Munderoon's Reviews > Special Forces: Soldiers Part II -Director's Cut

Before I start this review properly, I have to admit that this is entirely about the development of the two main characters and less about the events. Because I think that is the main part of these books : the journey of Vadim and Dan...

"I tried to...get into your mind, and instead let you in. Not good, and yet best thing I've done in this whole war."
"Best thing I've done in all my life."


This book was massive.
In each and every aspect.
First of all: it is really rare that characters develop in such a way. I’ve had those amazing, realistic journeys and personality shaping just a few times, and I enjoy them still, because that’s one feature I consider as marvellous, talking about books.
Second: At some points in the book, getting a break from all these feelings, and looking back, I wasn’t able to draw a picture of Dan and Vadim, new to me and completely unaffected of the oncoming relationship, but at the same time all the things that happened to them were there, hovering around them like an aura. All the things, which shaped them, made them who they are now. Normally, if characters change so rapidly, you might consider them as two different persons. The one before and the one after the significant events in the book.
But Vadim and Dan didn’t fit into clichés right from the start, so it’s no surprise they don’t fit in this one as well.
There is no person before and after. There are just Dan and Vadim, two characters, more realistic than some things in life, changing and still being their true selves. I’ve never experienced this in a way I did in this book and I can’t do anything else but bow. Bow my head before this great work, this piece of fiction.
The drama increased in this part, but so did the feelings. The confessions moved me deep within my fangirl heart. To me, the words “I love you” lost some of their magic a long time ago, but with Dan and Vadim, this magic returns. Because they took their time, they needed their time and it was good. Because I didn’t doubt for one second that it was the right moment to say it. It was just perfect, releasing those feelings, which built up in such a journey, such a fight and revealing a bunch of new problems, which will surely be as complicated as the problems they faced before.
Somehow, this review seems to be much more about my feelings about the characters and their development, the complex psychological aspect and my fangirl feelings, than anything else, but those are just the things that kept me reading, summarized in one word: fascination.
Dan and Vadim sneaked their way into my reading-heart and I’m sure, they’ll stay there for a long while, probably emphasised through all the things, which are still ahead of them and myself.
Which leaves me only with a confession and a thank you.
My confession is simple: I am a Vadim fangirl. By heart. I don’t know how and I don’t know when, but he managed to get even closer to me than Dan already did. And I think he deserves a hug. Really volunteering for that! :D
I have to say thanks, because Tina was brave enough to introduce me to a book-series, that’ll probably eat away a part of my soul. :D I know, I wouldn’t have had the balls to simply go for it and introduce someone to this, because – although it shouldn’t be that way – some genres are still hard to introduce. Hopefully, that’ll change over time. Danke, Tina. Ich will das hier nicht missen (trotz all des Dramas :D)!
And finally, I have to admit: Aleksandr Voinov is living the dream. Born in Germany, living in London, being an author? Dear Lord, born in the same country, living in my favourite city, having the best job in the world? That’s all I ever wished for. And I never saw an author, who was communicating so much with his readers. That’s a thing to appreciate as well! Great books – great authors.
And now I’m gonna face the next step, following Dan and Vadim into their next phase.
Ich habe fertig.

“We won’t die. We'll never die. I promise.”