I could say 'Betrayal (Spirit of the Bayonet)'is another shot of pure adrenaline disguised as a book. This is military sci-fi at its highest octane, full of intense action, powerful exo-suits, AI soldierbots that blur the lines between machines and loyal friends. It hits the ground running with military grit and 'found family' vibes. The neural links they establish with their leaders, Paul and Kata, prove to be more than just feed for the military meant to set the wolves on targets.

The book kicks off with Paul and Kata navigating the brutal gauntlet of officer training. It’s not just about the drills, though; the inclusion of cybernetic augmentations adds a high-tech layer of stakes that makes their journey to lead the ‘Okami’ project feel earned. Dr. Musashi’s soldierbots are the stars of the show here, and watching the 'pack' dynamic develop is a huge highlight.

Expect a relentless mix of military jargon, witty banter, and enough sexual tension to keep the downtime interesting. The fights are punchy, but the drama between the action beats is what really keeps the pages turning. The standout element for me was the relationship between Paul and his mechanical squad. Seeing him treat the soldierbots as more than just hardware was surprisingly wholesome and gave the book its emotional heart.

I absolutely loved Paul and Kata’s relationship, and their interaction with Geek, especially when the end of the book brings back this guy to give us hope for revenge and a follow up book.

But even more I loved the way Dr. Musashi explained to Kata and Paul how they, as humans, came to be who they are and work the job they have, and how all of us are not so different from how the AI robots were programmed to be. It was a very powerful, subtle lesson he taught them that even though we always disregard AI because they’ve been programmed to do something, we admittedly reject our own nature as we too have been programmed since birth into our paths one way or another.

Then there’s Fiona. She’s the kind of villain you just love to hate—or maybe just straight-up hate (I simply couldn’t stand her character). She doesn’t have that ‘charming antagonist’ vibe; she’s just abrasive in a way that makes you desperate to see her get what's coming. Whether that makes her a ‘good’ villain or just a frustrating one is up for debate, but she definitely leaves an impression.

The ending leaves the door wide open for the next installment, and honestly, I’m here for it. I can’t wait to see where the Okami project goes next and how Paul handles the fallout. If you like high-octane action with a bit of a soul, this one is a solid addition to your shelf.

Many, many thanks to Red Russ, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.