ABOUT THE BOOK
Jace has been the property of the U.S. Army since they found out about her power when she was five, and now she has become one of its most valuable weapons. But Jace is not the only one of her kind. Gray is one too, but with the help of his sister, he has spent most of his sixteen years hiding from the Army. Now, the Army has found out about Gray and they cannot allow him to roam free. Operating on the theory that it takes one to catch one, Jace is sent out with a special ops squad to hunt Gray down. But Jace is not the only one pursuing Gray, and the competition is after her, too. What ensues is a desperate chase through city after city as duty and honor collide with love and sacrifice.
MY REVIEW
4 Stars
Win the Rings is a gripping science fiction thriller sure to enthrall readers of all ages, but is perfect for the young adult range. It is a page-turning opener to what I am sure will be a gripping series.
Win the Rings is told through the alternating point of views of Gray Price and Jace Moray. I thought these two perspectives each added a really interesting element to the novel, seeing what each side knew, and what remained a mystery to both parties. In some ways Gray and Jace are so different, but they have more in common than they realized. I also really loved how action-packed the story was! There was never a dull moment, and each scene drove the plot forward towards its conclusion. I thought Van Brunt did a really good job setting up this novel as a first book in a series, too. There was great world-building – setting up a world very similar to ours, but with some very drastic differences – as well as a great story arc that set up the main conflict of the series. I also really appreciated that Van Brunt ended at a place where the book felt complete, yet left me wanting more.
One thing that bugged me a bit, though, was Jace's lack of character development. She is tough, one of the government's best fighters, but wants out, and that is about all that we get to know about her. I'm hoping that Jace will go through more of a transformation in the following books since she has so much potential to be an incredibly interesting character.
If you are looking for a thrilling next read in the science fiction and or young adult genres, I would highly recommend Win the Rings. It had a great premise, an exciting plot, and the beginning of an action-packed new series to burn the midnight oil for!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.D. Van Brunt has been writing professionally his entire career and has published an extensive list of nonfiction works. Win the Rings is his first fiction book. When not writing, he reads and listens to audiobooks during his daily drive through the sea of gridlock that is commuting in and out of Washington, DC. A long time resident of Maryland, he can often be found tromping around the many civil war battle sites in the area.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own