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Wolfpack #1
We Are The Wolf
Off World Force Recon, the first in the fight, the tip of the spear.
With human colonies on 45 worlds and space stations in over a hundred different systems, serving with the elite Force Recon branch of the Extra Solar Defense Force is the most prestigious career anyone could hope for. Warfare is almost exclusively the domain of remotely operated drones, but when things go wrong, in space or on a colony world, the Off World Recon gets the call and they always come prepared.
Dean is a young man with plenty of prospects ahead of him, but when he gets selected for the most coveted job in the world, he jumps at the chance. Little does he know the rigors of training to become an elite Force Recon specialist or the dangers waiting for him in off-world tours of duty that sometimes last for years on end, but it’s always been his dream to charge into the unknown with a band of brothers, facing any threat to humanity’s expansion across the galaxy and etching his name into the annals of history. The only question is does he have what it takes to stand between the threats of the galaxy and the rest of the human race?
We Are the Wolf is the first book in an exciting new military space opera that will have you riveted from the very first page. Toby Neighbors reimagines what service in a militarized space force would look like and takes his readers on a roller coaster ride that introduces them to a whole new world of adventure. From training across the globe to missions in outer space, We Are the Wolf will capture your imagination and have you cheering for more.
With human colonies on 45 worlds and space stations in over a hundred different systems, serving with the elite Force Recon branch of the Extra Solar Defense Force is the most prestigious career anyone could hope for. Warfare is almost exclusively the domain of remotely operated drones, but when things go wrong, in space or on a colony world, the Off World Recon gets the call and they always come prepared.
Dean is a young man with plenty of prospects ahead of him, but when he gets selected for the most coveted job in the world, he jumps at the chance. Little does he know the rigors of training to become an elite Force Recon specialist or the dangers waiting for him in off-world tours of duty that sometimes last for years on end, but it’s always been his dream to charge into the unknown with a band of brothers, facing any threat to humanity’s expansion across the galaxy and etching his name into the annals of history. The only question is does he have what it takes to stand between the threats of the galaxy and the rest of the human race?
We Are the Wolf is the first book in an exciting new military space opera that will have you riveted from the very first page. Toby Neighbors reimagines what service in a militarized space force would look like and takes his readers on a roller coaster ride that introduces them to a whole new world of adventure. From training across the globe to missions in outer space, We Are the Wolf will capture your imagination and have you cheering for more.
383 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 1, 2021
Book 1
Book 1 had a few errors throughout. I enjoyed this book and its characters and plot. The characters are well developed and sometimes go on and on about information that's not really needed. The plot is a bit predictable, but a fun read. I look forward to book 2.
Book 1 had a few errors throughout. I enjoyed this book and its characters and plot. The characters are well developed and sometimes go on and on about information that's not really needed. The plot is a bit predictable, but a fun read. I look forward to book 2.
September 8, 2018
The book startet with a good paced.
It had some good ideas of drones that are implemented in the fight, VR and AR for training and to get more information in the fight. Robots/Drones that are used to fight the enemy.
But after 2-3 Chapters I was disappointed how unrealistic the book is.
The biggest problem I have are the very short training the troopers get.
First the MC is chossen by some criterias to a elite military force. I don't know what this criterias where but somehow they picked a fresh out of college boy from michigan. Like the book said he wasn't the smartest or the sportiest of his town. But somehow he was picked.
The basic training was only 2 weeks (in most militarys today its something like 12 weeks) with only 3 hours of sleep. I think 3 hours of sleep is what prisoners in guantanamo bay get so they don't die...
After the basic training he was send to get a lieutenant, cause unknown reasons. The officers training lastet only 4 weeks (real life something like 2-5 years...).
Then he got to know each specialization that he will have in his squad in 10 weeks. I think this part was pretty good writen but some of the specialization are stupid. (See below why I think so.)
The last part of training is a 2 week submarine isolation course.
So the MC only needed 18 weeks or 4,5 months the get a own squad...
My second biggest problem is that all troopers are too calm and professional .
Troopers freshly "trained" have no reaction to dead people and are calm in there first battle...
Fresh troopers behave like seasoned veterans.
There are other points that make for me no sense.
There are 6 specialization in the Squad:
1 Lieutenant - Commands the squad.
6 Heavy Trooper - Trooper with big shield on his bak. (I don't understand why the frak on the BACK. So they can retreat faster?)
2 Demolisher - Guys that blow things up. I'm ok with them but why don't they get the flamethrower?
1 Sniper - Self explanatory. But has heavy armor and a jet pack and should be sneeky.
2 Fast Attack - Guys with drones and 6 weapons. Has flamethrower, blade pistol, pistol, laser pistol, a rifle and a blowpipe.
