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A review by iam
In the Wreckage by Hailey Turner
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
4.0
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.