Ten Sigma

Ten Sigma #1

by A.W. Wang

In future America, the downloaded people in the Ten Sigma Program fight endless battles. The struggles span all possibilities: face-offs with knives and clubs, skirmishes as Roman legionaries, pitched WW1 trench warfare, duels with ultra-modern hypersonic weapons, and everything in between. The combatants who live are rewarded with another battle until they reach the unreachable score of ten sigmas. Those who die are expunged from the system, gone forever. The methods, so harsh they go beyond anything possible in the real world, are necessary for the end goal: violent evolution to produce the greatest warriors in all of human history.

Who would choose such a fate?

Those with no hope.

On a wintry night, a government representative presents Mary, who is dying of incurable cancer, with the offer: a second chance at life and for those completing the requirements, a return to the real world in a fresh, healthy body. To save her family from bankrupting medical bills, she accepts.

After her consciousness is transferred into the virtual universe of the program, her essence is ripped apart and her memories shattered. She’s reassembled as the perfect killer.

As the life-and-death contests begin, she discovers the true nature of what lies ahead. But, she won’t surrender to the impossible and grimly embarks on the journey to return to her family while trying to save her soul.

Mature readers only: intense combat, graphic violence, horror elements, some sex, some language.

Genres: Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Horror, Fiction, Dystopia

470 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2019

About the author

A. W. Wang is an enthusiast for studying military history and enjoys reading all genres, especially science fiction and fantasy. In his adolescent years, he exercised his mind by playing strategy games and his body by running around a soccer field.
After letting his small amount of talent in computer programming hijack his post-college years, his life’s journey has taken him back to his first true dream - writing science fiction and fantasy stories.
Besides the usual forms of mundane entertainment, his scant time outside of writing is spent going on ocean cruises and entertaining the cat, whom he is (of course) allergic to.

Reviews

[Anna Mocikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily one of the best Sci-Fi books I have ever read.
The incredibly talented author, A.W. Wang, has created a masterpiece of Sci-Fi/Cyberpunk. This fact is even more astonishing, regarding that Ten Sigma is his debut novel.

In a not so distant future, society as we knew it is on the brink of destruction. To face the rising challenges, the government has created a program named Ten Sigma, which has the goal of creating perfect super-soldiers.
Scientists seek out exceptional candidates who have nothing to lose and upload their consciousness into virtual reality. There the volunteers have to pass a program that will only let the very best survive…

I don’t even want to go deeper into the story than that, as it is so intelligent and well-written that everyone should experience it for themselves.
The reader will meet an ensemble of very well-developed characters. Brin, the heroine and main character, is a fascinating woman of incredible mental strength. She’s the perfect female action-heroine: badass and ready to stand up for what is right. Readers who enjoy strong female leads will love Brin.

My favorite character, however, was Syd. He’s the villain of the story. Intelligent, cunning, and evil to the core. A character with a lot of depth and many layers. I was intrigued.
As the author states himself, this book is for adults. I agree with that 100%, and it’s something I enjoyed very much about the novel. There is a lot of action in the story, as well as violence and sex, and some moments left me breathless. However, A.W. Wang never uses any of it without reason. Everything that happens in this book has importance to the whole story, which is excellent writing only very few authors master nowadays.

Ten Sigma is like “Matrix” meets “Gantz” meets “Battle Royale”.
An amazing, unique story that will make you fly through the pages, with every chapter more exciting than the previous.
Ten Sigma is the first book in a series, and I can’t wait for more!

[A.C. Merkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book that partially wasn’t exactly for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I said it’s great right?
There are no partial stars. So. This is definitely a high mid 4 im rounding to five

Here’s the reason. I tended to fall behind/out during the ‘scenarios’. I don’t do military history (despite a great love of history otherwise) so I felt I was missing out. This isn’t completely fair to knock the book for. It’s my blind spot. And the author has clearly done their research. Maybe I also thought I was coming into a military scifi which would have other kinds of future tech battles? I found myself wondering at times why the Ten Sigma program needed to battle the Huns, for example. Or rescue what appeared to be the approximation of a 16th century royal family? Some of that didn’t exactly add up for me. I fully admit that not having ever been able to sit through a war movie pretty much means I wasn’t the intended audience for these segments.

