Review of Mendacity

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RJ Reviews
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Review of Mendacity

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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mendacity" by Bryan Clark.]
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3 out of 5 stars
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Brayden Smith has always dreamed about joining the US Special Forces. He navigates through several military departments and grueling training courses until the opportunity to join the US Special Forces presents itself. He vows to dedicate his life to the fight against the ever-increasing drug trafficking and corruption. In the heart of South America, he fulfills treacherous missions, believing that he is making a difference. But the roots of corruption run deeper than he thinks, and he soon finds himself in perilous conditions after being captured by the drug cartel members. Will he be able to escape with his life? Who is the mysterious pale-skinned captor? How deep has the corruption taken root? Is every mission to eradicate the drug cartel a façade? If these questions intrigue you, grab a copy of Mendacity by Bryan Clark.

As a distinguished veteran, the author draws from his rich experiences in Special Operations to create a military fiction that is both intriguing and realistic. Brayden is a believable character. He is witty and intelligent. His curiosity and tendency to disobey orders lead to many nail-biting adventures, adding to the richness of the narrative. From a naïve, playful, and flirty athlete, Brayden becomes a highly trained and dedicated Special Forces member, fighting on the frontline against drug trafficking. The corruption and conspiracy parts are written authentically. This suspenseful tale has humor, deceit, betrayal, courage, and resilience. Throughout the story, the line between the right and the wrong often blurs, leaving us debating our perceptions of the truth.

Unfortunately, the book needs another round of thorough editing. The typographical and punctuation errors disrupted my reading speed. The narrative follows two parallel timelines. While it allows us to learn about Brayden’s past life and journey to become a Special Forces operative, it slows down the story. While the ‘present day’ storyline is captivating and suspenseful, the ‘past day’ storyline becomes tedious. It is full of details of different departments of the US Armed Forces that I found unnecessary and irrelevant. It may appeal to military enthusiasts, but for general readers, those parts kill the suspense of the other storyline. In my opinion, the climax is predictable. For all these reasons, I rate this book 3 out of 5.

I recommend this book to readers interested in the workings of military departments and spy networks. The author, a veteran himself, delves deep into the intricacies of these departments’ functionalities. Nothing is as seen in this book, and Brayden’s struggles to save himself and his idealism keep readers invested despite the lack of professional editing.

******
Mendacity
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Post by Gerry Steen »

RJ Reviews wrote: 27 Nov 2024, 23:14 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mendacity" by Bryan Clark.]
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3 out of 5 stars
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Brayden Smith has always dreamed about joining the US Special Forces. He navigates through several military departments and grueling training courses until the opportunity to join the US Special Forces presents itself. He vows to dedicate his life to the fight against the ever-increasing drug trafficking and corruption. In the heart of South America, he fulfills treacherous missions, believing that he is making a difference. But the roots of corruption run deeper than he thinks, and he soon finds himself in perilous conditions after being captured by the drug cartel members. Will he be able to escape with his life? Who is the mysterious pale-skinned captor? How deep has the corruption taken root? Is every mission to eradicate the drug cartel a façade? If these questions intrigue you, grab a copy of Mendacity by Bryan Clark.

As a distinguished veteran, the author draws from his rich experiences in Special Operations to create a military fiction that is both intriguing and realistic. Brayden is a believable character. He is witty and intelligent. His curiosity and tendency to disobey orders lead to many nail-biting adventures, adding to the richness of the narrative. From a naïve, playful, and flirty athlete, Brayden becomes a highly trained and dedicated Special Forces member, fighting on the frontline against drug trafficking. The corruption and conspiracy parts are written authentically. This suspenseful tale has humor, deceit, betrayal, courage, and resilience. Throughout the story, the line between the right and the wrong often blurs, leaving us debating our perceptions of the truth.

Unfortunately, the book needs another round of thorough editing. The typographical and punctuation errors disrupted my reading speed. The narrative follows two parallel timelines. While it allows us to learn about Brayden’s past life and journey to become a Special Forces operative, it slows down the story. While the ‘present day’ storyline is captivating and suspenseful, the ‘past day’ storyline becomes tedious. It is full of details of different departments of the US Armed Forces that I found unnecessary and irrelevant. It may appeal to military enthusiasts, but for general readers, those parts kill the suspense of the other storyline. In my opinion, the climax is predictable. For all these reasons, I rate this book 3 out of 5.

I recommend this book to readers interested in the workings of military departments and spy networks. The author, a veteran himself, delves deep into the intricacies of these departments’ functionalities. Nothing is as seen in this book, and Brayden’s struggles to save himself and his idealism keep readers invested despite the lack of professional editing.

******
Mendacity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Bryan Clark was an idealistic warrior in real life. According to your review his fictional novel shows how difficult it is for the idealistic combatants who protect our security when they realize that not everything is at it seems. When one is in the special forces, trust is important, as the combatant's life depends on it. I would like to get this insider portayal of what it is like to serve in the special forces. Thank you for this review. I am adding this book to my bookshelves.
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Post by Kutloano Makhuvhela »

The editing seems to have been a huge let-down for this book. But other than that, I think it is good, taking to mind how the author blends experience to create a believable tale. Other than that, you wrote a fantastic review. I loved reading it.
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Post by Stephen Christopher 1 »

Yet another potentially great story let down by poor editing. I get the two story lines but yeah the past sounds geared to military buffs. I might skip this one, thanks.
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Post by Anu Anand »

This sounds like an intriguing story with a mix of action, suspense, and a deep dive into military life. It's unfortunate about the editing issues, as they can disrupt the flow. Still, Brayden's journey seems captivating. Thanks for the detailed and honest review!
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Post by Williams Jaden »

Mendacity by Bryan Clark is a gripping tale of courage and deception. Following Brayden Smith's journey into the US Special Forces, the story plunges into the perilous fight against drug cartels in South America. With twists, dangerous missions, and questions of trust and betrayal, this thrilling novel will keep readers on edge.
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Post by Jeff Ekpo »

Growing to serve one's country in one way or the other is everyone's desire.
Bryan has chosen the military to serve his country.
The book shows the struggles encountered journey through the U.S. Army to join the U.S. Special Forces. It will serve as a guide to all those aspiring to join the military.
Just like the reviewer said the book has to be re-edited to make it more interesting to read.
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Post by Julie Marie Basil »

I am not a big fan of military fiction, but I appreciate your honest and helpful review. Keep up the good work!
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Post by Sarah Zain »

Although the story has interesting aspects, I'm not a fan of military stories. So slowing the pace os the events down at some point won't help. Thank you for your honest review.
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Post by Priya Murugesan »

You have analyzed the book well and provided your honest opinion. I think I will pass the book as of now. Too many editing errors.
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Post by NetMassimo »

This really seems like a novel perfect for readers who are into military stuff, as they can appreciate all the details inlucded by the author and not just the action. I hope at least the author does proper proofreading to prevent distractions while reading this book. Thank you for your honest review!
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Post by Naimah Agboluaje »

Based on the review, "Mendacity" by Bryan Clark appears to be a captivating military fiction novel. The author's firsthand experience in Special Operations adds authenticity to the story, making it both intriguing and realistic. The protagonist, Brayden Smith, is a relatable and engaging character who undergoes a transformation from a playful athlete to a dedicated Special Forces member. The book explores themes of corruption, conspiracy, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. However, it is worth noting that the book could benefit from additional editing to address typographical and punctuation errors. The narrative includes two parallel timelines, with the present-day storyline being captivating and suspenseful, while the past-day storyline may feel tedious to some readers due to excessive details. Overall, I would rate this book 3 out of 5. I recommend it to readers interested in military departments and spy networks. Captivating narrative, drew me in completely.
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Post by Adrian Bouknight »

RJ Reviews wrote: 27 Nov 2024, 23:14 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mendacity" by Bryan Clark.]
Book Cover
3 out of 5 stars
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Brayden Smith has always dreamed about joining the US Special Forces. He navigates through several military departments and grueling training courses until the opportunity to join the US Special Forces presents itself. He vows to dedicate his life to the fight against the ever-increasing drug trafficking and corruption. In the heart of South America, he fulfills treacherous missions, believing that he is making a difference. But the roots of corruption run deeper than he thinks, and he soon finds himself in perilous conditions after being captured by the drug cartel members. Will he be able to escape with his life? Who is the mysterious pale-skinned captor? How deep has the corruption taken root? Is every mission to eradicate the drug cartel a façade? If these questions intrigue you, grab a copy of Mendacity by Bryan Clark.

As a distinguished veteran, the author draws from his rich experiences in Special Operations to create a military fiction that is both intriguing and realistic. Brayden is a believable character. He is witty and intelligent. His curiosity and tendency to disobey orders lead to many nail-biting adventures, adding to the richness of the narrative. From a naïve, playful, and flirty athlete, Brayden becomes a highly trained and dedicated Special Forces member, fighting on the frontline against drug trafficking. The corruption and conspiracy parts are written authentically. This suspenseful tale has humor, deceit, betrayal, courage, and resilience. Throughout the story, the line between the right and the wrong often blurs, leaving us debating our perceptions of the truth.

Unfortunately, the book needs another round of thorough editing. The typographical and punctuation errors disrupted my reading speed. The narrative follows two parallel timelines. While it allows us to learn about Brayden’s past life and journey to become a Special Forces operative, it slows down the story. While the ‘present day’ storyline is captivating and suspenseful, the ‘past day’ storyline becomes tedious. It is full of details of different departments of the US Armed Forces that I found unnecessary and irrelevant. It may appeal to military enthusiasts, but for general readers, those parts kill the suspense of the other storyline. In my opinion, the climax is predictable. For all these reasons, I rate this book 3 out of 5.

I recommend this book to readers interested in the workings of military departments and spy networks. The author, a veteran himself, delves deep into the intricacies of these departments’ functionalities. Nothing is as seen in this book, and Brayden’s struggles to save himself and his idealism keep readers invested despite the lack of professional editing.

******
Mendacity
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
RJ! Thank you for this review! I love the book cover. Unfortunately, the book contains a handful of editorial errors, I completely understand how this can obstruct someone's reading experience. Especially for us writing reviews, I occasionally get bogged down taking lots of notes if there are too many errors, to the extent that I can't enjoy the book as much as I otherwise would have liked to. I can also resonate with your comments on parallel storylines. Some books would benefit from focusing on a single timeline rather than trying to split a story into two where one story might have more appeal than another.

Anyway! I'll check out more reviews on this one and will keep an eye out! Thanks again!
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Post by Joe Alex 2 »

The blend of military action, suspense, and deep conspiracies in this story feels intense and thought-provoking. I like the idea of following Brayden’s transformation and his moral struggles amidst corruption, but the mention of slow pacing and editing issues makes me hesitant. For now, I’ll pass on reading it.
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Post by Amy Luman »

None of the military explanations appeal to me. While I am intrigued by the journey that Brayden takes,I am not so much interested in the specifics. Thanks!
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