1 Hand to hand combat expert or something like this - Akts like Sergeant and can be only obtained after mastering one of the other specialization.
Fist of all there are no medics in the team.
Second they don't have heavy weapons for cover fire.
3th why is the squad in every situation the same? I think you should not use a Demolisher on a space station or a space ship, because it can send many people to fly into space ;).
4th the Fast Attack guys have to do to many thinks at the same time and have to many weapons. I think it would make more sense that the Fast Attack use only the drones and the weapons are distibuted between the other classes.
tl;dr:
I didn't like the book because to many thinks do not make sense for me.
It had some good ideas of drones that are implemented in the fight, VR and AR for training and to get more information in the fight. Robots/Drones that are used to fight the enemy.
But after 2-3 Chapters I was disappointed how unrealistic the book is.
The biggest problem I have are the very short training the troopers get.
First the MC is chossen by some criterias to a elite military force. I don't know what this criterias where but somehow they picked a fresh out of college boy from michigan. Like the book said he wasn't the smartest or the sportiest of his town. But somehow he was picked.
The basic training was only 2 weeks (in most militarys today its something like 12 weeks) with only 3 hours of sleep. I think 3 hours of sleep is what prisoners in guantanamo bay get so they don't die...
After the basic training he was send to get a lieutenant, cause unknown reasons. The officers training lastet only 4 weeks (real life something like 2-5 years...).
Then he got to know each specialization that he will have in his squad in 10 weeks. I think this part was pretty good writen but some of the specialization are stupid. (See below why I think so.)
The last part of training is a 2 week submarine isolation course.
So the MC only needed 18 weeks or 4,5 months the get a own squad...
My second biggest problem is that all troopers are too calm and professional .
Troopers freshly "trained" have no reaction to dead people and are calm in there first battle...
Fresh troopers behave like seasoned veterans.
There are other points that make for me no sense.
There are 6 specialization in the Squad:
1 Lieutenant - Commands the squad.
6 Heavy Trooper - Trooper with big shield on his bak. (I don't understand why the frak on the BACK. So they can retreat faster?)
2 Demolisher - Guys that blow things up. I'm ok with them but why don't they get the flamethrower?
1 Sniper - Self explanatory. But has heavy armor and a jet pack and should be sneeky.
2 Fast Attack - Guys with drones and 6 weapons. Has flamethrower, blade pistol, pistol, laser pistol, a rifle and a blowpipe.
1 Hand to hand combat expert or something like this - Akts like Sergeant and can be only obtained after mastering one of the other specialization.
Fist of all there are no medics in the team.
Second they don't have heavy weapons for cover fire.
3th why is the squad in every situation the same? I think you should not use a Demolisher on a space station or a space ship, because it can send many people to fly into space ;).
4th the Fast Attack guys have to do to many thinks at the same time and have to many weapons. I think it would make more sense that the Fast Attack use only the drones and the weapons are distibuted between the other classes.
tl;dr:
I didn't like the book because to many thinks do not make sense for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2020
Amazing idea, awful execution. This author has no idea how to write, zero! This is one of the worst written books I have ever read, and I have read hundreds. This is an extreme example of tell don't show from beginning to the end. I am not even gonna talk how badly researched this book is when it comes to military and science. Not to mention no characters development, awful romance subplots, no secondary character development etc. Just an awful writing is enough to stop reading this. I don't know how people would gove this book anything than one star rating. It has no redeeming qualities, everything is badly done. Please skip this book, and it would seem ignore goodreads ratings because they obviously mean little.
June 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to the next book. The speed by which training was completed was only SLIGHTLY unrealistic, but I enjoyed he character development through. My only complaint is, "What the heck happened to the end!?" The whole book played a balance between detail and not too much detail, and then, all of a sudden...."The end. They all lived happily ever after." I felt kind of let down....wanted to see some face to face comeuppance against his detractors rather than, oh yeah, at least one got put in there place, sort of. I'll still get the next book, but I really hope for a more satisfying ending.
August 21, 2017
Extremely fast paced story, have read this and the second book in the series. I enjoy stories where the underdog turns out to be the one-in-a-million solder who pulls it all together, saving the day as well as getting the girl. Kinda like a man's love story...with guns and stuff. These platoons are what SeALS will be like when we get our space act together...Can't wait for the next book...