Military history disconnects aside,
There’s so much to love here. I did enjoy the black and red thread angle. Clever and a great visual.
Being in Brin’s mind is a treat. She’s hanging on and fighting hard and I adored her. She’s snarky, dry and definitely a hero/survivor despite her own reservations.
Syd is just an insanely good antagonist. Enough so that I kind of regret not spending chapters in his mind as well. Maybe next time (is there a loophole? Please say there’s a loophole)
The avatars add a level of both creep factor and fun.
I grew deeply attached to the other characters as well as seen through Brin’s eyes and feel her loss (and my own) as they dwindle.

The 7 sigma with the names in her arm moved me more than I want to admit.

The mysteries are revealed with the panache of a solid mystery writer. Even if one of the answers was mildly disappointing. That’s life though, some things simply are, and they aren’t some shocking twist.

I’m definitely on board for the next book. And will come into it with the proper expectations.

[Jacob Klop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Ten Sigma and would particularly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Ender's Game. The first couple of chapters did a good job of setting up the world but the novel really takes off when the setting moves into the virtual world. The action scenes are extraordinarily well written and the author does a nice job of keeping you wondering how the story is going to end. The main character is likeable and I was cheering for her throughout the novel, although there was a minor issue with bringing out the personalities of some of the supporting character, other than the main villain, who was quite strong.

Minor spoilers ahead.

Most of the threads are tied up by the end of the story, although I wasn't fully satisfied that my biggest question was resolved. 'Why the perfect Ten Sigma warrior is needed in our world.' That said, this is the first book in the series, and I've been left with a hook to get the next book, which I definitely plan to buy.

Over-all, I was thrilled with this read and highly recommend it.

[Tanweer Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Military Sci-Fi, you'll love 'Ten Sigma' by A. W. Wang.

Part Hunger Games, part Ready Player One and part The Matrix, 'Ten Sigma' takes you on a brutal and unforgettable journey into a virtual military training program designed to find a peerless warrior.

Despite its brutal and explicit nature, 'Ten Sigma' opens with an all too relatable human story of love and loss. From there, Wang takes us into a virtual world through the eyes of the protagonist, Mary, who has to accustom herself to an entirely new body and an entirely new existence.

This book probably won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy action, suspense, intrigue and a determined heroine, you'll definitely find a lot to like here. Although Cyberpunk in concept, it is more military in content. But I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end (and the ending was very well done). May well pick up more books in this series...

[M.E. Aster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Sigma is an intense read that left me desperate for the sequel!

I honestly wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I started this book, but I ended up barely being able to put it down.

Wang does an amazing job of splicing together historical facts with a science fiction plot, making a story that I have never read the likes of.

But what really impressed me was Wang’s ability to write multiple battle scenes without them ever growing boring or repetitive. This is definitely an author to watch!

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/5

TEN SIGMA is a dark psychosexual story of a woman recruited into a super soldier serum as an alternative to dying of cancer. Mary, later renamed Brin, hates being a burden to her husband and niece but is clearly not getting any better while also inflicting deep financial woe on her family. The Ten Sigma program promises to pay off all of her family's debts and also give them a nest egg to survive what is apparently the imminent collapse of the United States.

One of my only problems with this premise is the fact that the book says "all the free stuff" is what's caused the collapse of the United States. Ignoring the economic questions of this, I'm pretty sure that most countries get away with socialized medicine and don't collapse. Here, it's clear that there's no "free stuff" for Mary regarding her cancer treatment and the plot can't advance without her financial ruin so I'm going to say this is the book's only plot hole.

Anyway, Mary finds herself digitally uploaded to a virtual reality world where she has to advance through the ranks of a punishing series of war games against countless scenarios. If she dies during the battle, she's deleted from the program. This is not Lit-RPG though and it is a staggering story of psychological damage and conditioning as Mary (now Brin) has her memories erased of her past life while being turned into a murderous killing machine.

