I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Rod Pennington's latest novel, Cassandra Files: Genesis, is a quick and enjoyable read.

A third-generation and well-respected Naval combat pilot, Lt. Cassandra Morse, is performing a test of a prototype fighter jet with her co-pilot grandfather when they are attacked. Missing for weeks after the accident, she has no memory of the lost time. Stranger still, she can see and talk with her grandfather, who died in the accident. No one believes her even when she begins having prophetic dreams. That is, no one believes her until her dreams come true, and her latest dream is the scariest yet.

While I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed Pennington's writing, use of strong women characters, and humor more. The story wraps everything up at the end, but he left room for a sequel too.

Some reviewers had a difficult time keeping track of the numerous characters involved. I do not think that should prevent readers from enjoying this book. It is worth taking the time to read, and since it is a quick read, it will not take much time. I think it is best described as a cozy for the fantasy genre.

Pennington is best known for The Fourth Awakening Series.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com.

Fast paced enjoyable read with a great female lead character. I would definitely read others in the series.

Lt. Cassandra Morse is flying a prototype aircraft when she is blown out of the sky by a mysterious weapon. Reeling from the aftermath of the accident, she discovers her dreams predict the future. Cassandra’s initial predictions are met with lots of scepticism but things change when she accurately predicts a double homicide. Then, she meets an odd fellow who claims he can explain why she has these dreams. Cassandra’s adventures are just beginning ….

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others. The novel appealed to my love of military sci-fi because it contained a different perspective on the super soldier trope. It was suspenseful yet interspersed with humour. I found it easy to read—the storyline gained momentum quickly and the multiple plot lines wove together neatly as the novel progressed. I was engaged/invested in the characters right until the end. If there is a second novel, I will definitely pick it up to read.

My thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher as well as the Author for giving me early access to this novel.

The Cassandra Files: Genesis by Rod Pennington is an adrenaline rush from beginning to end, so readers should be prepared to clear their schedules before beginning to read. After almost losing her life in the plane crash that killed her grandfather, Cassandra begins having dreams of forthcoming tragedies. The police originally think she’s a kook if not a person of interest, but there are people reaching up into high levels of government agencies who definitely are very interested in her comings and goings. The author has created a maze of trails and characters some true, some false, but each furnishing a clue building towards a spectacular climax. This is a thriller that captures a lot of the skepticism about how much truth “we the people” get from those who are supposed to be protecting us. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

The Cassandra Files : Genesis by Rod Pennington has some science fiction in it, but with all the advancements in medicine it doesn't take much of a leap of faith to believe this story. Fast paced, this book is also difficult to put down. I am hoping that this is the first book in a series because I want more of these interesting characters! I want to thank NetGalley for an early copy to review.

An action mystery, Casandra Files: Genesis is an easy read that’s over much too soon. The book’s pace and storyline make its 255-page length seem like a short story.

Being a navy test pilot, Casandra Morse puts an experimental plane through its testing routine and is then blown out of the sky by a mysteriously launched missile. She shows up six weeks later after being listed as MIA with no memory of where she’s been.

Drummed out of the service for suspicion of stealing classified information, she tries to make sense of strange dreams that seemingly predict upcoming events. Being unable to comprehend how she arrived at her fallen state, Casandra gets a powerful ally in National Intelligence Agency director Smith who is investigating a government contractor suspected of being responsible for all the events that took place. Poetic justice sees Casandra ultimately using her enhanced mind-reading ability to expose the company, its owners, and its executive staff as the perpetrators of the missile attack that resulted in the sabotaging of the competitor’s high-performance fighter jet that Casandra had been flying.

The book ends with Casandra joining the NIA in a role that promises to maximize the usage of her mind-reading talents. While a satisfyingly complete read, the title of the book, Casandra Files: Genesis, and its ending led me to conclude that we’ll be seeing Casandra again in a sequel. I’m confident that my conclusion will prove true and am looking forward to the sequel’s publication.

I received an ARC copy of this book at no cost from NetGalley for an honest review. This was a great naval crime thriller that involved an element of the sixth sense. Cassandra Morse is a well-respected Lieutenant in the Navy and it was no surprise when she was chosen to pilot a prototype vehicle, the SV-1, off the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan. When the prototype is fired on, Cassandra ends up MIA until she is found in a lifeboat unconscious 21 days after her fateful flight. Cassandra is now known as the dream lady, but her dreams seem to have the ability to foretell of coming disaster just as Cassandra of ancient times had the same ability. This book was action-packed and comedic. The dialogue was fast-paced and sharp. I also liked that the book had several women in positions of power/authority on both sides of the law. There were a few typos in the book, but nothing that was too distracting. Sometimes I felt that there was an overabundance of characters and it was a little bit difficult to keep everyone straight, but ultimately none of the characters felt superfluous. This book stands as the first novel in a series that I am looking forward to continue. I want to see what's next for Cassandra Morse and who she may team up with next. (Also, I love rubber duckies and they are pivotal to the plot of this book.)

Great read. I liked the authors storytelling more than I did the overall plot. The premise of the main character being able to predict the future made the ending somewhat predictable, but I didn't care since it only seemed to serve for some good storytelling. Well developed characters who were a lot of fun. I'll be disappointed if I don't see them in future books. My first time reading Rod Pennington, but it won't be my last.

I enjoyed this very much. It has a little bit of everything: military suspense, spy thriller, supernatural murmurings, murder, mayhem... It kept me guessing and I was pretty surprised to find out the (no spoilers here) big secret at the end and I really enjoyed the "what happened to everyone next". I look forward to reading anything else from this author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, but my opinions are all mine.

After being blown out of the sky while testing a prototype fighter jet, Cassandra Morse wakes up to find herself in the hospital. She discovers that she can see and communicate with her dead grandfather, a Navy admiral who had been in the jet with her. After her medical discharge from the Navy, she begins to have prescient dreams. She is contacted by a mysterious man who informs her that she was adrift for twenty-two days before being rescued. She also discovers that she's been under surveillance. She starts looking for answers - who blew the jet up and why, who is keeping an eye on her, what happened during the missing twenty-two days and does it have anything to do with her dreams.
Various government agencies and a military contractor are involved. A fast paced book with a strong female lead - looking forward to the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

This was a wild, weird, entertaining, fabulous tale that I read in a day. Pennington has a knack for storytelling. Even though there are issues with the book - like so many characters thrown at you that it's almost impossible to keep the straight and numerous plot conveniences and holes that don't really make sense - I couldn't put it down. The characters (the main ones, that were fully fleshed out and readily identifiable) were relatable, hilarious, and quirky enough to keep me smiling. There were multiple female protagonists who were brilliant - both literally and figuratively. The premise was original and engaging and, again, hilarious. The dialogue was snarky and snappy. The action was (mostly) evenly paced and non-stop. And the whole thing felt like a glorious send-up of government and bureaucracy and corporations. It was a delightful romp of a tale, told in a style that pulled me in from the opening lines and never let go. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next!

I enjoyed the strong female lead in this book and the premise upon which it is based. I believe this type of research/experimentation is very plausible and could already be happening. Great writing; looking forward to a sequel.

This book is a fast-paced action thriller that never lets up. The plot is intriguing, the characters well drawn and the touches of humor throughout lend the extra ingredient to make this a terrific read.

Cassandra Morse is a third generation Naval officer and pilot. On a test flight of a prototype fighter jet, she is blown out of the sky by a mysterious weapon. Recovered by the Navy weeks after the incident, she has no recollection of the lost time and begins to see her dead grandfather wherever she goes. Medically discharged from the Navy, she begins to search for answers as to why she can communicate with her grandfather and also why she is having prescient dreams of potential disasters. Her dream predictions become known to government agencies who are also interested in her new-found talent. Now the urgency to find answers is ramped up and Cassandra finds herself caught up in fight for her very soul.

Like every good thriller, this book contains twists and red herrings to keep one guessing. I can easily see this turning into a series and I, for one, would welcome more books featuring this strong female protagonist.

Thank you NetGalley and Integration Press for this advance copy. The publication date is May 7, 2021.

I read an advanced digital copy of this novel courtesy on the publisher through NetGalley. Review available on goodreads.

The story line of this book was somewhat original, at least from my perspective. But I had trouble remembering who the characters were and how they related to reach other. I will give points to the author for gently reminding the reader the place each character had in the story. But there were still a lot to follow. The other sticking point, and the cause for a 3-star rating, was the errors I found. They were errors of wrong pronoun usage which confused me on more than one occasion. The ending was solid and satisfying.

Where to start? I was quite impressed with this story. I didn’t want to put it down. I had to know what was going on.

Cassandra is one tough cookie and I wholeheartedly loved her. This story is impeccably written. I can’t attest to the military accuracy, but my former naval husband says it’s sounds pretty plausible.

You want a story that will give you chill bumps and keep you on the edge of your seat? Read this book!!

This was a fast paced book. It turned out to be more of an FBI type thriller than what I was expecting. The story still kept my attention and I finished it in one day. It sounds like it could be a series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is well developed. The plot is great. Especially great if you like some military intrigue, corrupt officials, FBI, NIA, LAPD, all the mystery and conflict, makes for a fast paced read.

I really liked this book. The story was interesting and different than most thriller/mysteries that I have read. It kept me interested the entire book. I will be reading more of this author.

Cassandra Files: Genesis by Rod Pennington is a thrilling mystery filled with humor, red herrings and smart sassy women. I loved trying to follow the good guys and enjoyed them catching the bad guys. I can’t wait to revisit Cassandra and company again.