Talisman: Nexus by Aaron Ryan is set after Earth survives near extinction at the hands of an alien force, where former soldier Liam Mayfield lives in isolation, bound to the power of Aeterium Axis. When his sons Joseph and Carson are taken, the abduction draws Liam back into a fight that extends far beyond Earth. The captor, Arion, driven by loss and betrayal, uses Liam in a long-simmering dispute with the same force that empowered him. As events clash in the Arctic, a journalist named Onyx Sleater reveals a talisman that enables a new convergence central to the unfolding confrontation. With governments compromised, families exposed, and powers maneuvering from the shadows, Liam must decide where loyalty ends and responsibility begins as the fate of those closest to him hangs in the balance.

Aaron Ryan’s Nexus is the second book in the Talisman series, picking up on the heels of book one, Subterfuge. This is a science fiction novel of extraordinary ambition and polish, presenting a future shaped by alien intervention, political fallout, and moral outcomes. The title refers to the talismans as physical anchors of power and to the living junction through which destinies intersect. This is sweeping speculative fiction at its finest, both in its unique premise and Ryan's crisp, polished style of writing. I love the tech that drives teleportation, temporal distortion, and surveillance, but it's the sentient talisman network that dominates. The world-building is immense, and we see society operating through hidden refuges, improvised tribunals, and fragile civilian enclaves in a totally believable hierarchy. There is a massive twist and a brilliant ending that promises more to come, and overall, this is a series I will keep sinking my teeth into.

Talisman: Nexus by Aaron Ryan follows the fate of Liam “Foxy” Mayfield, whose life takes a completely different turn when he becomes the Talisman, a vigilante imbued with the powers needed to save the world and his family. After the tragic passing of his beloved wife, Janine, his two sons were abducted by a fierce nemesis of Liam’s, known as The Zorander, who is set to destroy the world and everyone in it to get his revenge. Liam has to step up and not just confront him, but beat him. However, as he becomes suspicious of the Aeterium Axis, an alien race with whom he had a deal, Liam starts reconsidering his role in saving the world. Will he be able to see who his enemy is, or will he succumb to the aliens’ demands before The Zorander destroys everyone? The clock is ticking for Liam and his loved ones.

Aaron Ryan has created an amazing sci-fi world that is built on fascinating details and multilayered characters. Liam’s emotional state of mind is so well described that one can feel the anger, the revenge, and the love he is experiencing throughout his quest. The situations become dynamic, relatable, and tangible, instilled with a vortex of close relationships and characters who are connected through tragedy. It is easy to get lost in this vast, but claustrophobic world where nothing is as it seems. Talisman: Nexus will transport the reader to a whole new dimension, full of secrets, vigilantes, and aliens, and will make them a vital part of Liam’s story.