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Paragon Space #1
Starship Salvager
“I freaking love it… Fast-paced, action-packed… Had me hooked from page one… Nail-biting… Kept me turning the pages” Leannaslovesbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
War rages between the stars. A ruthless empire crushes all resistance. And one ex-soldier will decide the fate of humanity…
The Paragon empire reduces cities to dust and devastates entire planets. Independent star systems fall one by one… until none remain. Fear keeps the population obedient, but rebels and outlaws hide in the shadows.
After decades of fighting, Lax VanDunn is free. Sold to the Paragon military as a child and shaped into a perfect soldier, war is the only life he’s ever known. When he’s released from the army at last, he swears he’s never going back.
Now, Lax works as a salvager, raiding abandoned spacecraft. When an ancient warship is discovered floating in deep space, Lax realizes it contains a priceless secret that could shatter the Paragon’s grip on the galaxy.
Lax never wanted to be a hero. But the Paragon took everything from him—and now he has a chance to strike back. Can he plan an impossible heist, and lead an inexperienced crew through the ship’s lethal defences? Or will the Paragon snatch away his prize—and humanity’s last chance of freedom?
An absolutely thrilling science-fiction adventure of tension, intrigue and hard-hitting action, Starship Salvager is perfect for fans of James S.A. Corey, Marko Kloos and Craig Alanson.
Starship Salvager was previously published as Vanguard Strike.
See why readers love Starship Salvager:
“I DEVOURED this book! Think Firefly - space, mercenaries, found family… and so much more… What a banger of a first novel. I was engrossed in this story from the start.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was obsessed… found myself racing through chapters. It's so good!! Packed with action from the off.” staceywh_17, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a ride!… Had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing was fast… and there were plenty of twists that genuinely caught me off guard—I never knew what was coming next.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An awesome adventure! It's action packed… So much tension and excitement… 10/10 recommend.” Rollinsreadsbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was HOOKED! Riveting… A masterpiece in storytelling!!! Amazing.” Netgalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Compelling and vivid… A high-powered, electric story… will keep military SF fans reading!” Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood
“Heists, super-soldiers, monsters, mysteries, there’s something for everyone here… with a verve and energy that
War rages between the stars. A ruthless empire crushes all resistance. And one ex-soldier will decide the fate of humanity…
The Paragon empire reduces cities to dust and devastates entire planets. Independent star systems fall one by one… until none remain. Fear keeps the population obedient, but rebels and outlaws hide in the shadows.
After decades of fighting, Lax VanDunn is free. Sold to the Paragon military as a child and shaped into a perfect soldier, war is the only life he’s ever known. When he’s released from the army at last, he swears he’s never going back.
Now, Lax works as a salvager, raiding abandoned spacecraft. When an ancient warship is discovered floating in deep space, Lax realizes it contains a priceless secret that could shatter the Paragon’s grip on the galaxy.
Lax never wanted to be a hero. But the Paragon took everything from him—and now he has a chance to strike back. Can he plan an impossible heist, and lead an inexperienced crew through the ship’s lethal defences? Or will the Paragon snatch away his prize—and humanity’s last chance of freedom?
An absolutely thrilling science-fiction adventure of tension, intrigue and hard-hitting action, Starship Salvager is perfect for fans of James S.A. Corey, Marko Kloos and Craig Alanson.
Starship Salvager was previously published as Vanguard Strike.
See why readers love Starship Salvager:
“I DEVOURED this book! Think Firefly - space, mercenaries, found family… and so much more… What a banger of a first novel. I was engrossed in this story from the start.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was obsessed… found myself racing through chapters. It's so good!! Packed with action from the off.” staceywh_17, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“What a ride!… Had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing was fast… and there were plenty of twists that genuinely caught me off guard—I never knew what was coming next.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An awesome adventure! It's action packed… So much tension and excitement… 10/10 recommend.” Rollinsreadsbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I was HOOKED! Riveting… A masterpiece in storytelling!!! Amazing.” Netgalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Compelling and vivid… A high-powered, electric story… will keep military SF fans reading!” Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood
“Heists, super-soldiers, monsters, mysteries, there’s something for everyone here… with a verve and energy that
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2025
660 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 14, 2025
Vanguard Strike by Jerom Strong was such a good read! The plot features a heist—which I freaking love—and it’s sci-fi space opera at its finest. Fast-paced, action-packed, and full of heart, this book had me hooked from page one.
The main character? Absolutely lovable. I adored him! There were both heartwarming moments and nail-biting scenes that kept me turning the pages. The worldbuilding is smooth and easy to grasp, making this a perfect pick for someone new to sci-fi.
A fantastic blend of thrills and feels—I enjoyed this so much. I listened ti the ALC and it was excellent the narration really brought the characters to life!!! Do immersion reading if you can. Huge thanks to Second Sky Books and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.
The main character? Absolutely lovable. I adored him! There were both heartwarming moments and nail-biting scenes that kept me turning the pages. The worldbuilding is smooth and easy to grasp, making this a perfect pick for someone new to sci-fi.
A fantastic blend of thrills and feels—I enjoyed this so much. I listened ti the ALC and it was excellent the narration really brought the characters to life!!! Do immersion reading if you can. Huge thanks to Second Sky Books and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.
June 6, 2025
Thank you to Second Sky for sending me a copy of this book both on Audio and Kindle.
