The Bookwyrm's Review of The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin

RATING: 9.5/10 STARS

I've always been a fan of martial arts, whether it be watching them on film, reading about them, or learning about them in a dojang. Bruce Lee wasn't my first martial arts hero, though, it was Tom Laughlin, who used Hapkido to take down the bad guys. This later led to Hong Kong Kung Fu films, and led me to the present day as a fan of MMA. That definitely helped me to really appreciate just how special The Combat Codes is. The author's expertise in martial arts just shines through though out, which really sets this book apart.

 PLOT SUMMARY

We fight, so the rest shall not have to.

This is the first verse of the Combat Codes, the mantra of Grievar-kin. They are the reason the world is at peace, the reason the Endless Wars have finally ceased.

Disputes between nations are now resolved solely within the steel circumference of the Circle, where Grievars square off in hand-to-hand combat, to the death. The surviving nation takes the dispute bounty: lands, resources, slaves, and pride.

But given the stakes, things are never so simple. Nations have developed Grievar Scout programs to produce the best fighters. Some round up prospective kids and pit them against each other in slave Circles to discover the strongest. And certain nations provide illicit "enhancements" to their Grievars to give them an edge - an act explicitly forbidden by the Combat Codes.

Murray is a washed up Grievar Scout who is sick of buying broken kids from the slave Circles. He’s sick of training them to become skilled combatants, only to watch them break again. He’s sick of reporting his failures as a Scout to men who don’t have the guts to stand in the Circles themselves.

Cego is a boy who doesn’t understand why he’s fighting. He doesn't understand the grueling training sessions he's forced to endure every day. He doesn’t understand why they scream for blood when he steps into the Circle. The one thing Cego does understand is hand-to-hand combat. He was born to fight.

Cego is sent down an unlikely path at Murray’s side, paved with fierce competition at the world’s most prestigious combat school along with the answers to his own mysterious past.

MY THOUGHTS

I wondered going in if this would be plot or character driven, and its a bit of both, honestly. There is definitely a lot of character development throughout the book, especially with Cego and Murray, and it is a natural growth, based on their society and places in it. As more revelations are made about the characters themselves, the reader gets to see how their personalities and decision making are driven by the past actions of others, and the changing standards of the society.

The plot is fast paced and very heavy on action, and the author certainly wasn't shy about going in some dark directions. With a story based on a class of people who are bred for single combat, its not surprising that a lot of the plot  involves that very combat. The fight scenes are some of the best you're ever likely to read, with focus on real deadly and disabling martial arts techniques that are actually useful, not just flashy overblown techniques that have proven ineffective in real fights with trained opponents. This plays into the world building, which is build around a system of elites who use the lower classes in strict roles in life. This stratified society is very much reminiscent of ancient societies, with a modern flair with technology. Its an interesting bit of world building, especially if you recognize the references.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I was amazed that this was a debut novel. It was so polished, and really drags the reader in to the story. The characters are so well rounded, and the plotting is taut without being sparse. The narration is a definite plus, and as a whole, I think any fan of science fiction or even just people interested in a good martial arts story should be able to find something to enjoy in this. The only series I could even compare it to would be Rutland Etheridge's Duelist series, but that's long out of print, sadly, so maybe this will be the start of a new trend. I certainly hope so, and I recommend this series heartily.

\

RATING: 9/10 Stars