Grand 'Insignia'

Insignia

S.J. Kincaid

 July 10th 2012

More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom's drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.

Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone's been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he's offered the incredible--a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom's instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he'll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he'll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom's always wanted--friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters--but what will it cost him?

Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid's futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.

I just loved reading this book. It was just epic, grand, hilarious, sad at times and just plain genius high tech book.

We get introduced to Thomas 'Tom' Raines world of excellent gaming skills and avatars. He freaking attends an online school network at the start of the book. It's during his gaming endeavors that he gets recruited by General Marsh of the Pentagonal Spire- a military academy. He finds friends here, in the academy, in the shape of Vik, Wyatt, Yuri, Beamer and Medusa. He finds himself here in the academy. He gets enemies in the shape of a few of his classmates and someone from Dominican Agra- a company that sponsors for recruits in the war. Aside from all the politcal drama, Tom finds and stands for his moral values. He finds who his real friends and real enemies are. He becomes a strong person who stands for himself and his friends.

This book was just freaking genius and gosh hilarious. I loved his relationship with his friends. I loved all the characters well except the losers in the book. All the high tech shown in this futuristic world was freaking enthralling. It was unpredictable (one instance was not though.). The easy relationship the friends shared was just adorable. 

I loved loved loved loved this book. It was gripping with a fresh story that just blew me away.

I can't rave more about the book. Although I need to do a better job in writing my thoughts but I can't just seem to arrange them and come up with a more compact review. The characters were well placed and had all there important roles in what shaped up the book. It was fast paced. It had all the awesome technological upgarding. It was grand. A movie would be awesome.

A hilarious teaser from the book:

“He likes her."
"Yuri, no!" Vik said.
Yuri turned redder, confirming it.
"Yuri, come on, man," Tom cried.
Yuri gave a helpless shrug. "Divisions cannot divide human hearts."
"Oh God," Vik cried, clapping hands over his ears. "He's even spouting cheesy lines now. Make him stop, Tom!"
"I can't!" Tom told him. "My ears... They're bleeding. Bleeding!"
"It's a brain hemorrhage! He's murdered us!" Vik said.
"Murderer!" Tom cried, fake collapsing onto the ground.
Yuri shook his head. "This is not very mature.”

I can't wait for the next book in this hard core trilogy which comes out July 2nd, 2013. Agh, a long wait.

Have you read Insignia? How did you like it? What were your thoughts?Are you excited for the next book?

Happy Reading.