I was extremely pleased to discover the Combat Codes recently had fantastic reviews come in from both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. It’s a bit stressful getting trade reviews, as you don’t know who the reviewer will be and whether they will “sync” with your book. But these two reviews turned out to be wonderful:

Publishers Weekly said: “Martial arts trainer Darwin skillfully deploys his expertise in this impressive debut and series launch… perfect setup for the next volume and will especially appeal to fans of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series.”

And Kirkus said: “This dark tale of martial arts and ancient Codes in a fallen world will captivate readers who crave action.”

But I was totally floored to find out that the Combat Codes had recieved a STARRED REVIEW from Library Journal. Library Journal is the primary source of reviews and news for librarians across the US, and is distinguished in its ability to pick out upcoming hit books that the nation’s reading population will enjoy. Not only is it difficult to get a review at all from LJ, but getting a starred review is a next level badge of honor:

"As the underdog and the washed-up, Cego and Murray are remarkable characters who stay true to the codes despite others’ perversion of them, and it’s impossible not to root for the pair. This is a perfect blend of fantasy, cyberpunk, and mixed martial arts that is enhanced by flawless action sequences and ideals that are still worth fighting for. With surprising depth and touching relationships, this debut packs a punch and sets up a fascinating foundation for the rest of the series.” - Library Journal, Starred Review of The Combat Codes

I don’t expect all reviews to be positive, as every reviewer has their own tastes, however this is certainly a great start!