A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Francesco “Paco” Chierici flew A-6 Intruders and F-14 Tomcats, deployed to conflict zones from Somalia to Iraq and was stationed aboard carriers including the USS Ranger, Lincoln and Kitty Hawk. Currently a 737 captain, he has used his aviation experience to publish extensively in Aviation Classics Magazine, AOPA Magazine and Fighter Sweep, as well as creating and producing the award-winning naval aviation documentary Speed and Angels. In his new book “Lions of the Sky: The Top Gun for the New Millennium,” Paco Chierici propels the reader into a realm where friendship, loyalty and skill are tested, battles are won and lost in an instant and lives are forever changed.

The action in “Lions of the Sky” begins solidly in the South China Sea, as a rower in a compact boat makes his way to an island that is home to a Vietnamese outpost. He expertly kills the soldiers and just as quickly and quietly as he arrived, he retreats. Throughout the book, he is referred to as “the commando” to highlight that his missions are more important than his name or background. The second chapter introduces readers to Sam Richardson, a fighter pilot’s pilot, a reluctant legend with a gut-eating secret who is on the last span of his tour as an instructor. All he wants is to get back to the real action of the Fleet. As he is driving away from a gentleman’s club in his 1966 Shelby AC Cobra after spending time with friends, he crosses paths with a driver in a Corvette driven by a woman, Keely Silvers, who, as fate would have it, will be in that last class.

The two stories alternate until they intersect in the South China Sea where a Chinese general is hoping to create an international crisis to give China the edge in territory disputes. A final air battle between Chinese fighters and the F/A -18 Hornets puts the trainees to the test as they are thrown into a real-life war situation and are eager to prove they belong there. In the end, the crisis is averted and even though not everyone makes it out alive, those remaining, including Keely “Quick” Silvers move on with their military training.

With his debut novel, Paco Chierici proves that his talent goes beyond the military world and flying planes and other aircrafts. His writing style includes deeply poetic descriptive language: “He took note of the AK- 47 machine guns leaning upright against each other like a little teepee near the fire, their oiled barrels joined together in a dark bouquet pointing at the night sky.” There is excellent character development, especially with Sam “Slammer” Richardson, whose backstory includes having romantic feelings for a woman he served with, feelings he never told anyone, and which may be responsible for his viewpoint that women should not be in combat. The military lingo is just enough to create a realistic atmosphere, especially the action in the cockpit and the Ready Room. Especially interesting is the point-of-view of the commando: the reader is privy to his planning and thought processes; and Quick’s inner thoughts and reactions during the final air battle.

“Lions of the Sky” is a must-read extraordinary novel of military storytelling that is perfectly balanced with action scenes and political suspense that keeps it from alienating readers who are not into strictly military themes. The language, though heavily about fighter pilots and their training, is easy to understand and the action flows easily from page to page. Friendship and camaraderie is central to the plot with just a hint of sexual tension. It is recommended for fans of military action thrillers and those who enjoy a fascinating espionage/political sub-plot.

“Watching powerlessly out her canopy as the descending Flanker converged on Slammer’s helpless Rhino, something about the picture clicked. The paralyzing static of indecision dissolved as the beautiful, instinctive part of her brain asserted itself.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.