Graphics are extremely important, and although this book does have a mind-blowing cover, it also does have very interesting graphics and arrangements.

The graphic theme of the book series is clearly directed to game cards, and we see that the title has the Joker, and the first Chapter, the Ace of Spades, which is intriguing. On top of that, we have the fact that the cards aren’t “as they should be“, there is, a letter on top of the card symbol, which makes us readers ask: Why, and what could it mean?  And once you get it, you’ll be like: “I see what you did there”. Hahahahahahahha, NICE!

The book is fast-paced and raw. The thoughts of the characters are well expressed and the narrative is clean with dark-humor marking it in light strokes that are intensified as the book advances.

“He was going to die, and he was spending his last moments deciding on descriptors for his murderer. Funny what the brain did under stress. “

There is an extremely good, short and precise description of the characters and the scenery that is just enough to let you know everything that you need while letting room for to imagine your own version of things.

Not long will pass for us to know the reason of the cards, as the author(s) lets us know, quite quickly about “The Wildcards”, a group of individuals, that have a scary reputation. Maybe they are brutal, maybe they are insane, maybe they are indisciplined, but either way their reputation precedes them and they don’t let the legend down. Interesting…

Not much time passes until we discover, along with our main character why they are so legendary. The Wildcards are, well, WILD! HHAHAHAHHAHAHA, trouble at first sight, and prone to throwing gigantic wrenches. These guys are a commander’s worst nightmare, or…. just what a commander’s first test needs to be.

Ok, so, our main character is not what you expect to be for his role, but this makes the book WAAAY more interesting. We can FEEL his nervousness about everything, his insecurities and his awkwardness (and here’s where it gets cool…) but not because the author tells you that he is unsure and uneasy, but because he shows, gradually, how he feels about the whole situation he is in! This is amazing, and let us just say that it takes a lot of skill to do this without sounding forceful. GREAT JOB by O. E. Tearmann! GREAT JOB!

The characters feel real. Not real as in the “I have a problem that is so perfect that you will know I’m a fictional character that the author want you to feel pity and like me” BUT, the type of real that says: “I’m a person.”

The depth of the characters is titanic! You will relate to them at once, and love them in the first instant. WORLD CLASS! This is how you do it. The best of it all is that the problems in the whole book also feels real, the book feels tensely real, OMG! How cool is THAT?!

“I thought Cavanaugh paid for medtech on all their people. You’ve got scars.” The statement came out flat, too blunt, and Aidan immediately wished that he could grab the words out of the air.

After the revelation of the main character and after the book goes a little further, we start to ask ourselves if the placement of the main character, Aidan, wasn’t a bad joke pulled by his superiors in order to ace him out. HAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

AANNNND We have TRANSGENDER AND GAY CHARACTERS AS NORM!!!!! WOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! And it is SOOOO CUTE!!!!!

Less than 10 pages in and you already fall in love to this book, guaranteed, I mean, once you read further into the book, you get explained, or rather, reminded, about… the beauty of the sounds of words. That’s right, the beauty of the sound, of words. I mean… how, many, books, make, you, think, that?! And have this:

“…..  they worked their posteriors off.”

HAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAHA! Posteriors! HAHAHAHAHHHAA lovely! This book is lovely. Seriously. You will love it. So human and family-like, but wild and rough at the same time!

So, there is high tension between some parts, and it’s… interesting to see all the humanistic dynamics, that were exquisitely constructed, taking play as the plot evolves. This happens, not only on the family and friendship side, but on the romantic side as well. The authors has sharp eyes, or might we say: sharp fingers, when it comes to body cues and displaying undisclosed messages from characters. *Nods*, Excellently done here. Excellent.

There is a strong, heart-ripping argument against human perfection here, and related to homosexuality that shows the wounds and fears that plague the LGBTQ Community. This is very important, as you will see and feel through the author’s incredible narrative. You will stop in your tracks and take a STRONG, HARD look into things as they are now and realize how close we are to fiction.

“It isn’t easy hearing yourself described as an undesirable element in need of editing out of existence.”

OK! Sure, those are a lot of well-deserved positive comments, but we do have our less-positives comments towards the book, naturally. So, we noticed that although the characters fit for their roles as per their personalities, we did feel that the author could have gotten out of the safe-zone when it came to placement, but given that this is a written book, and it’s awesome, there’s nothing we, or the author can do about it. Lol.

Another thing that caught our eye was the stark relevance put on educational levels of Suzanna it in the short time she appeared. Was it really necessary to target so much spite to the character? Was it really necessary? And in such a soft and lovely book, was it on the right spot? We’ll let readers decide that for themselves. So, back to the goodies 😉

The fact that it has trans people, better saying, a trans MAIN CHARACTER is one thing, but to have it deconstructed to the point that we can feel and understand the challenges, fear, difficulties and emotional turmoil of a trans person (because these characters feel like real people) is something completely different.

Imagine the difference between seeing the sea for the first time, and swimming in it for the first time. Yep, that’s about the difference that the author allows us to feel, 100 fold. That’s why we are saying that THIS BOOK IS GLOOOOORIOUS!! FOR FUCK’S SAKE!!! THIS DESERVES AN AWARD!!!! HOLY CRAP!!

And talk about tension uh? Oh my. Now, we’ll be straight with you guys: you shouldn’t expect a lot of action from this book. Most of the tension you will read is emotional and social, BUT, when the action and thriller scenes eventually come, ohhhhh boi, you better be ready! You better be ready! Your heart will be hammering on your throat! Hahahahahahah, daaaaaaammmmn!!!

Yet, I always fail to understand how drones are able to miss, hmmmmm….

This book has some of the most well-explained, accurate, softest and well-written sex scenes one can read. Lovely. Writers have to take notes. Vulnerability 100%!!!! Lots of explicit descriptions too hahahahahahaha. This is really nice!

This first part of the series is very relatable when it comes to relationships, personal doubts, anxiety, uncertainties and how to cope with oneself, one’s problems and how to deal with ourselves, and others. An excellent book! Order your copy now.

You know what ? Order the ENTIRE SERIES hahahhahahhaahahah. Get your audiobook on Audible // AudioBookWormPromotions

Pros:

• EXCELLENT Narrative!
• EXCELLENT Pace!
• EXCELLENT Plot-line
• EXCELLENT content and value
• EXCELLENT social commentary, impactful
• BRILLIANTLY constructed characters and their roles
• EXCELLENT body cues
• Great character interactions
• Great sex and romance scenes
• Great tension on the book
• Nice ending of this chapter of the book series

Cons:

• The roles of the characters could’ve been better arranged as per the intention of the book and the message of it
• The was an implication on the ending half of the book that will strive certain readers hard on the gut that could have been avoided
• We feel like one of the main characters, although with all its problems, did follow a cliché(ish) pattern, which bummed some

Favourite Characters: “Omi and Billie”

Lesson of the book: “Keep calm and… use the Socratic method.”

Cover Score: 9.0/10

Book Score: 8.8/10

Get your Book on: Audible //  Barne’s&Noble // Powells// Overdrive // Dymocks Au // Amazon

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