Breakaway is an action-packed dystopian thriller by J.A. McNally. Set in the near future, the story follows John Emmett, a medic for the southern army, who is trying to do his part to protect his lands and people from the relentless advance of the Federation. The United States has splintered into the North and South, with the North under the tyrannical rule of two invasive global powers from the Far East. Emmett has already lost his wife and daughter to the war, and now he fights for his own survival. After stumbling upon a journal on the battlefield, Emmett discovers it holds clues to the Federation's plans. He sets out on a treacherous mission to Brooklyn to rescue a woman who might provide the answers for the Federation's downfall. However, he must be wary of whom he can trust.

Breakaway is a gripping cautionary tale about survival and resistance. Author J.A. McNally draws inspiration from the growing social divide in America to spin a captivating yarn full of suspense, action, and political intrigue. Gritty and realistic, the narrative hooks you in from the get-go, and it's a non-stop thrilling ride from there. The pacing is relentless, and you won't put this book down until you've finished it in one sitting. McNally hits the nail on the head with his social commentary on the divisive nature of contemporary American politics and how third parties seek to exploit it for their own ends. Emmett is a fascinating protagonist. Haunted by the loss of his family, he wants to do the right thing even if it puts his own life at risk. It makes you want to root for him during high-stakes situations. If you enjoy dystopian war stories, you'll love this novel.

Breakaway by J. A. McNally is set in the near future. The United States is no more; it is a fractured, broken society with the Northeast controlled by Russian-backed separatists and the West Coast by Chinese-backed separatists. The Civil War is ongoing, and as in previous history, the South has broken away from the Union and is engaged in a bitter struggle to defend itself from incursion and, possibly, to find a way to reestablish the “Great Experiment” that was the United States. John Emmett and his family used to live in Brooklyn, New York, but as the lawlessness and terror in the north increased, John decided to relocate to the homeland of his forefathers in the South. When his wife and child went to visit their parents in New York, all hell broke loose in that city, and John now assumes they are dead. Serving as a medic in the South’s Army, he discovers a journal in a satchel on an old man’s body. The journal contains vital information on the North’s military plans and activities. John is tasked to return to New York and find the old man’s daughter, who has even more information vital to the South’s cause, and bring her back for interrogation. Thus begins John Emmett’s most dangerous mission of this conflict.

Breakaway is a chilling dystopian rendition of what a future United States could actually look like. Author J. A. McNally has so accurately portrayed the current direction of U.S. politicians, domestic and foreign policy, plus the intense polarization of society, that this story could almost be read as some form of future historical account. I appreciated the uncanny corollaries with what we see happening every day, especially with soldiers being turned against their own citizens and the appeasement and seeming embrace of autocratic leaders and dictatorial edicts within the United States of today. John Emmett is a fascinating character, driven by both his desire to atone for the loss of his family and his intense need to see an end to what he sees as the unnecessary and senseless destruction and killing. I appreciated his altruistic need to be a medic in the conflict and concentrate on saving lives rather than taking them, but with his willingness to use force to defend himself or his mission, he was in many ways the perfect operative for this task. The story is fast-paced, full of action, adventure, and tension, but there are also enough reflective moments to give the narrative warmth, humanity, and reason. I highly recommend this read.

Breakaway by J.A. McNally follows John Emmett, a weary American medic caught in the aftermath of a country torn apart by civil war and border zones. This hostility moves through shattered towns and makeshift frontlines. Haunted by the memory of his presumably dead family, Emmett holds fast to his sense of duty and hope for a better future. His destiny overlaps with Marisa Walker, a woman connected to his past. Emmett embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her and must trek through perilous territories filled with insurgents and Federation troops to do this. He finds a journal belonging to Marisa’s father, which holds secrets linked to the Federations that may help shape the country's fate. Can Emmett finish his mission even when war threatens to destroy everything that once brought meaning into his world?

Breakaway is an intriguing dystopian tale that explores the interconnected struggles of grief and political upheaval. This interplay is visibly seen as Emmett navigates a fractured America to rescue Marisa. The vivid depictions of devastated landscapes beautifully mirror the turmoil Emmett feels from the loss of his family. J.A. McNally also skillfully uses Emmett's story to expose how violence reshapes communities and personal bonds. Emmett’s thoughts on his family and his overall memories about the past anchor the emotional elements of the story. The author is a master of exploring relationships in the book. The bond between Emmett, Marisa, and other characters reveals the fragility of loyalty, trust, and betrayal—especially when an entire nation is consumed by civil war. In conclusion, this novel is an excellent illustration of themes like hope, morality, survival, and redemption. Very highly recommended.

In the dystopian thriller Breakaway by J.A. McNally, John Emmett, a medic and former soldier, moves through a post-thermo-nuclear Florida and the fractured United States during a war between the Federation and breakaway insurgents. Initially stationed in the south, he survives battlefield injuries, collects a critical journal belonging to Marisa Walker, and learns that she and her daughter, Alicia, are targets of the Federation. Emmett is tasked with traveling north through hostile territory, relying on Talbot’s network, underground tunnels, and guides Anzor and Vakha. Along the way, he evades patrols, crosses rivers, and infiltrates Manhattan in disguise, tracking Marisa with identification devices. To succeed, he must locate and rescue her, and together they must make a cautious, terrifying journey to deliver the intelligence to safeguard key information so millions might be spared.

Breakaway by J.A. McNally is a really thoughtful and intelligent speculative novel that, in a testament to McNally's skill as an author, immediately thrusts readers into a meticulously imagined and fast-changing world scarred by absolute conflict. John Emmett is a guy you want to root for, and I felt like I was right alongside him on a journey laden with a range of encounters, from confrontations with mercenaries to strategic maneuvers through hostile territory, all while he spins multiple plates in his duties as a medic and the personal objective that drives the plot. Marisa is an equal counterpart, and even though both have ties beyond the other, it's almost impossible not to deeply feel their growing reliance on each other and trust in each other. Overall, Breakaway is a fantastic read that brims with hope in the resilience of an America under attack and inspires curiosity with every move. Very highly recommended.