Today I’m reviewing Conscript’s Call by Griff Hosker!

Here’s the blurb

From the ashes of tragedy, new beginnings arise.

England, 1940: When seventeen-year-old John Sharratt’s life is shattered by a single, devastating bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe, he is thrust into a world of loss and longing. With his family gone and his heart heavy, John’s conscription into the army offers a refuge and a new beginning, even in the face of turmoil.

“The army had to be my future. I had nothing else and the bombing raid had brought the war home to me. My fingers clenched into fists. I wanted revenge.”

As he dons the battledress of a British soldier at Seaforth Barracks, John embarks on an intense journey of transformation. Amidst gruelling training and the camaraderie of fellow soldiers, -those who will become his new family, – he learns not only to wield a weapon but also to navigate the depths of grief and resilience. Each drill sharpens his skills, especially as a marksman. As his section sees postings in Greece, Crete and North Africa, will John emerge from the shadows of his past to thrive as a rifleman, or will the weight of his sorrow consume him? With the world on the brink of an all-out war, the lad from Lancashire must face the darkest of nights before the dawn of hope can break through.

Set during the early years of WW2, Conscript’s Call is more than a tale of historical conflict; it is an exploration of the profound impact of loss and the unyielding strength of the human spirit.

The first in Griff Hosker’s brand-new WW2 ‘Rifleman’ series which takes a poignant look into the horrors of war, the bonds created and the struggles of those left behind. A must-read for fans of David Gilman, James Holland and Douglas Reeman.

Review

I picked up Conscript’s Call after it was recommended and I’m so glad I did!

War is coming but for now life for John Sharratt is simple..he and his family lead a modest life, they work hard and make the most of everything..

Sharratt gets his papers, he’s to report for duty and knows his time at home is short. He’s only young though.. and there’s a girl that took his fancy.. this could be the last chance to see her.. when he steps out that night he has no idea how his world will change forever!

In a gut wrenching scene we see a bomb destroy his home and his family with it! With everything lost Sharratt heads to his posting to make his family pound.. being a solider is in his blood!

Basic training moves fast and poses some challenges for the young lad.. but this shared existence with the other men bring them close and forms the bonds needed to survive.

When the men find out they are about to deploy its tense.. they are all new to this.. and the dangers are everywhere… they are pawns without the big picture but they must do their part for their country.

I won’t spoil the plot but I do want to focus on a couple bits that really made this book stand out.. the pace.. it’s fast but not forced..at times it feels like a blur of activity but it’s mirroring what I feel it would have been like for the men..

The other thing I wanted to focus on was the tone of the tale, it doesn’t glorify battle.. it’s not the action that gets you excited.. it’s the depth.. it’s emotionally draining (in a good way), its moving and heartfelt, sometimes you can become detached from the real world.. it’s a story after all.. but no.. this one is so much more than just another story.. it has a realness that hits home…HARD.

The men are really what makes this plot shine, the detail given to them all, the attachments they made.. and in some cases the attachments they didn’t have time to make.. their luck.. or sometimes misfortune, really has you on the edge of your seat.

I particularly loved the moments when the men were aboard ships, any control they had over a situation gone..the rawness of those moments.. and what I felt was real honesty with their feelings and actions.. it’s just..ahh the authors words had me mesmerized!

The story isn’t overly gruesome.. it has it’s moments but at the same time, again, I felt the story mirrored how those men would see things..at times detached from the horror.

One word stands out in the synopsis for me… poignant.. that sums up Conscript’s Call perfectly..it’s poignant and beautifully written.

I loved the authors style of writing too.. its easy to read but at the same time clever, and engages the readers brain.

There’s some great detail thrown in too, ships, guns, tanks.. for those who love a bit of detail you’ll enjoy this too as the author clearly knows what he’s taking about, and that extra detail is mixed in smoothly without any deviation from the action.

A tank busting 5* read.

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.