Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Shrouded Loyalties is about Mila, a naval officer who is set on keeping her country's secret.


In the story, her submarine is attacked by a monster. She and fellow sailor, Holland, are marked with special abilities, whose manifestations could end the war – but in whose favor?

Forced to submit to military scientists in her paranoid and war-torn home, Blackwood soon learns that the only people she can trust might also be the enemy.

Interesting characters and quite an enjoyable read.

Mila Blackwood is a Naval officer with a secret ... she, and others of her country, know how to 'shroud.' Shrouding is the ability to travel around the planet in a matter of seconds by using alternate realities. This is useful because Mila and her countrymen are currently at war and there are enemies everywhere.
Mila captains a submarine which has been infiltrated by an enemy ('Dhavnak') agent. And when she and another sailor are identified as having unique abilities that could alter the outcome of the war, they become specific targets.

When the knowledge of her unique ability comes to light, scientists on her own side require Mila to submit to a battery of tests, some which have her recognizing that her own side doesn't trust her. Where should she direct her loyalty? Her younger brother has already switched loyalties. For the moment, the only one she trusts is herself.

This book was incredibly .... eh.

There is a promise of military science fiction, some temporal/alternate reality shifting fantasy, and some solid action/adventure. But there is no follow-through on any of these promises. The biggest problem, though, is the lack of distinguishing characters.

Mila is clearly our protagonist and she's about as bland as a protagonist can be and still carry a story. There are moments when she shines and we almost like her, but she quickly closes up and we never really get to know her enough to care about her success or failure.

The other characters in the book...? They could be one person for all we get from them.

The book redeems itself (slightly) in the last portion (not quite a quarter) of the book as author Reese Hogan pulls the story together. It's a bit too little and too late to make this a recommended read, but it does pull this up from a 2-star review to a 2.5-star review (which is then rounded up on sites like Goodreads). I will not be looking to read any other books by Hogan, based on this.

Looking for a good book? If you can get to the end of Shrouded Loyalties by Reese Hogan you might find some enjoyment in the book, but a lack of characterization will make the going tough.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Author Reese Hogan (http://www.reesehogan.com) published the novel “Shrouded Loyalties” in 2019. Mr. Hogan has published three novels. 

I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in a different Universe set on the world of Mirrix. The primary character is Naval officer Mila Blackwood.

Blackwood's country, Belzen, is at war with Dhavnakir. She is serving aboard a submarine equipped with the super-secret 'shrouding' technology. The 'shrouding' lets a vessel or vehicle pass through the solid ground of planet Mirrix. Dhavnakir spies are everywhere searching for the 'shrouding' tech.

While shrouded, unknown creatures attack Blackwood's submarine. The damaged submarine manages to limp home. Injuries result to both Blackwood and Deckman Holland during the attack. Their commander orders them back to the city of Ellemko. The scientists there will attempt to learn more about the attack. They also hope to understand the marks left on both Blackwood and Holland from the attack.

Holland is a Dhavnakir spy under deep cover. She is trying to get the information she has learned about shrouding to her superiors. Blackwood's weak, 17-year-old brother, Andrew, gets drawn into the spy intrigue. A childhood friend from Dhavnakir approaches and seduces him. Holland and Blackwood are troubled by what they learn about their respective governments. Simpy surviving turns out to be a challenge.

I enjoyed the 9.5+ hours I spent reading this 313-page science fiction novel. I liked the general plot, but the story is on the dark side. The selected cover art is OK but rather plain. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/. 

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Military science fiction is one of my favourite genres to lose myself within. It's often tough to write because not only do you need to have plausible world building, but you need to have scenes that are action packed and engaging. It's not always easy to pull off, but Shrouded Loyalties has managed to do so within a well written and totally unique package.

I couldn't get enough of everything to do with "shrouding," especially the mysterious Lovecraftian monsters within the realm that shrouding took our soldiers through. I wish we could have spent more of the book shrouding, but what we did get was amazing.

One interesting aspect of this story is that we have characters from both sides of the war. We get to see inside the minds and points of views of soldiers on either side of the battle lines, making it hard for the reader to know who is actually "the bad guy." These grey areas were fascinating and even though the reader starts out thinking we're meant to be rooting for one team, after awhile you start to wonder if maybe you should be rooting for the other team.

