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.

"Stormblood" is an action-packed and thought-provoking sci-fi adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The worldbuilding is immersive and intricate, with detailed descriptions of different planets, cultures, and technologies that make the story feel alive and believable.

The protagonist, Vakov Fukasawa, is a compelling and complex character, and I enjoyed following him on his journey from a disillusioned soldier to a rebel leader fighting against a corrupt government. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, with each character bringing their unique skills and personality to the table.

The plot is full of twists and turns, and I appreciated how the author tackled themes such as war, corruption, and identity. The pacing is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of action scenes that kept me turning the pages.

My only quibble with the book is that at times, the dialogue and exposition can feel a bit heavy-handed and exposition-heavy. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise fantastic read.

Overall, "Stormblood" is a must-read for fans of sci-fi and action-packed thrillers. With its strong characters, intricate worldbuilding, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a standout in the genre. I highly recommend it.

This review originally appears on Booknest.eu and was written by our reviewer, Gary O'Briain. Link below.

Stormblood tells the story of Vakov Fukasawa, an ex-Reaper (bio-enhanced soldiers imbued with addictive alien-tech), who has survived one brutal war only to be dragged into another. Vakov makes a living by working small-time jobs with his hacker friend, Grim, on the space station, Compass. At the beginning of the novel, he finds himself cornered by Harmony, the very organisation that had made him into a Reaper in the first place. Someone has been murdering his former comrades and they want him to find out who. The only lead they have is his estranged brother, Artyom, who he has not spoken to in years. What follows is an exciting, action-packed sci-fi detective thrill ride that explores the true meaning of family and the severe impact of drugs on both the individual and society.

Vakov is a wonderfully depicted multi-layered character. He is a witty and charming individual who is unafraid to embrace his emotions. The war against the savage Harvesters may have ended but he still fights a daily battle against stormtech addiction. I found his story very moving. Accompanying Vakov on his difficult journey to overcoming PTSD and addiction, stopping the Reaper murders and possibly saving his brother is a handful of supporting characters. The two closest to him are the good-natured Grim, a hacker with a penchant for mischief and the unrelenting Katherine Kowalski, a Harmony operative and kindred-spirit. Both are well developed characters that not only serve to support Vakov but have stories of their own which are central to the plot in many ways. There are a handful more, the standout being Juvens, an alien Space Marshall with charming bluntness, serious pilot skills and horns. All in all, Stormblood boasts a great cast of characters.

One of the main other things I loved about this book is the setting. Compass is a towering space station of multiple cities sitting on top of each other in a hollowed-out asteroid. Each floor is thematic in nature, from the slum-built Changhao at the base of the asteroid and the derelict Warren home to stormtech dealers, to the labyrinth Upper Market and affluent paradise of Cloudstern at the top. Compass acts as a capital of sorts for the Common, a galactic commonwealth of alien races trying to live coexistent lives. The space station's denizens may not be as diverse as its multi-tiered levels, with only a handful getting page time, but this works well as it keeps the narrative tight. I have no doubt that we will get to learn more about these races and others in subsequent books. Also, I must mention the really cool yet sometimes disturbing technology that can be found throughout the novel. There is of course the stormtech and the various mutations it can cause to those it infects. There are also suits of armor that attach themselves to the wearer's skin, guns that 3D-print bullets as they fire and military-grade defence systems that create rooms from the DNA and biometrics of their owners. Like I said, cool and disturbing.

I also want to acknowledge the perfectly balanced nature of the plot, shifting naturally between detective thriller and military sci-fi fantasy. The former creates an atmosphere of suspense as Vakov begins to unravel the mystery of the Reaper murders while the latter delivers some of the coolest, blood-pumping tense firefights I have read in a sci-fi novel (and I have read a lot of Warhammer). I particularly enjoyed Vakov's flashbacks to the Harvester War which serves as the basis for some of the novel's most intense action, explores the sense of camaraderie that is so fundamental to Vakov's character and which shows the horrifying process of addiction that the stormtech forces upon its host.

I read this in two sittings with eight cups of tea, half of which had gone cold by the time I took a sip, so engrossed was I in Vakov's story and the world Szal has created. Stormblood is a fantastic debut. I cannot wait to see what comes next. Jeremy Szal, you have yourself a fan.

https://booknest.eu/reviews/assaph/1915-stormblood-by-jeremy-szal-the-common-1

Stormblood is one of those novels that blew me away. I finished reading this book in one day. Not only was I impressed with how beautiful this story is, I was also seeing the subject of wars and their brutal effects on humanity itself. Its an impressive debut. I read during the end Jeremy said he wished to see this book onto the bookshelves and worked hard on it. No doubt. He’s done an amazing piece of work. Amazing. The writing is mind-staggering. The dialogue is actually AMAZING. I cannot repeat it again. Oh. I will. It is AMAZING.

I loved every single second of this novel. Pat yourself on the back, you’ve made an amazing piece of work here. There is so much good in this. I felt I was watching a movie half the time. Cue in the references: The Orville, Star Trek, Cyberpunk 2077, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Star Wars, Marvel movies. I could point out to a lot of references within this novel. This novel is fantastic.

I don’t really have much to say but I don’t wish to spoil the story too much. But it follows a certain arc…that you’ll be quick to soon realise when you read this book. I loved Katherine, who I think is a great emotional character and has a great chemistry with Vakov. I also like the idea of the combination of the Russians and the Japanese – once at war in 1905 – and many generations later, you have new breeds of humans. That go away from all the racial conflicts that plagued them from the start. Vakov grew me on throughout the entire novel – and you’ll see why. He’s brave. He’s courageous. But he doesn’t act stupid. He knows when he makes mistakes. And Grim? A great character, I really need more of him. He’s a great complement and a great addition to the story.