Her teammates include the psychopath Syd, the old woman now young Suri, and a deeply troubled man named Walt. Everything other than orders is gradually erased from their mind with a large focus given on the fact that they are to be rendered sexless. Removing the libido from a computer program is probably very easy but leaves lasting psychological scars as one of the primary drives of human relationships vanishes from people who were not Ace in the first place.

Much of the book is Brin's struggle to reach Ten Sigma and "graduate" from the hideous program that seems like a combination of the SPARTAN II program from HALO and John Scalzi's OLD MAN'S WAR. It is an objectively evil thing but the author treats their horrific abuse dispassionately, which makes it even more effective. I got some serious SQUID GAMES vibes from the book and if you like the horrifying contests from that series then you'll almost certainly enjoy this book.

Speaking of which, this is a book that will certainly not be for everyone. In addition to the relentless punishing violence our heroine is forced to endure, there's also a lot of terrifying scenes dealing with sex, torture, and threat of rape. Syd is a horrific monster and the only one who can experience any form of sexual gratification, which he associates with killing as well. Charming guy. Needless to say, he tries to get our heroine into his clutches several times. If that causes you to nope the frick out then I don't blame you.

A.W Wang does an excellent job of making you sympathize with Mary/Brin through her horrific ordeal. They have a grasp on how to make the most mundane and normal memories seem like treasures beyond price as they're gradually slipping away in the deadening monotony of their training. If I have any complaints, it's the fact that the program isn't treated with quite the level of abject horror that it should be from most people but they've been brainwashed to serve it so it's understandable.

This is not the kind of novel you want to read if you don't want to get in the absolute grimmest areas of the human psyche even with a sympathetic protagonist but it is definitely well-written as well as exciting for those who like their science fiction dark as midnight.

[Britni Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense military

Ten Sigma by Andrew Wang is a bit of a strange creature. Science fiction, military, thriller, psychodrama.

Something to satisfy every fan, I guess.

Science fiction, in that it deals with a future world, an extension of our own, where war, division, climate change, inequality, and poverty rule. A woman dying of cancer, facing a bleak future, is confronted by a mysterious government agent, who offers a strange bargain: in return for settling the debts of her family, she is to offer her consciousness in service through a military cyber program.

This book is the story of that service. Our protagonist has her being hoovered up and her consciousness recreated in a software world where she joins a squad of fellow novices in training through increasingly difficult battle simulations in pursuit of the fabled ten sigma level of capability.

I was impressed by the military scenarios described. Ranging across the ages, weapon types, situations of attack, defence, patrol and so on, each chapter was something new. Axes, knives, energy weapons. Islands, ruined cities, castles, abstract terrain; every battle is a fresh one.

And – and here is the brilliance of the author – each situation was perfectly clear. I found no difficulty in following the complicated actions of the various characters and squads. At each stage, the choices facing the protagonist were clear. Often unorthodox tactics were required for success. Sometimes unorthodox arms.

Each battle is readable, exciting, and tense.

The individual actions are thrilling, but also the entire story. How is the protagonist going to navigate the meta-battle? And what is it?

There are wheels within wheels. Mysteries are presented to the reader, and gradually deepened before being resolved. I was in the dark until close to the end, but if I were to read through again, I might pick up on more hints. Reader, don’t skim this. Every word is important.

And ultimately, the biggest and best battle is inside the character’s head. What are the values of this strange new cyberworld? What drives the other characters? What do you cling to as the real world recedes? What tools can be found to make life – or death – easier and more palatable?

Our protagonist is faced with any number of dilemmas. Relating to their past self, what the future might hold, the various battle scenarios, the question of leadership, friendship, enmity. And sex. As an aside, the questions of sexual attraction and perversion, rape and torture emerge as a major plot feature. Ultimately whoever deals with these questions best, determines who the reader is rooting for.

Perhaps a little predictably, the story eventually renders down to a one-on-one knife-edge struggle where the main themes are presented as determining factors.

As a story, it is a deft and gripping narrative. Once hooked, the reader is bound to finish the book. There may be perhaps a little too much tension, and perhaps not enough relief, but overall it is very well paced. The various subplots develop and are resolved, and in total, it is a richly woven tale.