August 24, 2026
Too many holes
Plot holes abound, only was able to get through the first 70 pages before I walked away from the book. Why two weeks of pre-boot camp, why was he unexplainably chosen to be an officer. Why only 4 weeks at their space based officers academy and then sent to California to learn all the systems? Ould not follow the major gaps and decided to move on.
Plot holes abound, only was able to get through the first 70 pages before I walked away from the book. Why two weeks of pre-boot camp, why was he unexplainably chosen to be an officer. Why only 4 weeks at their space based officers academy and then sent to California to learn all the systems? Ould not follow the major gaps and decided to move on.
May 24, 2017
A good start
Reminds me strongly of starship troopers in story structure. Using the journey through basic training to build the world of the story. There is great potential for this series
Reminds me strongly of starship troopers in story structure. Using the journey through basic training to build the world of the story. There is great potential for this series
June 20, 2017
Excellent new series
A good start to a new series, where only a very small fee get to fight for mankind. The storyline moves along at a good pace and is very enjoyable. Looking forward to the second in the series.
A good start to a new series, where only a very small fee get to fight for mankind. The storyline moves along at a good pace and is very enjoyable. Looking forward to the second in the series.
July 20, 2017
Darn Good Military Sci-Fi
This book follows a young man straight out of high school into the reconnaissance space force. He is selected to become a officer after Boot camp. We follow along as he is trained and goes on his first two missions.
This book follows a young man straight out of high school into the reconnaissance space force. He is selected to become a officer after Boot camp. We follow along as he is trained and goes on his first two missions.
December 24, 2018
Kinda juvenile
Don’t get me wrong. I have read several of Neighbors books and he’s one of my favorite authors, but this book was borderline YA. It was still a good story and an interesting read. I fully intend to finish the series. P.S. Really Toby, Blowguns? C ‘mom man.
Don’t get me wrong. I have read several of Neighbors books and he’s one of my favorite authors, but this book was borderline YA. It was still a good story and an interesting read. I fully intend to finish the series. P.S. Really Toby, Blowguns? C ‘mom man.
January 6, 2020
Good read.
Somewhat familiar plot which takes nothing away from the book. It wasn't quite the un-put downable read but it was almost there. Thoroughly enjoyable and looking forward to the sequel.
Somewhat familiar plot which takes nothing away from the book. It wasn't quite the un-put downable read but it was almost there. Thoroughly enjoyable and looking forward to the sequel.
March 18, 2022
Sci-Fi fans will enjoy this book!
The author continues his action filled style in this book as he did in the first book. Well defined military action with excellent descriptions of action. There are plot twists that will surprise the reader.
The author continues his action filled style in this book as he did in the first book. Well defined military action with excellent descriptions of action. There are plot twists that will surprise the reader.
December 2, 2025
Super read😁
So very enjoyable from the start to the end loved how it took our reluctant hero through basic training into the field and I have to say I did not expect his first foe to be what it was lol and his seond his own side 😱 this is well worth a read 😁
So very enjoyable from the start to the end loved how it took our reluctant hero through basic training into the field and I have to say I did not expect his first foe to be what it was lol and his seond his own side 😱 this is well worth a read 😁
May 15, 2017
I enjoy reading this booktook awhile to get going butt still enjoable.
May 26, 2017
Great read
I gave it 5 stars because it really shows how the military evolved. Loved the plot and couldn't put it down
I gave it 5 stars because it really shows how the military evolved. Loved the plot and couldn't put it down
June 7, 2017
Aaaarroooooooo!
The Wolf Pack books have proven to be top-notch quality reading. Great characters, taut story lines and believable plots. I recommend them highly.
The Wolf Pack books have proven to be top-notch quality reading. Great characters, taut story lines and believable plots. I recommend them highly.
January 10, 2018
Fast read good plot development. Easy to keep up. No gratuitous raunchy sex. All in all not a best seller but certainly worthy of a read
October 3, 2019
Excellent read!
What a ride!! It started off a little slow but once it got going, what a ride! Please keep up the wonderful stories Mr. Neighbors.
What a ride!! It started off a little slow but once it got going, what a ride! Please keep up the wonderful stories Mr. Neighbors.
September 24, 2020
Great Storyline
Well a cracking start to a new series. I have totally enjoyed this storyline and am looking forward to the rest of the series
Well a cracking start to a new series. I have totally enjoyed this storyline and am looking forward to the rest of the series
Read
November 9, 2021There are some great life lessons contained this book. I also appreciated the philosophy and courage contained. Storyline was pretty great also.
