As with the first volume in this series, which I previously reviewed, it is impossible to miss that this is the writing of a very young novelist (younAs with the first volume in this series, which I previously reviewed, it is impossible to miss that this is the writing of a very young novelist (young perhaps not so much in age as in experience). The Martha Wells of Murderbot is still five or so years away when she wrote this, and she is still finding her feet as an author. Some of the descriptions feel awkward and a bit contrived; some of the relationships are conflictive to give the novel some spice, rather than growing organically from the world she has created.
I begin with those caveats because what I really have to say is that I loved this novel, but at the same time don't want to oversell it as an amazing piece of literature, which it is not. What it is, plain and simple, is thoroughly engaging storytelling coupled with her already astonishing skill at world-building. Am I entirely convinced by this society she has created? No. But am I thoroughly hooked on this world and the characters in it? I am, 100%. I love being there, and the meticulous care with which she has constructed a society just enough like ours to feel familiar and just dissimilar enough to be fascinating (and a little uncomfortable, but only in a good, assumption-challenging kind of way) is fantasy writing at its best.
Go into these novels with an open mind and and open heart and your trust in Wells' amazing abilities will be amply rewarded. On to volume 3!...more
Silly, snarky, mildly entertaining. A bunch of supernatural professionals and demigods bicker like schoolchildren. Not as funny as it would no doubt lSilly, snarky, mildly entertaining. A bunch of supernatural professionals and demigods bicker like schoolchildren. Not as funny as it would no doubt like to be, loosely plotted, a bit profane. Not unreadable but not really worth your time, either....more
A sweet little romance novel masquerading as a witchy fantasy. Mostly low stakes menace, handled in the most lighthearted way. Had the author deleted A sweet little romance novel masquerading as a witchy fantasy. Mostly low stakes menace, handled in the most lighthearted way. Had the author deleted a few swear words, some sexual references, and one steamy sex scene, this could easily have been a children's chapter book. Despite that admittedly dismissive description, I find I have a soft spot in my heart for this one—it really is quite entertaining in a fluffy sort of way.
The plot here was suspiciously parallel to that of The House in the Cerulean Sea; this may have been unintentional, but it pretty much tracks with that plot incident for incident and conflict for conflict. I quite liked Cerulean Sea, but I didn't really need to read it again.
Overall, a fine read if what you are looking for is a mildly sexy, entirely unchallenging fantasy with witchcraft....more
Dark, dark, dark. Not much horrific happens in this novella; that is, nothing explicitly horrifying. But we have outlived our welcome on this earth anDark, dark, dark. Not much horrific happens in this novella; that is, nothing explicitly horrifying. But we have outlived our welcome on this earth and some mysterious powers have trained up 120 people, randomly chosen, to take on the task of redeeming humankind. Each has an assignment, some of them contradictory and designed to elicit chaos.
Martin Just is one of the redeemers and wakes to find himself more powerful than he has ever imagined. He is a Life Force with the ability to pass his powers on through sex or blood. He soon gives his family and a group of white supremacists both his vision and his strength. Together they set about to battle Tor Waxman, also one of the 120, but one with the contrary vision to eliminate all of humanity.
Touched does not have sufficient subtlety to be called allegorical; rather, it is Allegory. Mosley is not shy about drawing stark contrasts; for instance, Just is Black, while Waxman is white (though he can take on the body of anyone he kills, so he is not always only white). The police and justice system figure prominently here, and the portrait is not flattering, though Just does get the satisfaction of besting them several times.
Don't look to this book for any kind of resolution. This is not a philosophical work. It is, rather, a fever dream of reaction to our current circumstances and the mess we have made of our society and world. Are we truly irredeemable? The evidence does not look good for us. In my darkest moments I assume we are doomed. Clearly, Mosley does, too....more
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