There is a lot of blood-pumping action in this story. Brotherhood plays a big theme. And the Kaiji are now my new favorite alien species especially with their….you’ll figure it out. I won’t reveal much, but there’s war, there’s amazing descriptions of cities that make you feel really immersed into the sci-fi world that is introduced by Jeremy. You feel like, why the heck is this not a Netflix series or an amazing Hollywood adaption? It has all the right elements in place.

A great novel. Fantastic. Loved every single second of it. SO much amazing visual, splendour, it feels like a Hollywood movie. I cannot wait to read more adventures of Vakov, Katherine and Grim!

3.5/5

I'll try to write a longer review later. It has a lot of awesome stuff but also a bit of not so awesome stuff. Definitely worth reading/listening to.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stormblood is set in a world where the human race has agreed terms with numerous alien races and Harmony governs the included races (the Common). Vakov Fukasawa (a character whose name is more fun to say than he is to read about) is a retired Reaper - that is, he was injected with alien DNA which gave him the rage and healing powers needed to become a super-soldier in the earlier Reaper Wars. He is hired to investigate reports of attacks on or attacks by his former colleagues, as reports of them "bluing-out" and dealing out devastation are mounting. This may well involve him being pitted against his younger brother who feels Vakov abandoned him to their cruel father.
Throughout the book, the story is told purely by telling the reader. Fukasawa finds himself in an extreme situation, having thrown himself in recklessly, and is almost always captured, told some crucial details, which dictate the next stage of the plot, and escapes or is rescued.
The world-building had so much promise, being a form of city built in an asteroid. However it wasn't very well described and I felt quite lost and really struggled to picture the setting. At times I had completely forgotten where the action was happening, and why.
The narrative is quite frustrating as well. What starts off as nice flowing narration with analogies, similes and metaphors, this quickly becomes at the expense of the pacing of the book. A number of times someone responded to a statement that was several paragraphs previous, with thick descriptions and side-tracked passages coming in between, making the reader go back and see what they were responding to.
As with most modern sci-fi, a number of cringeworthy technical terms have been made up and are not explained well enough to allow all but the most avid sci-fi tech-nerd to picture what they are supposed to refer to. See "slingshiv", "thin-gun", "micronades" etc etc. At times, these terms were used so frequently in long rambling passages listing tech and armoury that it may as well have been in a foreign language.
Speaking of which, the world the book takes place in is very reminiscent of Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon, even down to the part-Eastern European/part Japanese names. Fans of those books (which I suffered with similarly on the made-up technical terms) may enjoy this.
Overall, a great idea but needs some work on the pacing, how the plot is revealed (i.e. using different tricks and scenarios) and the narrative.

The nitty-gritty: An excellent start to a new series, Stormblood melds high tech thriller with a cyberpunk sensibility and a dash of humor and heart.

I’m so grateful that Jeremy Szal reached out to me and asked if I’d like to read his book, because otherwise I wouldn’t have even tried to get a review copy, since I live in the U.S. and at the moment, Stormblood has only been released in the UK (although Amazon US is selling it—go figure!). Stormblood is an addictive debut with some of the coolest sci-fi world-building I’ve run across in a long time. Lots of reviewers are comparing it to video games like Mass Effect, which I won’t be commenting on since I’m not a gamer, but trust me when I say I loved Szal’s futuristic world, populated by interesting characters who are mostly trying to make amends for horrible things in their pasts. Szal gives us not only high stakes, thrilling action sequences, but plenty of heart and emotion as well. 

The story is set in the far future—the year 2431 to be exact—and mostly takes place in a city called Compass, which is located on an asteroid. In this future, several alien races have integrated themselves into human society. Vakov Fukasawa is ex-military and fought in the Reaper War several years before the story begins, and now does odd jobs as a smuggler and thief. As a Reaper, Vak was given injections of an alien DNA called stormtech that turned him into a super soldier of sorts. Stormtech fuses with its human host, running through all parts of the body—bones, veins, muscles, etc—and creates a drug-like high with every adrenaline spike. This has caused most Reapers to become addicted to stormtech and has made life after the war very difficult. Vak has gone through rehab in order to control his addiction, but he still struggles with it at times. The stormtech is a permanent part of his body—once in your system, it never leaves—but it also gives Vak super strength and enhanced senses, so it’s not all bad.

The biggest downside to stormtech, however, is that it’s made its way into the civilian population through illegal black market sales. When the story begins, there has been a spike in stormtech deaths, and an operative named Katherine Kowalski is determined to get to the bottom of it. When Vak’s estranged brother Artyom is caught on surveillance tape selling illegal stormtech, Kowalski convinces him to help her track the operation to its source and stop it for good, using Artyom as a way in, of course.

That’s the bare bones of the story, and I’ll leave you to discover the rest of it for yourself. This is a twisty, exciting thriller with a little something for everyone. I loved many of the characters, particularly Vak, who narrates the story from a first person POV. This might sound odd, but his most important relationship is with the stormtech raging through his body. Vak has learned how to live with it, but it still surprises him on occasion. The feeling of invincibility that he gets from the drug leads him to leap into dangerous situations without thinking things out first, resulting in all sorts of dire predicaments. Luckily, the stormtech also gives him the strength to get out of most of those situations alive.

Vak has quite a dark past, including an abusive father who made life a living hell for Vak and his younger brother Artyom. Vak’s biggest regret is that he lost touch with Artyom when he joined up to fight in the Reaper War, leaving him behind to suffer at the hands of their father. The relationship between the two was heartbreaking, made even more so by the fact that they are now caught up on opposite sides of a very different war. Szal also included flashbacks to Vak’s time in the war, and I thought these added a wonderful emotional layer to the story.

