The author made up a nation called the United States and one called Russia. Gave them some alien tech in an alt-history and then made up a US government that operates unlike any proper government. The author made up some science and tech and made it act remotely according to the laws of physics.
This is part SciFi part "espionage." It lost three stars for one reason, it stopped; it just stopped. It's as if the author just decided not to write any more. Of course, this could be part one of a series but even at that, the active characters need some kind of resolution of their current circumstances and sitting on the beach looking up at distant sniper/guards isn't much resolution. No resolution for one of the key characters, this book just stops. There isn't even some tickler, a hint of direction, anything that would want you to pick up the next book in the series (if there is one).
As others have observed, the characters aren't compelling, largely stereotypical, no one is particularly unique. Spoiler alert... the simple plot is some type of alien craft broke up into three pieces and crashed on earth in the early 1900's. The Russians have a piece, the Americans have a piece. The Russian piece calls home to a moon of Jupiter. The Americans in an alien ship chase the Russians with an adapted alien drive to Europa, the moon. It doesn't work out well and some of the Americans and one Russian make it back to Earth with nothing but their lives and a lot of questions.
My rating ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars) - It was ok.
