Raise the Stakes by O.E. Tearmann
Aces High, Jokers Wild 3

In a century or two…will the earth be a better place or will it have neared extinction. Will humans live longer healthier happier lives or will they be hanging on by their fingernails hoping for better world for the next generation. This book continues the series that looks at a group of WILDCARDS working as a military group aligned with insurgents doing their best to overthrow corporations that have taken over America. They are a group that I have come to know and love and find myself eagerly waiting to read the next book to find out what will happen next…and whether or not they will succeed against tyrants.

What I liked
* Aidan: commander of the base, good leader, admired by his team and his superiors, trustworthy, in a relationship with Kevin, transgender-body dysmorphia, deals with depression and self-harms, intriguing and grows in each book
* Kevin: logistics officer, raised in the corporation as an ‘elite’ person, lost parents and joined the other side, erudite, wordsmith, logical and methodical, protective, in a relationship with Aidan
* Tweak: teenager brought into the team as a coder, has a secret that she guards carefully, was a prisoner of a corporation and escaped, brilliant, best friends with Billie, grows a lot and trusts more with each book
* The supporting characters – they all play a part in the team and are vital to the story, each book provides more insights about them, and they grow together while supporting one another. Really like them and hate to see any of them eliminated
* The links to “old” stories, songs, history
* The take on the dystopian world and how it came about
* Learning how the Wildcards got their call signs and hearing what two newer members will be assigned
* The technical talk, even though I don’t follow all of it
* The way the Wildcards support one another through humor, straight talking, and friendship
* Naomi: Aidan’s younger sister, supported and defended Aidan, rightly upset with Aidan regarding one of the unilateral decisions he made regarding the two of them
* The way the team works a problem and comes up with solutions
* The rituals that the team have developed for birthdays, new relationships, retirement, death, and care of survivors
* That each book has a complete story but leaves me wanting to find out what is next – no cliffhanger
* All of it except…

What I didn’t like:
* The corporations and the society they have created – really want them brought down
* Thinking about how what is portrayed in this story could so easily happen if some changes are not made by the current generation.
* Saying goodbye (for now) to the team

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I rad more in the series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley, Amphibian Press, Books Forward PR, and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )