Gamma Raids 1 by R. Lynn Hanks

The main adventure in this story was fascinating and fun. Set in space, it follows Kat and Lee, two Gamma cadets in the Raiders Program, working for the AMG. Allies of the Mangorian Galaxy. They’ve been best friends for years. Kat is a little wild, loves adventure, and Lee is a little more stable, more thoughtful about his actions. They’re a great team. 

From the first chapter, it’s made very clear how Lee feels about Kat. He loves her. She’s his best friend and the girl he wants to be with forever in any way she’ll let him. He really is selfless in his feelings for her, even though it hurts him. He loves her free spirit, her humor, her vanilla-blonde ponytail, and gorgeous gray eyes. Everything about her, Lee loves.

After the opening chapter, which is set during one of their raids - an assignment from AMG - they go back to the academy, and life gets back to normal. We get to see a little bit of what their everyday lives are like, including the fact that Kat is seeing somebody, a guy named Zane. 

Lee doesn’t like Zane, obviously, but it turns out neither does Kat. Not really. She’s really just hooking up with Zane, nothing emotional intended. But generally speaking, Kat doesn’t seem to do well with emotions. She doesn’t always know how she feels or how to express it. 

She thinks she’s broken. Lee knows that, and he loves her anyway. He knows her better than anyone, sometimes even herself, and he loves her. All of her. Every broken piece. 

Kat knows there’s something between her and Lee. She knows he feels it too. But she doesn’t realize how much she actually cares for him or how much she wants to be with him until Lee starts to spend time with Levy, a lavender-skinned girl a few ranks below them. 

As soon as Lee starts hanging out with Levy, Kat realizes her jealousy and her feelings. And it causes her to make some questionable choices. These choices lead to Kat’s emotions being all tangled up. She feels guilty and confused, and she can’t talk to Lee about it.

I’d say that’s the first crack in Kat and Lee’s bond.

Of course, Kat and Lee’s romance and their other love interests aren’t the only storyline in this book. There’s also their main adventure as Gamma cadets. Along with the two other highest-ranked Gamma cadets, Zane and Whistler, Kat and Lee are given a new assignment. 

Something to do with dark radiation.

I understood the mission while I was reading the story, but honestly, I don’t think I could explain it. So, anyway, I know it’s based around detecting dark radiation, which is a huge threat to life in the galaxy. It could eliminate all life in the galaxy. 

Kat, Lee, Zane, and Whistler put together a squadron to go on their mission. 

And their squadron includes Levy. And a group of girls that I started calling Kat’s fan club, because they’re very interested in her love life. 

I’d also like to mention how much I like Whistler. He has absolutely nothing to do with the romances. He’s just a really chill dude with a ponytail who’s an expert pilot. He named the squadron’s spaceship Starla. And he seems like a good potential friend for Kat.

Levy would probably be a good potential friend for Kat, too, if it weren’t for Lee. Kat and Levy seem like they have a lot in common. They’d make an awesome team. But because of Levy’s interest in Lee, Kat won’t let herself totally like her.

A dynamic that I didn’t expect to see in this story was Lee and Zane. I didn’t realize how much I’d like them working as a team. Together, they’re a no-nonsense “let’s get the job done” duo. 

The book does end on a cliffhanger. Kat and Lee’s relationship is sort of up in the air. They’re friends forever, but their future is uncertain. And so is their squadron’s future after the end of their mission. 

I wonder what’s going to happen next.