Reading List 2023
Orphan X Series; Books #4–9
It’s Like John Wick, but in a book!
An editing client of mine used the Orphan X series as a comp (comparable) title for his manuscript, so I thought I’d read a couple chapters to get an idea of what kind of book he was trying to read.
I couldn’t put it down. And then I read the next five. I plan on reading the last two in the series (there are 8 total) in the next couple weeks. Here is the Amazon description or the book series:
“Evan Smoak is a man with skills, resources, and a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. He’s also a man with a dangerous past. Chosen as a child, he was raised and trained as an Orphan, an off-the-books black box program designed to create the perfect deniable intelligence asset: An assassin.”
There are a lot these series out there, Jack Reacher by Lee Child probably being one of the most popular. Recently, new action series like The Terminal List by Jack Carr have come to the forefront as well, especially after it was made into a television series starring Chris Pratt. There has been a lot of talk of making this into a series or a movie as well, and they should because it is awesome. In my opinion, head and shoulders over Reacher and Reece (the protagonist from The Terminal List).
The only way I can describe the way this book flows is to compare it to the John Wick movies, but in a book form. Some of the action scenes are so vivid, you can see them in your mind like they would happen on the big screen.
Who is Evan Smoak?
The Nowhere Man is a legendary figure spoken about only in whispers. It’s said that when he’s reached by the truly desperate and deserving, the Nowhere Man can and will do anything to protect and save them. But he’s not merely a legend.
Amazon
While the description of the book series may sound familiar, trained as an off the books government assassin, I actually find the writing and characterization very unique. He’s not ex-military or ex-CIA. In a way, it’s very remniscent of The Brotherhood of the Rose by David Morrell (author of First Blood), and the title of the series and first book gives his background away — he was recruited as a child for the program and trained from day one to become the Nowhere Man.
But besides all the great action scenes, there is the subplot of Orphan X trying to retain his humanity, trying to insert himself into the daily life of normal people, and balance that with the life he lives.
I can’t recommend these books enough. If you like action with heroes that help the underdog, try this series!
For more books on my 2023 Reading List:
If you are interested in my Successful Soldier series of articles:
Happy Reading!