This was really good. I had such a fun time. It was giving Halo vibes (the TV show, I've never played the game - don't have an Xbox) which was perfect because I've recently finished the show and was looking for something to fill the void. I enjoyed the characters, getting the back story of Lax as well as what was going on current day. The parallels of his life past and present we're super interesting. I'm excited to continue the series when the rest of them come out.
This was really good. I had such a fun time. It was giving Halo vibes (the TV show, I've never played the game - don't have an Xbox) which was perfect because I've recently finished the show and was looking for something to fill the void. I enjoyed the characters, getting the back story of Lax as well as what was going on current day. The parallels of his life past and present we're super interesting. I'm excited to continue the series when the rest of them come out.
June 19, 2025
b>Review originally on JamReads
Vanguard Strike is the first book in the military space opera series Paragon Space, written by Jarom Strong and published by Second Sky Books. A fast-paced and action packed heist esque story full of found family vibes while also examining the weight of the past, with a well-built world that remembers me a bit of the Halo series.
Lax was a Vanguard, a mutated soldier made to destroy; discharged after the Paragon won the war, he became a vulture until a disastrous run ended with his crew dying and him landing in a prison. Now, an old friend has contacted him for a new job; when the things in the prison get really hard for Lax, he decides to take the opportunity, embarking into a new adventure filled of violence, old friends and politics, bringing him close to the moment that broke his life. If the mission goes well, it will mean retiring in peace for the rest of their lives, but keeping all alive will be proven more difficult than they expected.
Lax, himself, is a really fine main character; well-layered, we get to know more about his past through flashbacks and nightmares. It is difficult to not empathize with his story, being a soldier used and thrown by the system, and you can see how he genuinely cares about the rest of the crew. They don't shine as much as Lax, but all of them are likeable in their way, from Rose, trying to get out of the shadow of her mother, to Artemis, following her father's dream; at the end, they are all together in an almost suicidal mission, so the bond between the group appears naturally.
As previously said, the notion of a big corporation enhancing and controlling super human soldiers gives me big vibes of the Halo saga, but with a more ambitious worldbuilding, as Strong takes the opportunity to develop the politics behind the space. The science part is really accessible, opting for a plainer language.
The pacing is fast, keeping you on the edge of your seat for most of the narration; however, I have to say that I found confusing how certain flashbacks are introduced without any time mark. Overall, still an enjoyable experience.
Vanguard Strike is a promising starter for an ambitious military space opera series; perfect if you are looking for an action packed proposal with a pinch of found family. I'm curious to see how the series continues from this first instalment, and luckily for me, the rest of the books are already published!
Vanguard Strike is the first book in the military space opera series Paragon Space, written by Jarom Strong and published by Second Sky Books. A fast-paced and action packed heist esque story full of found family vibes while also examining the weight of the past, with a well-built world that remembers me a bit of the Halo series.
Lax was a Vanguard, a mutated soldier made to destroy; discharged after the Paragon won the war, he became a vulture until a disastrous run ended with his crew dying and him landing in a prison. Now, an old friend has contacted him for a new job; when the things in the prison get really hard for Lax, he decides to take the opportunity, embarking into a new adventure filled of violence, old friends and politics, bringing him close to the moment that broke his life. If the mission goes well, it will mean retiring in peace for the rest of their lives, but keeping all alive will be proven more difficult than they expected.
Lax, himself, is a really fine main character; well-layered, we get to know more about his past through flashbacks and nightmares. It is difficult to not empathize with his story, being a soldier used and thrown by the system, and you can see how he genuinely cares about the rest of the crew. They don't shine as much as Lax, but all of them are likeable in their way, from Rose, trying to get out of the shadow of her mother, to Artemis, following her father's dream; at the end, they are all together in an almost suicidal mission, so the bond between the group appears naturally.
As previously said, the notion of a big corporation enhancing and controlling super human soldiers gives me big vibes of the Halo saga, but with a more ambitious worldbuilding, as Strong takes the opportunity to develop the politics behind the space. The science part is really accessible, opting for a plainer language.
The pacing is fast, keeping you on the edge of your seat for most of the narration; however, I have to say that I found confusing how certain flashbacks are introduced without any time mark. Overall, still an enjoyable experience.
Vanguard Strike is a promising starter for an ambitious military space opera series; perfect if you are looking for an action packed proposal with a pinch of found family. I'm curious to see how the series continues from this first instalment, and luckily for me, the rest of the books are already published!
May 26, 2025
An epic space opera adventure about a Vanguard (a “boosted” human with extra strength and size) who is stuck in prison on year 8 of his 20-year sentence. He is contacted by a former colleague and offered a way out if he’ll agree to work on an important job. This begins this action-packed military sci-fi caper. There is good world-building and narration. The MC has a complicated backstory that is revealed over the course of the novel. He’s also a stand-up guy, still carrying a torch for his lost love. This is volume one of a new series called Paragon Space. I look forward to listening to the next books.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BookOutureAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #VanguardStrike for review purposes. Publication date: 3 June 2025.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @BookOutureAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #VanguardStrike for review purposes. Publication date: 3 June 2025.
July 20, 2025
Vanguard Strike is the first novel of the Paragon Space trilogy by Jerome Strong. It is his debut novel that is advertised as a military space opera. Going into the novel I didn’t really know what to expect but I ended up really enjoying this book. It was fast paced, had great characters, and I loved the mysterious vibe throughout the whole book.
