Review of Raven's Wrath

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Raven's Wrath" by Sam Stone.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Jake “Raven” Baylor was leading his team across Shok Valley in Afghanistan. They were hunting the Haqqani militants. The Haqqani were brutal ambush fighters connected to the Taliban. Jake’s group was called Texas 45 and specialized in mountain warfare. The twelve men were to provoke the Haqqani into the open, so they could stop the attacks on the supply convoys. The team understood the challenging nature of the mission, as they were aware they would be up against trained fighters with decades of institutional knowledge behind their attacks. Jake noticed that Shok Valley was too quiet.

Without warning, an RPG streaked toward Jake’s convoy. Machine gun fire came from the higher ground. The fight was on, and the twelve Americans were facing superior firepower and an overwhelming number of Haqqani fighters. They used layered attacks, injuring Junior Engineering Sergeant Richardson and disabling a Humvee. Sergeant Campbell could not get a signal for air support, leaving Jake to devise a plan for better positioning and protection. Would Texas 45 survive long enough to contact reinforcements and neutralize the Haqqani militants?

Raven’s Wrath is a military story with exceptional detail. Every moment is depicted in fine detail, pulling you into the story. A strong determination to survive and finish the mission was Jake’s motivation. The strategic positioning of each person was flawless. As: As they waited for backup, the tension built in intensity. I could envision the fatigue weighing on each person after hours of fighting with little rest.

Raven’s Wrath does not need any improvement. Therefore, I am awarding this book five out of five stars. It gives a deep look into the experiences that American troops faced during the Afghanistan war. One powerful message made a big impact on the story. It was about trusting your instincts: “When something feels wrong, it is wrong. Your gut knows before your brain does. Listen to it.” “When something feels wrong, it is wrong. Your gut knows before your brain does. Listen to it.” Despite the darker elements of war, there were several moments that prove soldiers are human and not emotionless killers.

I recommend Raven’s Wrath to anyone who likes a military novel full of action. The intensity of one battle in an entire war was realistic. Profanity, violence, death, and the graphic events that occur in war may not be appropriate for young readers. I believe high school students interested in joining the military would benefit from reading this amazing novel.

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Raven's Wrath
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[Kibet Hillary]

I like that the rhetorical question in the review is whether the Texas 45 team would survive long enough to make contact and request support. It is good to read that the narration is exceptional, as there is always a difference between a nice plot and one that is narrated incredibly well. Thanks for the review, @Stephanie Runyon.