Five stars for an excellent science fiction military tale. Not quite Starship Troopers for action, nor Ender’s Game for clarity, but it hits a high standard indeed.

A couple of warnings. There are scenes of sex, forced sex, and torture. Nothing openly obscene or detailed, but the reader will be in no doubt as to what is happening. Likewise the violence of battle. There is blood, bones breaking, body parts severed, intestines cascading, Not a book for the gentle soul.

Nothing gratuitous, though. The scenes fit into the narrative, and the stress is vital to keep the protagonist focussed on the importance of their choices. The reader is obliged to follow along on every mission, every decision, every slash and kick and gunshot.

I devoured this book. You will too.

[Cass Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would call this book a mix of “Ender’s Game” meets “The Hunger Games” but for a more mature, adult audience. Once Mary enters into the Ten Sigma program the book flies by! It’s action, turning points, and more action. The characters are each unique and interesting, and the scenarios show the depth of research into military history.

Within all of the action and excitement is the undercurrent of self examination. What does it takes to become a good weapon? What do you have to sacrifice, and what parts of yourself can you keep?

The writing is polished, smooth, and gripping. I would re-read this book again. Very excited for the next book to come out.

[E.H. Night · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, the plot was very unique. I don't recall having ever read anything with a similar storyline. I enjoyed the build.
The author used just enough description to really draw the reader into each of the scenes without distracting from the action itself.
The build leading up to all of the action was really interesting too. The character's backstory made it easy to care about her and all that she was going through. Props to the author for this.
I found myself turning page after page (or I should say, poking each page [kindle]), full of excitement and wonder. This is one of the best, or probably even THE best indie novel I've read all year.

[Holly Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait for the sequel. I don't read military science often, but this one was SO well done. The final fight was a but long for my fluffy-bunny-story preferences buttttt the character development, the dehumanization, the struggle, all of it...it kept me up till 330 in the morning while my brain kept promising, for hours, it couldn't be any later than 1am. If you love seeing a character truly transformer in a plot that is thought out from beginning to end, a world that is world developed, and a sci-fi concept that is realistic and has constructed rules that don't leave you questioning things, and if you don't mind violence, read this. You won't regret it.

[Destiny Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Hell, I Loved It!

I'm not big on Sci-fi and I find long/multiple battles daunting to read through but I loved this book. I loved the setup of it all. I loved the twists towards the end. I loved how the graphic violence was handled as characters lost their grips on humanity. The detail that the writer puts into experiences that are foreign to all living beings makes the virtual word that seem very real.

I look forward to reading the next book. It's not my preferred genre but the write is amazing.

[H.M. Sandlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Ten Sigma was a great read. Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to stop. The author has done an amazing job of bringing the story to life. I can’t wait to read book two.

[C.D. Tavenor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten Sigma: A Military Science Fiction Novel by A. W. Wang, tells an intriguing story based on a simple premise at its core. It asks: “What if the military could train supersoldiers by putting human minds through a virtual gauntlet of thousands of battles inside a super-computer?”

Science fiction is designed, as a genre, to ask questions like this one. Consider a real (or hypothetical) technology, and explore human interaction/reaction to it. In Ten Sigma, Wang identifies a compelling SciFi idea, crafts a character and story to fit the mold, and focuses the narrative for over 400 pages.

At this point in the review, I should provide Content Warnings. Not for the review, but for Wang’s book. The story includes intense violence and sexual content, including sexual violence. So if the question posed intrigues you, be prepared to deal with some particularly visceral scenes.

So let’s talk about Brin, the central character of Ten Sigma. Thrust into a virtual world in an effort to escape pain—in an effort to give her family a better life—she must navigate a world where the goal is to become the best. A Ten Sigma. Moving up the ranks, fighting battles, that’s the only choice anyone has.

But not everyone in the virtual world has the same goals. She wants to find a way out to reach her family again. Others revel in the violence.

I don’t want to spoil too much of the book, but here’s what I’ll say overall before moving on to my scores. Ten Sigma is a brutal story. It’s raw. And it’s long. For my tastes, maybe a tad too long, but I understand the need for length in a tale like this. Brin’s journey isn’t supposed to be easy, so if the story started and ended in 200 pages, the stakes wouldn’t feel real. For 400 pages, the narrative drags Brin through these fights and scenarios, ensuring the reader understands, almost painfully so, how gruesome and harrowing her situation truly is.

