Robin Goodfellow's Blog, page 24

Review for The Lesser of Evils, by Daniel Settanni

In The Lesser of Evil by Daniel Settanni, the world is beset by a drought that has left the remnants of human civilization struggling for water. In order to maintain any sense of normality, walls are erected to keep out uninhabitable lands; no one is safe from being abandoned. Our story follows Joss, a woman whose life crumbles the moment she, along with her husband Alex, are arrested for terrorism. She is then thrust into a world of familiar corruption, secrets, and danger, as she is suddenly forced to see that not everything is as it seems, and that even the purest of intentions can still pave a road to humanity’s hell.

I was enthralled by how Settanni displays both the simplicities and complexities of moralities within this world. He introduces Joss as a young woman who has many hopes and dreams for the world. She also possesses a sense of justice that somehow miraculous had not been tainted. Her mother Lana, on the other hand, doesn’t have that; due to her position as a government official, along with the one responsible for building the walls, it’s clear that her morals have eroded to the point where she has deluded herself into believing she is doing everything for the greater good. It was interesting how Joss’s development parallels with Lana’s, so much so that it’s eerie.

What’s more, the book also deals with ideas such as the end of humanity, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to do what might not even be right. These ideas are similar to the conflicts the world in going through; politicians endeavoring to calm their citizens, all the while trying to demonstrate their position in authority; disgruntled protestors who feel like their voices have been silenced; terrorists who may not even be terrorists. Through both Joss and Lana, the book makes an important connection between what we perceive to be, and what actually is. The book does a good job of showing the real world problems that afflict us, and though the end might not come in the form of a drought or a virus, the psychological effects are still just the same, the instability just as damaging.

Personally, I’d prefer if the book had clearer transitions fromone scene to the next. It confused me when the moments change almost instantaneously, so much so I’d have to go back and pinpoint where the scene switches. There were also places where the points of view needed to be separated so that it aligned with the book’s format; one perspective per section. Complex characters, such as Victor and Harris, would need to be given more of an introduction. Although they are already good additions to the plot, I wish that Settanni would bring more of their pasts into the storyline, and show how those unresolved problems affect their decisions involving Joss and her mother.

Overall, I would give this book a rating of 3.4/5 stars. While Settanni executes themes of morality in an incredibly efficient manner, the characters could also add more to the already complex plot, creating a more intricate, haunting story. There was also more than one scene where the word building be more utilized; the setting should show the reader what it’s like to live in a post-apocalyptic world, not just tell the. However, despite this I did enjoy the book, and would recommend it for adrenaline junkies, fans of action thrillers, and politicians who may need a reminder as to what sacrifice really does look like.

Review for The Feral Sentence, by G.C. Julien

The Feral Sentence by G.C. Julien introduces a world of merciless, horrific creatures and animalistic humanity. Brone, a young prisoner who is sentenced to death on an uncharted island, must fight for her survival in the jungle. However, soon she begins to change, losing her own humanity with each passing day, as the life she used to know is slowly forgotten, replaced by blood and uncertainty.

The book is separated into four parts. The first part deals with Brone, a young woman who was convicted of first-degree murder. She is thrown onto the island, where she meets a group of survivors. She gets accustomed to the island, all the while reminiscing on aspects of her old life, and how much she had taken for granted. The second part follows Brone’s developing relationships with the women around her, as she foreshadows the chaos that is about to ensue. The third part addresses Brone realizing her place with her newfound society, and that by becoming one of them, she finds herself missing less and less of her old life. Finally, in part four, she once again needs to deal with a drastic, much darker change when she steps up and becomes a leader to the remaining survivors, whether she wants to or not.

Julien clearly demonstrates just how much Brone grows as a character. She takes us through a remarkable journey, from the time she’s literally forced onto the island, to her dealing with a new social hierarchy and the brokenness of the systems, both on the island and the outside world. Though Brone acts as the audience surrogate at the beginning of the novel, by the end she grows into her own character. Over and over again Brone illustrates the cruel fate she’s dealt with. However, she also gains respect throughout the book, because no matter what’d happened, she forced herself to get back up on her feet and to continue living. She’s fed up with the abuse, and decides to take control of the life she’s given, never minding the fact she maintains a precarious existence between her feral instincts and human compassion.

