Review Detail

Mad Max meets the jungles of India in this tech-magic infused, near future dystopian. Adya is just scraping by, using her abilities as one of the last free technomancers to protect herself from the gangs and politics who would use her as a tool for or against the imperialist chokehold on her homeland. As tensions rise and an attack hits too close to home, Adya’s desperate escape sets her on a course that collides with a disreputable thief, a lost princess, and clues about her missing sister she’s been waiting forever to find, all of which just might be enough to spark the fight for freedom.

Adya lives in the jungle, and every scene where she’s among the animals and trees is beautifully immersive. While many books paint a visual picture, this one tells as story that’s meant to be heard, with radio music and birdcalls and the damp rustle of leafy undergrowth. Add in the crash-landed-meteors-that-unlocked-magic and it’s a very unique setting.

Speaking of, the tech magic, or technomancy, is very cool. Adya and the others like her are able to almost commune with pieces of technology, more accurately diagnosing repairs and somehow coaxing the spirit of the machine back to life when it has been damaged. There’s a vast range of applications, from handheld radios to vehicles, and I really enjoyed how this type of magic mixed engineering with mysticism. The sassy motorcycle is an added bonus (sometimes, tech talks back).

Pick this up for a unique take on dystopia with reluctant heroes, companions made of necessity, and an original setting, with sequel potential.