The Reckoning Review | Marisa Noelle

Having enjoyed the first two books, I was looking forward to the adventure continuing for Silver and friends. When given the chance to be part of the blog tour, it was my guarantee of reading the book before forgetting the previous events. Today, I’m sharing my review on The Reckoning.

Publisher: Question Mark Press | Date: 2021 | Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: Sinister visions of an evil entity with looming yellow eyes haunt Silver’s dreams, threatening to destroy the new world she and her friends have created. The terrifying omens push Silver to experiment with her abilities, but awaken a burgeoning thirst for more power.

As Silver walks a fine line between good and evil, her friends become wary of her intimidating abilities. She finds understanding in a sympathetic newcomer, but their deepening friendship drives an even deeper wedge between Silver and her suspicious friends.

Tragedy strikes during preparations for the final stand, bringing a terrible choice. Grief drives Silver toward reckless actions that may doom the final battle. Can she repair the relationships with her friends and control her powers before her vision becomes reality?

I received The Reckoning as part of a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Reckoning Review

I’ve enjoyed the adventures and the powers depicted in the first two books. I had issues with Silver’s character in book two, but she redeemed herself and I was intrigued about where the new threat was going to take things. I was looking forward to The Reckoning.

Characters

It’s an interesting choice when an author deliberately sends her main character on a negative development arc. Silver spends the first half of the book arrogant, selfish and so self-absorbed that I wanted someone (preferably a bulk) to shake some sense into her. I really went off her.

As the story and Silver’s development progresses, she comes full circle and you root for her again. I wish we could’ve seen more of the other characters and their abilities, rather than the narration fixating on Silver and Eli – especially as it’s impossible to connect to the latter because you know not to trust him.

I don’t cry. I don’t despair. I’m more accepting than I thought I’d be.

But I won’t give up either. I won’t. I can’t. It’s not who I am.

The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle

Writing

In true Noelle form, however, it comes together seamlessly.

Silver comes back to herself, the threat manifests, and our band of survivors have to come together to face impossible odds (again). The pacing takes a long time to build, with a large portion of the book being character-focused. Once events gain momentum, you don’t have time to figure out what’s going on: the danger is here and it’s real. It made the character development more pronounced, although the tension may have benefitted from longer to build.

The enemy was unclear. It wasn’t a person or a known threat. Formless and menacing, it’s hard to identify exactly what it was, which undermined it for me: a deranged, power-hungry maniac had more impact than something illusive.

Themes

The book was a lot of fun. As a young adult science-fiction novel, it touches on a lot of important themes, not least that no one is incorruptible and that relationships are complicated. There were times I identified with the messages, and times I sensed it was aimed at a younger audience. It was a good balance between the fate of the world, and personal problems.

Given the current climate, it’s easy to identify with the despair and helplessness of humanity trying to survive when the world turns against you. An invisible, deadly threat is something we can all relate to.

I enjoyed this book, and liked watching everything come together. Very mixed feelings on the ending (no spoilers) but it does make me intrigued where this will go next.

Final Thoughts

If you’re enjoying the series, or looking for a new YA science-fiction to binge, then The Unadjusteds books are entertaining reads. The Reckoning works for a late-teen audience reaching the point in their lives where they want to establish who they are. If that’s your thing, then a definite recommendation. 

Have you been reading The Unadjusteds series? Does this sound like your kind of book?

Also in the series:

• Book One: The Unadjusteds
• Book Two: The Rise of the Altereds

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Shards of Earth Review | Adrian Tchaikovsky

Having adored The Doors of Eden, there was no way I was turning down the chance to jump on this blog tour. There’s something about Tchaikovsky’s writing that works for me: the characters, the plot, the pacing – everything! Journey to the edges of space with my review on Shards of Earth.

Publisher: Tor | Date: 2021 | Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .

Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade him in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

After earth was destroyed, mankind created a fighting elite to save their species, enhanced humans such as Idris. In the silence of space they could communicate, mind-to-mind, with the enemy. Then their alien aggressors, the Architects, simply disappeared – and Idris and his kind became obsolete

Now, fifty years later, Idris and his crew have discovered something strange abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy hunting for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, that many would kill to obtain.

The Doors of Eden Review | Adrian Tchaikovsky

Adrian Tchaikovsky has been on my TBR wish-list for years. I couldn’t wait to dive into this! It’s complex; it’s epic; and enjoyable from start to finish. It contains a mystery, other worlds, space and end of time. What’s not to like? Here’s my The Doors of Eden review.

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Publisher: Pan Books | Date: 2020 | Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: Lee’s best friend went missing on Bodmin Moor, four years ago. She and Mal were chasing rumours of monsters when they found something all too real. Now Mal is back, but where has she been, and who is she working for?

When government physicist Kay Amal Khan is attacked, the security services investigate. This leads MI5’s Julian Sabreur deep into terrifying new territory, where he clashes with mysterious agents of an unknown power ­who may or may not be human. And Julian’s only clue is some grainy footage ­– showing a woman who supposedly died on Bodmin Moor.

Khan’s extradimensional research was purely theoretical, until she found cracks between our world and countless others. Parallel Earths where monsters live. These cracks are getting wider every day, so who knows what might creep through? Or what will happen when those walls finally come crashing down…

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Leviathan Review | James Byron Huggins

Anyone who knows me will know as soon as the word dragon is mentioned, I’m onboard. This book was half Jurassic Park, and half a mix of overwhelming science and philosophy that I scarcely remembered the plot was. Despite the confusion, it held my attention. Here’s my review on Leviathan.  

*External links below are affiliate links, meaning at no extra cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Find out more here.

Publisher: WildBlue Press | Date: 2019 | Genre: Science Fiction

Plot: In an epic novel that echoes the best of Beowulf, Jurassic Park, and The Abyss, this sci-fi/fantasy recounts a tale of an unholy alliance between science and nature– one that unleashes havoc beyond any and all imagining.

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Top four science-fiction novels

On Monday, I’m posting a review to conclude my first science-fiction series. It’s only been in the last year or so that I’ve shifted my reading habits and have indulged in numerous science-fiction novels.

I’ll be honest: most have been because of a blog tour or because the publisher/author contacted me directly. I’m not certain I would have chosen them on my own. But I’ve enjoyed them all and the more I read, the more I’m figuring out what type of science-fiction I like.

In kind of a mini-celebration to completing my first series – all the others up until now have been stand-alone novels, I thought I would share (again) my top four that I have reviewed lately.