There were a couple of other standout characters for me. I loved Grim, Vak’s best friend and partner in crime. Grim is a talented hacker and gets Vak out of one scrape after another. He’s also the comic relief of the story, and I loved the funny banter between the two of them. I also fell for Vak’s home AI (think a futuristic Alexa), a large rabbit who is not only full of well-timed quips, but has an impressive arsenal of home protection weaponry at his disposal. Seriously, I need more of that rabbit in future books!

But my favorite part of Stormblood was the world-building. Szal has created a world that feels a little familiar at times—think Blade Runner or China Miéville’s New Crobuzon series, for example—but he’s infused it with his own brand of cyberpunk/space opera/military SF and made it feel fresh. The stormtech itself is fascinating enough, but Szal goes even further and gives us a future filled with body mods, AI torture devices, and cool body armor that even heals gunshot wounds. We are introduced to several alien races, all with particular appearances and quirks (one race has deer-like antlers!) But my favorite elements were Szal’s descriptions of the asteroid—full of buildings, docks, warehouses, bars and more stacked on top of each other, a vast landscape packed with a population of six hundred million people. I got the impression that Szal's world is much bigger than what we see in Stormblood, and I'm eager to see that larger scope in future books. 

I did have a few issues with the story, although they’re really pretty minor compared to all the things I loved. First, I didn’t like the budding romance between Vak and Katherine at all. Katherine, although she appears to be a major player in the story, is oddly one of the least developed characters of the bunch, and her personality just felt flat to me. Additionally, there was zero chemistry between her and Vak, which made for a very uninspiring romance, if that’s what the author was going for.

My other complaint may sound odd, but the world-building was almost too much at times. Now don’t get me wrong, you already know that I loved Szal’s futuristic world. His descriptions were so vivid that I could picture everything clearly in my head. But sometimes the world-building dragged down the story, despite how fascinating I found it. I wanted it to be integrated more organically, more "showing" than "telling," if you will. There’s no doubt Szal’s imagination is vast, but imagine being introduced to a new concept on nearly every page, and you’ll get an idea of what I’m talking about. Because this is only the start of a series, I think he could have spread out his ideas over the next few books rather than cram them all together here. 

But those issues aside, I was really impressed with this debut. Szal is a young guy with a fantastic writing career ahead of him, and I can’t wait to read Blindspace, the next book in the series. Sci-fi enthusiasts who enjoy layered, action-packed stories will love this too.

I wrote down so many little jottings while reading this book, and all were good things. So, here it goes, time to cobble them all together into a semi-cohesive review.

This is my first review of a science fiction book, while I read two books prior to this they were of the same series and where young adult books. While I don't have an issue with young adult, and enjoy reading them, they are light in nature but often more surface level, if that's an appropriate descriptions. Anywho, I wanted my first review to be of an adult sci-fi and what a first review to begin with. Stormblood was incredible.

The fact that this is Szal’s debut make it even more so. This book does not feel as though it was written by someone who hasn’t been writing for years.

I'm not going to pretend I know anything about the genre, but what you can find from this review is my thoughts on why I enjoyed this book.

I always find writing and publishing a review a little nerve wracking. It is with reviewers, as it is with authors, you let a little of yourself show in you writing, in the way you interpret a book. No review is unbiased, what we take from a book is subject to what we have lived and felt. What we have longed for, what we miss and what we have experienced.

So, while I am utterly new to this genre I’d like to think my review still counts. 

Let’s do this.

Stormblood is such a fascinating and captivating story, and so well thought out. I can’t tell you any references or similar books/authors to who this book’s tastes will suit but I can tell you it is so much more than what the synopsis suggests. I really didn't expect this to have such a deep and profound emphasis on many of the topics it does, some being siblings/family, drug abuse, poverty, trauma, brotherhood and camaraderie. 

”People compare overcoming addiction to climbing a mountain, but that assumes there’s a peak to climb towards. Stormtech was more like swimming in an endless, churning sea. You never truly beat it. You just found temporary ways not to drown.”

It's no secret that I don't often like flashbacks, though to be honest the last few I have encountered I haven't minded at all sooooo maybe I'm changing on that front. Annyyyway, where I usually dislike flashbacks I actually really enjoyed those I came across in stormblood. It was a nice way of answering the readers questions but what I enjoyed the most was the little insights into these culture rich memories. I got to experience the different places in the world Szal created through them being the home of a fellow reaper or the location of a current battle.

Szal’s writing is sharp and evocative. I genuinely felt gutted every time Vakov thought of the way things had turned out, each time it sunk in what his situation was. The highlight of this read though, has to be Vakov’s relationships. I cannot express how much I enjoyed watching them develop and grow. No relationship is the same, and all elicit such a level of emotion from the reader.

”But I’ve found friends to occasionally be like magnets: opposing forces attract.

Szal has created a thrilling world, one which you truly experience everything. It is so rich in detail, that you can picture each street and bar they visit, and Vakov and Grim visit a good few of those, they like their drink. There is a massive amount of detailing in this book, and not only in relation to the world building but in Vakov’s interactions, in his thought and feelings and in the tech that is used, especially his armour.

I really enjoyed the grittiness of this world, and when I say gritty I mean it has such a raw and real feel to it. The tone, in a way, reminded me of the film ’End of Watch’ in that it has a strong emphasis on the friendship of it's characters through the difficult times they face.

”No matter how hard someone tries to knock you down, having someone to lean against, someone who’s got your back, makes it possible to stand up again.”

While the list of characters you meet in this story are on the lower side, which is by no means a criticism, they are all brilliantly compelling. I found Vakov to be really well developed, I loved his story and personality. I especially liked his own emotional confusion, whether his decisions were his own and how things could have been different. 

Szal did brilliantly in writing this book, I was filled with dread at times. When I met other members of Vakovs team through flashback I was genuinely worried for them.  Would one of these reapers he had lived and fought with fall victim next to his present-day situations or his past. He had lost so much, given so much already. 

