Title: POTUS: A Political Fantasy
Author: T. C. Owen
Publisher: Authors Press
ISBN: 978-1-64314-689-8
Pages: 598
Genre: Crime / Thriller/Political
Reviewed by: Manik Chaturmutha

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In this political thriller, author T.C Owen has developed a protagonist who is the President of The United States – POTUS. He is a hero who fights for the people of America, the rest of the world, and even the entire Universe. He rides his Six Riders “Death Riding Six White Horses” through modern terrorist strikes and a resistant U.S. Congress. POTUS lives life to the fullest. But unfortunately, his life is filled with many violent and hierarchical tropes that go along with the genre of a political thriller.

The novel is packed with action from the first chapter itself. After POTUS finishes his first speech in the book, the situation becomes dire as the venue starts shaking due to implanted bombs. They realize that they are under attack. While his guards and Riders manage to take out the enemies, we also see POTUS springing into action. As the plot progresses, there are more instances when POTUS and his team undergo attacks and gunfire, and POTUS is seen as a skilled fighter.

POTUS enjoys engaging directly with America’s enemy, but he also enjoys stirring up trouble among the Democrats in a distinctly modern manner. He might be the country’s most prominent controversial political figure and requires the same level of security as any other controversial occupant of the White House. He also needs a constant clean-up staff to clean up the blood that splatters on the scenes of actions. POTUS favours the firing range over the golf course, jogging, or the gym, where most top executives spend their downtime unwinding and staying in shape. POTUS fights for freedom and engages in action despite people’s objections towards a President handling conflict himself.

The plot is well written, and the character development, especially of the protagonist, is commendable. He believes that he lives to encourage and free others. However, doing so places an incredible burden on him and limits his own freedom. Nonetheless, his development throughout the book lets him finally think that the seemingly unachievable is occasionally achievable, albeit at a high cost. In addition, the writing style describing the fight scenes is impeccable, as the language is simple, and the quick-paced action is easy to follow. However, the dialogues and the monologues tend to get too lengthy, affecting the reading flow. Thus, careful reading is necessary.

Readers get to navigate the story’s twisting turns and the almost mind-altering, pulsing fictive reality where the president perceives himself as a champion of freedom. Regardless, the crazy actions have a more theatrics than severe overall effect, which softens the story’s harsh undertones. Readers who appreciate a realistic hero will enjoy this book as we see the protagonist being both inspired and frustrated by this straightforward goal of freedom.