Bracing For Impact

by JC Kors

BRACING FOR IMPACT

A FICTIONAL NOVEL INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS

Prison changes everyone—especially those who hold the keys.

In a world where control is everything, one woman must How far will she go—and who will she become?

Newly divorced and determined to rebuild her life, Revena answers a call for female correctional officers at one of the countries most notorious prisons. It’s the late 1980s, and Rocky Crest Institution Maximum Security Prison for Men is no place for a woman—or so she’s constantly told.

From the moment she steps inside, Revena is thrust into a harsh world where control is currency and respect must be earned the hard way. Senior officers dismiss her, younger guards doubt her, and inmates watch her every move, waiting to exploit the slightest weakness. Every encounter is a test. Every decision has consequences.

Rocky Crest offers no easy victories. To endure, Revena must sharpen her instincts, dismantle her emotional defenses, and redefine what strength truly means. But as the pressure mounts, she realizes the true danger lies not behind the bars—but within herself recognising what the job takes from those who stand in front of them.

Each shift drags her deeper into the drug-fueled bikers, inmates teetering on the edge, a young addict’s suicide attempt, a colleague’s death, and smuggling rings that reach far beyond the prison walls. Revena refuses to let the system—or the people within it—define her. Walking away would mean giving up on the woman she’s fighting so hard to become.

As tensions erupt between inmates and guards, management and union, and rival factions within the population, survival becomes as much a psychological battle as a physical one. Revena must confront violence, manipulation, and moral dilemmas that challenge everything she thought she knew about justice, strength, and herself.

The hardest battles are the ones no one sees.

Told with the emotional power of Kristin Hannah’s The Women and the raw institutional insight of Rachel Kushner’s The Mars Room, Bracing for Impact is a gritty, character-driven debut that examines what it takes to hold onto your humanity in a place designed to crush it.

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2025

Reviews

[Janis Galway]

This novel immerses you in the gritty reality of life in a maximum security prison, and doesn’t let you go until the end. I felt like I was holding my breath during the entire read – the dialogue was so authentic and convincing, and the action so vividly described. We almost never get to know what life is like inside the walls for a correctional officer, and never from a woman’s point of view. That makes this book an important achievement, arising out of the author’s own 30-year ground-breaking career as a female officer. The scenes stayed with me after I put the book down, and they will with you too.

[Desmond Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading this book in one sitting yesterday, which is an absolute rarity for me, and I have to say—it was terrific! The story is captivating from start to finish, with pacing that kept me hooked and intrigued at every turn. The way the narrative weaves together multiple threads is seamless, and the stories that were woven together were both emotionally charged and thought-provoking.

One thing I especially appreciated was how the author revealed just the right amount of the main character's private life, carefully balancing her personal and professional worlds. For those of us who have experienced demanding careers and/or those who understand the struggle of work-life imbalance, it felt authentic and relatable without feeling overwhelming. And the subtle commentary on being 'the first' versus 'the next generation' was both poignant and insightful, a stark reminder of how those two worlds often fail to converge.

The author was truly a trailblazer in the space of women in corrections and her insights and authenticity of writing shines in a way that captures the strength, courage, and commitment required to forge such a path.

[Aurora Waverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bracing For Impact is one of the most gripping and emotionally intense novels I’ve read in a long time. From the moment Revena steps into Rocky Crest Institution, the story grabs you and refuses to let go. JC Kors writes with a level of realism that makes every scene feel lived-in, dangerous, and deeply human. Revena’s journey is powerful because it’s not just about surviving a brutal environment it’s about discovering who she is beneath the pressure, the judgment, and the constant threat that prison life brings. What struck me most was how honestly the author portrays the emotional battles correctional officers face. Revena isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly what makes her unforgettable. You feel her fear, her determination, her exhaustion, and her fierce desire to hold onto herself in a place designed to break people down. The writing is sharp and immersive, the pacing tight, and the tension never lets up. This book isn’t just good it’s important. A stunning, raw, beautifully written novel.

[Mark Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely phenomenal. JC Kors delivers a brutally honest yet compassionate look at a world very few people ever truly understand. Revena is a character who stays with you long after the final page because her struggles feel so real. She’s thrown into a male-dominated, hostile environment where every single move is monitored, questioned, and tested. The psychology in this book is remarkable; the author shows not only the violence and danger of prison life but also the subtle manipulations, political games, and emotional erosion that occur behind the scenes. I loved how the story blends tension with introspection, showing how the institution changes people from the inside out. Revena’s growth from uncertainty to resilience is powerful and inspiring. I couldn’t stop reading, and even when I did, I kept thinking about her choices, her sacrifices, and the weight of the world she carried. This is an extraordinary debut that deserves all the praise.

[Lucas Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a novel that pulls you in emotionally, mentally, and psychologically, Bracing For Impact is a must-read. JC Kors creates a world so vivid that you can almost hear the clanging gates and feel the pressure pressing in from every direction. Revena’s story is one of strength forged through adversity. She isn’t portrayed as a superhero she’s real, flawed, determined, and brave in ways that feel authentic. Her experiences with inmates, fellow officers, and corrupt systems create a narrative that’s as gripping as a thriller but as heartfelt as a character-driven drama. I especially appreciated how the book deals with themes of identity and transformation. Revena doesn't just fight the dangers around her she fights the dangers within herself, the ones that come from being surrounded by violence, manipulation, and moral conflict every single day. The tension is constant, the writing is beautiful, and the emotional payoff is massive. I absolutely loved this book.

[Alice Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of novel that stays with you long after you close it. Bracing For Impact is raw, intense, and incredibly well-written. JC Kors captures the atmosphere of a maximum-security prison with chilling accuracy, showing both the physical dangers and the psychological strain that officers endure. Revena’s journey is powerful because it isn’t glamorous or exaggerated it’s honest. She faces disrespect, doubt, and outright hostility, yet she continues pushing forward with a determination that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The book explores the unspoken realities of the job: the politics between officers, the emotional toll of witnessing trauma, and the subtle ways the institution tries to reshape everyone in it. Revena’s internal battles are just as gripping as the external conflicts. The storytelling is tight, the character development exceptional, and the emotional depth is unmatched. This is easily one of the best prison-centered novels I’ve ever read.

[Vivienne Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish, Bracing For Impact is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. JC Kors brings readers into a world that is harsh, dangerous, and deeply affecting. Revena is a phenomenal protagonist strong, vulnerable, determined, and deeply human. Her journey through Rocky Crest is filled with challenges that test her physically and mentally. I was blown away by how authentically the author portrays the environment. You can feel the tension in the air, the unspoken rules between inmates and officers, and the constant pressure that shapes every decision Revena makes. The book doesn’t rely on shock value; instead, it builds its power through emotional truth and genuine character growth. Every scene contributes something important, whether it’s a moment of danger, introspection, or revelation. By the end, I felt like I had lived through her battles with her. This is an unforgettable debut gritty, heartfelt, and incredibly moving.

[Kevin West]

The author's intense first person narrative envelopes the reader in her world. More specifically it opens their eyes and guides them into the dark realm of correction's reality by providing accurate glimpses of it through the eyes of a young woman starting her new career and life. It walks the reader through various short vignettes painting her world and her growth, to the ultimate and perhaps most tragic moment for two peoples' lives thrown together by circumstance.

[J Mccormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.
J.C. Kors brings you immediately into Ravena’s world, where she faces both her own journey of self-discovery and the brutal reality of a maximum security prison. Her storytelling makes you feel like you're right there on Ravena’s shifts. More than once, I had to catch my breath. It’s a glimpse into a world many of us know nothing about, but by the end, I felt like I’d been there. And the ending? Pow.