Wake of War by Zac Topping

Coming up on July/19th

Wake of War is a near future, military sci-if that places the reader smack in the middle of the action. The political struggles that led to the conflict depicted in the book aren’t front and center, the personal struggles of those fighting on both sides are.

The setting feels dystopian. The military jargon is pervasive and precise, adding to the realistic feel of the book. The third person POV is well developed for all three narrators. I appreciate Topping’s ability to create and weave three personal journeys within the story. All three narrators arrive at Salt Lake City, where an American revolutionary force is about to face the U.S. military might, with what they see as strong reasons to be there. All of them face many demons and suffer personal losses. For me, this book is as much about Trent, Sam Cross, and Markus, as it is about the people they lose.

Topping made me hear the deafening artillery, smell the blood, and somehow root for all main characters, no matter which side they fought for. He made this book about the people who pay the ultimate sacrifice, not about political forces far removed from the battlefield. By doing so, he highlighted how distant said forces can be from the reality of war.

Disclaimer: I received a free, electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. Nonetheless, my rating for Wake of War reflects my personal opinion.