Dissonance Volume II: Reckoning by Aaron Ryan: A Strong Follow-up

In the gripping sequel to his acclaimed debut novel, author Aaron Ryan takes readers on a thrilling ride through a post-apocalyptic landscape in “Dissonance Volume II: Reckoning”. This sci-fi, young adult, military thriller continues the saga set in a gritty, attainable future Earth, delivering a compelling narrative that explores the resilience of humanity amidst an alien invasion.

Spoiler-free Plot

Author Aaron Ryan continues the epic journey begun in Volume I in an increasingly tense post-apocalyptic landscape, set amidst a gritty, attainable future Earth in this alien invasion thriller series.

Sergeant Cameron “Jet” Shipley lost everyone to the gorgons and has lost faith in the integrity of his own Command. But Cameron’s loss didn’t stop there. In a world rife with apocalyptic danger, it has become painfully apparent that humanity is still, even in the very throes of annihilation, at war with itself.

Finding himself a prisoner and eventual outlaw at the hands of those whom he once trusted most, Cameron must put his fate in the hands of his trusted confidants Lieutenant Allison Trudy, Private Liam “Fox” Mayfield, and Sergeant Joseph Bassett once more, endangering their very lives and freedom, as they and others come to his aid to join in the inevitable revolt against those in power who fail to see the truth: power corrupts, even on the very brink of extinction.

Shipley and his team must race against time to find compatriots who share their views, amassing support against the true foe. All the while, they must evade a merciless alien species that will not stop until the earth’s resources are drained dry, reducing it to a barren wasteland. In their quest for truth, they must remember one simple tenet as it pertains to the gorgons:

“One look, and it’s all over.”

My take on Dissonance Volume II: Reckoning

Aaron Ryan’s first Dissonance novel was very good and also showed a clear understanding of how stories work, particularly when it comes to sci-fi. Therefore, when I heard the second volume was already out, I wanted to know what was going to happen in the series, which is probably the best compliment a writer can get when it comes to his or her work.

The second volume shows the consequences and the aftermath of the first one, which is a smart move by Ryan to showcase the stakes at the moment. Furthermore, as I mentioned in the first review of the series, the world in the Dissonance books feels alive and ever-growing, which makes the reader feel a lot more captivated, thus leading to a much more enjoyable reading experience.

Sergeant Cameron “Jet” Shipley was a compelling protagonist in the first book, but I feel he truly came into his own with this new release. The reason for that is the stakes and odds are stacked against him, making every little victory he gets feel a lot more worthwhile and impressive, a positive aspect for storytelling.

The series progresses and the pacing also improves considerably, partially because this is the second book in the story, meaning there is no need to further establish the initial elements of the series. The first book always has to deal with this, often leading to a disjointed feeling due to the high amount of exposition required, although the series managed well in that regard.

Another good element was having Jet as the narrator, making certain plot points in the story more captivating. The audience only knows what Jet knows, for the most part, leading to compelling moments where readers are in the same position as the protagonist in terms of wanting to find out what will happen, always great.

Ryan is a very good author when it comes to building suspense and anticipation, leading to many moments in the series where the reader will want to know what is going to happen. Add to that a sci-fi setting with a strong dystopian element and a decaying society, leaving you wondering how things ended up this way.

It is a strong second release and would be considered a superior effort to the first book, especially considering that the pacing issues were pretty much resolved at this point. The book is also fairly accessible in terms of descriptions and dialogue, making it a sort of entry-level option for people who perhaps don’t read much but want to get into the habit.

All in all, this second volume of the Dissonance series is a very welcomed upgrade to what happened in the first book and is also a very good showing from Ryan when it comes to his writing abilities. Definitely a story that deserves a lot more attention.

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