Malik is one of those authors whose works I’ll read on principal, knowing that they’ll be outstanding (see my reviews for Dragon’s Tail and The New Magic). This novel uses the same world as his previous ones, albeit at a different location and characters so it’s independent from the others. I’ve had the pleasure of reading an early ARC, and it did not disappoint.

What to Expect

Expect a portal-fantasy story of military forces from our world finding and exploring an alien world. There’s a lot of US military jargon, clashing of units, corporate and personal interests, and – of course – a view into an alien fantasy world and its natives.

We follow Logan, an ex-Foreign Legion commando and current archaeology professor, as he’s recruited for both his specialties in desert survival and ancient Norse culture. He’s taken to a remote base operating a special mission, and from there through a found portal on exploration of another world and encounters with the special, elf-like inhabitants.

The plots twists, loyalties shift, personalities and values clash, and we’re taken on a wonderful journey that explores humanity as much as it is about exploring a world.

What I liked

I love Malik’s depiction of army life, based on personal experiences (minus the portal to other worlds, one would hope). He does that flawlessly and believably, building and introducing information in ways that don’t detract from the reader’s absorption in the story but feel natural.

Malik is also the master of pacing. He’s adept of showing how keeping things moving doesn’t necessarily mean non-stop action, but rather the sense of urgency that keeps you turning pages (Of course, the action scenes are bloody brilliant, let’s not ignore them!).

Add a unique and incredibly well thought-out world and believable, relatable characters, and this novel is a joy to read.

What to be aware of

Don’t read this if you’re a Navy SEAL. Malik goes into the difference between various special forces / operations units and the characteristics and goals of each, which is illuminating for someone not steeped in US military traditions or modern weaponry, but could be confronting for the blindly nationalistic and fanatical.

Felix’s and Jack’s Reviews

Felix was laconically unsurprised to see that militaries have changed so much and yet so little from his time at the legions. He was also in awe about how much destruction can modern weaponry – and the discipline in using them – can wreak. Even better than the battle-magic he had witnessed.

Jack was cynical for other reasons, knowing our modern governments penchant to shoot-first type responses. He’s much happier that in his world a lot of the extra-planar relationships have already been sorted by treaties, so that outside of the occasional carnivorous unicorn he doesn’t need the army to deal with such encounters. Still, if he ever needed it, he’s sure Logan would be both extremely handy and a fun companion in pubs for drinks and trivia.

Summary

Excellent and well-written novel if you find the combination of portal low-fantasy with modern military thriller is appealing.

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Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck are those Felix and Jack fellows? Glad you asked! Felix is the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome, and Jack is the police detective running the Unusual Crimes Squad, dealing in occult crimes in modern-day Australia.

Come meet Felix and Jack on the free short stories and novels!