You know me well enough by now that for me to comment on genres other than fantasy is unusual. However, I do read the odd sci-fi/space opera book. Growing up, I was a fan of Star Trek DS9 and Voyager. I’m not in the newer T.V. shows simply because I don’t subscribe to cable.
Recently, I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Reece Landon’s Operation Resolute. I really enjoyed this read. It held my attention. In the blurb, Landon promises the book will be great for lovers of Voyager, and it is a true promise. The book holds to the same idea of a starship getting lost in another quadrant with unknown enemies. I felt connected to the story because of my love of space opera/sci-fi/Voyager. Overall, a good read.
There are a few things that could have been done slightly better. Some of the characters were hard to believe. They didn’t feel real and were just too made up. One character in particular was brash and overconfident with one group of people, and she was mean to her roommate. This character had a supporting role, and there was no backstory explaining her actions. She was hard to connect with, and her behavior was jarring.
There was more development with the captain of the ship, who breaks down during a major crisis. She was also a supporting character. However, this situation felt contrived and rather than natural. It seemed like the captain’s breakdown was to force the story along. These two characters left me a little frustrated.
On the other hand, the three POV (Point of View) characters were much more developed. Their motives and actions were clear. The story was also well structured and developed. There was a lot happening that kept me reading and curious to find out what happened.
Overall, the story was clean. I can’t remember any swear words. There was no explicit romance in the book, though attraction between two of the POV characters was definitely implied. These relationships will probably be developed in future books.
I will confess that while the story did finish, the ending was a clear cliffhanger into the next book. I don’t like cliffhangers, so this was disappointing. I’d like to read more from the author, but I’ll wait until the series is completed.
If you love space operas, then give this book a try. The story was engaging. The characters were interesting. Plus, this author has amazing potential. As the author’s skill grows, their writing will only improve, and their stories will only get better. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
K. M. Wray 