Her development also leads to an interesting blend of themes that interact not only just with Brone, but also with her relationships, the setting, and the plot. The fact that the government was so corrupted that they would willingly leave prisoners to fend for themselves on an obviously dangerous island, as well as just drop a tiny girl with Aspergers in said island, is animalistic of its own. It reminds me of social Darwinism, a concept that has been used many times over to try and justify massacres in human history. I enjoyed how Julien employed that same kind of idea here, giving the women yet another thing in common, and another reason why they need to stick together, since the world has literally abandoned them.

Another concept I found incredibly interesting was the extraordinarily thin boundary between animals and humans. Throughout the story, Brone encounters a variety of women that range from fully functional, to just plain insane. Cannibalism, massacres, territory wars; even Brone feels more feral than she should, and she knows it. However, it’s ironic; if Brone wants to remain human, she would have to stay with these women. As Brone has witnessed, humans are social beings; we need each other if we want to survive.

I enjoyed how Julien unveiled Brone’s story. However, despite that there were still a few spacing and punctuation errors in the book. Nevertheless, the plot, themes, setting, and characters all beautifully work together. Overall, I would give this book a rating of 4.5/5 stars, and would recommend it for anyone who enjoyed moral complexities, the horror and dystopian genre, or people who just love a good scream.

Review for Flash Blood by Joseph Hirsch

Flash Blood by Joseph Hirsch is a crime thriller that, through the eyes of detective James Arklow, introduces a world of blood and decadence hidden away in the cracks of polite society.

The novel begins when Arklow is approached by Dan Maple, a drug counselor who is searching for his patient, Thaddeus Smith. In order to convince James to track him down, Maple offers him a sum of two hundred thousand, one hundred thousand before the investigation, and one hundred thousand after. The main reason for Maple’s obsession with Smith is because of his blood, which, when injected, was so good that it felt like pure dope. At first, Arklow is skeptical, but decides to take on the case. However, as he continues investigating Smith’s disappearance, alongside his faithful assistant/intern/friendly stalker James Bender, Arklow uncovers unlikely secrets that involve corruption, sex, and drugs.

Throughout the story, Arklow acts as the intelligent audience surrogate while he endeavors to locate Smith. The character himself is incredibly interesting in his own right. The eroding acquaintanceship with his colleagues, the distant business connections with the literary world, and the dynamic between himself and his associates, including Bender; each of these different aspects add to him as a whole. Hirsch shows that despite Arklow’s hardened exterior, he is still human; these relationships prevent him from becoming too involved with the dark world of private investigating. Ironically however, perhaps the most enlightening relationship he has is with Thaddeus Smith himself, the man who’s blood is so addictive someone had invested in locating him. It surprised me, since even with Arklow’s friendships, he’s managed to present himself as calm, cool, collected; untouchable almost. Yet in a single moment with Smith, Arklow unravels completely, overtaken by the same, sweet temptation that is Smith’s blood.

While I was reading, the book reminded me of the Affair of the Poisons, a time in history where high-ranking nobles were involved in a series of scandals that led to magic, Satanism, and murder. As Arklow delved deeper into his investigation, he finds secret after dirty little secret, almost like a trail of damnation that Smith might as well have intentionally left behind. Amoral military officials, prostitution, drug obsessions; with each new path Arklow follows an onslaught of questions raced through my mind. It’s as if I’m watching these trials, the shock unfolding before my very eyes. This adds a layer of mystery to the book, and it’s one that Hirsch establishes very well.

But despite the book’s dark, endearing qualities, there were a couple of things I’ve noticed. In the beginning, Arklow uses an almost formal tone when narrating. This tone ebbs somewhat as the plot continues, but even then, it’s hard to keep up. I’ve also caught places where the flow in a scene, as well as the punctuation, could’ve been improved. While it is a wonderful piece altogether, the ending could also have been more fleshed out. Though at this point, the reader should be able to piece together Smith’s story, I would’ve preferred to hear that story from him. Again, Hirsch leaves us with more questions than answers, and while this adds to the book’s charm, it can also leave the reader even more confused than before.

Overall, I liked the mysterious atmosphere that Hirsch established. The revelation of the scandals behind Smith’s disappearance was chilling to say the least, with the facade of polite society shattering at the seams. However, with the book’s tone, organization of specific moments, and abruptness of the ending, I would give this book a rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars. Still, this is a well thought-out novel. I would recommend this to fans of crime thrillers in general, junior detectives, and dystopian fans who love seeing the dark side of humanity every now and then.