Here’s the real highlight of Ten Sigma.

The words. The writing. The prose.

Wang has a talent for close-first-person-present-tense. I loved it. You’re in Brin’s head the whole time, and the words flowed on the page naturally and cohesively. The writing flows with the length of the book—readers will feel the pain of Brin stuck in this world for what feels like forever because you’re always in her head.

On to the scores!

Writing: 9/10. Loved it. As an editor, this is the type of writing a crave to see!

Plot: 7/10. I loved the core SciFi question, but I didn’t particularly enjoy how it pushed the question toward sexual violence.

Setting: 7/10. The virtual world as a place for military training is cool!

Characters. 8/10. In addition to Brin, a few really awesome characters stand out, and you’ll get attached to them quickly. Be wary—being attached to a character in Ten Sigma is dangerous.

Overall: 7.75/10. Four stars! I highly recommend for anyone looking for an AI/Virtual World/Military SciFi Thriller!

[Helen Whistberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written and pulse-pounding novel of speculative science fiction. Mary is fighting a terminal illness and dragging her family down into financial ruin as they desperately search for a treatment that will save her. She is offered the chance to leave her body behind and embark on a new life of sorts by having her consciousness placed into a newly constructed body within a virtual reality where scientists are attempting to create the ultimate soldier. Mary chooses to accept this chance in order to save her family from further hardship, an altruistic choice that foreshadows Mary's attempts to maintain her humanity and compassion after she is plunged into a brutal contest to earn her way back to the real world. There are echoes of the Hunger Games here, with the relentless fighting and struggle for survival against seemingly insurmountable odds. If wading into intricately described warfare with all the horror, death, and inhumanity that can entail is not your thing, you may want to skip this one, but I was impressed with how the author keeps the reader invested in the outcome of each skirmish and ultimately in Mary's struggles to balance the violence of her new calling with her deep desire to remain human. Lots of imagination and interesting world building with an antagonist who is truly chilling made this a winner for me. The only downside was I was left wondering why the world needs such a super soldier to begin with, but the ending of the book, while wrapping up the story in a satisfying way, promises a sequel that I hope will delve more into what has happened in the real world that demands this kind of extreme solution as a remedy. Thought-provoking take on what it means to be human, what makes us the unique person that we are, and what we'd be willing to do to survive for the chance of seeing the ones we love again.

[Jay R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read, but seldom give reviews. I like to talk about books and movies with people who have seen them, because I don't like to spoil someone's enjoyment. It's going to be tough for me to not spoil the book for you, because I liked it so much , and want to blather all about it.

The first comparison I will allude to is Old Man's War by John Scalzi. But Ten Sigma goes where Scalzi feared to tread. It quickly veered away form any possible direct comparison, to become its own novel.

I felt character development was conducive to the story, and not overly embellished where it was unwarranted. I think the protagonist is an everywoman that can be related to by most people.

I thought the use of foreshadowing was good. It also came from unexpected sources in the book. A seeming throw away line becomes an important point to the main character. Sometimes life is like that.

In many ways this novel reads like it was written within the genre of American Detective Fiction. So I rather expect to read a detective novel from the author in future. I wish I could say more, but that would shove me into spoiling the book for you.

The combat scenes were well written. The actions of the fighters were fluid, and fairly easy to follow along with the blows. Some authors leave me behind, and I'll have no idea who was doing what in which direction.

The action moves along, there isn't much time spent wool gathering. Sentences are constructed well for an action novel.

Best short version of why you should read this book, is that if you like military science fiction, and enjoy watching people make the hard choices, you should read this book.

