“A wild Humvee ride of a novel.”

“Terrell is experimenting with the slow revelation of character in the opposite direction of a normal narrative arc…We are left to wonder about our own lies, when they became acceptable to us, whom we trust, and how we’ve become who we are.”

“This is brilliant, bold, heartbreaking storytelling for material that demands nothing less.”

“A terrific exploration of courage, leadership, and loss…that feels both specific to the Iraq conflict and also unnervingly timeless.”

“Joins the ranks of great war novels that explain, too late, why ‘victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.’”

“A stirring performance grounded in the hard realities of combat…This novel should be read by all.”

“Terrell shows us how soldiers think and address one another with a stinging combination of military argot and pop culture references.”

“Focuses not so much on military action and battle scenes as on the interactions of a group of unheroic individuals thrown into an extreme situation…It is exactly these confrontations among and within individuals that give the story its power and appeal.”

“One might have expected a female narrator for this book, but, not to worry, narrator Jeffrey Kafer delivers Emma’s voice well. He also does a decent job of dramatizing her personality…His pacing and timing are good, and the complex emotional landscapes he paints are often heartrending.”