Review: The Europan Deception by Ryan M. Patrick

Blurb:

In the shadow of Mars’ crimson dunes and the icy depths of Europa, a conspiracy older than humanity itself threatens to unravel the galaxy. Mark Clancy, a former starfighter pilot turned covert operative, is thrust into a deadly game when a cyber weapon capable of crippling the galactic Net falls into the wrong hands. Pursued by ruthless assassins and betrayed by those he trusts, Clancy, aided by two women from his shattered past, races across the stars—from the chaotic markets of Zhongnanhai to the orbit of Io—to stop a shadowy cabal known as the Remnant. With time running out, he must unravel their ancient secrets, tied to the lost civilization of Atlantis, before they plunge humanity into chaos. A first-in-series sci-fi thriller that's perfect for fans of The Expanse and The Bourne Identity!

Review:

It feels a bit much to admit, but "The Europan Deception" by Ryan M. Patrick is the first book I finished in 2025. Life, with its delightful chaos (and my own writing), made me a rather slow reader at the year's start. But this book... it really grabbed me. I was lucky enough to get an ARC, initially to give beta feedback. But time marched on, and that turned into a full-on review. And I'm genuinely thrilled I finally got to experience this story.

A Satisfying Void-Filler

Let me be clear: if you've felt a certain emptiness, like a void left by The Expanse series, this book might just hit the spot. It's that good. Patrick skillfully crafts a story that captures the intricate political maneuvering we loved in Corey's books, and yet it feels fresh and unique.

We're thrown into a compelling situation with some great characters. There's this high-ranking government operative, a sort of space-age spymaster, overseeing a network of agents. Then, we have two younger, undercover operatives, and their stories weave together to form the heart of the narrative. We see things from these three viewpoints, which are separate at first, but gradually come together to reveal a huge, galaxy-spanning conspiracy.

Intrigue and Action, Done Right

The pacing here is just right. Patrick doesn't waste words. The dialogue is sharp, the intrigue is strong, and the hand-to-hand combat is almost like watching a movie. I found myself completely drawn in, on the edge of my seat, asking the same questions as the characters, sharing their unease and their desperate need for answers.

The two younger agents find themselves framed, caught in a web of false accusations, and their struggle to figure out who's after them, to uncover the truth, is gripping. You're right there with them, wondering who to trust and what's really going on.

Familiar Echoes, But It's Its Own Thing

You can see echoes of other great stories here. I couldn't help but notice a nod to Tom Clancy (one of the characters shares a similar name), with its web of conspiracies, espionage, and betrayal. But Patrick takes these familiar elements and makes them his own, setting them against the backdrop of a future where humanity has spread across not just our solar system, but many planets beyond.

It's a grand, sweeping vision – think The Winter Soldier, but on a cosmic scale. We travel from Mars to Earth, to Io, and to other far-flung colonies. It's a journey that feels like a high-stakes 007 adventure, but with a scope that takes in entire worlds.

Humanity's Divided Future, Explored

One of the most interesting things about the book is how Patrick looks at how humanity has changed – and yet stayed the same – through space colonization. We get to see how diverse cultures have taken root on these new worlds. European countries have their own colonies, and so do nations from Africa. The United States has its own areas of influence, too.

Each colony reflects its origins back on Earth, shaped by the culture and values of the nations that founded it. And, as you'd expect, the relationships between these colonies and their "home" countries are complex, often with a lot of tension. This world-building is rich and detailed, and it really adds depth and nuance to the central conspiracy.

The Atlantis Connection

The conspiracy itself has roots in a fascinating idea: the myth of Atlantis. In Patrick's future, Atlantis was real, and its legacy has significantly shaped human technology and history. While this is an intriguing concept, it's also, perhaps, the one area where I felt the book could have explored things a bit more.

The connection to Atlantis, while definitely there, feels a bit поверхностный in this first book. The origin of the conflict, the heart of the conspiracy, is revealed mainly through dialogue, with the "bad guys" explaining the ancient history. Personally, I wanted more. I wanted to see more of this history, to really get a sense of its impact.

I've got a feeling this is intentional. Given that this is the first book in what looks like it's going to be a long series, I imagine we'll uncover more of the Atlantis story as we go. But in this book, I was left wanting more. There's a sense of ominous foreshadowing, with characters hinting at deeper truths, but these hints remain pretty vague.

Character Quirks and Growth

The main characters are all highly competent, skilled individuals. Their conflicts aren't about getting new skills, but about dealing with the emotional fallout from what's happened to them in the past. Each character is grappling with the repercussions of past events, and their journey is about coming to terms with that past, and finding a way to move forward.

I liked this focus on their internal, emotional development. These characters are shaped by what they've been through, and their struggles to understand how those experiences have affected them, and how to make their way in the future, are pretty compelling. The author does a good job of showing the weight of their pasts, and how these internal conflicts affect them.

However, I did find that some of this character development was conveyed through dialogue and internal monologue in a somewhat linear way. At times, it felt as though the necessary information was being delivered to the reader, rather than being revealed naturally through the story. For example, when a character is described as being "overwhelmed by negative emotions," it feels a bit broad and superficial. We see the effects of these emotions in the character's actions, but I wanted a deeper look at their specific nature.

A Small Issue in a Big Story

This, though, is a minor issue. It's probably just down to my personal reading preferences. I tend to gravitate towards stories with more nuanced character development, like The Expanse, where the characters' internal growth unfolds gradually and organically over the course of the narrative.

In "The Europan Deception," the fast-paced, action-driven plot sometimes feels a bit at odds with the desire for more in-depth character exploration. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a stylistic choice, and it works pretty well within the context of the story.

Final Thoughts

All in all, "The Europan Deception" is a triumph. It's a thrilling, engaging, and thought-provoking science fiction novel that delivers on what it sets out to do. The plot is intricate, the world-building is expansive, and the characters, while maybe not as deeply explored as I might have liked, are still compelling and relatable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a five-star read, and I really think you should check it out. If you're a fan of science fiction, political thrillers, or just plain great storytelling, you won't be disappointed.