Review for Invinciman: A Superhero to save us all by R.T. Leone

Invinciman: A Superhero to save us all, by R.T. Leone, is a dystopian tragedy about two men who couldn’t understand each other, yet remain friends despite the horrors of their actions. The book deals with difficult subjects such as corruption from technology, as well as the agony of vanity from power.

The book is separated into five parts. The first part introduces Raymond Martin, supposedly the vice-president of the robot fighting company, ROBOX, as well as a terrorist who has aligned himself with the York Rebellion. The part also showed glimpses of both he and a man named Daniel when they were both young. The second part further elaborates on their past, alongside the origin of the political and emotional ties that bound the two men to their engineering abilities. The third part details Ray’s hesitance in assisting Daniel, as he endeavors to hide the God Formula from him, a series of mathematical equations that allows a human to transfer their soul to a machine. The fourth part illustrates Ray’s new life as a machine, as he tries to recover the memories that made him who he once was. The fifth part shows the final fight between Daniel and Ray, and gradually descends into a haunting epilogue that hinted at what Daniel’s life would have been like had he not pursued his desire for power.

The dynamic between Daniel and Ray was beautiful. On one hand, Ray knows about Daniel’s dream and does whatever he can to help him achieve it. However, Ray also knows that Daniel is not normal, and that more than once he has been forced to undertake the role of sacrificial lamb, all for Daniel’s sake. Daniel is a mysterious figure to him, possessing an ambition that carries so many details and motives that Ray has no idea what to do with. Frustrations pile upon frustrations, yet because of Ray’s nature, he simply won’t abandon his friend, at least initially. Daniel, meanwhile, does show that he trusts Ray, but as long as Ray does whatever he’s told. To Daniel, it seems Ray is nothing more than a pawn in the grand scheme, and in terms of chess, while Ray might’ve even been one of the higher nobles, he is a pawn nonetheless. However, as the story goes on I realized that Ray is more than that. Another thing I noticed in the book was differences in humanity between Ray and Daniel. Although Ray had to transfer his soul into that of a machine, he still had a conscience, and acted more considerately than Daniel, who demonstrated a ruthless efficiency and unyielding mercilessness when confronting humans. Throughout the novel, Ray watches Daniel’s genius, as his arrogance threatens to consume them both. The relationship between the two is incredibly fascinating, and was the highlight of the book.

Through various other characters’ points-of-view, I saw a number of different impacts technology has made on society. Unlike the world Daniel had envisioned, technology has removed people from their jobs, and sowed discord that allowed corrupt officials to take hold. One of the scenes I remembered from the book was when a rebellion had taken hold of the city, and the leader had managed to bring forth society’s elites to the ground. Even in that situation, when death was inevitable, those elites all still groveled at his feet, begging to live, begging to help the rebellion, if only under the guise of an unconvincing lie.

Leone shows a frightening reality when machines and humans intertwine through the eyes of these two men. The shattered friendship between Daniel and Ray is difficult, the former losing his humanity, the latter holding onto it. Although there were punctuation errors in the book that did detract from it, the relationship and themes make up for it. Overall, I would give this book a rating of a 4.2 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those love sci-fi, traditional superheroes, and dystopian worlds in general.

Review for Inevitable Ascension, by V.K. McAllister

Inevitable Ascension, by V.K. McAllister, details the horrific fall of humanity, and through the actions of two young women, humanity’s imperfection is seared into the flames of judgement, tragically swallowing them whole.

The book begins with Violina and Lux, two hunters who share a dislike for the rich and elite. What begins as a simple sale short of a financial miracle turns into an apocalyptic nightmare when they stumble upon a plot that destroys humanity. The women then decide to try and fight for their kind, as well as their freedom. However, as their morals begin to dissolve, with remnants of a blood-soaked civilization waiting for them, Violina finally sentences her own kind to death, slowly becoming the gleeful judge that will send humanity spiraling down a chasm of despair.

To be perfectly honest, from the moment I read about Violina and Lux, I knew this was not going to end well. From Violina’s callous dismissal of the higher-ups, to her killing refugees, I had trouble determining whether if she was arrogant or just insane. I could easily picture her happily gutting down her enemies, all the while deluding herself into thinking it’s for the greater good. Either way, she’d have to be incredibly vain if she thought she could push her brand of justice onto other people and act as if she was their savior. Possibly the one thing that anchored Violina to some form of normalcy was Lux, and even then that doesn’t last long.

This brings me to a haunting theme in the book; you can’t save people that don’t want to be saved. Even if you give someone a way out, just as Violina had before, they might not want you to help them. Whether it’s out of pride, or sorrow, or the fact that you’ve murdered people right in front of them, they don’t want you anywhere near them. After all, I don’t believe you can just take over an entire group, have them slaughter each other, and expect them to obey you.

Still, I would’ve preferred if the transition was smoother between scenes. Not only that, but the heavy foreshadowing of humanity’s downfall was just a bit too much at times. However, the utterly deranged cast of characters were both disturbing and endearing. The atmosphere was troubling, and throughout all of this, I personally enjoyed it. Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and would recommend this to those who enjoy madness and the dystopian genre.

Review for Gastric Bypass by Paul Lesko

Gastric Bypass, by Paul Lesko, is a philosophical mystery that delves into the complexities of two men, both of whom wanted to remake society in their own image. But despite this, in the end, they barely began to understand that they themselves were only human.

The book begins with Nathaniel, a lawyer who represents prostitutes, frat boys, and other college kids with too much time on their hands. One day, his best friends, X and White, kidnap him and force him to help them take four pigs. The strange trio spray painted the pigs with specific numbers and gave them vials. Afterwards, they set the pigs free within a nuclear power plant, where their organization, Gastric Bypass, made its official debut. A group that focuses on bettering society by eliminating excess weight on its victims, what began as a somewhat humorous incident becomes a dark tale with decadence. As more and more innocents are brought into the fold, insanity slowly begins to erode any sense of loyalty the bothers had for one another, and through all of this, Nathaniel can only watch as the world around them burns.

The characters surrounding is intriguing. You have X and White, the odd brothers who became the masterminds of Gastric Bypass. Then you have Nathaniel, a man who wants nothing to do with the group, and the only reason why he represented them in court was because of bribery and past sentiments. Each character had their own set attitudes towards the current people they live in, and carried their own morals as to what should and shouldn’t be. There were lives that the three had inadvertently trampled upon, as well as people who were thankful their actions. The way these three interacted made for an interesting read at the least.

The themes in this book were also beautifully explored. Morality was, at best, a blurry grey. Despite the fact that the two brothers endeavored to make society a better place, they are still forcing their standards on other people, and this doesn’t even begin to cover the nonconsensual medical procedures that involve removing fingers or wiring jaws shut. The response that people leave to these actions are also sickening; whether it be the wale watchers for Gastric Bypass, or the lovely violence Nicorette imposes on a world that she sees had abandoned her, it really does seem like everyone’s insane. Perhaps the ramblings of a mad man was the only thing that made sense. It was enchanting and eerie all the same.

The book reminds me of a video game I enjoy watching, Amnesia: The Machine for Pigs. With Lesko’s characters, as well as their utter indifference to morality and normalcy, it was as if I was surrounded by the inhuman monsters hunting me in the dark. Alongside society’s salvation and condemnation, it was as if I was searching out for that machine, the one who created such grotesque pigs to begin with, pigs that lusted over judgement and the power to control other’s lives. Whether or not Gastric Bypass even did any good, I’ve absolutely no idea.

Overall, I would give this book a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who love the Amnesia series and psychological thrillers.

Book Review for Black and White by Nick Wilford

Black and White, by Nick Wilford, is a light-hearted dystopian about fighting for what’s right and not just following the crowd.

Whitopolis is a wealthy society where Wellesbury lives out every parent’s dream; he’s respectful, maintains good grades, and is a great athlete. When word gets out that a “demon” has infiltrated to Whitopolis, covered in demonic substances like “dirt” and “mud”, out of curiosity, Wellesbury visits him. But when he does, he is introduced to an apocalyptic world called Fusterberry, where the populace is ravaged by disease and decay. Joined by his friend Ezmerelda, he decides to expose this world to Whitopolis, all the while endeavoring to see the two worlds for what they truly are, and not just what everyone else thinks they may be.

Wellesbury is a lot more innocent than other characters I’ve come to know. But through this, he does show incredibly strong morals, even if he is a bit naive at times. He also has a good heart, and is willing to put his life at risk to help out strangers he barely even knows, which, fortunately, turns out well for him. Ezmerelda, meanwhile is very fearless, so much so she’s partly the reason why he’s discovering this new world to begin with. But despite this amusing contrast, the characters are typical, one-dimensional heroes. I didn’t see a lot of character development, and their actions were predictable. I would’ve loved to see more of Mallinger, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

Still, the themes were well-executed. I could practically see our world through Whitopolis and Fusterberry. Whitopolis was disturbing to say the least; the populace act like lambs to the slaughter, blinded by pride and obedience to really understand what was going on. On the other hand, Fusterberry is filled with people who are trying to live another day. There’s also something to be said about the elitism in the government. It reminds me of an bible verse I once read, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

This dystopian isn’t nearly as dark as I’m used to. The heroes were one-dimensional, and there were other characters I would’ve loved to read about. Still, their overall characterization wasn’t that bad. The world itself was incredibly interesting, even if a bit silly at times. Thus, I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy Robin Hood and The Lesser of Evils by Daniel Settanni .

Book Review for The Arena: Omnibus by D. Michael Withrow

The Arena: Omnibus, by D. Michael Withrow, is a beautiful epic that illustrates the importance of family, and that no matter what, they would do anything to protect one another, even if it meant following them to hell.

The book is separated into three parts. The first part introduces Colston, the fifteen year old heir to the Carlson Empire. He befriends two debtors, Cole and Anna, both of whom show him that there was more to reality than the arena, and that human life was precious. As such, he resolves to do anything to protect them. The second part shows Colston as an adult, who decides to leave the estate with Cole and Anna, only to be stopped by a tragedy he knew he could have prevented. The final part depicts Colston trying to atone for that tragedy, despite the fact no one believes he deserved the life he’d been handed. However, he manages to move on from this despair and continue living, thus leaving his past behind.

It was heartbreaking when I read about Colston. He doesn’t realize just how wonderful he is,  even though he loved Anna and Cole. He even locks himself away in jail, convinced that he played a part in Anna’s death, though his friends say it wasn’t his fault. It’s because of this kindness that forces him to play other’s wellbeing over his own. The servants that served beneath him, the warriors he helped train, and even his father, if only for a brief moment, couldn’t help but love him. It makes the ending all the more satisfying when he finally decides to pick himself up and carry on living.

The world Withrow paints is also wonderful. He introduces a dystopian society that reflects what would happen if our own country was ruled by greed and corruption. The system of debtors was just another way to continue the age-old evil of slavery, and rather than the death penalty, convicted killers are sent to fight for their lives in the area, if only for the sick amusement of complete strangers. It’s corruption like this that’s forced me to see that the book really was a battlefield, whether it be in the arena, or at home. It’s hard to escape the world, especially since there are enemies everywhere.

Another thing to note was how the book kept me guessing, kept me thinking, kept me wondering about whether or not there would actually be a silver lining in the end. It made me ask myself if what would’ve happened had Colston decided to take over for his father, if Anna had survived her suicide attempt. Then of course, this could all just be my own wishful thoughts. When you’re young, after all, you tend to value escapism. You don’t want to risk being absorbed into a world you rejected, even if it is the safer choice.

The stunning character development and moral cruelties intertwined perfectly within the dystopian world Withrow elegantly weaves. The questions in the book challenged me, and added unique perspective to an already bittersweet ending. Thus, I would give this book a rating of a 4.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to those who enjoy The Lesser of Evils and The Hunger Games. 

Book Review for The Wolves Within Our Walls by L.E. Flinders

The Wolves Within Our Walls , by L.E. Flinders, is a psychological suspense about living with a facade, one that hides a horrific monster beneath.

Zoe Wilkes lives an average life, working as a waitress and living with her roommate, Ben. One night, she is awoken by an alarming call from Becky, who urges them to go to her house. Not long after that, Zoe and Ben are evacuated to a shelter, where food and water are in limited supply. She escapes, only to run into a mysterious man named Jacob. Jacob leads her to a safe haven that focuses on hindering conflicts, promoting education and creativity, and allowing people to work together in a safe and productive manner. At first, she is enticed by this world, from meeting her soon-to-be lover, Miles, to becoming fast friends with the elites of this society. However, after finding a bloody knife in Miles’s possession, she realizes that not everything is as it seems. With this perfect illusion on the brink of falling apart, Zoe must confront Jacob, as secrets emerge from a corrupted darkness she hadn’t known had existed.