December 23, 2021
Riveting story
Well written and enjoyable story with plenty of twists and turns, looking forward to reading the next installment which I have just downloaded
Well written and enjoyable story with plenty of twists and turns, looking forward to reading the next installment which I have just downloaded
September 25, 2022
Excellence
mr . Neighbors master full story telling and vibrant characters make reading his books a real pleasure. What can I say but don,t stop writing now
mr . Neighbors master full story telling and vibrant characters make reading his books a real pleasure. What can I say but don,t stop writing now
December 11, 2023
This is a great read.
The plot and the action seemed like it would be possible. It flowed smoothly, and was hard to put down.
The plot and the action seemed like it would be possible. It flowed smoothly, and was hard to put down.
December 27, 2025
Brilliant read
Toby Neighbors is a truly great sci-fi writer. This series of books is his best work and a must read
Toby Neighbors is a truly great sci-fi writer. This series of books is his best work and a must read
April 25, 2017
Great Military Leadership Training Space Opera
Tony Neighbors has created a very interesting universe. We get to see it from the point-of-view of an American teenager who enters the military. Once in the military, the protagonist aces the leadership exam and gets diverted into a Space Force Recon officer training program. Dean, the young officer-in-training, is eager to succeed, and primed to lead his platoon to victory, but is beset with fear that the Service made a mistake picking him to lead. (He is 17 as we first meet him, and this volume follows him into his nineteenth year.) As the storyline progresses, I am reminded of the first time I read Starship Troopers.
There ARE hostile aliens out there, but Dean has more conflict with his own erstwhile leadership than with the aliens. After all, the aliens merely threaten to kill him, the Vice Admiral seems determined to destroy him!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: AS A GREAT MILITARY LEADERSHIP TRAINING SPACE OPERA
Tony Neighbors has created a very interesting universe. We get to see it from the point-of-view of an American teenager who enters the military. Once in the military, the protagonist aces the leadership exam and gets diverted into a Space Force Recon officer training program. Dean, the young officer-in-training, is eager to succeed, and primed to lead his platoon to victory, but is beset with fear that the Service made a mistake picking him to lead. (He is 17 as we first meet him, and this volume follows him into his nineteenth year.) As the storyline progresses, I am reminded of the first time I read Starship Troopers.
There ARE hostile aliens out there, but Dean has more conflict with his own erstwhile leadership than with the aliens. After all, the aliens merely threaten to kill him, the Vice Admiral seems determined to destroy him!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: AS A GREAT MILITARY LEADERSHIP TRAINING SPACE OPERA
September 22, 2017
Battle against aliens.
I don't like battles between humans much but I do love bad aliens being fought by tough minded troops from earth. The wars being fought by drones for the most part seems far fetched.
I can't picture how that works with currently imaginable tech or how it affects a human society creating such a war fighting force.
Some of the technology is interesting but it seems unevenly applied. It is what I imagine a video game might mash together. The earth defense forces are structured to support that vision but are stereotypically divided into mutually warring clans of warfare specialists. Navy snubs ground troops, drone operators cozy up to naval officers but don't really understand war, etc. That last one actually does seem to reflect current practice but you get my meaning, I hope.
It's always disappointing to read honor, integrity and selflessness written into the character dialogue. A little of that goes a long way. Few armies that I've read about really reflected those principles, the most recent exceptions that I can think of being the Soviet Red Army, the PLA of China and the Kurdish peshmerga troops.
The hero has a "I like this girl, I like that girl" thing going on which is normal for a nineteen year old but doesn't work so well for an officer. That's probably why nineteen year olds aren't sent to officer training right after being inducted, along with a thousand other good reasons. It seems that it only takes six months or so to turn a high schooler into a soldier and a skilled fighter and an officer ready to lead troops twice his age into battle. Again I blame video games.
The interservice rivalry is more extreme than I can picture a functioning military able to sustain. Higher ranking officers are all political animals but I suspect that they are more cunning and less obvious as a rule, when pushing an agenda. The book's military also lacks logical force separations and mission statements. I blame video games.
The tech is interesting if uneven. The interspecies politics are sketchy and the aliens are two dimensional if you're being generous. The tactics and weaponry will be hard to design. It's not a serious description of future war but I'm interested in seeing where the writer goes with this.
I don't like battles between humans much but I do love bad aliens being fought by tough minded troops from earth. The wars being fought by drones for the most part seems far fetched.
I can't picture how that works with currently imaginable tech or how it affects a human society creating such a war fighting force.
