Harare Review of Books

227 pages.

Expected publication date: Mar. 7, 2023 (Flame Tree Press)

SFF.

This is the satisfying third book after The Sentient and The Emergent (making it perhaps the final book of a trilogy), a series in which Amira Valdez contends with her past in the form of The Compounds, fundamentalist “homelands” where there is patriarchal rule, and with her present, where the interests of a group of scientists who want to live forever are destabilising society. Although the overall plot is rather complicated, the arc from the first book to this is quite cohesive. That said, this was not the best book of the three; the second was. This feels rushed, and there are too many attempts to remind readers of the events of the second book.

Amira is certainly not the most likeable or sympathetic protagonist; however, the author introduces Nova, who is really cute and quite uncanny. Nova’s predecessor (you’d have to read the books) was, interestingly, not likeable either, so this is quite the sleight-of-hand by Afifi. There are many other interesting characters, though; this is the strength of the series. The speculative/futuristic parts of the plot are also solid, and make for good reading.

This will do for a final book to tie up loose ends. Don’t read it as a standalone story; start at the beginning of the series, and it will be much more satisying.

Thank you to Flame Tree Press and to NetGalley for this ARC.