As well, I enjoyed the reversal of character development, whether you call it that or not, it is how I see it. At the start we find out one of Vakov's old reaper brothers has become the victim of his current shitstorm, and at the start you don't really care that he died. Yeah, it's shit for vakov but you yourself don't care about the character but through vakov’s flashbacks I found myself caring more and more. Seeing this chap with his team and how he was I grew more and more saddened at his loss. It was a nice spin on charcter development. 

”Home isn’t where you’re born, Vakov. It’s where you feel calm and peace, even in a storm.”

Ohhh and the Mass Effect references in this really tickled my fancy. I love the little inserts such as a character being called Saren and a race not so dissimilar to the krogans. 

***A quick note, the quotes in this are from a Netgalley ARC and may have changed in the publishing of this book***

Posted to Waterstones, Amazon, Goodreads and my blog https://thebookinhand.com

I wanted to read this book because of the themes it tackles.

Firstly, Stormblood talks about drug addiction in an incredibly clever and futuristic way. Stormtech is DNA harvested from an extinct alien race that allows its user to become the perfect soldier, but they pay a price: addiction to aggression and adrenaline.

Secondly, I am a sucker for loyalty, chosen (found) families, and brotherhood. (I also love me some extinct ancient alien race.)

I'm not the biggest fan of military science fiction and prefer space operas to hard SF, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover the themes of friendship and brotherhood are far more important to this novel than any of the action scenes. That's not to say there aren't any action scenes. Stormblood offers plenty of incredibly well written action.

And that's probably my only complaint, and also an outright 'it's not you, dear book, it's me,' - I'm not a fan of lengthy action scenes and during certain scenes I was beginning to skim...however, every time I did, Szal almost immediately managed to capture my attention again.

When I read a book, I don't see the scenes played out in my head, so for me it's hard to stay engaged reading fighting scenes. Just tell me who won, okay? Obviously, that's never the book's fault, and I must say Stormblood's action scenes are incredibly lively and well written.

Szal's prose is smooth and his descriptions are vivid. The world is rich and layered. Exploring it reminded me of the times I was playing Mass Effect.

Vakov is a relatable character with a damaging and traumatic past and his voice is unique. I cared for his well being almost from the start. He is witty, sarcastic and clever. An addict fighting his inner demons and riddled with PTSD. I can't think of a more intriguing and interesting protagonist.

Stormblood is a fast-paced debut, set in a vivid world, filled with brotherhood, comradeship, loyalty, and chosen family.

I recommend it to every science fiction fan who is intrigued by the premise. (And why wouldn't you be?)

Había mucha curiosidad sobre la opera prima de Jeremy Szal. A pesar de tener unos toques de space opera, creo que sería mucho más realista definirla como ciencia ficción militar. En este sentido, hay que decir que las escenas de acción están muy bien narradas, con un estilo cinematográfico que veo perfectamente adaptable a la gran pantalla.

Pero el foco principal de la novela no está en esto, si no en la drogadicción y sus consecuencias. El título Stormblood hace referencia a una tecnología alienígena utilizada por una gran corporación para crear supersoldados, aunque en el libro no salen ni Jean Claude Van Damme ni Dolph Lundgren la referencia es clara. Este componente se mezcla de tal forma con el ADN del portador que se hace prácticamente inseparable del cuerpo infestado. Por supuesto, tiene una horrible contrapartida, volviendo a los sujetos de pruebas adictos a la adrenalina. Me gusta mucho cómo está narrada esta parte, describiendo la lucha interna de un adicto tras pasar por rehabilitación. También entra en una parte menos personal y más conocida quizás, como las redes de distribución y el negocio sucio de los que se benefician de esta necesidad forzada.
En este contexto, conseguimos empatizar con el protagonista y su traumático pasado. Pero Szal carga demasiado las tintas en esta identificación con el personaje, martilleándonos de forma innecesariamente constante con sus motivaciones. La primera, la segunda o incluso la tercera vez que nos cuenta los maltratos de su padre o la crueldad de la guerra ya nos quedan claros, no hace falta volver a contarlo otra vez. Y otra. Y otra.
Las apariciones de los aliens también me parecen muy acertadas, aunque sean escasas, ya que creo que el autor se los está guardando para la siguiente entrega, ya anunciada. Quizá ahí tengamos algo más de visión del universo, que en esta primera entrega se queda casi centrada en un solo asteroide, con pequeñas apariciones de otros mundos en liza.
El autor inclina mucho la balanza hacia las relaciones interpersonales, ya sean familiares o de amistad y creo que esto es un punto a tener en cuenta a la hora de valorar la obra, saliéndose algo del camino establecido en la ciencia ficción militar, como Myke Cole, sin ir más lejos.
Creo que Stormblood es un buen debut, que se podría haber perfilado más pero que da indicios de los buenos momentos que nos puede hacer pasar el autor.

A fast paced, action packed and gripping sci-fi thriller that kept me hooked till the last page.
The plot is well crafted and flows, the world building is fascinating, the characters are well thought and interesting.
I look forward to read other books by this author as I loved this one.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is a treat for Space Opera fans (and more). I'm reading an early copy now and it's like a dark Blade Runner (that grimy, worn over-populated, under cared for, neon-punk noir) meets Full Metal Jacket (The horrors soldiers see and do, that taints them forever - and how they deal with that, during and after the fighting - there's some pretty dark stuff in there that adds a lot of substance.) There's also some well refreshing new ideas (Alien DNA injected to make super-soldiers) that are well thought out and cleverly woven into this surprisingly human narrative. This one is worth a look.

I would like to thank Gollancz for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Gollancz

Published – Out Now

Price - £16.99 Trade paperback £9.99 Kindle eBook

Vakov Fukasawa used to be a Reaper: a bio-enhanced soldier fighting for the Harmony, against a brutal invading empire. He's still fighting now, on a different battlefield: taking on stormtech. To make him a perfect soldier, Harmony injected him with the DNA of an extinct alien race, altering his body chemistry and leaving him permanently addicted to adrenaline and aggression. But although they meant to create soldiers, at the same time Harmony created a new drug market that has millions hopelessly addicted to their own body chemistry.