[Aaron D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book I was seriously intrigued by all the characters and what was happening in the plot. It was written so well, perfect grammar and knowledge of every subject covered in the book.
I found myself at 50% through wanting to throw aside other activities so that I could carry on reading. But then further on I found that there was too much conflict, fighting, violence and gore for me. If you are someone who enjoys these 4 things you will love this book. I am the sort of person who when watching a film and the fighting starts (or car chases) gets up and makes a cup of tea. The problem is with a book nothing moves without attention. You come back with your cup of tea and you still have to read from where you left off.
My weird tastes in this direction should not detract from the excellence of this book but as a reviewer I felt I should warn you. I even felt that the man in the hat had not been completely honest in his offer. I was fairly sure that if offered a choice between what happened next and death I would be choosing death (and hoping that never happened.)
I am completely in awe of the writer of this book. I'm sure judging by the success of superhero movies there are enough people with the right tastes to make this book the roaring success it deserves to be.

[Mallory Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does it have to end?

When I reached the 85% mark while reading this book, I put it aside for a few days. Not because I lost interest but because I didn't want the story to end. Brin is such an incredible character and the story has such depth that I am not looking forward to the empty stretch of time between now and the release of the next book. 


The raw emotion begins immediately and grows in intensity as Brin fears losing her humanity in the face of the brutal Ten Sigma program. Each character, major and minor, reflects a new facet of Brin and, by extension, all of us. My heart broke with her losses. 


The villain of the story was impeccably crafted. His progression into true evil rang true, and he is a villain that I don't simply hate because he's the bad guy but because he represents the face of evil authentically. 


I'm not a fan of battle scenes typically but Wang writes them in such a way that I was never bored, or confused. The pacing of this story was perfect with not a single moment where I wanted to skim through. The imaginative creation of each unique scenario was a thrill to read. 


Like I said, I did not want it to end! I can't wait to read the rest of the series. 

[Dibz Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well drawn, compelling story with a wonderful narrative voice.

This book hooked me in right from the first Chapter -- I completely identified with the lead character, and her ‘ordinary world’ problems before her journey begins are both heartbreaking and completely relatable for (I would think) the vast majority of the population.
The author’s vision across this story is crystal clear thanks to his beautiful narrative style, but it doesn’t feel pretentious -- which to me, is winning.
Plot wise, the story really moves and doesn’t feel like reading the large volume it is and seeing this story from what I consider a unique character viewpoint for this genre was a genius move as far as I’m concerned.
It kept me on my toes throughout and I completely love this book, these characters and the heart and message on these pages.
Ten Sigma is without a doubt the best independently published novel I’ve read and I hope it will go on to get the recognition it deserves which is why I have taken the time to write this review. Kudos Mr Wang -- I look forward to reading more of your work.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed A.W. Wang's novel, Ten Sigma. He has a great grasp of descriptive prose, and weaves a highly enjoyable enjoyable tale. The main character, Mary/Brin is well written and compelling, which is always the most important thing for me.

As with most great sci-fi, there's an element of the moral argument to be found here. Unlike some novels in the genre, it seeps out of every pore of this story. It's the true fiber of the tale, which makes the entire book feel like so much more than just the sum of it's parts. I loved it, and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Eve Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began this book when I had very little time to read , sometimes I only had about 20 minutes to read, and even then it caught me up in a world far from my norm and took me for a great ride, I cannot wait for the next book, I need to know what will happen to Mary/Brin. I very much recommend this book

[Stitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are staring death in the eye would you grab a lifeline? The big question is whether it is worth it?

[Jean-Charles Garaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Sigma Series, Book 1, by A. W. Wang
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It was my first attempt at a novel from A. W. Wang, who here tells the tale of Mary a young woman with a congenital disability, suffering from cancer in a terminal stage supported by Nick, her (over-optimistic) husband who is willing to get her through all imaginable treatments and sacrifices to help her survive if not recover, this being done at the expense of their/his financial survival.
Mary knows that, in spite of her ongoing fight, the battle is getting lost, at this time she receives a visit of unknown people from a secret government agency, coming with an unexpected proposal to join a so called Ten Sigma training program. The USA they say is on the brink of Collapse and the member of this Ten Sigma group are supposed to help the survivors to start all over again. The deal is that if she were to accept having her consciousness removed from her body, which would be left to die, she would get the opportunity to escape this world with perhaps (were she to attain the Ten Sigma level) the opportunity to come back in the world of real beings. As a counterpart her husband and her family would see their financial future secured and their debt, undersigned to help cure her, forgiven.
At first reluctant Mary recognizes that the proposal has some merits, although Mary has sworn to Nick that she’ll never give up fighting, joining this group will mean acquiring fighting skills to save what could be saved from their world, she finally accepts joining.
Since passing in this new ethereal world means losing your earthly memories, question for Mary who in her new state gets a new, perfect, body with a new name Brin, is if she should take the risk of forfaiting her humanity to achieve level ten….. Fighting to attain level 10 brings its load of dangers….
This is a fast pace novel, well written with some tragic situations. Unfortunately at no moment is there a description or an explanation for the failing world, at the end, we are left with a cliff hanger. I would advise it to adults. I enjoyed reading it and will certainly try Renegades the Book 2 in the Serie.

