Ascent

The story is about a Russian orphan who is a fighter pilot and then an astronaut during the time of the space race. The story comes to life through the audio book. It’s very focused on the various pilot battles and then later on the last space mission.

Yefgenii Yeremin is brutality attacked whilst living in an orphanage for being large and clever. He ends up training to be a fighter pilot and goes to North Korea to train and fight. He wants to becomes one of the best!

I listened to this book via audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator he kept the story interesting and engaging. I was drawn to this book because of the author. As a big fan of The Line of Duty and The Bodyguard I am aware what an incredible writer he is. Although this is not a subject I wouldn't normally read I'm so glad I gave it a chance. Well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is an audiobook not to be missed. Gripping novel narrated by John Hopkins and written by Jed Mercurio.
This is the story of Yefgenii Yoremin and his life as a deadly fighter pilot known as Ivan the Terrible up to him becoming a cosmonaut.
Russia sees him in a different light wanting to hide any trace of him, his life and his death.
So moving and could not stop listening, enjoy every minute.

This is the story of Russia and their part in the space race, focusing on a soviet pilot Yeremin and his mission to become a legendary pilot. I really enjoyed listening to the narrator tell this tense story; the plot developed in a way that kept me gripped to the end. An entertaining book, and highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGallery and Penguin for the chance to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love the television series ‘Line of Duty’ written by Jed Mercurio so jumped at the chance of reading this book. I should have read more about it before I decided to read it, it is so far from my normal genre and was hard work for me personally to get into. I have this habit of starting a book without reading any of the blurb and simply going on gut feelings or specific authors. Most times it works out fine so I suppose it was inevitable I was going to get a disappointment sometime.

Fighter pilot Yefgenii Yeremin is destined to go down in Soviet history books as ‘Ivan the Terrible’, the most deadly fighter pilot of the Korean War, one moment of madness sees Yefgenii throwing his reputation to the wind. Exiled to a remote Arctic base, his name unknown and victories uncelebrated, he must endure a fate worse than death, anonymity.

But when a man arrives from Moscow’s Space Committee in search of a volunteer prepared to sacrifice himself for his country, Yefgenii seizes his one last chance of immortality.

I wanted so much for this to work for me and had my hopes shattered early on, although I favour mystery thrillers I feel that I am open to other genres, however this was too far from my tastes.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin Random House for supplying this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

A breathtaking action novel by Jed Mercurio.
This story tells the tale of the Russian involvement in the space race and to be the first to walk on the mood.
Yeremin is a Soviet pilot and yearns to become the best pilot ever. He then moves on to wish to be the first man to walk on the moon.
This story beautifully illustrates Yeremin's character and his struggles with the conflicts between his desires and the love for his family.
A very detailed and researched book and greatly narrated.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to listen to in return for a review.