Plot: This novel follows Lax, a former vanguard, which are biologically enhanced soldiers who fight for the Paragon. Lax ends up becoming a vulture, someone who salvages abandoned ships, but when a job goes wrong he loses his entire crew and finds himself in jail. Eight years later, his old Vanguard buddy breaks him out of jail to help with a salvage job. What Lax doesn’t know is that the ship they are trying to find is a massive Paragon battlecruiser that mysteriously disappeared. It’s the most deadly job he's ever done but the information on the ship may be the key to freeing humanity from the Paragon.
Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for Lax the entire book. Lax is a flawed character who is trying to do his best despite everything he has endured as a Vanguard. He has a lot of PTSD about his old salvage crew and watching him move on from the past was very satisfying. There were a decent amount of side characters in the book as well. While the book did not go in depth on any of them they all have interesting stories that I hope are expanded on in the future books.
Even though the actual mission mentioned in the synopsis does not happen until much later in the book I never found myself getting bored. There was still plenty of action and interesting events, especially learning more about Lax's traumatic past. However there was one plot twist I still feel conflicted about but overall I didn’t have any major issues with the book. The worldbuilding is simple but well done, with all the concepts being explained clearly. I really loved the writing style and reading from Lax’s point of view. Book one does not end with a cliffhanger but there is set up for the next book, which I’d love to read at some point. I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy fast paced books and want to get into reading sci-fi books.
4.5 rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky books for providing this eARC.
Plot: This novel follows Lax, a former vanguard, which are biologically enhanced soldiers who fight for the Paragon. Lax ends up becoming a vulture, someone who salvages abandoned ships, but when a job goes wrong he loses his entire crew and finds himself in jail. Eight years later, his old Vanguard buddy breaks him out of jail to help with a salvage job. What Lax doesn’t know is that the ship they are trying to find is a massive Paragon battlecruiser that mysteriously disappeared. It’s the most deadly job he's ever done but the information on the ship may be the key to freeing humanity from the Paragon.
Surprisingly, I found myself rooting for Lax the entire book. Lax is a flawed character who is trying to do his best despite everything he has endured as a Vanguard. He has a lot of PTSD about his old salvage crew and watching him move on from the past was very satisfying. There were a decent amount of side characters in the book as well. While the book did not go in depth on any of them they all have interesting stories that I hope are expanded on in the future books.
Even though the actual mission mentioned in the synopsis does not happen until much later in the book I never found myself getting bored. There was still plenty of action and interesting events, especially learning more about Lax's traumatic past. However there was one plot twist I still feel conflicted about but overall I didn’t have any major issues with the book. The worldbuilding is simple but well done, with all the concepts being explained clearly. I really loved the writing style and reading from Lax’s point of view. Book one does not end with a cliffhanger but there is set up for the next book, which I’d love to read at some point. I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy fast paced books and want to get into reading sci-fi books.
4.5 rounded up
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky books for providing this eARC.
April 23, 2025
Vanguard Strike is a sci-fi military space drama. I am not a big military or sci-fi person, but was sent a widget for this book. I read the synopsis and said what the heck, I need a genre mix up. I’m so glad I did too. This book was so good. The action, the characters everything was well done.
What I liked:
The action. This book was almost non stop action. It didn’t drag at all.
The world building: the world was well built and easily understood.
Easy to read: One of the big things that turn me off of sci-fi is how wordy and technical the authors can get. This book did not do that. I understood everything easily and without having to go back and try to decipher what I was reading.
The characters: I loved these characters! Lax was well wrote and multi faceted. The side characters had personality and you cared for them.
There were only a few things that I found fault with. One was the almost romance. It felt forced and I didn’t really like the woman who was the love interest. We were supposed to relate with her, but I just didn’t feel her. I also may have missed it but I don’t understand how the two ships connected. It may be more explained in the next book. The chapter present or past labels. This may be more of an editor thing but sometimes the chapters whipped forward or backwards without telling us where we were in time. Hopefully in the final draft that will be fixed.
Lax is, was a Vanguard, a mutated military soldier made to destroy. Once Paragon won the war, Lax was released from service and became a vulture (a scavenger) for space ship parts that brought in money. After a disastrous run, Lax ends up in prison. While in prison he’s contacted by an old friend for a new job. He agrees and starts a new journey filled with violence, politics, and lots of shooting. Will LAX and his new crew survive this one final job?
A delightful action packed novel that is a must read for any sci-fi fan.
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the arc.
What I liked:
The action. This book was almost non stop action. It didn’t drag at all.
The world building: the world was well built and easily understood.
Easy to read: One of the big things that turn me off of sci-fi is how wordy and technical the authors can get. This book did not do that. I understood everything easily and without having to go back and try to decipher what I was reading.
The characters: I loved these characters! Lax was well wrote and multi faceted. The side characters had personality and you cared for them.
There were only a few things that I found fault with. One was the almost romance. It felt forced and I didn’t really like the woman who was the love interest. We were supposed to relate with her, but I just didn’t feel her. I also may have missed it but I don’t understand how the two ships connected. It may be more explained in the next book. The chapter present or past labels. This may be more of an editor thing but sometimes the chapters whipped forward or backwards without telling us where we were in time. Hopefully in the final draft that will be fixed.
Lax is, was a Vanguard, a mutated military soldier made to destroy. Once Paragon won the war, Lax was released from service and became a vulture (a scavenger) for space ship parts that brought in money. After a disastrous run, Lax ends up in prison. While in prison he’s contacted by an old friend for a new job. He agrees and starts a new journey filled with violence, politics, and lots of shooting. Will LAX and his new crew survive this one final job?
A delightful action packed novel that is a must read for any sci-fi fan.
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the arc.
May 17, 2025
4.5 Stars rounded up. Sci-fi, heist and action filled space thriller. It took me a little bit to get into this book, but about a third of the way through the initial chapters made sense, and the story took off. Lax, modified ex-soldier, gets a second chance to leave his hell filled past behind him as he finds his skills in demand. But the past haunts him, and he’s about to find himself in a deep hole. Fortunately, for his crew, after all he’s been through, he’s not leaving them behind. But who is going to save Lex from himself. Start of a series, and an introduction to number of characters who are fun to spend time with. Lex certainly comes to think that. Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
August 8, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an advance listeners copy! I DEVOURED this book! Think Firefly - space, mercenaries, found family, people thrown together, and so much more.
Between the character development to the universe itself, this story is so well crafted I immediately wanted to read this authors entire bibliography only to find out this is his first novel. What a banger of a first novel. I was engrossed in this story from the start.
I don’t want to say more for fear it’ll spoil something. I will say that at first the narrator’s choice for some character voices felt annoying - a little too high pitched and raspy. However, by halfway through it grew on me. Overall I feel like the audiobook is well done 4/5. Book itself is a 5/5
Between the character development to the universe itself, this story is so well crafted I immediately wanted to read this authors entire bibliography only to find out this is his first novel. What a banger of a first novel. I was engrossed in this story from the start.
I don’t want to say more for fear it’ll spoil something. I will say that at first the narrator’s choice for some character voices felt annoying - a little too high pitched and raspy. However, by halfway through it grew on me. Overall I feel like the audiobook is well done 4/5. Book itself is a 5/5
July 7, 2025
From the start, I felt for our main character when his emotions were being controlled. Having empathy and then just going cold was intense. I was hooked with every word. This book felt like a really good sci-fi movie, and I'm in in for the long haul. I'm very surprised that this is the authors debut novel. This feels very thought out and well told.
This book did a very good job of showing PTSD. I really got to see how controlling PTSD can be. It gave me a new perspective on Veterans and what they go though. Feeling like you're being told from inside their mind.
I'm definitely recommending this to friends and family.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
This book did a very good job of showing PTSD. I really got to see how controlling PTSD can be. It gave me a new perspective on Veterans and what they go though. Feeling like you're being told from inside their mind.
I'm definitely recommending this to friends and family.
Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!
June 4, 2025
I haven’t delved into science fiction in a good few years, which was an awful decision as I must have missed so many good books. This book has single handedly refreshed my love for scifi. It’s all things Star Wars, halo and guardians of the galaxy.
With a tight knit found family that come together to perform a heist on a missing space ship, an ex exo skeleton solider who was broken out of prison and so so much more.
There is depth and character development in this book that I wasn’t expecting and it really made this an amazing book.
Thank you for the eARC second sky and net galley.
With a tight knit found family that come together to perform a heist on a missing space ship, an ex exo skeleton solider who was broken out of prison and so so much more.
There is depth and character development in this book that I wasn’t expecting and it really made this an amazing book.
Thank you for the eARC second sky and net galley.
June 13, 2025
What a ride! This book had me hooked from start to finish. The pacing was fast, the action scenes were solid, and there were plenty of twists that genuinely caught me off guard—I never knew what was coming next.
Lax was a standout character. As an ex-elite soldier, he had that tough, no-nonsense edge, but it was his personal growth throughout the story that really made him likable and memorable.
I don’t usually gravitate toward space sci-fi, but I’m so glad I gave this one a shot. I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series!
An audio book I got from NetGalley.
Lax was a standout character. As an ex-elite soldier, he had that tough, no-nonsense edge, but it was his personal growth throughout the story that really made him likable and memorable.
I don’t usually gravitate toward space sci-fi, but I’m so glad I gave this one a shot. I’ll definitely be checking out the rest of the series!
An audio book I got from NetGalley.
March 29, 2025
Amazing book. Utterly brutal in parts and so beautiful in others. Little bit in love with Lax.
December 25, 2025
Reviewed by Beth
Holy Cow Batman!
What an intense story! I could not but the book down until I finished.
I did not get my happy ending but I did get an ending that had me on the edge of my seat. I'll be starting the next book as soon as I submit this review.
The main characters are such a mixture of misfits (not really) just people with different needs finding their way.
Holy Cow Batman!
What an intense story! I could not but the book down until I finished.
I did not get my happy ending but I did get an ending that had me on the edge of my seat. I'll be starting the next book as soon as I submit this review.
The main characters are such a mixture of misfits (not really) just people with different needs finding their way.
November 30, 2025
Excellent
I gave it 5 stars to honor the work he put in to writing it. But I have to admit that there was just too much blood and guts, death and destruction for me. I scanned my way to the end just so I could say "excellent" because it was... But I need to move on to something bloody.
I gave it 5 stars to honor the work he put in to writing it. But I have to admit that there was just too much blood and guts, death and destruction for me. I scanned my way to the end just so I could say "excellent" because it was... But I need to move on to something bloody.
July 1, 2025
After being removed from their homes as children and enhanced biologically and cybernetically to become the ultimate soldiers, the Vanguards were released from duty after winning the War of unification and struggled to find their place.
While Vanguard Strike by Jarom Strong (book cover is in image), contains many common Sci-Fi tropes, the story is well executed. And while I am normally not a fan of Military Sci-Fi, this was a great story that did not get bogged down by military jargon. This will be a great read for those who enjoy stories about biological engineered beings, mercenaries, and a well executed found family trope.
The narration by Jeff Harding was stellar. I had the opportunity to read the book and listen to the audiobook, and I was able to seamlessly move between both with ease. Cannot wait to get to the next installment in this series.
Thank you, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jun 13 2025
#BookoutureAudio
#SecondSky
#VangurardStrike
#ParagonSpace
#JaromStrong
#JeffHarding
#MilitaryScienceFiction
#yarisbooknook
#NetGalley
While Vanguard Strike by Jarom Strong (book cover is in image), contains many common Sci-Fi tropes, the story is well executed. And while I am normally not a fan of Military Sci-Fi, this was a great story that did not get bogged down by military jargon. This will be a great read for those who enjoy stories about biological engineered beings, mercenaries, and a well executed found family trope.
The narration by Jeff Harding was stellar. I had the opportunity to read the book and listen to the audiobook, and I was able to seamlessly move between both with ease. Cannot wait to get to the next installment in this series.
Thank you, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to listen to this ALC and read the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Jun 13 2025
#BookoutureAudio
#SecondSky
#VangurardStrike
#ParagonSpace
#JaromStrong
#JeffHarding
#MilitaryScienceFiction
#yarisbooknook
#NetGalley
June 18, 2025
Wow. What a book!!
This is action packed and attention grabbing from the get go. The writing style was very refreshing and actually had me feeling like I was in Lax’s head/train of thought.
The way the time line jumped from present to past was seamless. Little bread crumbs of the past strategically placed so you knew just enough, but kept wanting to know more was very clever and well thought out.
The characters weren’t “too” much to keep track of, while the dialogues between characters flowed effortlessly.
I adore Lax and his pessimistic optimism, he is one of the luckiest Bast*rds in the universe… While red gave the joker buffer needed in all serious story telling.
You have strong powerful women, clever protective men, cunning conniving in betweens.
The plot twists were twisting and I had my mouth open at a few of the revelations.
I’d love to see where this story goes, what happens with the rippers and if they get to contribute to the Panama’s downfall.
Thank you for the eARC from NetGalley.
This is action packed and attention grabbing from the get go. The writing style was very refreshing and actually had me feeling like I was in Lax’s head/train of thought.
The way the time line jumped from present to past was seamless. Little bread crumbs of the past strategically placed so you knew just enough, but kept wanting to know more was very clever and well thought out.
The characters weren’t “too” much to keep track of, while the dialogues between characters flowed effortlessly.
I adore Lax and his pessimistic optimism, he is one of the luckiest Bast*rds in the universe… While red gave the joker buffer needed in all serious story telling.
You have strong powerful women, clever protective men, cunning conniving in betweens.
The plot twists were twisting and I had my mouth open at a few of the revelations.
I’d love to see where this story goes, what happens with the rippers and if they get to contribute to the Panama’s downfall.
Thank you for the eARC from NetGalley.
October 12, 2025
I tend not to read a lot of sci-fi, despite loving sci-fi films, and sci-fi based computer games, so I when an email landed in my inbox from Second Sky for an ARC of the audiobook for Vanguard Strike (since retitled to Starship Salvager) by Jarom Strong, I thought I'd give it go. Well, blow me down!!! I now realise I've been missing out by not reading/listening to much of this genre. I really enjoyed this audio, particularly this final 20-30%, where things got really intense. It was well written, and it played out like just like a sci-fi film in my head. The world building was descriptive, yet not so much so the action got bogged down by it, the characters were diversed and well voiced by the narrator (Jeff Harding) and each of the intense battle scenes with the Rippers so vivid. I like the fact that although part a series, the story arc for the book wrapped to a nice conclusion rather than leaving things on a cliffhanger. Thanks to Second Sky, Netgalley, and Jarom Strong for the ARC , I plan to continue the series on Kindle Unlimited!
May 18, 2025
4 ⭐️
Thank you kindly to Second Sky for inviting me and sending me a widget of Jarom Strong’s debut novel, Vanguard Strike.
I’ll admit, I haven’t read much sci-fi before, but this was a lot of fun. The world-building is strong without being overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked from the start. I really liked the idea of salvagers scavenging old battlecruisers; it felt fresh and exciting. There’s a good balance of action and quieter moments, and while I didn’t always feel fully connected to the characters, I was invested in what happened to them.
A solid debut with lots of promise, especially if you’re after something action-packed with just the right amount of grit. Definitely worth checking out if you’re dipping your toes into sci-fi for the first time.
Overall, Vanguard Strike is an engaging debut that offers a thrilling ride through a richly imagined universe.
Thank you kindly to Second Sky for inviting me and sending me a widget of Jarom Strong’s debut novel, Vanguard Strike.
I’ll admit, I haven’t read much sci-fi before, but this was a lot of fun. The world-building is strong without being overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked from the start. I really liked the idea of salvagers scavenging old battlecruisers; it felt fresh and exciting. There’s a good balance of action and quieter moments, and while I didn’t always feel fully connected to the characters, I was invested in what happened to them.
A solid debut with lots of promise, especially if you’re after something action-packed with just the right amount of grit. Definitely worth checking out if you’re dipping your toes into sci-fi for the first time.
Overall, Vanguard Strike is an engaging debut that offers a thrilling ride through a richly imagined universe.