Vakov may have walked away from Harmony, but they still know where to find him, and his former Reaper colleagues are being murdered by someone, or something - and Vakov is appalled to learn his estranged brother is involved. Suddenly it's an investigation he can't turn down . . . but the closer he comes to the truth, the more addicted to stormtech he becomes.

And it's possible the war isn't over, after all . . .

Science fiction has a rightly uneasy relationship with war. The genre that is pre-occupied with technology and our future often imagines how that leads to yet more violence. If you take a view that SF is always talking about the what we are like now; then that’s a not a good sign on our species health. At the same time. its dangerously exciting seeing what the technology of the future could allow us to do. Many books tend to gloss over the consequences of war. In Stormblood by Jeremy Szal starting a new SF action series I found a refreshingly honest but action-packed tale that war changes both the world and the people who fought in it often forever.

The story is narrated by the lead character Vakoz Fukasawa who resides on the immense asteroid space station known as Compass home to myriad species, factions, industries and crime lords. Vakov fought in an epic space war where the area of space known as the Common was attacked by a ruthless enemy known as the Harvesters who ploughed their way through planets leaving billions dead. The Common’s military wing known as Harmony tried a last gamble merging human soldiers with a mysterious ancient alien biotechnology known as stormtech – fusing with the body at a molecular level it fees regeneration, strength and aggression. The war was won; and the soldiers were left subsumed by a drug that unless they underwent huge rehab could easily leave them furiously angry addicts. Vakoz chose the better option; his stormtech is reduced but still hungry for excitement so he makes a living doing shady jobs in his battlesuit. Until Harmony come calling – stormtech is now being dealed on the streets of Compass; its killing those who have it and those around the addicts – including former members of his regiment and somehow it appears his lost brother has gotten himself involved. Vakoz gets hired to investigate but this means he will find out the secrets of stormtech and he is not the only one who hasn’t left the war behind.

In some ways the idea of the army veteran pulled back in isn’t an unusual part of the action genre. But I think Stormblood gives it a twenty first century makeover and does quite a lot of interesting things with it. Vakoz is yes when we meet him a tough as nails loner with a past and alarmingly proficient with weapons, combat and infiltration but a bit like his super powered battle suits that’s just another bit of armour and Szal works hard to make him not a stereotype. Through the novel we see his very hard childhood, his naivety slowly being broken down when he joins the Reapers and we realise that while in rehab his body is still fused with a form of stormtech which always craves an adrenaline rush so dodgy jobs are just a ‘safe’ way for him to balance what is a curious mix of addiction and PTSD. As Harmony bring him back in to aid their investigations rather than being a loose cannon all the time Szal actually makes this a story about Vakoz having to learn to live with himself; trust his slightly spaced out hacker friend Grim; his no nonsense Harmony lead Kowalski and many more characters he would usually avoid. Traditionally these tales like the lone hero to stay alone and win everything on their two feet – this is a tale about someone learning to be better you ned to let your walls down. Stories tend to shy away from exploring anger – Szal explores that it can be very destructive; yet alluring and in some situations useful. That’s an uncomfortable balance and can easily go wrong if you try to live that way all the time as Vikoz realises and he needs to find a better way out.

On top of this I really enjoyed the story is so much bigger than it initially looks. Very quickly we move from illegal drug-runners to understanding a bigger agenda is at play. With Compass it is reminding me an awful lot of Babylon 5 with a giant populated asteroid full of lives and secrets. The smaller action story hints at some truly great space opera hiding under the surface. It filled with fascinating sights such as pubs that put you into deep space; AI rabbits that manage your home and guard your property and even small scenes tend to throw some interesting angles of what this time’s technology can do

The Harvester/Harmony conflict and beyond gets explored and interrogated and we see alien races all have their own stakes in the peace or battle to come. Szal has neatly plotted these revelations so it never feels like overload but it is tremendously exciting when a seed planted in an early chapter finally grows; usually finely balanced with some deliciously powerful action sequences as foes fight either hand to hand or en mass. If you enjoy battle suits, biotechnology and combat these scenes really pummel you. Then Szal swaps for something more character focused and introspective. I was impressed how I was made to love the battle like Vikoz does but also realise its probably not the healthiest reaction to violence. It’s a story not afraid to mix it up – one minute in the mix of illicit fighting games; then museums of alien histories then some truly nightmarish psychological AI trying to break a victim. It gives the tale an unpredictability as to where its heading towards and that’s always a pleasure.

Stormblood managed to give me a ride I’d not enjoyed in SF for a while this year. I felt by the end there was a huge amount more to explore in both the wider universe and the key group of characters that gets assembled. It treads the tricky path of a certain format but doing it own thing buy adding in a hugely interesting lead character that worked very well. I think fans of the Expanse, the Mandalorian and good space opera may want to get into this series sharpish.

Perhaps more accurately described as a sci-fi mystery/thriller rather than military sci-fi, this is an incredibly well thought out, multi-faceted sci-fi story written with an emotional intelligence that can be lacking in the genre. Since I started reviewing ARCs a few months ago, it’s the first book I’ve come across that I can’t wait to re-read.

Stormblood is set two years after the brutal war between Harmony and Harvest came to a violent end. Harmony, the galaxy’s military organisation, gained the upper hand when they created Reapers, stormtech super soldiers developed with hasty bioengineering and DNA from an extinct alien species. Reapers possess a dark passenger that integrates fully with their physiology, giving them enhanced abilities in response to the aggression and threat associated with battle. While stormtech won Harmony the war, it left Reapers emotionally and physically broken - addicts withdrawing from adrenaline and craving violence. 

