Selected as a 2017 BookLife Prize semi-finalist!
Jeanine is running from someone very powerful. She doesn’t know who wants her dead, or why. But they’ve already killed her family, and she’s next.
Drake’s family was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now, he roams the stars, running from the grief he can never escape. When Jeanine barrels into Drake’s life, he must push aside his grief and run with her.
But time is not their ally. They cannot run from their enemies, so Jeanine and Drake must run toward them. They must make The Recognition Run.
Semi Finalist
Assessment:
Plot: Struck from the template of classic space opera, this tale of intergalactic adventure hits all of the right notes. It has a likeable hero and heroine, nasty villains, a plot full of intrigue and unforeseeable surprises, and a colorfully rendered outer-space backdrop against which its well-paced events unfold.
Prose: Vogel’s prose is perfectly suited to the story he has to tell—one in which he must give voice to a score of different characters and move quickly from moments of quiet intimacy to scenes of brisk and frenetic action. His simple, direct storytelling style gets the job done.
Originality: The novel is a digest of familiar space opera tropes—but this is not a bad thing. The best stories of this type always recycle tried-and-true themes and characters—and Vogel shows that in doing so he can keep his tale lively and entertaining.
Character Development: Vogel’s characters are mostly types, but they also have nuance and distinct personalities. Jeanine, Drake, and even the evil Olivia are lively and engaging characters that will appeal to readers.
Date Submitted: August 06, 2017
