Redemption: (Ryan Drake: book 1): a compelling, action-packed and high-octane thriller that will have you gripped from page one

Product Information

I listened to this book while Russia was invading Ukraine, and the war in real life drew my attention in a way that I'm sure made me pay less attention to this book than I was able to pay to the previous entries in the series. I think I might have enjoyed the book even more had I been able to concentrate on it more - I'm still giving it four stars which means the book is great. Jordan, Will (2020-11-19). Something to Die For. Canelo. ISBN 978-1-78863-716-9. Search this book on Well, the release of this book and my subsequent read of it makes me feel bad about the review that I left for the last book in this series. In that review, I complained about a series of loose ends that were left. For some reason, I was under the impression that the previous book was the last in the series. To my pleasant surprise, all of these loose ends were tied up in "Something to Die For" - with one exception (more about that later). No, not everything gave the catharsis or payoff I was hoping for, but the way Jordan managed to add new layers to protagonists and antagonists alike kept me invested all the way through. And, even if I'm not wholly satisfied with an ending, I do try to commend an author when they've managed to have my feelings mirror those of the characters, come the journey's end.

Knowing this man holds information vital to the ongoing conflict, the CIA bring in Ryan Drake and his elite Shepherd team to find and rescue their lost operative. Will Jordan lives in Fife, near Edinburgh. He gained an honours degree in Information Technology and currently works in web design for Sky Digital. Aside from writing, his interests include military history, mountain climbing, fitness training, boxing and, of course, reading.The first one was a thrilling adventure ride with some cool characters, one overpowered superhero and a promising but somewhat bland protagonist, but nevertheless an entertaining read. Before saying anything else I feel necessary to point out that I'm not very familiar with this genre of literature. However, I do enjoy good storytelling and well written characters, and as the author's work and insights on his YouTube channel ("The Critical Drinker") oft resonate with me I decided to give his first book a try, and listened to the audio version of it. Sadly, Jordan's editor let him down again... badly. Within the first few chapters, there's a comment about the landscaping around a building, where Drake observes that a "coy pond" wouldn't have been out of place, presumably meaning a Koi pond. Then there's a scene where Drake's superior asks him something like "Was anything I said unclear?", to which he responds "Abundantly.", as if he'd been asked "Did I make myself clear?"... He resides in Scotland, United Kingdom, and has a wife, two sons, and a greyhound named Lara (who he affectionately calls "The Critical Doggo"). Will stated that his Drinker persona essentially represents him but with all traits magnified by ten.

Jordan was born April 30, 1983 in Fife, Scotland. [2] While studying information technology at university, Jordan took several part-time jobs, including as a film and television extra, where he was cast as a WW2 soldier and thusly put through military boot camp in role preparation. [3] [4] The experience made him interested in military history research, which led to him writing his first novel Redemption [3], which would be published by Penguin Random House in 2012 as part of a three-book deal. [5] [6] Jordan would switch publishers from Random House to Canelo in 2015, when Canelo was founded and first offered UK authors 50 to 60% royalties. [7] [8] Jordan remarked that his switch to Canelo was largely driven by their ideas for digital e-book marketing, saying "Canelo have a huge amount of experience promoting authors online, which is where the industry is moving, so it make sense. When I met with them, they were able to give some really interesting marketing plans and how to push the series forward. The downside is that I don't have books that I can sign at the moment! It's always nice to have a book in your hand with your name on it, but in a way that's just ego. As a writer, you have to think about what's best for your career. It's about getting your name out there, and if it's going to be through e-books, so be it!" [8] Drake cannot believe her capable of such an atrocity but with the Russians baying for blood and tensions rising, Drake and his depleted team head for Siberia to discover the truth. Once again, the characters are all well-realized, each bringing something to the search for answers following a murder in the supposed heart of western power. Jordan's writing, while solid, still overstays its welcome, at times, and, though I'd noticed it before, I'd decidedly grown familiar with some of his comfort phrases by book three. Namely, "Just like that," or some variant thereof. I'm far from guiltless in the area of phrase overuse, but it was something I noted. It didn't compromise the enjoyment of the story, but if I was one for phrase repetition drinking games...

The Ryan Drake Series in Order (11 Books)

Distrustful of this uneasy alliance and with no outside support to call on, Drake gathers his small group of trusted team mates and embarks on his most difficult and dangerous mission yet. However, his plans soon unravel, forcing him into a deadly game of cat and mouse against a vengeful British intelligence officer with an unknown agenda.

Luke Crywalker (the viral clip of Jessica Starr, the infamous Trump inauguration screamer), often used when making fun of the far left. Drinker's VIP Lounge -- The Drinker interviews creators and actors who've worked in Hollywood itself, from movies, TV and comics. This includes: Neil Marshall, Sam J. Jones, Mark Rolston, Marc Zicree, Adil & Bilall, and Mark Millar. This was introduced in March 2022. With the fate of the War on Terror hanging in the balance, loyalties are tested and scores settled, as Drake embarks on the fight of his life. Only one side will survive…In 2019, Captain Marvel was about to be released and had been very controversial among audiences as a centerpiece of the present day culture war. Jordan, having had his own gripes with the movie and the leading actress Brie Larson, yet noticed how seriously everyone was taking the situation, created The Critical Drinker persona as a means to poke fun at it through a comedic lens. And this worries me, because I'm old enough to remember when things were different. I can appreciate the quality of the stories we used to tell, and I can see what damage we're doing to our artists of today. The next generation of moviegoers and filmmakers is going to grow up in a world where this ridiculous state of affairs is the norm. They won't have that experience needed to strive for something better, and I think we'll all suffer as a result. Believe that!" -- The Drinker makes a proud boast or proclamation of something, followed by the yelling "Believe that!". The mystery this time surrounds a new extraction target and the man behind his abduction...who seems to have a Ryan Drake-shaped chip on his shoulder. No spoilers, but Jordan once again manages to draw the reader into feeling nearly as much for those set against our heroes as the heroes themselves. No way!" (from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure), after the Drinker makes a painfully obvious statement, usually in answer to someone else.

Redemption is never less than fun to read but, unfortunately, it's enjoyable in much the same way that cliché-ridden action-oriented TV shows and movies are still fun to watch, even if you end up yelling at the screen every time a character makes a predictable and easily-avoided poor decision to ramp up the drama, or something unexpected happens purely for expediency rather than because it makes sense. It subverted my expectations both in a negative and positive way. The pacing improved much from the second book Sacrifice and the story was far more engaging,but it for me at least some parts felt they were stretched out too long the buildup to the climax was great though.

Bledsoe, Richard (2021-03-21). "Nah, It'll Be Fine: Entertainment Vlogger The Critical Drinker Hammers Cultural Corruption". THE REMODERN REVIEW . Retrieved 2021-09-29. Ryan Drake, once a decorated field operative, is now wanted for treason. On the run from the CIA’s corrupt Deputy Director Marcus Cain, he has spent the past six months in a remote French safe house. Drake’s former life seems to be behind him, but the uneasy peace is shattered when Cain moves against him with startling force. Drinker's Chasers -- Excerpts from Open Bar and VIP Lounge streams, about a particular subject that was discussed, such as subverting expectations, the death of Hollywood, superhero fatigue etc. I'm happy to say that, as far as I'm concerned, Jordan has navigated these many potential pitfalls most dexterously.