A broken soldier leaves the battlefield for home but finds peace a struggle in a beautifully written novel tackling the topic of PTSD.

Every chapter begins with a poem written by the author, Jacob Paul Patchen. I admit that took longer for me to realize than it probably should have, but it made so much sense when I did. The prose within the novel itself is almost lyrical at points, poetic even. Especially when JP is struggling with a nightmare, waking or otherwise. In fact, the strongest parts of the novel lie there, in the character’s personal battle to heal. If that focus had stayed there, in more than one way, I think this would have been hands down a must-read for me.

Head-hopping, or the jumping of point of view from one character to another often in the middle paragraphs or without breaks, sometimes led to an issue with clarity especially in later chapters. In addition, the story drastically shifts gears in such a way that it feels like there are actually two books here pushed into one. Some of it is the length of the story itself, and how far into the novel that shift happens (and that the conflict is very much continuing in a second book). I’d also make the argument that the addition of that last bit also cheapens some of JP’s story and struggle. On a personal note, I’ve never been a fan of flash-forward first chapters or prologues. After the first scene, we go back in time a year and only catch up to the present depicted in the novel at around page 333. Having that scene at the beginning spoils some of the conflicts JP goes through and turns so much of the story into a giant flashback.

All too often, people shy away from topics because they hurt to talk or think about. Trauma and loss, especially where it concerns our veterans, are unfortunately one of those topics. So for an author as skilled as Patchen at conveying emotion through the written word to tackle a novel about PTSD is amazing. I’m not sure I can say I enjoyed what the characters went through considering the subject matter, but I was thoroughly invested in their story and am eager to see what happens in the next book of the series.

No Pistol Tastes the Same is available to buy on the author’s website or on Amazon.

Verdict:

READABLE