Blood Oath by Steve Urszenyi - Review

Special Agent Alex Martel is back in Blood Oath! Does the third in the series live up to the previous entries by Steve Urszenyi?

Since Urszenyi’s first book, Perfect Shot in 2023, I have looked forward to each release since. The third in the Alex Martel series, BLOOD OATH, keeps up the electric pace and thrusts Alex into action while keeping a fresh take on the thriller genre.

From the opening, Urszenyi paints a beautiful picture, perfectly detailing the African setting that you get lost in the moment, as if you are there with Alex Martel and her father in the Sareghetti. When that first crack of a gunshot ripples across the landscape, you feel the thrill and pulse quicken as you turn the page to know what happens next. Far from a new or strange feat for Urszenyi, elevating the momentum and detailing the moment with precision, this is now his third book that captured your imagination and plunks you next to the characters.

Overview of Blood Oath —

As a once peaceful safari sours as gunfire erupts, Alex and her father, a respected military General, launch into action to protect the African Guides and Rangers from an onslaught of poacher violence. Thwarting further bloodshed, Alex and her father find their safari coming to a premature end. Called away for secretive reasons and Alex’s CIA boss Caleb arriving, Alex feels at odds with her father and Caleb, two relationships she wishes to mend and connect on deeper levels.

But when rebels capture her father, Alex leads a dangerous rescue mission. Encountering dangerous Russian mercenaries and Chinese operatives, Alex must unravel the deceptive lies that test her loyalties and survive the African terrain to save her father and protect her nation.

A Heroine to Root For!

CIA Special Agent Alexandra “Alex” Martel stands toe to toe with the other heroes and heroines of the thriller genre. Alex Martel is not Wonder Woman nor is she a Mary Sue or Girl Boss. Instead Martel is plenty capable without feeling fake or overpowered. Instead Urszenyi showcases Martel’s skillset and battle mentality, understanding when she has the advantage and when to think outside the box. A sense of reality with the perfect dash of excitement, Alex Martel is a force to be reckoned with.

But the best aspect is how Urszenyi isn’t afraid to show her vulnerabilities. And we don’t judge her, in fact Alex Martel feels real and a character we wish we could battle side by side with. With each turn of the page, readers cheer her on, even more desperate to see to the end of the book, praying her decisions and risks pay off for the best outcomes and if not, excited to see how she counters to defeat her enemies.

Now three books into the series and author Steve Urszenyi continues to spotlight Alex Martel as a formidable force for good, a heroine to admire and one you cannot wait to read the next installment.

Final Take —

Kudos to author Steve Urszenyi for providing readers a fresh and exciting character while amping up the stakes! Each page erupts with fast pace action and plenty of heart to pull you along for the ride! Three books in and I can’t wait to see Alex Martel again along with whatever Urszenyi wickedly concocts to throw at her next!

Blood Oath is the real deal, a next level thriller that cements Urszenyi as a top class author!

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Synopsis:

In this action-packed thriller, Special Agent Alex Martel’s fight becomes personal when her father is abducted by rebel forces.

In the heart of Africa, CIA Special Agent Alexandra Martel’s safari with her father spirals into a deadly game of betrayal when he is kidnapped by rebels. Suddenly, her peaceful Serengeti vacation transforms into a desperate race against time. As the general is held by local rebels, Russian mercenaries and Chinese MSS operatives descend on East Africa, all hunting the military secrets locked in her father’s mind.

Alex assembles an elite team to navigate the treacherous terrain, but complications arise when her CIA boss, Caleb, shows up unexpectedly, stirring feelings she’s tried to bury since her husband’s death. As competing forces close in, Alex uncovers betrayals stretching from the Serengeti to the highest levels of global intelligence. Trust becomes as scarce as water in the African savanna.

With enemies converging from all sides, Alex must embrace her darkest instincts to save her father. But in a world where allies become enemies, and nothing is as it seems, how much of herself is she willing to sacrifice to honor the bonds of blood?