Fukasawa is one of the lucky ones, an ex-Reaper who made it through rehab and established a life for himself on the asteroid nation of Compass. But stormtech has made its way into the illegal drug market, and now ex-Reapers are turning up dead after using stock that has been tampered with. When his brother is implicated in these deaths, a reluctant Fukasawa agrees to help Harmony one last time in order to uncover the truth.

This book is incredibly hard-hitting and Szal pulls out all the stops but none of the punches. It is set after the end of the war and focuses on how it has affected Fukasawa and his family. Brotherhood, both familial and found, is a central theme in the book, and it pulls ALL the heart strings. Szal also addresses other issues like addiction, mental health and radicalisation, each explored in a mature and powerful way.

While not set during the war there is a lot of violence in this book, though it is often harrowing and at times uncomfortable rather than glorified, making it impossible not to be moved by the atrocities of the Reaper war and the consequences of Harmony’s actions. Fukasawa’s flashbacks to the battlefield also provide gradual insight into his struggle to maintain relationships while clinging on to his humanity.

Being one of the more intense books I’ve read, there are also memorable moments of humour and friendship, and Szal’s worldbuilding is both fascinating and unique. For me, the setting of Compass is up there with Bas Lag and the Tower of Babel as a favourite fantasy/sci-fi location - it’s an immense asteroid containing tiers of massive cities and microenvironments like a vast, cosmic layer cake (for the sake of the simile it’s a very ugly layer cake). Szal also describes an interesting ethnic evolution, with intersystem colonisation having isolated and mixed together nationalities, overtime birthing new cultures. He writes with a visual language that hints at inspiration from cinema and gaming; in Compass, people stomp around in space armour of varying shapes and colours, and the story develops in various locations almost like levels in a game. As someone who was obsessed with Halo growing up, the one scene where Fukasawa goes shopping for new armour was just as magical as Harry’s first visit to Ollivander's. I feel like Szal has brought to life my favourite Xbox adventures in a fun, shockingly human and meaningful way.

Stormblood covers a surprising amount of thematic ground but it all fits together well, something that is emphasised when the meaning behind the book title becomes clear. I’d consider it a must read for any sci-fi lover, or any reader looking to be punched in the gut with words. Fans of John Scalzi will be thrilled to know they can find their new favourite author just a little to the right on the shelf.

Thank you Gollancz and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, and congratulations to Jeremy Szal for an epic debut novel!

Rating: 9.0/10

Stormblood is a rip-roaring military sci-fi debut sure to please fans of Richard Morgan’s Takeshi Kovacs trilogy, BioWare’s Mass Effect franchise, and a touch Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series. It reads like a bat out of hell, never taking a moment to lay off the accelerator, but also brings an emotionally charged gut punch that’ll have you deeply invested in the story. Highly recommended.

I had seen some tidbits here and there from Szal on various social media forums talking about Stormblood, but I never truly got a sense what sort of ride I was in for. He posted a synopsis which gave a Blade Runner 2049/The Dark Knight noir mixture with a slap of Mass Effect 2, which had me salivating if I can be completely honest. But again, not even close to what I experienced going through this novel. From page 1, this book sinks its alien DNA enriched hooks in and proceeds to sling you around like a bull in the PBR league.

Jeremy has created a massive world full of rich environments that are detailed to a fault; every step Vakov takes introduces the reader to a brand-new experience, which is something I can say doesn’t happen often in reads. There is so much going on in the foreground and background, but you never find yourself overstimulated. You can easily picture the surroundings of each scene, the food and drink being consumed, the way the stormtech races through the bodies of the Reapers, and the massive amount of detail that goes into each and every fight scene. This reads like a big budget film and it PURE entertainment.

Having said all of that, this book isn’t just fast-paced cyberpunky goodness. It is also the story of two brothers who are on opposite sides of war; not the one being fought against an off-world enemy, but one against the very thing Vakov holds within himself: stormtech. It is the story of an older brother who went to fight in the war, leaving his younger brother behind, and coming back to find the world he left will never be the same. It is about how you deal with past regrets, and the endurance it takes to see hardships through. It is about brotherhood and sacrifice.

Lastly, I have to give props to Colin Mace. My heavens, this man can do no wrong when it comes to audiobook narration. He truly brought this story to life in ways I never could’ve imagined, and he will continue to be one of my favorite audiobook narrators for years to come.

I received this novel from Gollancz, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review: my thanks to both of them for this opportunity.

When Jeremy Zsal contacted me about reading and reviewing his debut novel Stormblood, I was very intrigued by the narrative premise but at the same time slightly concerned because of the story’s military SF angle, since that’s a theme that sometimes does not work for me, but I should not have worried: this novel offers such a unique blend of ideas that they all work to create an engaging, multi-layered plot which proves to be appealing on many levels.

Vakov Fukasawa used to be a soldier for the Harmony, a galactic confederation of races fighting against a brutal adversary called the Harvest, whose armies were laying waste to every planet they stormed across. To insure an advantage against the Harvest’s sweeping offensive, the Harmony called for volunteers to be injected with stormtech, an alien substance that made them almost physically invincible and addicted them to a constant rush of adrenaline, so they would feel no fear or fatigue. In other words the perfect soldiers, called Reapers.

Once the war ended however, the Harmony found itself saddled with the problem of these super-soldiers, whose return to a normal life was made impossible by the stormtech bonded to their bodies and turning them into aggression addicts: a more or less successful de-programming procedure allowed them - those who survived it, that is - to be productive members of society, but still looked on with suspicion and fear because of the veritable ticking bomb fused to their bodies.