August 30, 2025
Vanguard Strike is an awesome sci-fi adventure! It's action-packed with a likeable reluctant and tortured hero, an excellent crew of supporting characters, and a big bad enemy behind galaxy domination and a deadly biologically engineered space monster!
As the crew works toward the riskiest job known to man, we get insight into our hero's past as he tries to avoid his heartbreak.
The 2nd part of the book has so much tension and excitement that I devoured 70pgs per hour, reading 50% in one evening.
10/10 recommend.
As the crew works toward the riskiest job known to man, we get insight into our hero's past as he tries to avoid his heartbreak.
The 2nd part of the book has so much tension and excitement that I devoured 70pgs per hour, reading 50% in one evening.
10/10 recommend.
November 11, 2025
Enjoyed this immensely, the premise was good and the writing was excellent, unlike a lot of other group enterprises where everyone survives unscathed this was refreshing in respect of I thought the author was going to run out of characters!! Even the main one! There was a lot of new players making their presence felt, but you didn't know if they were genuine or not. Good plot, lots of twists and turns and the depth and expanse of the story was amazing. Would highly recommend!
December 14, 2025
Good read
Enjoyed this story so far. The characters are well written. They story develops well. Very few spelling and punctuation errors. Will continue this series
Enjoyed this story so far. The characters are well written. They story develops well. Very few spelling and punctuation errors. Will continue this series
June 2, 2025
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley in Exchange for providing an honest review.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
I have to start my review by stating that my copy of this book was an audiobook, and I really disliked the narrator. It's like the narrator couldn't decide if he should do a stereotypical detective voice from a noir, a radio announcer voice, or a cowboy's. His voice was much more tolerable when he voiced the female characters.
As far as the story goes, I have never heard the word "cacophony" used so many times. It was quite jarring at times. Certain phrases or words were repeated a lot, which I get, the main character was traumatized, but still, I feel like that could have been conveyed better. Also, I have never read a more overtly masculine book. I love SciFi, it's one of my favorite genres, but it was clear the female population was not the author's targeted audience. Overall, the book was just interesting enough to make me want to finish it, but I would not buy it for my library's collection.
My rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
I have to start my review by stating that my copy of this book was an audiobook, and I really disliked the narrator. It's like the narrator couldn't decide if he should do a stereotypical detective voice from a noir, a radio announcer voice, or a cowboy's. His voice was much more tolerable when he voiced the female characters.
As far as the story goes, I have never heard the word "cacophony" used so many times. It was quite jarring at times. Certain phrases or words were repeated a lot, which I get, the main character was traumatized, but still, I feel like that could have been conveyed better. Also, I have never read a more overtly masculine book. I love SciFi, it's one of my favorite genres, but it was clear the female population was not the author's targeted audience. Overall, the book was just interesting enough to make me want to finish it, but I would not buy it for my library's collection.
June 19, 2025
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 (rounded up to 4)
Spice: 🚫
Reading this took a while, because the book was chonkyyy and I had to read on my phone since my kindle screen cracked (RIP 🪦).
I got the same vibes reading this military space drama as I did from watching the Halo tv series - soldiers having their emotions controlled by a governing entity. The pacing was pretty steady, so that helped keep me intrigued. I admit I love a good heist story!
Plot ——— Lax, modified ex-soldier, gets a second chance to leave his hell filled past behind him as he finds his skills in demand. But the past haunts him, and he's about to find himself in a deep hole. Fortunately, for his crew, after all he's been through, he's not leaving them behind. But who is going to save Lex from himself?
Book 1 of The Paragon Space trilogy - finished series.
Notable Tropes ——
🚀 Mercenaries
🚀 Found Family
🚀 Bioengineered Creatures
🚀 Genetic Alteration/Mutation
🚀 Heists
🚀 Space setting/Military Space Drama
Thank you to SecondSky for this ARC, and the opportunity to read and review.
Spice: 🚫
Reading this took a while, because the book was chonkyyy and I had to read on my phone since my kindle screen cracked (RIP 🪦).
I got the same vibes reading this military space drama as I did from watching the Halo tv series - soldiers having their emotions controlled by a governing entity. The pacing was pretty steady, so that helped keep me intrigued. I admit I love a good heist story!
Plot ——— Lax, modified ex-soldier, gets a second chance to leave his hell filled past behind him as he finds his skills in demand. But the past haunts him, and he's about to find himself in a deep hole. Fortunately, for his crew, after all he's been through, he's not leaving them behind. But who is going to save Lex from himself?
Book 1 of The Paragon Space trilogy - finished series.
Notable Tropes ——
🚀 Mercenaries
🚀 Found Family
🚀 Bioengineered Creatures
🚀 Genetic Alteration/Mutation
🚀 Heists
🚀 Space setting/Military Space Drama
Thank you to SecondSky for this ARC, and the opportunity to read and review.
June 15, 2025
This isn’t really my usual genre, so I went in with pretty neutral expectations—and I had a good time with it! It’s military sci-fi with a great found-family, solid action, and enough character depth to keep me engaged. Lax, has reluctant-hero energy, and while I didn’t always connect with him, I liked the mix of tough-exterior and soft-trauma-core.
The plot is fast-paced, and the world building is accessible even if you’re not deep into sci-fi stuff. There’s banter, some creepy creature moments, and a space-heist happening, which kept it fun.
