Review: Nicely done!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2013
Cold Warriors by Clare Dargin is the first in a series called The Cold Warriors Universe. This first installment features a woman named Caitlin Driskol who is awakened from a cryogenic stasis to find the future world in turmoil. She is revived in the middle of a war and discovers that as a ground soldier, her life is expendable and limited. She meets a Marine and their stormy, passionate romance serves as a stark contrast to the brutality of their lives.This is science fiction at its core. There's even a glossary of terms in the front. The futuristic military angle dominates the narrative. This plot structure gives the book a cold feel (no pun intended here). While the romance angle does add a warmer, more human touch to the plot, it is often overshadowed by the action-driven military aspects. Dargin's characters, while a bit harsh (but consider their circumstances) are believable, well-developed, and their relationship is an interesting part of the narrative. The concept is fascinating, if not disturbing. Freezing people just to thaw them out for combat at a later date. It's the ultimate dehumanization of warfare without going entirely over to machines.Dargin's work is not for everyone. It's the first in series. I'm not a fan of serials, but this one does stand alone more than other serial novels I've read. It's also contains elements of erotica which might not sit well with traditional science fiction fans. I suggest that readers get over that here and now and take this one. It's an interesting, well-crafted read that crosses genres nicely.Preview copy