As the novel begins, Vakov is contacted by Harmony officials informing him that a black market form of stormtech is being distributed, turning citizens into dangerous addicts and systematically killing his former comrades - and it appears that Vakov’s long-estranged younger brother Artyom is involved in this criminal operation…

The novel’s framework certainly relies on action and adventure - and there is plenty of that, as Vak’s investigation moves across Compass, the asteroid where he lives, and intersects its many cultures and the various crime organizations which carved their niches there, plunging him into escalating levels of danger for himself and his allies - but the major attraction of this story comes from the main characters, their interactions and the important social and moral issues it deals with. Compass itself is a fascinating world, a hollowed-out asteroid in which different kinds of habitats have been created in the various levels, so that a visitor might move from shopping districts to seashore recreations, from night-club strips to ethnic enclaves: the descriptions here are cinematically vivid and all contribute to paint a rich, busy world where awe-inspiring wonders and spine-chilling dangers literally coexist side by side, offering a solid background to Vakov’s breathless scrambles as he pursues his foes or evades his chasers.

Vakov is an intriguing character saddled by a damaging past and by the heavy baggage of being a former Reaper, but instead of becoming a dark, tortured individual he tries to focus on the good things life still can offer him, like friendship or the sense of brotherhood he still shares with his former comrades - and of course there is the unshakable desire of reconnecting with his brother and making amends for past mistakes, that drives him to literally face hell with dogged determination. Vakov’s personality is slowly built through the successful blending of his present experiences and the flashbacks of his past as a Reaper, the current adrenaline-rich investigation and the heart-wrenching jumps into his childhood with its deep well of pain and loss, and the final result is a very relatable character who has learned to embrace his darkness, knowing it will be a part of him forever, but still refusing to let it rule him. The actual war might be over, but the inner one Vakov is still fighting will go on as long as he lives, and he’s determined to win it.

The other characters sharing the spotlight with Vakov are slightly less defined, but with the breathless chain of events at the core of the novel it’s more than understandable: the proficient hacker Grim, Harmony officer Katherine Kowalsky and rebel Artyom are in a way the representations of Vak’s most important sides of life - friendship, camaraderie, family - and also the anchors he needs to avoid being subsumed by the alien DNA rampaging through his body. And that’s more than enough.

The core theme of the novel, though, remains its driving strength, particularly where it touches on issues of our present reality, like the trauma and disconnect experienced by soldiers once they return to civilian life after a harrowing war experience. In Stormblood these veterans did not just fight to insure everyone’s survival, suffering grievous wounds and the loss of their teammates, they also accepted to have their bodies modified in a permanent way that turned them into something not quite human anymore, and now they are shunned, feared, marginalized. It’s something we have seen in reality in the past decades and still see now: the ethical dilemma of turning people into efficient killing machines and then being afraid of them once the need for that ruthlessness is over. There is no easy answer to this quandary, of course, but the novel compels us to think about the issue, and to consider it from several angles - and for me this is always a plus in any story.

The many “souls” of Stormblood make for a very engrossing read - military SF, cyberpunk, mystery and space opera are all different facets of this novel, not unlike the various, fascinating levels of Compass. As is the case of those worlds within worlds, some sections are easily traveled and others require caution - I confess there were a couple of harrowing torture scenes which made my skin crawl - but this is ultimately a captivating adventure story with plenty of heart at its center, and also a very human, very poignant journey.

Mass Effect meets Cyberpunk in this thrilling debut from a powerful new voice in the Sci-Fi genre.

Stormblood tells the story of Vakov Fukasawa, an ex-Reaper (bio-enhanced soldiers imbued with addictive alien-tech and not to be mistaken with the giant squid robots from ME), who has survived one brutal war only to be dragged into another. Vakov makes a living by working small-time jobs with his hacker friend, Grim, on the space station, Compass. At the beginning of the novel he finds himself cornered by Harmony, the very organisation that had made him into a Reaper in the first place. Someone has been murdering his former comrades and they want him to find out who. The only lead they have is his estranged brother, Artyom, who he has not spoken to in years. What follows is an exciting, action-packed sci-fi detective thrill ride that explores the true meaning of family and the severe impact of drugs on both the individual and society.

Vakov is wonderfully depicted multi-layered character. He is a witty and charming individual who is unafraid to embrace his emotions. The war against the savage Harvesters may have ended but he still fights a daily battle against stormtech addiction. I found his story very moving. Accompanying Vakov on his difficult journey to overcoming PTSD and addiction, stopping the Reaper murders and possibly saving his brother is a handful of supporting characters. The two closest to him are the good-natured Grim, a hacker with a penchant for mischief and the unrelenting Katherine Kowalski, a Harmony operative and kindred-spirit. Both are well developed characters that not only serve to support Vakov but have stories of their own which are central to the plot in many ways. There are a handful more, the standout being Juvens, an alien Space Marshall with charming bluntness, serious pilot skills and horns. All in all, Stormblood boasts a great cast of characters.

One of the main other things I loved about this book is the setting. Compass is a towering space station of multiple cities sitting on top of each other in a hollowed-out asteroid. Each floor is thematic in nature, from the slum-built Changhao at the base of the asteroid and the derelict Warren home to stormtech dealers, to the labyrinth Upper Market and affluent paradise of Cloudstern at the top. Compass acts as a capital of sorts for the Common, a galactic commonwealth of alien races trying to live coexistent lives. The space station's denizens may not be as diverse as its multi-tiered levels, with only a handful getting page time, but this works well as it keeps the narrative tight. I have no doubt that we will get to learn more about these races and others in subsequent books. Also, I must mention the really cool yet sometimes disturbing technology that can be found throughout the novel. There is of course the stormtech and the various mutations it can cause to those it infects. There are also suits of armor that attach themselves to the wearer's skin, guns that 3D-print bullets as they fire and military-grade defence systems that create rooms from the DNA and biometrics of their owners. Like I said, cool and disturbing.

