Book Review: Vortex by S.J. Kincaid

Vortex by S.J. Kincaid
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Publication date: July 2013
Pages: 400
Source: E-book from Library
For: Fun
Series: Insignia, Book 2

Summary from goodreads: *Spoilers are inevitable for the first book*

The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.

Drawn into a power struggle more dramatic than he has ever faced before, Tom stays a hyperintelligent step ahead of everyone, like the exceptional gamer he is—or so he believes. But when he learns that he and his friends have unwittingly made the most grievous error imaginable, Tom must find a way to outwit an enemy so nefarious that victory seems hopeless. Will his idealism and bravado cost him everything—and everyone that matters to him?

Things I Liked:
I still love the concept and enjoy seeing what new crazy sci-fi tech will pop up next.  Plus, the story is full of action and adventure and crazy twists and turns.  It's been a while since I read this one too, so the details are vague to me now, but I remember being sufficiently surprised by many things that happened.  It's a big book, but it kept me reading to the end. 

Things I Didn't Like:
I think it kind of suffered from middle book syndrome.  Not a whole lot actually happened, though there was a lot of running around and trying to make decisions.  Menacing things and people appear, but it didn't seem to move forward plot-wise.  Anyway, I'm invested enough to keep reading the next book.

Read-alikes:
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Epic by Connor Kostick
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some

mrg-factor: none


v-factor: ->->->
some intense stuff at times

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage