Ukraine: Year One is the first book in the Fallout of War series by H. Peter Alesso. It tells the story of Commander James Fairbanks and his wife who are sent to assess and report on the condition of events in Ukraine in 2021 as they prepare for a Russian invasion. James works alongside the military to cover military preparedness while his wife works with the embassy to work with the expatriate community to prepare.
I was rather intrigued by this book as I didn’t know many of the details surrounding the invasion of the Ukraine which also means I can’t comment on the factual accuracy of the book. That being said the feel of it certainly seems authentic as it seems to really capture the feeling that would be present in this kind of situation. It also does a really good job portraying how Fairbanks found himself getting caught up in the resistance and his emotional connection to the resistance. This always seemed a tricky thing to get right in literature but from what I am seeing this book does a really good job with it. It doesn’t hide the dark side of war when it was necessary to be included and the after effects of being in such a situation. There was very little I would have changed beyond just having some more depth to the story as it seemed way too short to cover all of what it covered. I am giving it four out of five stars.
This book is technically historical fiction even if it covers relatively recent events so it would hold the most appeal for readers who prefer that genre, especially those who prefer military history. It is aimed primarily at adult readers and I would tend to agree with that considering the content. There are scenes of warfare and violence throughout which would probably be unsuitable for younger readers. At best I would suggest nobody younger than about sixteen should read this. The book was pretty good though so I hope you will consider trying it out. Remember to share your thoughts in the comments if you do. I acquired this book through Reedsy Discover so you can also find a copy of my review there.