It was really hard for me to finish chapter 1. The plot is interesting enough but the author's prose makes it a tough read.

"They are still far away," Ravix said through the mask. "I'm guessing two minutes. They're fast."

So is two minutes far away or not? This is just one example of dialogue that threw me off. The characters cursing feels so forced and out of place. DNF from me.

This book pulled me in right from the beginning and kept me engaged the entire time. The concept is great and I was invested in the characters and what was happening. This is definitely a sci-fi with depth and lots of action.

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that element that I was looking for in a military scifi novel, it was a great introduction and worked with what I was looking for. The characters were so well done and enjoyed going on this adventure with them, it was so well written and am excited for more in this universe. Christer Lende has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

SPECTER kicks off the Titans of Atlas series with kinetic energy and a brutal elegance. Set in a future where interplanetary conflict is the norm and elite warriors wield blades capable of cleaving tanks, the novel follows Specter, a genetically engineered soldier haunted by a past he can't fully recall. Thrown into the heart of planetary rebellion and political subterfuge, Specter must navigate deadly battlefields, fractured allegiances, and the mysteries surrounding his own creation.

This is military sci-fi with a pulse, where battlefield tactics collide with near-mythical sword duels, and loyalty is as much a weapon as any blade.

Analysis
Strengths:

Relentless Action: Lende writes combat like a veteran of war and poetry. Every firefight and sword clash hits hard. The pacing is tight, the choreography is crisp, and the stakes stay high throughout.

Intriguing Lead: Specter is not your standard space marine. He’s lethal, yes, but also reflective and searching. His internal conflict gives weight to the external mayhem, making him more than just another weapon in uniform.

Worldbuilding with Teeth: Atlas is a scarred, complex world filled with crumbling empires, secretive genetic programs, and tech that feels both futuristic and grounded. Lende builds his universe without exposition dumps, letting the reader absorb the grit through immersion.

Blade over Bullet: The decision to lean into swordplay in a military sci-fi setting could have been gimmicky. Instead, it elevates the tone. There’s something primal and noble about these superhuman swordfighters, like futuristic samurai dropped into a galactic meat grinder.

Minor Weaknesses:

Secondary characters sometimes serve more as function than flesh.

The pacing near the midpoint dips slightly during a subplot involving Atlas’s ruling elite, but momentum picks back up quickly.

Bottom Line
SPECTER is a bold, high-octane launch to a promising series. Christer Lende blends the tactical grit of Warhammer 40K with the mythic tone of Dune and the cinematic flair of John Wick in space. If you want visceral action, haunted warriors, and a setting where loyalty and vengeance cut just as deep as any blade, SPECTER delivers. You’ll finish this book with adrenaline still pumping and your eyes already scanning for Book 2.

An action-packed fantasy filled to the brim with characters who will both shock and entertain you. Enthralling.