Some of the technology is interesting but it seems unevenly applied. It is what I imagine a video game might mash together. The earth defense forces are structured to support that vision but are stereotypically divided into mutually warring clans of warfare specialists. Navy snubs ground troops, drone operators cozy up to naval officers but don't really understand war, etc. That last one actually does seem to reflect current practice but you get my meaning, I hope.
It's always disappointing to read honor, integrity and selflessness written into the character dialogue. A little of that goes a long way. Few armies that I've read about really reflected those principles, the most recent exceptions that I can think of being the Soviet Red Army, the PLA of China and the Kurdish peshmerga troops.
The hero has a "I like this girl, I like that girl" thing going on which is normal for a nineteen year old but doesn't work so well for an officer. That's probably why nineteen year olds aren't sent to officer training right after being inducted, along with a thousand other good reasons. It seems that it only takes six months or so to turn a high schooler into a soldier and a skilled fighter and an officer ready to lead troops twice his age into battle. Again I blame video games.
The interservice rivalry is more extreme than I can picture a functioning military able to sustain. Higher ranking officers are all political animals but I suspect that they are more cunning and less obvious as a rule, when pushing an agenda. The book's military also lacks logical force separations and mission statements. I blame video games.
The tech is interesting if uneven. The interspecies politics are sketchy and the aliens are two dimensional if you're being generous. The tactics and weaponry will be hard to design. It's not a serious description of future war but I'm interested in seeing where the writer goes with this.
January 5, 2018
A pretty good book, I liked the characters, nicely developed. Did not really like the "creatures" seemed a little comic book type of creatures. I will read the sequel...overall, a good read
June 7, 2020
Gets 2 stars because I finished the book and another star for a coherent story. Not my style for the remainder. Some books just don't gel for me but others can love.
April 14, 2017
Amazing
How badly someone can write military SF. This is a how-to book in bad writing.
Apparently, a fresh high school graduate with a mere two weeks of indoctrination can be assigned the rank of ensign and sent to officer's school, where in four weeks he will learn all the leadership he needs...as the only "legendary Recon Marine" (direct quote from the book while he and the other new ensigns - all of whom are going into other branches - are being briefed on the structure of the military).
Five hundred rounds per person per day for two weeks is excessive for rifle training. Especially if they start on the first day of boot camp with no weapons experience. And they will never use that weapon again in the fleet.
You load magazines, not clips. And a 50rd mag is unwieldy.
A shuttle to orbit that launches from a rail shouldn't need booster rockets...and certainly shouldn't dispose of them...and definitely shouldn't be using them to move one boot ensign to orbit who hasn't even learned the rank structure.
The most inefficiently run military training scheme ever.
Worse, I am 1/4 into the book and I still don't really know who the character is!! So far, he is just a POV who volunteered for glory. He's a complete non-entity. Barely any dialogue. Doesn't seem to have any agency.
I try not to get upset when people write about the military without knowing a lot about it. But when you attempt to describe an entire military force structure as part of the book...you really need to know how these things work. It's worse than Star Trek's rank muddle.
This is bad. The fact it's supposed to be a series makes it worse.
How badly someone can write military SF. This is a how-to book in bad writing.
Apparently, a fresh high school graduate with a mere two weeks of indoctrination can be assigned the rank of ensign and sent to officer's school, where in four weeks he will learn all the leadership he needs...as the only "legendary Recon Marine" (direct quote from the book while he and the other new ensigns - all of whom are going into other branches - are being briefed on the structure of the military).
Five hundred rounds per person per day for two weeks is excessive for rifle training. Especially if they start on the first day of boot camp with no weapons experience. And they will never use that weapon again in the fleet.
You load magazines, not clips. And a 50rd mag is unwieldy.
A shuttle to orbit that launches from a rail shouldn't need booster rockets...and certainly shouldn't dispose of them...and definitely shouldn't be using them to move one boot ensign to orbit who hasn't even learned the rank structure.
The most inefficiently run military training scheme ever.
Worse, I am 1/4 into the book and I still don't really know who the character is!! So far, he is just a POV who volunteered for glory. He's a complete non-entity. Barely any dialogue. Doesn't seem to have any agency.
I try not to get upset when people write about the military without knowing a lot about it. But when you attempt to describe an entire military force structure as part of the book...you really need to know how these things work. It's worse than Star Trek's rank muddle.
This is bad. The fact it's supposed to be a series makes it worse.
April 28, 2017
Enjoyed very much!
I thought this novel was very well written with a lot of imagination I enjoyed reading very much. Would like to see the next book soon.
I thought this novel was very well written with a lot of imagination I enjoyed reading very much. Would like to see the next book soon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews