Scion of Conquered Earth is an adrenalin-filled adventure that hits all the right spots. Allen’s vivid and engaging prose conjures a deeply convincing vision of a dystopian Earth in all its chaos and ruin. Alaric is capable, intelligent, and skilled without ever coming across as being anything more than a normal person and while he does suffer from amnesia, this doesn’t create unnecessary melodrama in the story. Scion of Conquered Earth does feature torture, mainly of the psychological form, but Allen handles the topic well. What begins as a dystopian novel of survival in a world conquered by amoral aliens effortlessly shifts into the more exotic but no less thrilling arena of space travel.
The teenaged boy remembers nothing from before the Welorin attacked Earth, not even his own name. He survives one day at a time, fleeing the deranged aerobics instructors and lawyers re-educated to crave human flesh and the snatchers—humans working with the Welorin to capture what remains of humanity in the ruins of Washington DC and across the globe. With food and water almost impossible to find, and Welorin drones and fighter planes patrolling the city, it’s not long before the boy’s luck runs out and a crew of snatchers captures him. His sadistic overseers subject him to unimaginable horrors while ensuring his obedience via the collar around his neck. They force him to hunt down other survivors for their camps, a duty that provides the teenager with an opportunity to escape, a friend who names him Alaric, and a daring flight from Earth. Scion of Conquered Earth is an adrenalin-filled adventure that hits all the right spots. Allen’s vivid and engaging prose conjures a deeply convincing vision of a dystopian Earth in all its chaos and ruin. Alaric is capable, intelligent, and skilled without ever coming across as being anything more than a normal person and while he does suffer from amnesia, this doesn’t create unnecessary melodrama in the story. Scion of Conquered Earth does feature torture, mainly of the psychological form, but Allen handles the topic well. What begins as a dystopian novel of survival in a world conquered by amoral aliens effortlessly shifts into the more exotic but no less thrilling arena of space travel. Reviewed for Reader's Favorite
0 Comments
Faline Frey is a bounty hunter and a huldra. Her kind, as well as the succubi, rusalki, mermaids, and harpies are known as Wild Women, mythological beings that live among us under the rule of their self-proclaimed guardians—the Hunters. This is how it has been for centuries, since the time the Hunters saved the Wild Women from destroying themselves through their bitter rivalries. When Faline’s sister, Shawna, is abducted, Faline is certain it’s the work of the succubi. The Hunters refuse to help Faline find Shawna and she can’t approach the police. Faline has no choice but to leave her region without Hunter permission to seek out the succubi in Oregon. The further Faline gets from home, the deeper and more shocking the secrets she discovers.
A promising debut from Rachel Pudelek, Freyja’s Daughter is an immersive Urban Fantasy novel with a satisfying feminist theme. Pudelek’s use of the Hunters as a metaphor for the patriarchy is effective while still being subtle. The huldra, rusalki, harpies, mermaids, and succubi have enough differences in customs and culture to remain distinct from each other and yet there remains a strong sense of sisterhood between the groups. Pudelek invokes a believable representation of these mythological beings in a modern setting and provides a contextually realistic interpretation of the lore surrounding them. Faline is a likeable, confident character with a well-rounded personality. Minor conflicts and tensions interplay with the main plot to lead the reader to a thrilling denouement. Freyja’s Daughter is a rare treat for Urban Fantasy fans. Reviewed for Reader's Favorite Cricket is angry. Her parents lied to her, taking her from her home and friends on the distant, dying planet of Sassatha to live on Earth. She has to go to school like a human teenager and do her best to fit in in this strange, desert town where the houses aren’t cylindrical and the world is open to the sky. Cricket gets off to a rough start as she and her family give off the wrong impression to everyone they encounter. Cricket’s new, human body attracts the unwanted attentions of the local motorcycle gang, who regularly cause havoc in the area and soon the mayor is breathing down their necks, convinced there’s something odd about the Sminth family besides their unusual names.
Manos writes convincingly from the alien perspective and the confusion caused by language and cultural differences is often hilarious. The worldbuilding incorporated through Watson, Crick, and Cricket’s relationship dynamics, remarks on lifestyle differences and, in particular, Cricket’s nostalgia and longing for home paints a realistic feel of the otherworldly. Although she often comes across as petulant and rash, Cricket is easy to relate to and her insightful observations never fail to entertain. Tom is a darling and I loved the way Manos incorporated his trauma after having his arm amputated into his personality without allowing this to overshadow other facets of his personality. A Girl Named Cricket is an entertaining and imaginative sci-fi novel from beginning to end. Manos’ blend of humour and compellingly alien beings is a winner. Reviewed for Reader's Favorite |
Archives
January 2020
Categories
All
AuthorCaitlin has loved fantasy from a young age. She started writing in earnest because she couldn’t find the book she needed to read. |