Vanguard Strike is the first book in the military space opera series Paragon Space, written by Jarom Strong and published by Second Sky Books. A fast-paced and action packed heist esque story full of found family vibes while also examining the weight of the past, with a well-built world that remembers me a bit of the Halo series.

Lax was a Vanguard, a mutated soldier made to destroy; discharged after the Paragon won the war, he became a vulture until a disastrous run ended with his crew dying and him landing in a prison. Now, an old friend has contacted him for a new job; when the things in the prison get really hard for Lax, he decides to take the opportunity, embarking into a new adventure filled of violence, old friends and politics, bringing him close to the moment that broke his life. If the mission goes well, it will mean retiring in peace for the rest of their lives, but keeping all alive will be proven more difficult than they expected.

Lax, himself, is a really fine main character; well-layered, we get to know more about his past through flashbacks and nightmares. It is difficult to not empathize with his story, being a soldier used and thrown by the system, and you can see how he genuinely cares about the rest of the crew. They don't shine as much as Lax, but all of them are likeable in their way, from Rose, trying to get out of the shadow of her mother, to Artemis, following her father's dream; at the end, they are all together in an almost suicidal mission, so the bond between the group appears naturally.

As previously said, the notion of a big corporation enhancing and controlling super human soldiers gives me big vibes of the Halo saga, but with a more ambitious worldbuilding, as Strong takes the opportunity to develop the politics behind the space. The science part is really accessible, opting for a plainer language. 
The pacing is fast, keeping you on the edge of your seat for most of the narration; however, I have to say that I found confusing how certain flashbacks are introduced without any time mark. Overall, still an enjoyable experience.

Vanguard Strike is a promising starter for an ambitious military space opera series; perfect if you are looking for an action packed proposal with a pinch of found family. I'm curious to see how the series continues from this first instalment, and luckily for me, the rest of the books are already published!