Operation Black Horse

by N.J. Gervasi

Sixteen years after the Great World Famine of 2025 began, Dr. Caitlyn Svendsen's patients are no longer hungry thanks to America's classified growth formula, but they are still dying. The cause of their terminal illness a mystery that Caitlyn seeks to unravel despite the risk to her career and life. On the other side of the world, Spetsnaz Commander, Kaleb Volkov, is as restless as his motherland. Russia is still starving, denied access to America's growing techniques. While America blackmails foes and allies alike into submission with the promise of food, Russia is desperate to restore its might in the wake of America's agricultural domination. To fulfill this goal, Kaleb is tasked with a mission that leads him to Caitlyn, forcing the two natural enemies to work together. In a world turned upside down by famine, can they overcome their mutual distrust for the sake of both their homelands?

Genres: Dystopia, Enemies To Lovers, Romance

342 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2021

About the author

N.J. Gervasi is a writer of all things dark and science-y, but she’s a sucker for a good romance. She grew up in California but settled in New Jersey for...you guessed it, love. She majored in English and Political Science at Villanova University while tutoring athletes and working full time in restaurants. She met her husband in a forbidden tale of manager falls for and then marries the chef. The rest is history in the form of two fur babies and one actual baby who loves books just as much as his mom. She ended up in a career that has absolutely nothing to do with politics or English ... and yet, the unrelenting pull of a series that demands to be written sucked her right back in. The Spetsnaz Operators Series is her first of many to come.

Reviews

[mira]

Did I finish this book or did it finish me?? The answer is actually the latter.

This was PHENOMENAL I absolutely adored every second of it. A dystopian sci-fi romance with enemies to lovers, lots and lots of political intrigue, yearning, secrets, and HIGH stakes.

I was immersed into the story from chapter 1, the authors writing sucks you in almost immediately.
I felt such a strong connection towards the characters and I just couldn't get enough of them. The FMC was smart, strong, resilient, relatable, and extremely likable. The MMC was seriously swoon worthy, he fell first and fell harder. And he was so witty. I loved the banter between them, it gave me life.

This book was so unique and singular, I've never read anything remotely like it before. It was like a breath of fresh air. From the writing, to the world, to the story overall, it’s truly one of a kind. And a reminder that reading is in fact political! It honestly started to stress me out a little because the problems that were happening in this book seemed plausible, something that could actually happen in real life😅

The ending absolutely broke my heart and I did not see it coming at all!! I thought I knew where it was going and then the story did a complete 180. I’m so excited and ready for book 2! I need it to be February already.


Huge thank you to the author for sending me this book I am so glad I got to read this <3

[Micronova]

Operation Black Horse, book one in the Spetznaz Operator’s by N. J. Gervasi
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 stars ALL DAY LONG!


This book had everything I already love and a few things I didn’t even know I needed. Post apocalyptic famine? Check. Political conspiracy? Check. Elite military teams? Absolutely. True enemies-to-lovers? Sign me up. Throw in a dog named Loki who completely hijacked my heart and suddenly I’m emotionally invested in everyone’s survival. America is mysteriously thriving while the rest of the world is starving and accepting “help” comes at a horrifying price? Nothing suspicious about that (side-eyes aggressively.) By 6% there was already a deadly secret in play and I knew sleep was about to become optional.

Caitlyn is the kind of heroine I can get behind. A world renowned surgeon and researcher who casually ego slaps people with facts? Perfection. Then there’s Kaleb, a Russian Spetsnaz Kommandir who’s just as stubborn, disciplined and impossible as she is. These two are real enemies. Not “we argued once over coffee” enemies. The kind with generations of pain and history standing between them. Watching them reluctantly work together while trying not to throttle each other was ridiculously satisfying. The supporting cast absolutely carried their weight too. Mikhail, Yury, Spartak, Erik, and Pavel (who seems physically incapable of keeping his mouth shut,) felt like an actual elite military unit/band of brothers instead of background decoration.

The action had my pulse filing formal complaints. The drone shituation? Adrenaline. Lake Como? I forgot to breathe. The interrogations, military operations, political maneuvering and relentless tension had me glued to the pages. The only time I questioned Caitlyn’s brilliance was when she thought whatever that drone fired at her was a “bizarre choice of ballistics.” Ma’am, respectfully, we all knew what that was. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Tiny complaint in an otherwise phenomenal story. The politics, the military detail and the horrifying health scandal all felt unnervingly plausible. Whether you agree with the parallels to today’s world or not, they’re there and (in my opinion,) this dark romance blended with some speculative fiction is even more terrifying.

This book punched me right in the feelings. One minute I was clenching every muscle in my body during another action sequence, the next I was blinking away tears.

“I took a direct hit to my heart the moment you punched me in the face”

That instantly became one of my favorite enemies-to-lovers quotes. It’s rare that a synopsis delivers exactly what it promises but this one somehow undersold how good the story actually is. N. J. Gervasi, if you’re reading this, I have a few completely reasonable requests: character art, a ridiculously gorgeous special edition, the sequel as soon as humanly possible and can I pretty please be an early reader? *** Aggressively waving both arms*** This was one of those rare books that reminded me exactly why I love reading.


Thank you to NerdFam and N. J. Gervasi for both the physical and digital advance reader copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Expected publish date July 31, 2026

[Nathalie Santos]

This book finished me in ways i cannot understand just yet. what a book. what a story, what a masterpiece. i loved every single thing about this story. The emotions, the feelings, the turmoil, the struggle, the pain, the romance, and THE BETRAYAL. I bookmarked 42 pages, and i would have bookmarked more but i was so into the story i would just skip bookmarking. I will be reading book 2, i will be shouting to people to read this story. i absolutely loved it.

[Kathleen]

It’s actually a surreal experience to read a story so gripping and so realistic in nature to something that could happen in a modern day apocalyptic event. The fear of living in a world where what is supposed to sustain you, is actually slowly killing you instead. This is what Caitlyn Svendsen is at the center of. The knowledge she contains ultimately leaves the fate of the world in her hands, and an unavoidable trajectory straight towards Kaleb Volkov. ( who is literally the perfect person to complement her and her sass tbh lol. )

This book had me at the edge of my seat. The action, the nail biting stressful sequence of events?! There wasn’t a slow moment, and what starts off as a mission becomes SO much more. He falls first, and HARD. The banter between them was consistently engaging and funny to read, and there was truly nothing better than seeing the battle of wills play out. Kaleb & Caitlyn are both equally head strong and I just KNEW once they could see eye to eye everything else would fall into place.

Loki, I’m so glad you literally survived all the stress and scares your mom put you through lol. ( unintentionally of course lol. well besides the lake, I know that was terrifying )

Operation Black Horse truly felt like a show filled with all of the things that would have you staying up late to binge all of the episodes, only to leave you with your jaw on the floor at a conclusion that definitely leaves you worried until the next season.

Thrilling. Angsty. Terrifying. Tragic. Hopeful.

I can only imagine what comes next.

Thank you to NJ Gervasi and The Nerd Fam for the gifted copy!

[Bri Bonner]

Elements of this story don't seem so far fetched of what our days could become.

"The moon is free and serene. Earth is enslaved and full of chaos."

Who can we truly trust? How do we know what is safe to ingest and where it comes from? Religious persecution?

All of this and more is so tastefully done. The story unfolds like a movie before your eyes. It had my heart pounding the whole time.

Shout out to Loki for being the best boy. 🐾 PSA no dogs are harmed in this story.

Thank you to N.J. Gervasi and The Nerd Fam for my gifted ARC! What a phenomenal debut!

[Daniela Nero]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 6 STARS. 10/10. NO NOTES. I AM UNWELL.
***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***
There are books you read, and then there are books that basically hijack your brain and start projecting themselves onto the inside of your skull.
Operation Black Horse was the second kind.
I swear I did not read this book. I WATCHED IT.
The entire time I was reading, there was a full-budget dystopian television series playing in my head. I could see the farm. The abandoned cities. The snow. The military operations. The labs. Russia. The Regulators. Every fight, every escape, every quiet moment between Caitlyn and Kaleb. It was so vivid that somewhere around the halfway point I stopped feeling like I was reading words on a page and just disappeared into this world.
And what makes it even better is that this isn't dystopian in a way that feels completely removed from reality. It feels uncomfortably possible.
The famine. The government control. The desperation. The way civilization starts unraveling when people are hungry and scared. The politics and military elements. The science. The Russian history and culture woven throughout the story. You can FEEL how much research went into this book, but it never reads like the author is trying to prove how much she knows. It just makes the world feel real.
And then you get lines like: “Civilization is a mask people wear when order means something.”
Excuse me???
Or: “Doom has a human heartbeat.”
That is the energy of this entire book.
Because underneath the action and science and military operations, this story is really asking what happens to humanity when everything we use to keep ourselves civilized disappears.
And somehow, in a book about the absolute worst things human beings are capable of doing, there is SO MUCH HOPE.
“Hope trickles through tragedy.”
That theme stayed with me throughout the entire book. Humanity can be horrific, but people can also choose kindness. They can protect each other. They can create family where there shouldn't be one. They can still choose to be good when the world gives them every excuse not to be.
Which brings me to Caitlyn freaking Svendsen.
I LOVE HER. She is intelligent, stubborn, compassionate, sarcastic, brave, completely infuriating, and genuinely one of my favorite FMCs I've read in a while. She isn't badass because the book keeps telling us she is. She proves it over and over again.
This woman survives. She fights. She heals people. She challenges everyone around her. She refuses to become someone's pawn. And even after everything she has seen and everything that has been done to her, she somehow keeps this enormous capacity for humanity.
“She is not a moon. She’s a sun. Inside and out, she burns with humanity.”
THAT'S HER.
And then there is Kaleb Volkov.
Jesus Christ. How do I even explain this man?
He is a Russian Spetsnaz operator who could probably kill you seventeen different ways before breakfast, but emotionally he is basically a giant homicidal golden retriever who found his person and decided, well, I guess that's my entire reason for existing now.
The man is terrifying. The man is lethal. The man is also completely, catastrophically gone for Caitlyn. And watching him realize it???
DELICIOUS.
This starts as actual enemies to lovers. Not “we mildly dislike each other but think the other person is hot.” She does not trust him. She doesn't want to go with him. He has a mission. She is the mission.
“They are not my mission. You are.” SIR.
Then slowly, almost against both of their wills, something changes. He notices her. He protects her. She gets underneath his skin.
“This woman burrowed beneath his skin like nobody he’d met before.”
And suddenly Mr. Russian Special Forces is internally malfunctioning because she's wearing his clothes. Meanwhile Caitlyn is equally stubborn and giving him absolute hell at every opportunity.
THE BANTER.
Their banter was everything to me because it never disappeared when the relationship became romantic. Their personalities didn't suddenly dissolve once they wanted each other. They kept challenging each other. Kept teasing. Kept fighting. Kept choosing each other anyway.
And Kaleb's internal battle over whether he deserves her absolutely wrecked me.
“Monsters don’t get to keep princesses. But God, if he couldn’t keep her, he wished he could at least be the one to set her free.”
HELLO???? That is when you realize this isn't just possessiveness. He genuinely wants her freedom even if that freedom doesn't include him. And then this man starts calling her his sun.
I was finished. Not moon. SUN. Because Caitlyn isn't something that reflects someone else's light. She creates her own.
And when he says: “Good. I do not think I can live without that beautiful heart of yours, walls and all.”
I'M SORRY. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THAT???
And Caitlyn loves him with the same ferocity: “I will not let you die for me, Kaleb Volkov... I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
That's what I loved most about their relationship. This isn't one-sided protection. He would burn the world down for her, absolutely, but Caitlyn would walk straight into the fire for him too.
Which, unfortunately for my emotional stability, SHE BASICALLY DOES.
And we need to talk about the FOUND FAMILY because I did not expect to become this attached to these men.
Watching Kaleb's team slowly settle into life at Svendsen Farm was one of my favorite parts of the book. These men who had spent their lives surrounded by violence suddenly had somewhere to eat. Sleep. Breathe. Exist without orders.
Caitlyn didn't just give them shelter. She gave them peace. And they became hers too.
“You know we will walk through fire for you. For both of you.”
😭😭😭
Also LOKI.
I would personally die for that dog. No further discussion necessary.
But just when I thought I understood what kind of story I was reading...
OPERATION BLACK HORSE. The reveal. The twist. THE FILES.
Finding out that the famine wasn't simply some horrific catastrophe humanity failed to prevent, but that America had engineered the famine AND controlled the cure as part of Operation Black Horse??? My jaw was on the floor. Because suddenly the title means something entirely different and the whole story shifts underneath you.
That was the moment where this went from “really good dystopian romance” to holy shit, this story is BIG.
And then the ending decides peace was apparently getting a little too comfortable. Caitlyn believes she may have found the answer to X. Russia needs her. Kaleb basically says absolutely fucking not, we can disappear to Canada, Finland, Mars, another dimension, WHO CARES.
His men are like, sir, tiny issue, that makes all of us traitors. And Caitlyn realizes something devastating: Kaleb will choose her over everything. So she makes the choice for him.
SHE DRUGS HIM. LEAVES LOKI WITH HIM (AGAIN). LEAVES HIM A LETTER. AND GETS ON THAT PLANE.
Because she knows he will destroy his entire life to protect her, and she refuses to let him. That is what makes their love story hit so hard. They are both trying to save each other, and neither one understands that the other would rather burn beside them than be saved alone.
Then Kaleb wakes up. And our sweet murderous golden retriever is GONE. We're back to:
“I’m death incarnate. If they want to take what’s mine, it will be a blood bath.”
THERE HE IS. 😂
And while everyone is trying to convince him to trust Caitlyn and let her complete the mission, this man is essentially one bad phone call away from personally starting World War III.
Meanwhile Caitlyn is heading straight toward Moscow carrying her parents' wedding rings, her research, and potentially the answer that could change everything.
AND THEN THE BOOK ENDS. NJ GERVASI, I JUST WANT TO TALK.
Because apparently I am supposed to continue living my normal life after that??? Absolutely not. And I haven't even talked enough about how beautifully written this book is. There were so many little lines I highlighted because they captured the entire heart of the story:
“Life would always claw its way from the brink of annihilation.”
That's Operation Black Horse.
It is brutal and frightening and violent and romantic and strangely hopeful.
It's about what people become when civilization collapses.
It's about governments and power and what happens when human lives become currency.
It's about science and survival.
It's about a woman who refuses to let the world extinguish her humanity.
It's about a soldier who thought violence had hollowed him out until one impossible woman made him feel human again.
It's about men who thought they were only soldiers finding a home.
It's about a dog who is objectively perfect and I will hear no arguments.
And somewhere inside all of that chaos is this gorgeous love story between two stubborn people who would each sacrifice themselves to save the other.
• Dystopian sci-fi.
• Military suspense.
• Found family.
• REAL enemies to lovers.
• Forced proximity.
• A brilliant badass FMC.
• A lethal golden-retriever MMC.
• Banter for DAYS.
• He falls first.
• Touch her and die.
• Political conspiracy.
• Science.
• Survival.
• A dog I would commit crimes for.
• And a man who calls her his sun.
I genuinely cannot remember the last time a book played this clearly in my head. I didn't picture scenes. I watched them happen.
Six stars. Ten out of ten. No notes.
Thank the book gods I have the ARC for Operation White Dove because Caitlyn is currently headed toward Russia and Kaleb Volkov is approximately five minutes away from becoming an international incident. And frankly? I support his journey. 🐎🖤🔥

[Alissa Crossley]

One of the best books I have read!! N.J finds the perfect balance between a high-stakes dystopian story and an incredible romance that will make you want to stay up all night reading to get more of the characters!

The premise of the book is so interesting and unique, the main characters are so well-written and multidimensional, and you will fall in love with the side characters too! Kaleb is such a well-written and complex man, I felt like I could hear his voice coming through the pages, and Caitlyn is such a badass while keeping her humanity and empathy. I truly love them both so so much and cannot wait to read more of their story!

Highly HIGHLY recommend this book!!

[Madi (madifett.reads)]

Operation Black Horse is one of the best books I'll read all year. N.J. Gervasi pulls ZERO punches with her storytelling - this book is brutal, dark, and tragic, yet there is so much hope within it. I loved it so much that I immediately bought a physical copy after finishing the ebook. Thank you so much to The Nerd Fam and N.J. For the eARC!

Operation Black Horse possesses so many themes that I know will draw readers to it - failing governments across the globe, a political conspiracy, post-apocalyptic landscape, and genuine enemies to lovers. No, seriously, main characters Caitlyn and Kaleb are the EPITOME of the enemies to lovers trope. The story is a dystopian romance (and the romance is gorgeous, trust me) but it's also science fiction sprinkled in with a little bit of political science/history. The latter especially made this book stand out, as I love all things Russian history. Gervasi told me that she spent literal YEARS doing research for this book, and it shows.

I think what makes Operation Black Horse powerful is that the political betrayal seems...a bit too familiar. Elements of this book don't feel too far off, and that's terrifying. And it's supposed to scare you. In a world where AI is making us collectively more passive and less intelligent, this book reminds us that thinking critically is one of the most powerful and important ways that we can resist tyranny and oppression. These themes are more significant now than ever. 

My favorite thing about reading OBH, though? I made a new friend. N.J. has been an absolute delight to talk to, and I'm forever grateful that she let me yell about the book in her DMs 😂 all that yelling turned into an actual friendship. N.J, I'm proud of you and am so excited to read Operation White Dove soon!

[J.L. Engel]

N.J. Gervasi blows the door off the hinges with her debut novel to announce her arrival, taking you on a ride at a breakneck pace!

Operation Black Horse exposes the darkness of famine, a topic lost on most Westerners, and then weaponizes it to envelope you in a world that astoundingly mirrors current events, but with a different topic. Originally written in 2016, N.J. has seamlessly woven a near prophetic narrative that could be ripped from today's headlines. You'll quickly recognize the parallels - lying media, government control and forcing submission. (Sound familiar?!) And more!

The awareness of OBH is stunning in this way and it implores you to read on. These incentives of mind blowing treats help to catapult the story forward like a flaming boulder about to tear down the walls of a mighty castle... You simply can't put it down and you have to find out where the pieces crumble to!

Peppered throughout are countless philosophical gems that radiate in the here and now but, more importantly, further transport you into N.J.'s bleak dystopia where you want to be consumed! But you won't be afraid of the dark there. Her protagonist, Caitlyn, burns with the fury of a Viking shield maiden lighting your way, flawed, but never burning out. I found parts of myself directly relating to the essence of the wonderful and realistic characters brought to life here, and I could not read OBH fast enough!

At the end of the day, N.J. Gervasi is the kind of unfiltered, no holds barred author I look forward to reading more from, and I can't wait for her next novel! Highly recommended!

[Letty]

The brilliance of how this book rides the line of future possibilities vs fiction is part of what makes it so compelling!

Add Gervasi’s style of writing and the depth in which all of these characters are brought to life in addition to a SOLID plot makes for one of my favorite dystopian books this year!

I loved that Caitlyn’s father raised her by equipping her with both the many skills needed to survive & the importance of having independent thought. The addition of having two loving parents & a solid foundation made her one hell of a fierce FMC, like FOAFO!

Contrasted by Kaleb who was made to survive in this world by the harsh abuse of his father & the loss of his mother leading him to become “The Wolf of Russia.” But despite all of that he somehow maintained his humanity & the ability to love, making him one hell of an MMC.

Bring these two together & watch out as the sparks fly in this battle of stubbornness to change the future of the world!

And a shout out to LOKI 🐾 the world will fall in love with you 🥹

Highly recommend if these tropes speak to you!

▶︎ DYSTOPIAN ROMANCE
▶︎ DUAL POV
▶︎ Slow Burn
▶︎ He falls first
▶︎ Enemies to Lovers
▶︎ Doctor/Soldier
▶︎ Smart & fierce FMC
▶︎ To her & 💀/ Possessive MMC

I will leave you with ONE of my many favorite quotes…

“Life would always kneel without hesitation to the darkness that came for them all. There was no cheat code. No negotiating for more time. When Death reached for a soul, there was no force on this planet capable of stopping it. Even when the circumstances were unnatural. Wrong. Violent.”


***A special thank you to the author, N.J. Gervasi & The Nerd Fam, for the opportunity to read & review this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this honest review. ***

[morallygreyDay]

A refreshingly different dystopian! N.J. Gervasi did an amazing job creating a reimagined world decimated by an apocalyptic event while also pulling in some similarities we share in today’s reality. I really felt the silence during the quiet parts which heightened the anxiety, especially during situations we find the fmc Caitlyn in. I wasn’t the biggest fan of our mmc Kaleb until more than halfway through. As his character developed, things made more sense and he became much more likable. Plus I think he’s really going to let loose his villainous side in the next book and I’m here for it! This has strong bodyguard vibes (which is my favorite) even though technically it’s only because Caitlyn is coerced into going with the team tasked to capture her. Shes the headstrong doctor and he’s the grouchy Russian Op, so there’s tension. The good, the bad and…well all kinds of tension! Oh, and there’s a dog! This was such a good debut novel and I’m DYING to have book two in my hands! Thank you so much to author N. J. Gervasi and The NerdFam for sending me an advanced copy!

[Allie Kirk]

Whoa! 🤯

This book has me rethinking every decision I’ve ever made! If you think that the story is far-fetched, it is not! All the conspiracy theorist and doomsday preppers are starting to make sense, and I think I might join them!

Firstly, this is a political/science fiction. Book of a could-be dystopian world, not too far in the future. It is heavy on the science. It is well researched, but easy enough to understand. I actually enjoyed the genetic explanation of mutated cells as I have studied that subject before. It may not be for everyone, but I promise it will pay off in the end.

The political greed and betrayal felt too real….im now starting my own garden!

The banter between these two characters was exactly what I’m looking for in an “enemies to lovers”! I even laughed at some of the come backs. It was a love at first punch. 😂 Kaleb didn’t stand a chance!

I am relieved that Loki is still with us….. as dark and brutal as this book is, I would be upset if Loki met his demise.

Of this was a show I’d Binge the whole thing!

I can not wait for book 2!

[Nightmare]

This book was an amazing discovery. The plot is original and well crafted, and I was invested from page one. The writing is absolutely amazing, the pace is perfect and it keeps you on your toes !

I loved both main characters as well as their development over the course of the book. Both are flawed and they're not the cliche main character that can do no wrong, which makes them all the more likeable and relatable.
Their relationship was absolutely amazing as well, from the built of trust to the development and most importantly the admission of feelings, the buildup was really nice.

Now this is not a book for just any reader. It does touch on some sensitive subjects and can become quite violent. But I'd totally recommend it to anyone who likes dystopia, science and romance and doesn't mind a little gore.
This is a 5* read for me and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more by this author !

[Ayla]

Loveddd this! This is the first dystopian book I’ve read that was actually very realistic. There were several times while I was reading where I thought, “Yep, I could definitely see that happening.”

It was also incredibly detailed about the history and current consequences of dealing with famine and war. Like, VERY detailed, to the point that I found it a little bit slow in the beginning.

But once Caitlyn and Kaleb met for the first time, the pace picked up and I was hooked! Caitlyn is strong, stubborn, and brilliant. Kaleb is serious, stoic, with a hidden softness beneath the surface. Neither of them are exactly what they seem and I loved that. Their chemistry was amazing.

Be warned: this book ends on a PAINFUL cliffhanger and leaves a lot unanswered. I know the wait will be worth it, but damn. 😩

If you love dystopian, slow burn romances, I think you will love this!

Thank you so much to the author and The Nerd Fam for this ARC.

[Trisha]

Thank you Nerd Fam for the ARC!

WOW did I love this!!! The science, the strategy, the hopelessness of it all. This is every single thing I love in a dystopian book and I want more IMMEDIATELY.

I LOVED Caitlyn as a FMC. She's smart, she's a fighter, and she's exactly the type of person you would want around in a dystopia. So, if you don't have a friend like her in your life--you maybe should get one sooner rather than later. But let's be honest, Loki is the best character. A very good boy.

This is definitely a brutal story that doesn't pull punches. It's violent, it's aggressive and it feels real in a way that makes me want to go back to school immediately....just in case.

If you're a fan of true dark dystopia, you will absolutely LOVE this. Start to finish, I ate this UP!!

[Shanley McGinnis]

This book was incredible. Operation Black Horse completely consumed me.
Set in a dystopian world ravaged by hunger, Caitlyn and Kaleb are shaped by the world they’re forced to survive in. Caitlyn becomes a world-renowned surgeon, while Kaleb hones his skills in the Russian military. Their individual journeys were fascinating, intense, and full of emotional weight.
This is a dark thriller with a touch of romance, and there’s a thread of realness throughout the story that made it hit even harder. I was just as consumed by this book as the people were by their hunger. The tension, darkness, and atmosphere pulled me in, and I was left desperately wanting more.
I cannot wait for Operation White Dove. Perfect for thriller fans and readers who love dystopian fiction with a touch of romance.

[Misty]

If you enjoy dystopian romance, this book's for you.

Please be aware that this particular book does contain content that is both realistic in nature and potentially disturbing to read. In this novel, the government thinks they have found the miracle cure-all called Phantom X. Dr. Caitlyn Svendsen, who is a brilliant surgeon with a specialty in biochemistry and has knowledge of bioengineering, uncovers some unsettling secrets regarding agricultural technology through her research that suggests this cure-all may be similar to mad cow disease.During the incubation period, it heals the host of other illnesses before potentially causing their death. Commander Kaleb Volkov, a Russian Spetsnaz operative, is assigned to locate Caitlyn and return her to Moscow because she possesses information Russia desires.When Kaleb finds Caitlyn, he realizes he just might have feelings for her and becomes very protective of her. This story unfolds sort of like a Romeo and Juliet love story.
Throughout the narrative, this story meticulously builds a world that is presented in such a way that it becomes easy for the reader to visualize and readily connect with. It's recommended if you enjoy dystopian thrillers, military romance, morally complex characters, enemies-to-lovers narratives, and intricate speculative world-building.

[Hanna]

Thank you to the NerdFam and N J Gervasi for an eARC of this wonderful novel.

A near future dystopian novel where we follow Dr Caitlin Svendsen in a post famine world where she is seeing a large increase of patients she sees with serious illness.

A story filled with unlikely friendships, deceit, devastation and hope.

I enjoyed following Caitlin’s story and character development and the pacing of this story was really good.

I’m looking forward to continuing Caitlin’s journey in the sequel and seeing how she overcomes future challenges.

[Kelly Gamboa]

This book was fantastic. It's dark but it's beautiful but also painful. I really love the message it tells in this book. The story was beautiful. The relationship between the two main characters was done well. Like true enemies to lovers. I felt so many emotions reading this book with how the two main characters handle everything that's happening the world. Politics, science, everything was just discussed so well in this book and that ending? I need book 2 but I'm scared.

[india the moonstone fairy °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･]

3.75

Kaleb Volkov is kinda my perfect MMC to read about. And Caitlyn is my perfect FMC. I didn’t not expect it to end on the cliffhanger it did, but the dystopian aspect of the book is very current and applicable with the political landscape we are finding ourselves in. But truly a horrible event to ever have to even imagine going through. I truly hope this remains fiction.

[Bill Koehn]

Five stars! Operation Black Horse is an addictive, high-stakes, sci-fi thriller with vivid characters, nerve-wracking tension, and a fresh, unforgettable premise. Oh, and it’s also a romance. I couldn’t put it down.

[Jeffrey gray]

Intelligent, thought-provoking, and hard to put down

This book was beautifully written and no-doubt painstakingly crafted. It is deeply intelligent, and forces readers to question the trajectory of our future. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for book 2.

[Jenna Crampton]

As soon as he punched the mirror at the thought of someone hurting her I had to exit the book like what are we doing bro you’ve known her for 2 minutes. The first 20% was fire tho

[Teressa Oliverio]

This story doesn’t just explore survival, it quietly unsettles you with how close it feels to reality. There’s a constant tension humming beneath every page, not just from the danger the characters face, but from the moral gray areas they’re forced to navigate. Caitlyn’s determination and Kaleb’s conflicted loyalty create a dynamic that feels sharp and believable, never slipping into easy trust or predictable choices.

The character building and storytelling are what truly keep you locked in. Every layer that’s revealed feels intentional, pulling you deeper into their world and making it impossible to look away. You’re not just watching events unfold, you’re invested in every decision and consequence.

What lingers most is the atmosphere. The world feels fragile, controlled by power disguised as salvation, and that unease seeps into every interaction. It doesn’t offer comfort or clean resolutions, and that’s exactly what makes it hit harder.

By the end, it left me with a lingering sense of uncertainty that felt uncomfortably tied to the current state of the world, where control, scarcity, and truth don’t always fall into the right hands.

[Kate OConnor]

Loved this book!!!! I hope she writes a sequel

[Literary Titan]

Operation Black Horse, by N.J. Gervasi, is a dark, ambitious adult dystopian romance that blends dystopian science fiction, military action, medical suspense, and geopolitical thriller elements into a story about survival in a world already pushed frighteningly close to extinction. The novel begins with the Great World Famine, showing Caitlyn Svendsen and Kaleb Volkov as children on opposite sides of the globe before jumping ahead to 2041. Caitlyn is now a gifted American surgeon who has uncovered a devastating secret: the agricultural formula credited with saving humanity is also poisoning it, contributing to aggressive cancers and infertility. Kaleb, meanwhile, has become an elite Russian Spetsnaz commander tasked with finding her after a multinational invasion of the United States. The setup gives the book a huge canvas, but its emotional stakes stay grounded in two people whose lives were permanently shaped by the same catastrophe.

What makes this dystopian romance especially absorbing is how much personality Gervasi gives Caitlyn and Kaleb. Caitlyn is intelligent, sarcastic, stubborn, ethically complicated, and understandably furious when Kaleb's carefully constructed American identity falls apart. Kaleb is equally layered. He's a soldier and former killer who can be ruthless without losing the protective instincts that define him. Their relationship grows out of mistrust, manipulation, forced proximity, grief, and an attraction neither of them finds particularly convenient. Their banter brings some welcome humor into an otherwise brutal story, while quieter moments, especially those involving Caitlyn's parents, Kaleb's mother, and his Spetsnaz team, reveal how badly these characters want some ordinary human connection. The romance feels inseparable from the survival story because trust isn't just an emotional issue here. Trust can literally determine who lives.

The worldbuilding is equally committed. This is a post-apocalyptic novel fascinated with what happens when famine reshapes governments, medicine, agriculture, warfare, religion, technology, and even the value placed on individual human beings. Gervasi spends real time inside the military and political machinery of her future, from Russian special operations and America's FALA program to neural implants, propaganda, black markets, religious persecution, and the consequences of countries fighting over the last reliable food supply. That detail makes the world feel much larger than Caitlyn and Kaleb's romance. It also gives the story a dense, information-rich style, particularly when characters discuss military strategy, history, politics, or science. For readers who enjoy military science fiction and dystopian thrillers that dig into the systems behind a collapsing society, there's a lot here to sink into. The violence and darker material are graphic at times, but they're woven into a world where starvation and institutional brutality have been shaping people for years.

By the end, Operation Black Horse has expanded from a story about a doctor fleeing an invasion into a much bigger struggle over who gets to control knowledge capable of changing humanity's future. Caitlyn and Kaleb's growing connection gives that conflict its heart, especially as both begin making choices that put personal loyalty at odds with country, duty, and survival. Since this is Book One of the Spetsnaz Operators Series, the ending deliberately carries the conflict forward, with Caitlyn arriving in Moscow and entering a Kremlin she already understands may be another kind of prison. That leaves Operation Black Horse feeling like the opening part of a larger dystopian romance series, with plenty of political danger, moral ambiguity, and unresolved emotional fallout waiting on the other side. If you like character-driven science fiction, morally gray soldiers, high-stakes medical mysteries, and sprawling speculative worlds where love develops in the middle of geopolitical chaos, this one gives you plenty to chew on.

[Rachel]

Calling all those who love dystopian fiction! This book needs to be on your radar! 🤩

My blurb:

A healer with blood on her hands.
A solider sent to retrieve her.
A future gone mad.

The world thought the US government was their savior when the global wide famine hit and they were the only ones able to create a growth formula. However, tensions quickly rose when, instead of sharing the formula with other countries to grow food, the US used their knowledge to gain power and leverage over all others.

Now, a surgeon has noticed a dramatic increase in untreatable cancer and has started asking questions. What is really going on and is the “miracle” growth formula actually doing more harm than good? Unfortunately for her, asking these questions has drawn unwanted attention from multiple organizations and she just became a target.

My overall thoughts:

Five vibing stars y’all! Literally, as soon as I read the synopsis of this one I just knew it was going to be a fantastic read and it did not disappoint! I was captivated and horrified as the story revealed a future that honestly doesn’t seem impossible. I think that’s what makes this book so amazing. These insane moments within don’t feel outlandish but truly just worst case scenarios that could happen any day now. It made me think, had me shocked, anxious, teary, and just kept me on the edge of my seat in general. Highly recommend and I cannot wait to read the next!

What I loved:

🧪 The premise! This was not a stretch by any means, especially with the American headlines lately and the sheer number of food recalls. 😩 It’s hard not to start questioning if it’s all just poison these days, when every bite of food feels like a roulette of some sort. I loved how this story took that thought and amplified it! Operation Black Horse sends you into a future where that just might be the case and it. was. horrifying.

🧪 The high stakes! She pulled no punches! Seriously, this author wasn’t scared to go there and go there she did. I found myself continually surprised with what was said and occurred. I especially appreciated how the serious tone matched the consequences the characters faced so it felt consistent. Gervasi wrote this with her full chest and I was here for it! 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

🧪 The medical professional POV! I loved reading the story through a surgeons point of view. Seeing how one would struggle with having to choose to take a life, to ignore those in need, the grief one would feel to harm another after taking an oath to protect and do no harm. It rang true to me personally coming from a nursing background. So Caitlyn’s character really resonated with me.

Thank you to the Nerd Fam and N. J. Gervasi for the #gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and this is my voluntary review.

[alicescornerbookshelf]

So... I've received this book as an arc, and I am extremely thankful for that. I started reading it as soon as I received it and had a feeling from the second I started reading the author's note that I would enjoy this novel. I don't commonly read the dystopian genre but the synopsis of this novel just seemed too good to not at least TRY to get an ARC (which again I am so thankful to receive!).

However... I can't seem to push past the first 100-ish pages. Which might be unfair given most of the story is only still getting set up within the first 100 pages. But the writing style, the constant repetition of statements and ideas, kind of trying to hammer information into the readers head, the telling us what the characters are vs what they're not, their supposed achievements prior to the novel starting (which we're just expected to believe), I just can't come to terms with. There's a lot of telling and not showing, and it gets kind of bogged down FOR ME.

In the end, I think one of my other issues with this was that as a science fiction (as the author so clearly puts it in the author's note), the book does not try to paint heroes or villains of the countries being discussed but it is rather just that, a fiction. HOWEVER. Why then, in today's climate, could we not come up with entirely fictional countries to try and avoid even the slightest misconception that we are indeed trying to paint heroes and/or villains. It came across very villainous of both main countries and very hero-y of both as well, at times.

In the past, I would have pushed through and continued reading just simply because this was an ARC I so gratefully received, and for fear of upsetting the author, but I just can't.

Again, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this early.

ALL IN ALL - I would say the writing style did not agree with me BUT the storyline is very interesting and it's what got me interested in the first place so I WOULD STILL RECOMMEND that people read this. I can't not recommend it just because the writing style didn't agree with me!

[Ashley]

Thank you to Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted copy

A confident debut novel that feels incredibly real. Most dystopian books I've read lean into fantasy elements or are set so far into the future they almost feel like sci-fi. Not this. It felt grounded, unsettlingly believable, and honestly a little too close for comfort.

Set in 2041 after a global famine reshapes the balance of power, the story follows a surgeon searching for answers behind a growing medical mystery and a Russian Spetsnaz commander sent on a mission that could change everything. Food has become the world's most powerful weapon, and every decision carries consequences that reach far beyond the individual characters. It's a fascinating premise because it never feels far removed from reality.

There were many moments where I had to pause and just think about the questions being asked. It's the kind of story that gets under your skin because so much of it doesn't feel impossible. Instead, it feels like a natural extension of things we already see happening around us, which made the entire reading experience even more impactful.

Without getting into spoilers, I also have to give credit for how thoughtfully the story handles topics that could have easily become political or preachy. It never felt like I was being told what to think. The world simply exists as it is, and the characters have to navigate it. That made everything feel authentic and let me draw my own conclusions. The characters kept me invested, the world is bleak without ever feeling hopeless, and then there was that ending...I need book 2 now! My heart hurts and is hoping there's still a white dove of hope waiting for these characters.

🍵 Final Verdict
An outstanding debut that feels chillingly plausible, makes you think without preaching, and delivers an ending that left me desperate for the next book. If you enjoy dystopian fiction that feels like it could actually happen, I absolutely recommend picking this up.

[Elanie Bieldt]

One of my first military/spy romances - I had fun! This book brings action, duty, banter, and tenderness, set against a backdrop of a dystopian future just far enough away that it makes you wonder: could this really happen?

At times the plot seemed to slow down quite a bit, and there were also sections where a lot of information is shared all at once, which I sometimes found a hard to take in. Some of the romantic scenes were a bit cheesy - but that's not to say they weren't fun! ;)

The spice scene/(s), however, were excellent - very well executed. Wouldn't mind seeing more of those!

The world-building/setting is also great, perfectly capturing those eerie, post-apocalyptic vibes.

Overall, this book is very well-researched, combining real-world and fictional histories to give the story its own political landscape in which to unfold, all the while still feeling very believable. Although it might be considered a tricky/risky time to publish a book about Russian and American politics, I think the author navigated it quite well. Better than I expected. It never felt like a push of a specific political view or opinion, but rather a reminder that politics are a gray mess. That countries are made up of individuals, people with their own thoughts and values that do not necessarily reflect that of their governments. And that freedom of thought and loyalty to oneself, your values and your cause to do good in this world, is what keeps humanity afloat. Even if everything else falls away.

I will definitely be reading book 2, out beginning 2027! Can't wait to delve deeper into the characters' murky pasts and dark sides. And see how they overcome.

*I received this ARC copy for free, but this review and everything in it is 100% my own opinion and given voluntarily.