected to use her beauty and allure to compromise her enemies, she mostly uses her intelligence and strength to gain advantage. Dominika could easily be one of the best kick-ass female protagonist in spy fiction genre.
Nate works for the CIA as the handler of the Russian mole called MARBLE. After he almost blows up MARBLE's cover, he has no choice but to lie low and operate in Helsinki. His career almost goes downhill until he crosses paths with Dominika.
No sooner does Dominika finds herself plunged into an intricate web of treachery, deceits and betrayals. As the plot catapults to Greek, American, Finnish and Italian territories, Dominika and Nate develops dangerous attraction that could ultimately botch the entire mole hunt operation of both parties.
Jason Matthews brings to the readers his years of expertise in surveillance tradecraft, espionage and counterintelligence. He puts into writing the day to day dangers and feelings that shape the lives of spies and agents. He delivers an interesting cast that entertains, thrills and terrifies. Although I see it as CIA-biased, Matthews debut novel is still an excellent work that will surely be patronized by thriller and spy novel lovers.
Viewers who find the movie sexist should not stray away from the novel. The movie adaptation changed major plot elements and altogether eliminated Dominika's synesthesia, which plays a significant role in the plot.
As a special note, the mini recipes at the end of each chapter are worth checking out, too.
Red Sparrow is the first novel of Jason Matthews trilogy. A Palace of Treason was released in 2015, followed by Kremlin's Candidate in 2018.
The movie adaptation was released in 2018 starring Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova and Joel Edgerton as Nate Nash.
Dominika, as a child, has been diagnosed of synesthesia. She interprets sound and emotions as colors. She uses this gift as a gauge to assess her allies and foes. While she is a top spy assigned to hunt for the mole in the Russian intelligence, Dominika is compassionate and strong-willed. It is her love for her mother that keeps her going despite her abhorrence to her profession. Though she is expected to use her beauty and allure to compromise her enemies, she mostly uses her intelligence and strength to gain advantage. Dominika could easily be one of the best kick-ass female protagonist in spy fiction genre.
Nate works for the CIA as the handler of the Russian mole called MARBLE. After he almost blows up MARBLE's cover, he has no choice but to lie low and operate in Helsinki. His career almost goes downhill until he crosses paths with Dominika.
No sooner does Dominika finds herself plunged into an intricate web of treachery, deceits and betrayals. As the plot catapults to Greek, American, Finnish and Italian territories, Dominika and Nate develops dangerous attraction that could ultimately botch the entire mole hunt operation of both parties.
Jason Matthews brings to the readers his years of expertise in surveillance tradecraft, espionage and counterintelligence. He puts into writing the day to day dangers and feelings that shape the lives of spies and agents. He delivers an interesting cast that entertains, thrills and terrifies. Although I see it as CIA-biased, Matthews debut novel is still an excellent work that will surely be patronized by thriller and spy novel lovers.
Viewers who find the movie sexist should not stray away from the novel. The movie adaptation changed major plot elements and altogether eliminated Dominika's synesthesia, which plays a significant role in the plot.
As a special note, the mini recipes at the end of each chapter are worth checking out, too.
Red Sparrow is the first novel of Jason Matthews trilogy. A Palace of Treason was released in 2015, followed by Kremlin's Candidate in 2018.
The movie adaptation was released in 2018 starring Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova and Joel Edgerton as Nate Nash.