4 star review - Orphan of Empire by S. A. Melia

Reviewed by  Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite

Orphan of Empire by S. A. Melia is a futuristic science-fiction prequel to the Dodecahedral series. In this book, the story follows Guy, an orphan with no birth certificate. Although he is top of his year in both academics and combat training, he still needs to find a birth certificate. But those who knew his mother are keeping him in the dark. To add to his frustration, he has to compete with Annabel, who comes from a strong and influential military family. When she and Guy are marked for early deployment as stretcher bearers, they are both excited to see combat against the space pirates. When things go south and Guy saves Annabel, he is introduced to a whole new way of life and meets people who could help him enlist without a birth certificate.

The story starts with a rapid escalation from training ground competition to real combat situations and the harsh reality of death and loss. The world-building is well done, and the history of Earth is shared clearly, detailing the development of the future in which the story takes place. The notion of cyborgs and a second life granted to the severely injured brings the relationship between man and machine into a balanced new reality. The world Guy lives in is one of opposites. When he is not out training for war or actively participating in war, he is busy with glamour photo shoots. This duality highlights the vanity we already have. On one side, people are dying for their freedom while influencers and celebrities worry about looks and money. Orphan of Empire by S. A. Melia is a heartstopping start to the YA Dodecahedral series that will find a home with fans of Ender's Game and Starship Troopers.