That said, I probably won’t rush to continue the series. It didn’t quite grab me entirely, and I didn’t feel super invested in the longer arc. But as a one-off listen? Totally enjoyable. If you're into action-heavy space stories with a splash of character drama, this’ll be right up your street.
The plot is fast-paced, and the world building is accessible even if you’re not deep into sci-fi stuff. There’s banter, some creepy creature moments, and a space-heist happening, which kept it fun.
That said, I probably won’t rush to continue the series. It didn’t quite grab me entirely, and I didn’t feel super invested in the longer arc. But as a one-off listen? Totally enjoyable. If you're into action-heavy space stories with a splash of character drama, this’ll be right up your street.
October 26, 2025
It starts off quite strongly, but never really develops. For an invincible cybernetic supersoldier he doesn't seem to have many moves; fire the gun, throw a punch, fall over. He gets punched in the head a lot. The story was fine but it seemed like it was going to be a lot more exciting at the beginning. The aliens/rippers are all right but sort of stalled, with 'a real big version' as the climax. That's what you were teasing the whole book? "They were developing... (lowers voice) a real big version!" (Gasps)
I'll give the second one a go hoping it's a bit more adventurous.
I'll give the second one a go hoping it's a bit more adventurous.
June 19, 2025
This story was okay.
It had a lot of generic sci-fi tropes, but few things that distinguish it. Even the primary villain/monster, just feels like a discount xenomorph.
It took a while for the story to get interesting. I never really got sucked into the story, and I felt that it just plodded along. The few exciting moments were brief and standard sci-fi action.
I’m giving it a 3. It is your average sci-fi action. Not bad, but not great.
It had a lot of generic sci-fi tropes, but few things that distinguish it. Even the primary villain/monster, just feels like a discount xenomorph.
It took a while for the story to get interesting. I never really got sucked into the story, and I felt that it just plodded along. The few exciting moments were brief and standard sci-fi action.
I’m giving it a 3. It is your average sci-fi action. Not bad, but not great.
August 4, 2025
I listened to the audio book format of this novel and while the narrator wasn't great, he was still good. It's a shame however that there wasn't a better narrator available because the writing was much better than this audiobook portrays. Had it been Tim Gerard Reynolds, this book would be making waves across the audio landscape. It's really good! Full of wonderful imagery, intense emotion, insane action, and amazing world-building. You have to read this book!
June 24, 2025
Jarom Strong (https://www.jaromstrong.com) is the author of three novels. Vanguard Strike was published a few days ago and is the first novel in his Paragon Space series. It is the 29th book I completed reading in 2025.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Vanguards were taken from their homes as children. They were given cybernetic and biological enhancements, then wrapped in nearly indestructible armor. Developed by Paragon, they were the ultimate weapon on the battlefield. The force that finally brought the war of unification to an end. Then, they were not needed anymore, and Paragon released them from service. Most were lost without their military missions and became mercenaries.
Lackan VanDunn had been a Vanguard released after the war. He had knocked around, taking a variety of jobs. That was what put him in prison for the last eight years. He gets assigned a new cellmate, Rid. A kid in his late teens or early twenties. A little soft looking, but bearing the tattoo of the Scorcher gang.
Not too long later, an old friend, Nadus Torsund, contacts Lackan and offers him a job. Lackan turns him down at first, but after interrupting an attack on Rid, he changes his mind. Before long, the two have escaped following plans put in place by Torsund.
Lackan joins a team Torsund had put together for a space salvage job. Their target is the Revelation, a lost Paragon battlecruiser. Not only will they have to contend with the dangers of space but the ship they are heading to is known to have rippers aboard. Another Paragon product, the rippers were creatures with steel claws that only knew how to kill. Living weapons. Lackan had fought them before.
Before they even begin their journey to intercept the Revelation, Lackan and the salvage crew are attacked by assassins. Someone has found out about their planned salvage of the Revelation and wants them stopped. After a bloody battle, Lackan and crew make their way to the ship Orpheus and head to the coordinates for the Revelation. There, the real danger awaits them. But the information they might retrieve could save the galaxy.
I enjoyed the 9.5 hours I spent reading this 426-page science fiction novel. I like space opera, and this is a very good example of that genre. The story ends with plenty of loose threads for sequels. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.6 (rounded to 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com with the expectation of a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! Due to scenes of violence, I categorize this novel as R.
Vanguards were taken from their homes as children. They were given cybernetic and biological enhancements, then wrapped in nearly indestructible armor. Developed by Paragon, they were the ultimate weapon on the battlefield. The force that finally brought the war of unification to an end. Then, they were not needed anymore, and Paragon released them from service. Most were lost without their military missions and became mercenaries.
Lackan VanDunn had been a Vanguard released after the war. He had knocked around, taking a variety of jobs. That was what put him in prison for the last eight years. He gets assigned a new cellmate, Rid. A kid in his late teens or early twenties. A little soft looking, but bearing the tattoo of the Scorcher gang.
Not too long later, an old friend, Nadus Torsund, contacts Lackan and offers him a job. Lackan turns him down at first, but after interrupting an attack on Rid, he changes his mind. Before long, the two have escaped following plans put in place by Torsund.
Lackan joins a team Torsund had put together for a space salvage job. Their target is the Revelation, a lost Paragon battlecruiser. Not only will they have to contend with the dangers of space but the ship they are heading to is known to have rippers aboard. Another Paragon product, the rippers were creatures with steel claws that only knew how to kill. Living weapons. Lackan had fought them before.
