Take one divided country. Add in a soldier who joined for the college funds, a girl who joined the rebels due to government over-reach, and a military contractor hired to protect a mining executive. Mix in lots of gritty action around Salt Lake City that intertwines the three stories and the result is a tale that makes the reader consider who they would support in the hot mess portrayed by Zac Topping. Interesting reading.

I picked this one up several times, but couldn't get hooked...
A character's POV on each side of the current-day (2030s) rebellion. A young soldier who's been thrown into combat and an expert sharpshooter who needs to fight for herself and her family. The setup bounces along ok, but I felt like the plot would become a bit too predictable. Wake of War is that military thriller that didn't push any new ground, but does ok in it's chosen genre.

Wake of War, written by Zac Topping, is a thriller novel that feels more real than fictional at times. It's one of those novels unafraid to delve into current events and issues, making it a heavier read than its peers. Yet it is still a worthwhile experience.

The United States of America feels less united by the day. The economy is crumbling, the government is ineffective, and the people are desperate. It's the perfect recipe for disaster – or civil war.

Enter people like James Trent and Sam Cross. James Trent is an army man fighting a war he doesn't support. Meanwhile, Sam Cross has a personal connection to this war, and that means she's dedicated to making a difference.

Wake of War is one of those books that has the potential to hit HARD, especially depending on the mood you're in. It portrays a war that can feel all too real, and those more sensitive to those concepts will find themselves chilled. Or, in my case, staying up late at night to avoid the risk of nightmares. You know how it goes.

If you're a fan of hardcore military science fiction, then the odds are good that you will enjoy Wake of War. However, I should probably mention that this book leans more one way than the other (more military than science fiction). There's nothing wrong with that, obviously. It's all about finding the right genre balance for you, right?

In many ways, Wake of War reminded me of classical tales of war, just with a different setting. I think that helped ground the story, making it feel all the more real.

Hemingway's "write what you know" quote feels entirely appropriate for Zac Topping's Wake of War - this veteran captures not just the outside perspective but forces the reader into the minds and experiences of his protagonists, contrasting and displaying their thoughts, emotions and motivations against their actions and choices. Even set in a futuristic USA, Topping's story feels like it could have been ripped from the headlines (which isn't a good thing necessarily, with where the book has us going), oozing authenticity and realism. The action scenes carry weight and visceral heaviness; this isn't your untouchable hero running through firefights unscathed but gritty explosions of violence and fear. Topping's POVs are perfectly differentiated; the story moves from viewpoint to viewpoint expertly, presenting the conflict from multiple angles and beliefs. Honestly, a 5-star book from me is one that pushes the genre, by either doing something entirely new, or that leaves the reader thinking. Wake of War left me with feelings (I won't go into them to avoid spoilers) rarely evoked by a first time author. Definitely one for any fan of military fiction, SF or not.

Wake Of War is what you'd get if Tom Clancy wrote sci-fi.

This is military fiction at it its finest. Where the speculative element is so subtle it could almost be a real life account. Wake Of War is ugly, brutal, bloody and throws you right in mud along with the soldiers and never lets you up.

We get three very different stories with the POV characters Trent, Marcus and Sarah Cross. And with each of them on different sides of the war. The lines becomes blurred. Zac Topping does a fantastic job showing that war is not black and white but that there are many different shades of gray.

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.