I enjoyed reading about the relationships between Jacob, Miles, and Holly. There was a certain eeriness to their supposed closeness, and while I kept telling myself they were all friends, there was something about them that didn’t sit well with me. When Miles first approached Zoe, I was taken with his sweetness. However, as the story continued, just like the relationship between Jacob, Miles, and Holly, there was something off-putting about him. When Zoe really did have to run, it was as if I was watching the monsters in each of these characters rise out of them, as if a mask was crumbling away from their faces. Finders outdid himself in this regard, illustrating that even the most perfect of disguises wither away, just like everything in time. It’s reminiscent of movies such as The Crazies and The Stepford Wives, something that I thoroughly liked.

Finders crafted an interesting world where two sides struggles to dominate the other. One side was a perfect utopia where everyone works together and gets along, while the other was an apocalyptic wasteland where people have to scavenge to survive. The fact that this utopia had a parasitic interaction with the outside world is something to be said, devouring others in order to survive. It was as if I was watching the Ouroboros itself consuming its own flesh and blood, trying to thrive in a never ending cycle of pain and suffering. In another interesting note, Jacob is like this. He pretends that everything is fine, that he is only trying to protect the people he feels deserves to live, all the while ignoring the fact that he has to trap them in a society where nothing ever changes. He destroys his own morals, but endeavors to live through them in that same, twisted mindset. Even when he has nothing left, he attempts to continue to do so. It was the very thing that allowed Zoe to kill him in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While I didn’t find the protagonist interesting, I loved the dynamic between the characters. I also loved the corrupted nature of Jacob’s society, as well as the delusions that these characters tried so valiantly to maintain. Because of this, I would give this book a rating of a 4.0 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of The Feral Sentence by G.C Julien, alongside the video game, BioShock.

Book Review for The Forgotten by M. Stringfield

The Forgotten, by M. Stringfield, is a horrific dystopian about betraying your loved ones to protect a crumbling future.

Evelyn Moore is a mother who wants to see her beloved daughter again. All the while, she keeps hearing the quiet, tinkering sounds of a music box, one that will bring the bloody reminisces of a past she tried so hard to bury. Char Moore is a new recruit for an elite force that safeguards the city, Felicity. After a series of frightening experiences she is confronted by a family legacy that threatens the lives of everyone she loves. Alexander Moore is a young boy who stumbles across s scandal from long ago, one that begins to suffocate him until it finally claims him for its own. The fate of the Moore family rests upon a man named Charles, a man who led his family down an abyss of murder. The story cultivates an eerie beauty that deals with what happens when you stubbornly cling to what should have been forgotten so very long ago.

Evelyn was such a twisted character. Her twists and turns were so complex I was forced to wonder if I was reading about the same character. She was sweet and naive in the beginning, but as the book went on, I realized there was more to her than what I initially thought. Then there were Char and Alex, two children who were robbed of their innocence, if only to find their place in a society that had long lost its sanity. The three did what they thought was right, despite the terrible consequences in the end. Through these characters, Stringfield shows that the strict boundary between good and evil doesn’t exist. The system humanity had devised to save themselves is deeply flawed. We risk everything for the sake of feeling safe, even though it may be just a lie in the end.

This leads to one of the themes of the book, of forgetting everything that hurts and succumbing to a place where reality has no jurisdiction. Patricia believed that her son was in a better place, despite what Char had to say. Mara’s haunting death, with the words ‘Let them forget’ , was an illustration of how far people would go for the sake of believing that they did something for humanity. Even Evelyn felt this way as well, so much so she would kill her own husband and allow her children to suffer. The populace was robbed of the youth; all they had left was a lie they desperately cling to. This theme reflects the reality of the real world, such as that of Nazi Germany, and even the Cold War in America.

This book reminds me of a demented retelling of Alice in Wonderland. It’s as if these characters fell down a rabbit hole, before endeavoring to follow a morbid trail that leads to the Red Queen herself. How many people have died for her delusions, I shudder to even think about. Stringfield scripts a macabre world in which the dead go missing, and only the memories remain. As such, I would give this book a 4.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds and the Brothers Grimm.