This is an intense and engaging science fiction.
- File Size: 893 KB
- Print Length: 213 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1469980355
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Book Description
Publication Date: June 23, 2012
What would you do if you came face-to-face with perfection, and it looked just like you?
Two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, the other to escape it.
Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted--a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.
When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives--the in vitros, clones, and mutants--collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab's search for perfection, descend upon Washington D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.
Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.
Review:
This is full of a variety of characters and human derivatives – clones, mutants, in vitros and a genetically created ‘perfect human’, Galahad. Zara is a human who has teamed up with Xin (a clone) to get DNA from Galahad. But when Zara breaks into Pioneer Lab she becomes attracted to Galahad and decides to rescue him from the lab-prison where he has been raised for the past 25 years. As Zara modifies her objectives, a pro-life mob headed by a bitter and zealous Jason Rakehell, the son of Roland Rakehell, one of the founders of Pioneer Lab, attacks the lab.
Zara and Galahad escape with injuries to Galahad. In their zeal the mob releases five other specimens--monster abominations--who tear through all the humans attacking the lab and break out.
Zara and Xin take Galahad to the estate of Lucien, an in vitro, who is extremely wealthy and influential. He calls in a life long friend, Danyael, who is a mutant alpha empath and healer. Danyael was abused as a child and had to be trained to compartmentalize his feelings with shields or his thoughts will cause those around him to commit suicide. He has always tried to work in a public medical system and to avoid attention. Everyone is shocked when they realize that Danyael and Galahad look like twins!
Fighting breaks out between humans and mutants in Washington, D.C. as a result of the Pro-human attack and hostilities. Meanwhile the abominations are seeking their ‘brother’ creature, Galahad, and killing anyone who gets in their way. The Mutant Counsel sends Miriya, a telepath, to help protect Danyael who is sought after by several rival forces because of his extensive powers. Now the group is trying to protect Galahad and Danyael as the government, opposing forces and the Rackhells, son and father, try to track them down.
This book reminded me a bit of X-Men with all the rivals and bitter hostilities. There are conflicting interests, intense emotions and overt and subtle betrayals. Galahad’s treatment and Danyael’s sufferings evoke sympathy for their characters. The writing is clean and the pacing good. Zara isn't my favorite character because of her dislike and misconceptions regarding Danyael. I am rooting for the whole team although it is clear that there are more obstacles to face and more pain for Danyael in the next book. I am anxious to see what happens next.
If you like mutant characters with powers and a story with lots of emotion and actions, I highly recommend this book.
My word thoughts noted: action, emotion, compelling, betrayal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Danyael’s strengths are continually taxed:
He needed to relax for a few minutes,.... He did not have the time for that, not with so much at stake, and so many questions that demanded answers he did not have. I can resst in a few hours. I can do this....Location 939.
Galahad is grateful to Zara:
“You’ve always been free, and it’s hard to express how much what you did–even if on a whim–means to someone who has never been free. Location 2175.
I received this title for an honest review as part of a Bewitching Blog Tour.
This is set in Washington, D.C. I will also add it to my New Author Challenge lists.
See the additional post for more Blitz info and Giveaway. I will also be hosting an Author Guest Post on January 7.
