Iron Dragoons: Terran Armor Corps, Book 1

I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did.I’ve never read Richard Fox’s work before and I have developed a healthy dose of skepticism regarding indie authors and marketing. When I saw he had won the Dragon Award, I decided to give it a shot, having long sice bought it on sale based on the stunning cover alone.As I dove into the book, I realized I was wrong to doubt. This book is excellent. Seriously, a great example of the military sci-fi genre, and a real showcase for the good that happens when a soldier decides to write what they know.The powered armor concept shown in this book (and, I understand, also in the Ember War books, which this is a sort of sequel to) is very well thought out and executed. The training scenes, both the rigors of the qualifying evolutions and the action they contain, is top notch.This is the first book in a series, and I think it speaks volumes that I’ve already bought the second book.Final Verdict: Highly Recommended.

I read this after a recommendation from Isaac Hooke, one of my most favorite authors. This book grabbed me right off the start. Military sci-fi is my favorite genre and this book delivers. I was heavily invested in the characters and how they develop from young volunteers (and veterans alike) into the cadre of the most revered and honored branch of the future military arm, the Armor (Terrance Armor Corps). This is a standalone novel but thankfully Richard Fox is a prolific author. I will be reading the books that follow after this and will be reading the related series that come before this series (The Ember War Saga).I feel like a guy that picked up a dollar bill laying on the ground when then is elated to discover it's actually a hundred dollar bill! Yes, it's that good. I pity any fan of this genre that does not read this most excellent read from this master storyteller. If you like Isaac Hooke (Rade Galaal series) or John Ringo (A Hymn Bedore Battle) then you will be delighted.

I've always liked the idea of mech suits and powered armor, but this story is much more about the people involved. The equipment is merely a tool to use as we follow the people through challenges, as with any good story. This is a great introduction setting the stage for more stories and tells just enough of the backstory to be intriguing.For those who want to see a mech training program and an introductory live fire event, this is great. Military buffs have plenty to look at and appreciate. My only challenge with it was that I went in expecting more daring and adventure rather than packing it all at the end after all the training and testing. Even so, I had a lot of fun following all the characters through the story. It could be I went in expecting book 2 of a series and got book 1. I still enjoyed it.There's a subtext of the religious views of some of the Armor (the name for the military group) that plays an interesting part, and the view of religion as a positive influence in their lives was refreshing to me.

If you like military Science Fiction, and especially if you loved Heinlein's Cap Troopers from Starship Troopers, then this is for you. The characters are good. The Tech is great. And the story is a great origin story. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series

iron Dragoons is very well done as is all of Richard Fox's writing. If you have not read the Ember War series I recommend you start with that series then continue with the Iron Dragoons series. Character development is excellent combined with building a very distinct universe makes the stories alive in way that few authors achieve. This book follows Roland Shaw, orphaned in the war, volunteering for armor after a supposed chance encounter with an entity that motivates him. Rather than filling up the review with what is in the book I suggest you read the Ember series then this book which will make all historical references clear and provide the context of what it means to be Armor.

It took me some time to "get into" the story. I like a sci fi/military book that begins with action. Oddly enough, the book that did it best, and first, I think, is Steakley's Armor. There are other similarities and forward glances of other books in the genre, but this doesn't necessarily detract. Some of the questions I had in references made to previous occurrences in the history of Earth, it's wars, and the Armor Corps might have been answered if I had read this author's books from other series first. But I saw this referred to first, and missing those 'history's didn't detract from the plot much. The characters are developed well enough, and when the action begins, it's done well. I did take issue with the author's s naming of Three planets about three-quarters into the book. I' m not sure if it's meant to be an Easter egg for sci go buffs, or it's just silly. I won't spoil it for you. But I "got" it, and I laughed.

Look, there is no excuse. You pick something like this and you already know that is going to be a slight variation on the other 200 space action type things you read. You have already set your expectations that this will be a “kid joins some military unit, goes through training then had to face real action before he is ready, but stands up to the challenge” thing. You are expecting that, right?Anyway, this is one of those “kid joins some military unit, goes through training then had to face real action before he is ready, but stands up to the challenge” stories. Not a shock to anyone.So, Roland joins the Iron Dragoons, an elite unit that fight in armoured suits. Earth seems in conflict with some beastly aliens and the Iron Dragoons are the boys and girls that can make the difference. The team he works with, including the alien Cha’ril, are entertaining as is some of the mysticism surrounding the Iron Dragoons.So fun and easy reading. We knew that.

What you would expect from a first book, lots of character development, the usual how good am I, do I deserve this, he isn't good enough story line, with the less than surprising, surprise adventure at the end and the last few lines teasing you with ideas of the next bookHaving said it's the usual stuff, it's still good enough for me to get the 2nd in the series

I enjoyed the ember saga series a lot and this book is a spin off, set a few years after the conclusion of the series. You follow the trials and tribulations of a prospective recruit trying to become 'armour'. It gives an insight into what it takes to become a recruit which was interesting, but I didn't get a real sense of the physical and mental pressure that you might expect a recruit to go through to prove they could become armour. That being said story zips along well, it has makings of another good series.

Brilliant continuation to a series I hoped never to finish. Love the new perspective and heck dang if it isn't action packed!I'll admit to being a fussy sci-fi reader and this ticked all the boxes and left me shaking my kindle for more. (I literally let out a "gah!" Of horror upon discovering I'd finished it)Seriously awesome book.

I stopped reading at 7%. Gung ho children's stuff with lots of American jargon. I gave it 2 stars to be generous.