Children of Paranoia

So I've been getting some reading in these past couple of weeks and it's been really nice.  I just finished reading an advanced copy of Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane.  This book was great.  It is the story of Joe who is in the War.  What war, we're not sure.  Why there's a war, we're not sure.  Who is behind the war, we're not sure.  The only thing we know is that Joe's seen loved ones killed in the War and so when he is offered the chance to become part of the War and avenge his loved ones, he takes it.  The War only has 3 set rules: 1) no killing civilians, 2) no killing anyone under the age of 18, and 3) a child born to someone in the War who is under the age of 18, automatically becomes a member of the other side.  How messed up is that?  Of course Joe believes this War is a matter of good versus evil, and his side is the good side.  This is what he has been taught since he was 16 years old.  After a few years of killing, Joe begins to question why he's killing, who he's killing for, and if his side really is the good side.  He is then hit head on with Maria, the girl he falls in love with.  His love ramps up the questions about the War that were already in a corner of his mind.  Now Joe has to figure out how to prioritize everything in his life and make all of the pieces fit together.  In order to stay with Maria he has to make her a part of his world; now she will play her role in the War- but what will that be?  I was happy to learn after finishing the book that it is the first in a trilogy.  I am glad because I was hoping to see more Maria.
This book just kept my brain spinning the entire time I was reading it.  Joe's life was so consumed with the War that the things that came naturally to him were scary.  It was realistic in regards to love- it can conquer a lot and change a person drastically, but it can't fix everything.  Good book, I recommend it to anyone who likes a thriller.