I recently had the opportunity to read a copy of "The Spear and the Sentinel" in return for providing an honest review. I would like to thank the author (J.L Hancock), his publisher (Braveship Books), and the fine folks at Net Galley.

This book is a strong addition to the ever-increasing number of books that use merging changes rooted in rapidly evolving technology related to the A. I. revolution and more traditional action/adventure as the basis for its storyline.

In the stunning sequel to The Hawk Enigma, Voodoo and his team of special operators are thrust back into the heart of a global conflict. The stakes have never been higher as China’s Belt and Road Initiative pushes into Central Asia, exposing dark ambitions and a secret lab advancing AI warfare. Set against the vast steppes of Kazakhstan, this story unfolds in the shadow of the former Soviet Union. Tensions rise as Voodoo’s team embarks on a covert mission. New team members add to the friction as more troubles from Voodoo’s past return to the present. They soon find themselves on the brink of a perilous future the Western world is unwilling to face: a world where AI reigns supreme, and there's no turning back.

In Hancock’s thriller, a covert, military-trained American team fights to shut down an AI-related project brewing in Central Asia.

War veteran and widower “Voodoo” leads a group of hackers and “wrench-turners” for the United States Naval Special Warfare unit at the Directorate in San Diego. His skills earned him a spot in a rescue operation the previous year in Japan (Hawk Enigma); now, the CIA station chief in Japan wants the same team for a mission in Central Asia, which, like the previous op, has ties to an escalating artificial intelligence Cold War. That’s not the only connection—the God Algorithm, a powerful AI that Voodoo and the others learned about last year, may still be trouble. For their newest assignment, the team must first recover an asset named Kobra Siddik, who, after escaping a reeducation camp in China, rushes to make it across the border to Kazakhstan. She has intel Voodoo’s team needs, but she will only supply it if the team helps her get someone else out of the camp. Do the Chinese have the God Algorithm? And for what diabolical purpose will they use the AI? In any case, soldiers (courtesy of China’s Ministry of State Security) are gunning for Kobra as well as Voodoo, and such team members as the burly, taciturn Stu Slater and Voodoo’s redheaded directorate co-worker Sparks. The team’s ultimate goal is thwarting “this AI network” that seems to be gathering force. But that’s easier planned than done, as protests devolve into riots that upset the Kazakh city of Almaty, surprising villains crop up, and double-crossings throw everything into disarray.

Hancock packs this brisk thriller with rousing action scenes and intriguing ideas (a scientist makes a specific type of diamond whose value isn’t monetary; China uses a “predictive algorithm” that warns officials of the enigmatic “Sentinel” that will trigger insurgency). The narrative’s complex concepts are made abundantly clear via the action or characters’ discourse. That’s also true for the military and tech terminology, in addition to a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms for various organizations and shorthand communications (RTB: Return To Base). The novel entertainingly delivers action as the team skydives, goes undercover, and finds itself engaged in frenzied gunfights and pursuits. They also employ impressive technology, the highlight being four-legged, heavily armed robotic machines that the team can access remotely. Best of all, the author meticulously develops the cast: Voodoo shares a tension with team member Mason Gallegos that harkens back to their tour in Afghanistan, and there are memorable individuals throughout, including the resilient Kobra, who comes with a tragic backstory; the ever-inquisitive Inspector Chen Wei; and the highly-skilled CIA operative Sasha Zhakupova. This sophomore series installment seamlessly connects to the preceding book—new readers will easily follow along, but may want to check out the series opener to avoid spoilers.
A taut and exhilarating techno-thriller.

Hancock, in my opinion, gives the reader a great thrilling tech adventure. With well-developed characters, an intriguing environment, and an engaging writing style, this book is a gem in the military-thriller genre.

What I liked most about the book is its mixture of mystery, thrill, and unexpected plot twists, which makes it stand out in the sci-fi and military thriller genres. The plot twists, each more surprising than the last, immediately grab the reader’s attention and keep them hooked until the end.
Moreover, if you are a tech lover and craving a thrilling story, this book is a must-read. The environment takes the reader to a world of imagination full of futuristic technology and complex algorithms. The writer has created a great imaginative setting that captivates the imagination and forces the reader to sink deep into the story.

J.L. Hancock’s writing style is efficient and delightful. The flow of the story creates a deep emotional connection between readers and the characters. The exploration of love, hope, and bravery creates a thought-provoking experience for the readers.

On my self-imposed five-star scale, I would give this book a solid four stars with my only issues being that (1) it was Book #2 in the author's "Voodoo" series, and therein lies one of my problems with it. I confess that I had not read book 1, and I have a strong sense that had I approached the series in sequence I might have found it more approachable, and (2) the version that I had received from Net Galley Book Shelf had a smaller font size than what I was normally used to.

That said, I would provide a strong recommendation for aficionados of the military thriller genre. Fans of Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler will snatch this thriller and refuse to let go.

As with most of my literary ramblings, these are just a few of my thoughts.

""The Spear and the Sentinel," by J.L. Hancock, and published by Braveship Books, is an addition to the avalanche of recent fiction merging changes rooted in rapidly evolving technology related to the A. I. revolution and more traditional action/adventure. It is Book #2 in the author's "Voodoo" series, and therein lies one of my problems with it. I confess that I have not read book 1, and I have a strong sense that had I approached the series in sequence I might have found it more approachable. Candidly, I lean towards technofiction, but the latest iterations, with their greatly increased dependence on IT and AI for plot lines frequently leave me shaking my head. I thank the publisher for kindly providing me with the ARC that I am working from, but I am afraid the tale, as a narrative, quickly overpowered my meager claims to expertise in computer science, and often seemed more chaotic to me than it should have. I suspect that some of this is a function of my advanced years and the biases I have acquired in a long career in academia looking at this type of fiction. Nonetheless, there is merit here although I found it far from convincing, particularly in its action sequences as well as the articulation of central drivers of the narrative. If you have a strong background technically and are really not in it for the action, this may well appeal to you, but I am afraid it just did not rise to the level I was looking for as an "action" novel. My advice to would be readers is to read the series in sequence and try to keep an open mind about ;your expectations in action/adventure fiction.

This was a strong sequel in the Voodoo series, it uses the overall story perfectly. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and worked with the first book. It had that storyline that I was looking for and enjoyed the way this world felt like the same world. J.L. Hancock has a strong writing style and can’t wait for more.