[S.C. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! But not for the faint of heart.

I usually don’t love books that are most fighting/action scenes. But this one is a major exception. It somehow managed to cram more battles into one book that I’ve ever read, and yet I was riveted by every scene.

Partly this is because Wang uses a variety of historical and science fiction battle scenarios (in simulated environments) so they are always different, with different goals/challenges. And partly this is because the character development and the dynamic between characters is so strong that it actually drives the action.

I was so impressed with the complexity of this plot, and in the end every last detail ends up being significant in some way. For a 400+ page novel this is extremely impressive! There was no filler at all. It was such a satisfying read.

But it is dark and gruesome, borderline horror in some scenes. Do definitely do not read this book if you don’t like that kind of thing.

[Iestyn Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Sigma is an original, captivating and thrilling novel. Well written with sharp, precise prose and great characterisation. I was drawn to the main protagonist from the off, and the descriptive text really brought her adventures and ordeals to life. A real page-turner that I was disappointed to finish! I’m already looking forward to the sequel: Ten Sigma ― Renegade.
All in all, an excellent read crammed full with battles, blood and non-stop action!

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this was a joy, the book is well thought out and really gives good depth to every detail. A few surprise moments with in the pages.
I really enjoyed this, glad I took the time to read it, once started i didn't want to put it down had to see what happens in the next chapter.

Looking forward to more from this author.

[Juan Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

An excellent sci- fi book, with a modern and different story.
You like scifi, war, trainings and the unexpected, prepare to read it many hours continually.
Congratulations to the author and awaiting for the second part of the story.

[Ceris Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read with a great plot line.
Although I struggled to connect with the main character and I thought that it was lacking description.

[Evelyn Chartres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten Sigma is a military science fiction novel written by indie author A.W. Wang. The story follows a terminally ill woman who signs what's left of her life away to a secret government program that exists within a virtual world.

She wakes up in a new environment and with a new body, unprepared for what they expect of her. The story focuses on the character's development in the Ten Sigma program, starting a loss of identity and humanity to forward the government's goal of creating the perfect warrior.

The book evokes thoughts of Harsh Realm (Series), The Forever War (Novel) and Unreal Tournament (Game). While there are numerous combat scenarios, A.W. Wang does an excellent job of varying the challenges to keep the prose fresh.

The story is very much character driven. Conflicts are many and often clouded in the mysteries of the virtual world. It all comes to light in the end, revealing a virtual world far more chaotic and nuanced than originally gleamed.

Ten Sigma is a solid read filled with rich detail, believable characters, and a compelling story. I found it hard to put the book down!

This quick read offers a satisfying ending to the virtual realm, and leaves it wide open for what happens in the great beyond. Curious? Check out Renegade.

[Davene Le · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story with a proper villain written into a masterfully designed world, which more than adequately paints the image of a hellish dystopian landscape. Ten Sigma is written by an immensely talented author. The book dives into what it means to level up, and is written for gamers and readers alike, especially those who enjoy horror and military fiction.

[Peter Ciesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralled with the storyline enticing me to read this in one session which is an automatic 5 star.
I enjoyed the story telling, the cadence of the plot, the main character Mary and her antagonists.

In bed I then thought about my fading memories to, such as they are. Mere mortals hopefully not Mary:-)