Ultraxenopia

Mind blowing. Literally.
M.A. Phipps

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Spoiler Alert: Author M.A. Phipps wrote Ultraxenopia as volume one of her Project W.A.R. series. Many series books end with a minor climax to tie up this installment then prepare readers for the next installment. Phipps ends Ultraxenopia with an unresolved cliffhanger. As with Empire Strikes Back, you’ll need to pony up for the next installment to find out if her heroine, Wynter, prevails.

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M.A. Phipps launches her two volume Project War series with Ultraxenopia.

Alas, Phipps is no George Lucas and readers might not find Ultraxenopia as compelling as viewers found Empire. I felt no rush to buy volume two. Phipps delivers a tight, engrossing narrative that pushed me through the book in three sittings. However, the realization, with two chapters remaining, that the storyline would continue elsewhere, knocked the wind out of my sails.

The realization, with two chapters remaining, that the storyline would continue elsewhere, knocked the wind out of my reading sails.

(Don’t let my reaction discourage you. Many readers enjoy reading an entire series and, as far as I can tell, Phipps ends the series with volume two, Type X.)

Phipps blends a number of familiar concepts into Ultraxenopic’s storyline: dystopian society, rebel resistance, super soldier experiments, psychic warfare. From those familiar pieces, she weaves a fresh and compelling narrative.

Wynter Reeves breaks down during her mandatory exams, suffering a psychic episode that leaves her with an apocalyptic vision of the future. Her breakdown triggers a security alert, and her family surrenders her to Dr. Richter and his lab.

Richter suspects Wynter can time-shift— project psychically to the future. Hoping to tap into her visions, he subjects her to months of excruciating experiments during which she develops the power to psychically cripple everyone who threatens her.

Wynter escapes and seeks refuge with a local resistance group, only to experience accelerating time-shifts. Even worse, her powers grow too, and she can’t control them. She suspects Richter planned to turn her into a weapon, a suspicion confirmed when her time shifts indicate she will be the weapon that ushers in the apocalypse.

Phipps wrote Ultraxenopia for paranormal romance readers, and the book delivers everything the genre demands.

Phipps wrote Ultraxenopia for paranormal romance readers, and the book delivers everything the genre demands. She doesn’t sacrifice formula for professionalism, writing with clear, crisp prose. She proves equally adept at developing romantic tension, detailing a dystopian future and writing action scenes to satisfy readers who demand action more than star-eyed romance.

What she fails to deliver is the apocalypse or any assurance that Winter isn’t the monster she believes Richter wanted. For that, you have to buy Book Two.

I posted this review as a contribution to the premiere of #MysteryThrillerWeek. Join the fun.

Rating system:



2 Ts
Delicious dialogue, crisp prose, clever characters & compelling plot. (5 stars)


Fist
Great read, won’t want to stop. On a par with some reviewers’ 5 stars. (4 stars)


Okay
 Worth buying, but…. (3 stars)


Meh…
I’ll tell you what audience will like this, but other readers might want to look elsewhere. (2 stars)


Shoot
If I review a book this bad, I felt seriously compelled to warn you. (1 star)



Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer, Raising Hell and the new release Seeing Jesus. You can follow him @stephens_pt.

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