The frequent betrayals amid detailed military operations become wearying after a while, as do the many undefined, distracting neologisms related to mental powers and the afterlife. Some of the characters are better developed than others: Alton proves to be complex and vulnerable underneath his world-weary veneer, and Delva Brownson, the daughter of a resistance leader, is another nuanced character whose doubts about her place in the world make her far more interesting than her mother, a rabid caricature. The pacing, dialogue, and plot twists form a fluid narrative, though the vague, cliffhanger ending is unexpected and unsatisfying.

Bryan has clearly put a lot of thought into building this world and its metaphysical underpinnings. The story is as much about the mysteries of the afterlife as it is about the schemes of its desperate characters. Bryan notes that the traitors to the resistance are desperate for a taste of easy living and that the UEA traitors are angry about the corruption inherent in the system. For some of these, the end justifies the means, but the narrative embraces a more humanistic approach beyond simple comfort and revenge. This near-future story of discontent in life and after death leaves readers with much to think about.

Takeaway: This metaphysical murder mystery will appeal to fans of more philosophical and conceptual science fiction and horror.

Great for fans of M. John Harrison’s Light, Philip K. Dick’s The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: -
Editing: C
Marketing copy: C