This book is a mess. And sometimes I've got feeling that it is a mess on purpose. I mean there is no real direction you can feel here. There is no real charater development here, just the scale up of their good and bad descision. I read it only because of the grippy begining, that proppeled me just enough to get through. ( )

Pure popcorn! ( )

Picked it up despite my overall avoidance of military SF, but I liked it. I'm not a fan of collateral damage, but neither is the main character, so it worked out okay for us both. ( )

This book was a bit of a surprise to me. I had originally picked it up mainly because I saw the author 'hung out' with several authors I had read and enjoyed, on social media. I figured he must write similar stories. I was a bit wrong, but in a totally good way!

This is the first of at least three books by Cole, that tell a story about an alternate Earth. One where we are in a modern day setting, that has had a connection to an alternate dimension that contains "magic". Somehow this magic shows up as abilities in humans to control different things such as elementals (fire, water, air, etc), manipulate the dead, create portals, etc. In an attempt to control people with these 'Latent" powers, the U.S. creates a special army, called the SOC, to enforce laws made regarding the use of magic, etc. I don't want to spend much time breaking that all done.

In book one, we find Oscar Britton, who is in the Army with no magical skill, on a joint mission with the SOC to take down a couple teens that had manifested powers and were on a rampage. Immediately following the take-down, Britton shows a latency for creating portals, a rare form of magic in humans. Portals that open into this alternate shadow world. The SOC apprehend a Britton, while he is trying to flee.

Unknown to the regular world, the SOC have created a Forward Operating Base in this shadow world, where they train those new to this magic, and basically indoctrinate them into the SOC. The story follows Britton as he goes here, his personal battles about what is right/wrong not only with what he believes, but what the SOC is doing, and also follows his building of relationships with others at the FOB, and the indignant peoples, which are described as similar to goblins in look.

Near the end of the book, the action comes to a head as Britton "escapes" the SOC FOB in the shadow world.

I don't want to share too much of the story, as you will enjoy the writing as I did. I am not into military-type fantasy novels as a rule, but this one just grabbed me up and took me for a ride. The writing was more simplistic and able to be understood (in regards to military terms/meanings/operations/rank) that I actually felt it was pretty much description in the story. Characters seemed to be well-built, though a bit predictable in how they would react, just not as to how. More military than fantasy? Nope! definitely a good mix of both. ( )

I have read a fair bit of military science fiction books, but this was my first military fantasy book. In short, I thought it was awesome!
The book is about Oscar Britton, a soldier. He wakes up one day with magical powers. As his luck would have it, his powers are of a prohibited school. The book tells the story of how Oscar comes to terms with his new found powers and how the government has chosen to deal with and regulate magic users. Oscar has several difficult choices to make. Does he trust the military he's used to? Does he follow orders blindly?
I've just bought the next two books in this trilogy and they're already on my Kindle.
Did I mention there are goblins. Lots of goblins.
( )