As for the characters, Blackwood was a tough one to like because she was quite reactionary and petulant, but Holland was a truly compelling character who I ended up really feeling sympathy for. Even though we read from the points of views of several characters, I loved that the two main ones were women. Because let's face it, women should be leading more military science fiction novels. Women are badass, too!

Full review to be put up on my blog on the publication date.

Prose fiction can explore the inner life and mental contradictions of characters in a way that other formats can’t touch. Reese Hogan’s SHROUDED LOYALTIES is a perfect example of this kind of deep dive into character and inner turmoil.

On its surface, this is a novel about a military conflict and the secretive process of “shrouding” or passing between worlds. But beneath that, it’s a thoughtful study of the layers of deceit and delusion that each of the main characters have wrapped around their loyalties to nation, family, and even themselves. And that level of examination lets the characters shine.

These are characters who struggle with rage and fear and self-loathing, who justify the crimes of their own nations and loved ones while vilifying those of outsiders. These characters hide their true feelings so deep that they can become obscured even to themselves. These are characters, in other words, who are just as complex and contradictory as ourselves.

Hogan dives deep into her character’s motivations, fears, and blind spots. She forces the reader to ask hard questions about each character, and as a result their triumphs and failures are all the more powerful.
This is an excellent novel, delivered by a talented writer. Pick it up and you won’t be disappointed!

Shrouded Loyalties is an intriguing military science fiction journey that’s equal parts extreme action and family drama. Connections between characters quickly become complicated, creating an underlying sense of panic as you try to figure out the motives of each player in this high stakes game. The writing is spot on, pairing expertly written action scenes with intense relationship drama between siblings, coworkers, and lovers.

The book goes far beyond the typical battle heavy feel of military science fiction, creating a character piece centered on a war that effects each of the protagonists deeply. The strained relationship between Blackwell and her brother creates much of the drama, tempting betrayals and surprising revelations left and right. They share a history of trauma along with an overwhelming curiosity about the work of their deceased parents. As this plot gets revealed, the tension builds to a breaking point. That tension fuels the overarching feeling of the book as you wait to see the fate of these characters and their world.

On the other hand, we get to see the inner thoughts and motivations of Holland, a spy embedded within the enemy’s military. Holland’s connections to the other two protagonists creates unexpected drama as she skirts around her allegiances and the secrets she’s constantly protecting. She’s a fascinating character study, battling between allegiance to her country and allegiance to her lost family. She’s constantly evolving, proving she’s much more than a stock military character.

There’s definitely a large share of military conflict, spy thriller intensity, and mindblowing revelations that are hard to fathom. You’ll have to experience the thrills for yourself to get deeper into the plot. Overall, Shrouded Loyalties stands out above the rest thanks to the writer’s dedication to creating multifaceted characters whose lives go beyond the central conflict of the book. This aspect shows that war isn’t just about the fighting, but the people who must ultimately pick up the pieces and come to term with their actions.

Review to be published on 8/14: http://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/08/14/shrouded-loyalties-book-review

This was an interesting combination of old gods blended with new-age technology in a fantasy world. Great shifting of people's motives and loyalties. Stayed up late to finish reading it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I really wanted to like this book because I loved the premise but I couldn’t. Most of the time I felt like I missed a prequel in which the basics of the world are explained.
But what bothered me more than that was that I just couldn’t relate to any of the charcters.

I'd rate this book somewhere between 3 and 4, but I decided to round it up, because it has some very interesting themes. I think a little more exploration of worldbuilding and a little more complex characterization would make it a real masterpiece. Anyway, I liked the conflict between two cultures and though at first I couldn't connet to any of the protagonist, they grew on to me at the end. I think it is good work, worth a read in some spare time.

Military sci fi is often my go to book when I want a read and this book is a great example of that sub genre, my only criticism would be that sometimes keeping it simple is better for the reader, there was almost an expectation that the reader would know what words created for this world meant and it left me w bit baffled at times (might be because I’m getting senile though) other than that an enjoyable read that I would recommend

A novel featuring a battle between two warring civilizations, an inter dimensional pathway called shrouding through a realm inhabited by strange creatures, secret powers tattooed on survivors, military secrets, sibling rivalry, and family secrets. The best parts were the submarine action scenes especially the shrouding. Despite that, much of the novel failed to cross The believability threshold and fell flat.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.