Monday, May 27, 2013

Brad About Books: Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Read from April 30 to May 1, 2013
INSIGNIA
Published: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Harper)
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 446 pages
Source: Purchased
Series: Insignia, #1

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test, and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War Three. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?

Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.



Insignia is a thrilling and gripping novel that captivated me from page one and never let me go. Insignia is one of the best books I've read this year... and of all time.

Talk about an original plot. I have never read a book like this, and I adore every single page of this book. WHY in the WORLD is this not a movie yet?! This would translate to film so well - seriously Hollywood, get on that. Insignia packs loads of action between these pages. It's honestly so hard to put the book down; I never wanted to! It's so captivating and amazing. If you haven't picked up this book yet, you're only hurting yourself. A definite standout for 2013.

The characters... oh man, they are phenomenal. Tom is one of the best male protagonists I have ever read about. What I think is so cool about him is that he doesn't stand out or get all the attention - he's alone, and that's why he is so good at this crazy mission. Speaking of which, this book is insane. Kids... fighting a war in space... with technology... in World War III... sign me up! Insignia is fantastic; I'm speechless as to what else to say. It's fast-paced and so richly built up with this world - I couldn't get enough of this book!

And what a thrill this book is! It sucks you in right from page one, and the action never, never stops. Heart-pounding, blood-racing and pulse-pumping scenes can be found numerous times in Insignia, and I caught myself holding onto my seat tight. That's how much this book affected me. And I loved every single minute of it.

Overall, Insignia is a fantastic debut and a brilliant start to a promising series. Deeply woven and nail-biting tension, Insignia is one of a kind and a true gem.

M Y   R A T I N G

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