Red Sparrow

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Red Sparrow Review

By Sithmi



At the beginning, I had no idea what was going on. I had jumped smack dab into the middle of a secret battle. To be honest, it took me three chapters maximum to find my bearings. But after that, it was a game of traitors, betrayals and secrets all under wraps and deceiving appearances.

Right away we are introduced to two of our main characters, Nathaniel Nash, a young case officer handling his Russian agent MARBLE in the quiet streets of Moscow. MARBLE is the chief of the Americas Department in the SVR, which gives him access to documents and as a long run agent, he has become a legend.

The story continues to introduce the other main character, Dominika Egorova, our real focus, a ballerina in her 20s. But in an unfortunate accident, she breaks her leg and has to diminish her dancing career dreams and instead work for her uncle Ivan Vanya Egorov since she has nowhere else to go and needs the job to pay the medical care for her mother. Under the impression she was helping her country she helps her uncle in stealing information for the service. But it turns out that they only wanted her to play the role of a seductress so they could lure their target into seclusion where they awaited to eliminate him. Using this as blackmail and motivation, Dominika’s uncle sends her to Sparrow School and military training.

Then the real story starts, as we get to know the horrors of Russia’s secret tools used in the global war for information and power. In her real assignment, she has to work on Nate Nash in Helsinki and extract the name of the agent, the mole in the SVR aka MARBLE. Nathaniel in turn is pushed by Headquarters to work on the elusive guarded Muscovite to try and recruit her. Plot twist after plot twist the story continues, and the inevitable and forbidden romance forms between the case officer and the agent.

Dominika with her determination to be seen as an officer across the greasy men dominating her life and not just another Sparrow working honey traps. Nate investing his life to keep his agents alive and safe from all threats, emotionally attached to every one of them. Both characters are hard workers with brilliant minds, sharp eyes and hopeful hearts.

I absolutely adored this book because of how amazing the writing was. It was a mix of professionalism, action and adventure mixed with science and romance. And the book is definitely better than the movie. Jason Matthews portrays the real sacrifices involved in becoming a real hero.

It’s a must read from me especially if you crave action, espionage and mystery.
 
Writing Style rating: 5/5
Plot rating: 5/5
Total rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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