Review: Vortex (Insignia, #2) by S. J. Kincaid

Spoiler warning! This is the 2nd book in the Insignia series and this review will contain spoilers from the 1st book. You can read my review of Insignia here instead. You have been warned!

Author: S. J. Kincaid Website|Twitter
Published: 4 July 2013 (Hot Key Books)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 432
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle|Kobo

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Encouraged to betray his ideals and friendships for the sake of his country, Tom is convinced there must be another way. And the more aware he becomes of the corruption surrounding him, the more determined he becomes to fight it, even if he sabotages his own future in the process.

My Review:
I absolutely adored Insignia and put a library hold on Vortex the second I'd finished it - before it had even been released! Vortex picks up with Tom in his second year at the Pentagonal Spire, now a newly promoted Middle which brings tougher training and new responsibilities.

As soon as I started Vortex I fell right back into that brilliant humour which was something I adored in Insignia. I loved that Tom and Vik start abusing their authority as Middles by bossing about the plebes almost straight away. And it wasn't long before the pranks and jokes between the guys and Wyatt started, and this time they were bigger and better! I was giggling throughout as they tried to outdo each other, and some of the new viruses the Middles start pranking each other were genius (there was one involving gnomes which was my favourite thing ever).

As well as the pranks being funnier than before, the technology has been ramped up a fair bit on Vortex too. I really loved all the cool gadgets and things in Insignia and in Vortex we're introduced to super cool things like exosuits (robotic suits that give the recruits super strength and power) and the Interstice which is a high speed magnetic train that can cross continents. I'm totally with Tom when he thinks all this stuff is awesome and starts having fun with it and messing about, even if it does get him in trouble! I really liked the new sims they take part in as well. I just think those are so imaginative and mean you can jump straight into some awesome battle and survival scenes right in the middle of the story.

One of the great things about Vortex was getting to learn more about the wider world that was established in the first book. I thought the moral issues surrounding the war were really interesting and led Tom to ask a lot of questions about just what's going on and what he's getting himself into, especially as you start to discover more about each of the big corporations. There was a real undercurrent of rebellion there, not just from Tom, but from others involved in the war effort. I think Vortex is a real turning point and I really hope it's setting up even bigger and better things to come in future books.

I loved Tom in Insignia and there was so much more to explore in his character this time around. He clearly has this potential that others can see in him, but he struggles to restrain himself and behave. It made for some hilarious scenes where he just can't keep his mouth shut. I thought it was so funny seeing him trying to impress leaders of the big corporations when he just can't stop putting his foot in it! I like that he isn't perfect and he breaks the rules.

The plot itself was gripping and complex.There are all these conspiracies going on so there was that mystery element to the story where you're waiting to find out just who is responsible for what. I loved the ongoing saga between Medusa and Tom and the how the relationship develops and what effect that has on their situations in the war. There were some parts that got a bit complex and I would find myself having to read back over bits to keep up with which characters were involved.

I think one of my favourite parts was seeing the friendships tested and issues of trust explored. Obviously there's a high level of secrecy when it comes to what Tom and the gang are involved in, and in this book it really proved that you can't always trust people you think you can. I enjoyed the reignited rivalry between Tom and Blackburn, plus there was a cracking storyline where Wyatt and Heather start rivaling each other too. Good to see the girls getting stuck in on the action!

Overall Vortex delivered bigger laughs, bigger pranks and even cooler technology. I loved the shift we're starting to see in Tom and how that rebellious side is still there. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next installment! It's a series I'll definitely be recommending to everyone from now on.

Rating: 4*
What to read next: The next book in the Insignia trilogy is due out next year
Books like this: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs, Legend by Marie Lu

June's Book of the Month!

Every month I do a post like this and every month I'm taken by surprise that it's the end of the month already! This was a tough choice because I've reviewed some incredible books this month and I've upped the amount of books I've reviewed so there were so many to choose from. Picking the best of those was so tough! But the decision has been made and my Book of the Month for June is...

Insignia by S. J. Kincaid!

I wish I'd read this book sooner because it's been staring at me from the library shelves for months! I really enjoyed this sci-fi tale, mainly because the characters were hilarious and I loved the whole governement academy vibe. I need to read more books with male lead characters because these boys are so cool. A must-read, and the sequel is out this week. Even better!