Before they even begin their journey to intercept the Revelation, Lackan and the salvage crew are attacked by assassins. Someone has found out about their planned salvage of the Revelation and wants them stopped. After a bloody battle, Lackan and crew make their way to the ship Orpheus and head to the coordinates for the Revelation. There, the real danger awaits them. But the information they might retrieve could save the galaxy.
I enjoyed the 9.5 hours I spent reading this 426-page science fiction novel. I like space opera, and this is a very good example of that genre. The story ends with plenty of loose threads for sequels. I like the chosen cover art. I give this novel a rating of 4.6 (rounded to 5) out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
June 22, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I give it 3,5 stars, rounding it up to 4 stars.
This story is about Lax, who has been through some shit (to put it mildly) and has seemed to have given up. During the story we learn more about what happened and what motivates him now to take his second chance. In that, he's an interesting character, and I do love a healing character arc, but I think that felt a bit flat. He's started to take the first steps toward healing, but never really followed through with it. I will say that the recurring flashbacks of his trauma really intrigued me and I gasped when I realised what his trauma of 'green dots, flashing red' meant.
During the first bit of the book, the storylines from 8 years ago and present alternate. This is very clear at first, but later on the author is not consistent with this and sometimes announces the storyline from 8 years ago, and sometimes doesn't. While I can figure out what's going on and what timeline we're in, I do believe consistency is very important and I do wish every chapter with a different time from the previous chapter would have been announced.
It's clearly a sci-fi, but it's marketed as a military scifi and I just didn't feel that really fitted this book, mostly because Lax literally isn't military. Maybe that's nitpicking though, because the book is very action packed. Mostly direct action packed (shooting, stabbing and hitting), not a lot of tactical action that comes with space ship battles. I do prefer the latter, but I was invested in these battles nonetheless. It's also said to be a heist novel and I think it's not so much a heist as much as a salvage job. It does take a long ass time to get to actual the heist bit and I just didn't really care for/feel the stakes that much (though I understood why it was important for some of the team members, I personally didn't feel the stakes, which is why I'm not sure yet if I'll continue the series).
Considering the name of the person who hired some assassins, I figured out pretty quickly who was behind it. I did notice the foreshadowing later on, but it was just too obvious to have missed it imo. The reasons were made clear later on and I didn't guess those, so that kept me guessing!
I give it 3,5 stars, leaning more to the 4 stars here.
This story is about Lax, who has been through some shit (to put it mildly) and has seemed to have given up. During the story we learn more about what happened and what motivates him now to take his second chance. In that, he's an interesting character, and I do love a healing character arc, but I think that felt a bit flat. He's started to take the first steps toward healing, but never really followed through with it. I will say that the recurring flashbacks of his trauma really intrigued me and I gasped when I realised what his trauma of 'green dots, flashing red' meant.
During the first bit of the book, the storylines from 8 years ago and present alternate. This is very clear at first, but later on the author is not consistent with this and sometimes announces the storyline from 8 years ago, and sometimes doesn't. While I can figure out what's going on and what timeline we're in, I do believe consistency is very important and I do wish every chapter with a different time from the previous chapter would have been announced.
It's clearly a sci-fi, but it's marketed as a military scifi and I just didn't feel that really fitted this book, mostly because Lax literally isn't military. Maybe that's nitpicking though, because the book is very action packed. Mostly direct action packed (shooting, stabbing and hitting), not a lot of tactical action that comes with space ship battles. I do prefer the latter, but I was invested in these battles nonetheless. It's also said to be a heist novel and I think it's not so much a heist as much as a salvage job. It does take a long ass time to get to actual the heist bit and I just didn't really care for/feel the stakes that much (though I understood why it was important for some of the team members, I personally didn't feel the stakes, which is why I'm not sure yet if I'll continue the series).
Considering the name of the person who hired some assassins, I figured out pretty quickly who was behind it. I did notice the foreshadowing later on, but it was just too obvious to have missed it imo. The reasons were made clear later on and I didn't guess those, so that kept me guessing!
I give it 3,5 stars, leaning more to the 4 stars here.
May 27, 2025
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
I am not sure if it was the audio narration or the plot itself but I simply could not get into this book. It didn't go much of anywhere for the first half and the main character was very one-dimensional. I respect that this is supposed to pave the way for character growth after hardships shut him down; but it still felt like I was reading a testosterone-laden macho novel set in space.Story: Lax was sold into the army as a young boy and transformed into a super soldier - part of the Vanguard elite known colloquially as 'the puppets' for their single purpose in life. Now older, he finds a chance to retire but ends up framed and in prison. There, slowly shutting down mentally, he is given a lifeline from a former squadmate - a heist. But is it all that it seems?
The narration was frustrating - odd voice inflections and very heavy pauses in the middle of sentences. The main character is given a sort of hick pseudo Texan accent that makes the character sound simple minded. Other characters get cliche New York and other accents that were cringeworthy. That, combined with the plot, felt like I was reading the story of someone with the intelligence (and pathos) of a 10 year old. But with really big muscles, I guess.
The characters felt very cliched - about what I would expect from a pulpy heist novel of the 1970s but with sci fi decorations. There just wasn't a lot of depth or nuance and attempts to make the main character emo were almost laughable.
I got through 3/4 of it but had to give it up when it never got better. Again, it might have been the audio narration that was too problematic for me or simply the story itself and the audio narration combined to make the book feel very weak. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
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