I also want to acknowledge the perfectly balanced nature of the plot, shifting naturally between detective thriller and military sci-fi fantasy. The former creates an atmosphere of suspense as Vakov begins to unravel the mystery of the Reaper murders while the latter delivers some of the coolest, blood-pumping tense firefights I have read in a sci-fi novel (and I have read a lot of Warhammer). I particularly enjoyed Vakov's flashbacks to the Harvester War which serves as the basis for some of the novel's most intense action, explores the sense of camaraderie that is so fundamental to Vakov's character and which shows the horrifying process of addiction that the stormtech forces upon its host.

I read this in two sittings with eight cups of tea, half of which had gone cold by the time I took a sip, so enamoured was I in Vakov's story and the world Szal has created. Stormblood is a fantastic debut. I cannot wait to see what comes next. Jeremy Szal, you have yourself a fan.

Now, I know that the idea of humans being adapted to a particular purpose is not a new one in SF – I’m thinking Frederik Pohl’s Man Plus, for example. In terms of combat, Robert Heinlein’s soldiers in Starship Troopers and Joe Haldeman’s soldiers in The Forever War used mechanised suits and took drugs to help them before going into combat. Gordon Dickson’s Dorsai were a planet of people who specialised in military skills who then sold their services to anyone who could pay.

Stormblood, a debut novel by Jeremy Szal, gets us to consider the idea that in the future humans would be prepared to be genetically altered to become an improved soldier, and what the impact of such a change would be.

Jeremy’s version takes those ideas and bring them up to contemporary speed. The book is fast paced – and ultraviolent.

Plot Summary

Vakov Fukasawa is a Reaper – a soldier bio-enhanced by being deliberately injected on enlistment with an alien DNA known as stormblood to help fight for the governing body of Harmony against a cruel and brutal opponent. Even though Vak is no longer part of the military, the Reaper War finished, like many others the changes to his body are permanent. There are painful and lengthy rehabilitation processes that reduce the feeling of need, although the hunger for more adrenaline never goes away. In short, Vak has become a drug-dependent ex-military asset, now a mercenary low life who survives by taking on tough jobs with the help of his cyberhacker friend Grim.

Both Vakov and Grim live on the lower levels of a hollowed out asteroid named Compass. Compass has levels that mimic society – the lowest life is at ‘the bottom’, whilst the hyper-wealthy are at ‘the top’ and Szal does well to describe the differences in lifestyle inbetween as Vak stomps around between them.

The murder of ex-soldiers that Vakov fought with draws him and Grim into trying to discover why. There’s a connection between the deaths and stormblood, which leads the pair to the places run by organised crime groups and ruthless hyper-corporations who have their own interests at heart. Vak finds out that his younger brother, Artyom, is involved. Artyom and Vakov have been separated since his departure to the Reapers, but Vak now discovers that Artyom is working for the House of Suns, one of the Corporations ruling the asteroid. If his brother is to survive, or at least be given a lesser sentence, Vak must work with the Harmony police, who he has little trust for.

Vak and Grim end up working with Harmony. He also develops a relationship with Katherine Kowalski, one of the police he is asked to assist. Together Vak, Grim and Katherine have to find the drug lords determined to spread stormblood throughout Compass and stop its spread. Vak also has to find and help his brother, one of those closely involved with the drug elite, which will involve him making some tough decisions and taking serious chances. At the same time Vak has to deal with his own stormblood, knowing that there is always the chance of a relapse the more he has to deal with it. And then there’s the revelation that an alien race may be about to return – and they’re not friendly.

Thoughts

This is one for those who like their military sf. It is hyperviolent, with the gore spread across many pages. There are lots of body parts and executed bodies everywhere, some lengthy scenes of the carnage caused by battle and some very nasty scenes of torture. They are in context and they are done well, but they’re not for the faint-hearted, and there were times when the visceral scenes seemed a little relentless. But Vakov’s an engaging character, enough to make you feel some sympathy for an ex-killer.

Alternatively, for those who like their future-police-procedurals, this one has gangs, drug-runners offering an illegal drug on the streets for the right price and the police doing a difficult job. In space. In an asteroid.

Its rather like Starship Troopers meets The Incredible Hulk, with a touch of Neal Asher’s work. Admittedly, Vakov has blue stuff travelling through his veins rather than going all-over green, but when he or his comrades-in-arms go on a full-out rage, it is Hulk-style impressive (and messy).

This is all told from the perspective of Vakov, through present time and in flashback. We discover through his memories his abusive childhood and his relationship with his sister and brother Artyom. In order for the story to be told by Vakov, there’s a few convenient plot coincidences and parts that tend to feel like we’ve been here before (What – Vakov beaten up again? And tied up, again?), partly because Vakov has a repeated habit of doing things that he shouldn’t. It can get a little repetitive. I lost count of the number of times Vakov put himself in danger, with everyone else telling him not to do something, to the point where I began to think there was some sort of reverse psychology going on, but I realise that it is in part to let the reader see what’s going on.

On the downside, there’s a couple of Idris Elba “We Are Cancelling the Apocalypse!” type moments, and one plot contrivance that I think the book could have done without at the very end that made me go “Really? REALLY?” But it’s all done with good heart and a determination to tell an exciting and great story, with the ending setting up the inevitable sequel.

Stormblood is a fast-paced, ultraviolent tale of life, love and redemption set on an impressively science-fictional world. The strong characters (in more than one sense of the word!) and super-gadgetry will make an entertaining tale that many readers will appreciate. It’s an impressive debut – I’ll be interested to see how this develops.

Stormblood is a captivating sci-fi noir debut that is fast-paced and impeccably written. I highly enjoyed reading this book.

This is the kind of book that will put hairs on your chest. I could feel myself building muscle with every action scene, the prose was visceral, the plot packed a punch and the emotional scenes aimed for the gut. Jeremy Szal just burst through the door and blew away the competition with this powerful action sci-fi debut.