 My Review

Amazon|Book Depository|Goodreads

Runners up:
Gemini Rising by Eleanor Wood
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

Honourable mentions:
Drummer Girl by Bridget Tyler
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

Review: Insignia by S. J. Kincaid

Insignia by S. J. Kincaid

Author: S. J. Kincaid Website|Twitter
Published: 26 July 2012 (Hot Key Books)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 446
Buy the paperback: Amazon|BookDepository
Buy the e-book: Kindle

Source: Borrowed from library

Plot Summary (from Goodreads):
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 Three. 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?

My Review:
This book had been glaring at me from the library shelves for a while and I knew it wouldn't be long before I caved and checked it out! Insignia follows Tom as he finds himself recruited to Washington to take place in the military training academy, where recruits prepare to become combatants fighting in World War Three.

There were so many things I liked about Insignia! Firstly it's male POV which I always love, and Tom himself is an extremely likable character. Early on we see his existence isn't all that great. His dad is addicted to gambling and ends up neglecting Tom and leaving him with a very disrupted childhood, for example he misses a lot of school. But despite everything he has to put up with, Tom has this great ability at playing virtual reality games. I could see from the beginning that he had this great potential and he didn't let me down.

The world the book takes place in is fascinating as well. The virtual reality environments play a huge part. Not only does Tom play virtual reality games but once he gets to the Pentagonal Spire where his classes take place, we see the lessons involve those virtual reality simulations. And I'll be honest, they were so cool. I loved seeing Tom transported to all these different environments and the author has used to to create some brilliant settings which were wonderfully described, for example when Tom and his classmates take on characters from the King Arthur legend in their virtual reality setting to stage a battle.

One of my favourite characters from Insignia was most definitely Tom's roommate Vik. He's absolutely hilarious, and the way the two boys bounce off each other really made me laugh. Their friendship kind of reminded me of Harry and Ron from Harry Potter. They have that great sense of humour between them where they can take the mick out of each other but at the same time they really help one another out. The other students they hang around with were pretty cool, too. I thought Wyatt was a great addition to the group as well because she's not your typical girl, and she's pretty damn smart. I loved that.

There's lots of technology and cool stuff in Insignia but despite the heavy terminology I was always able to keep up. It helped that I found it all really interesting! Each of the kids at the Pentagonal Spire are given a neural transmitter which is inserted into their brains, giving them technology inside their heads. It meant they got cool little information displays in the corner of their eye that gave them information about a person they'd just met etc. You don't have to understand all the nitty gritty of what's being explained because most of it is glossed over and explained in general terms. It liked that the kids had these lessons where they had to use their brains and then got to come up with computer viruses to use on each other. It definitely made me want to read more sci-fi!

I think fans of post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction will adore Insignia. There's this whole war going on, a controlling regime Tom gets wrapped up in and plenty of suspicious characters high up in the government. It's also a very political novel, with both the government and these big corporations who sponsor the combatants trying to gain this control over people like Tom. There were also a whole load of shady characters, and trying to work out who exactly Tom could trust was really interesting.

There's so much to love about Insignia, from the incredible characters and the fantastic humour, to the fascinating world the book takes place in. I loved all the futuristic technology and virtual reality. It really stood out from other novels I'd read and the writing was incredible. I can't wait to read more about these characters and find out what adventures they get up to in the next book. I can't recommend Insignia highly enough!

Rating: 5*
What to read next: Vortex by S. J. Kincaid, the next book in the Insignia trilogy or Allied by S. J. Kincaid, an Insignia novella
Books like this: Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Waiting on Wednesday (#1): Vortex by S. J. Kincaid

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted over at Breaking the Spine and gives bloggers the chance to highlight the upcoming releases we're excited about. This is my first Waiting on Wednesday post so I'm really excited to take part!

Vortex (Insignia, #2) by S. J. Kincaid

Published: 4th July 2013 (Hot Key Books)

Amazon|Goodreads

Plot summary: The impossible was just the beginning. Now in their second year as superhuman government weapons-in-training at the Pentagonal Spire, Tom Raines and his friends are mid-level cadets in the elite combat corps known as the Intrasolar Forces. But as training intensifies and a moment arrives that could make or break his entire career, Tom’s loyalties are again put to the test.

Are you excited for Vortex? Which book are you waiting on this week? Let me know in the comments - I'd love to hear from you!