Citadel

I’ll admit, I went into *Citadel* expecting another *Starship Troopers* retread—explosions, heroics, clear-cut villains. Instead, Kloos delivers something far more interesting: a military sci-fi novel that’s actually *about* the military. The combat scenes are taut and well-researched (the small-unit tactics feel authentic, not just borrowed from a video game), but the real tension comes from the political maneuvering and the psychological toll on the soldiers. There’s a scene midway through where a squad debates whether to trust a civilian informant that’s *painfully* tense—not because of lasers or aliens, but because the stakes are human lives and the call is theirs alone. Korey Jackson’s performance is *almost* flawless. His pacing is excellent, and he handles the tech jargon and military slang without making it sound like a lecture. My only critique? A few of the female characters’ voices occasionally slip into a slightly affected register that feels out of place in this otherwise grounded world. And while the story’s realism is a strength, the middle act drags just a touch as Kloos lays the groundwork for the final confrontation—though the payoff is worth it. If you love sci-fi that treats war as a grim, necessary evil rather than a glamorous adventure, this is your book. Just don’t expect easy answers—or many heroes.