Daughter of the Sword (Fated Blades #1)

Daughter of the Sword by Steve Bein is the first book in his Fated Blades series - written around three swords created by Master Inazuma who put so much focus into his work that his swords are said to be cursed / magical.

Mariko Oshiro is a police detective in Toyko. The only female detective in the city. She is surrounded by a tradition and culture that does not have female officers for anything higher than meter maid. Some blame her quest for a man's job on the fact that she lived in the United States as a teen. Either way, she is working in Narcotics on a one year probation during which she has to prove she belongs. And her new lieutenant has promised to make sure she fails.

So instead of working on drug cases, Mariko has been loaned out to a suburb to investigate the attempted theft of an ancient sword. Professor Yasou Yamada is a scholar of all things Samurai. Someone, and Mariko thinks he knows who, has tried to steal a sword created by Master Inazuma and said to have mystical powers over the one who wields it. While Mariko is too modern to believe in the magical legend of the sword, she has a lot to learn from Dr. Yamada.

Bein has created a legend and woven it within a modern mystery. With flash backs highlighting some of the men who have owned Inazuma's swords, this well crafted blend of story types will appeal to a variety of readers. Daughter of the Sword is a beautifully written story. I will be stalking the author until he completes the next installment in the series.

Bein, Steve. (2012). Daughter of the Sword. NY: Penguin.

The Eden Prophecy (Danielle Laidlaw #3)

The Eden Prophecy by Graham Brown is the third book in his Danielle Laidlaw series. Laidlaw works for the NRI, a government agency that works with advancements in technology - with a secret division tasked to steal new technology or stop others from using new technology to destroy the world.

The US Ambassador working at the United Nations receives an envelope that tells her she has been infected with a virus. As the NRI works with the Centers for Disease Control to find out what the virus does and if it is contagious, Danielle Laidlaw and Hawker (an ex-CIA agent turned NRI operative) try to track the source of the virus.

The source of the virus is a man Hawker worked for years ago in Africa. He was a man obsessed with finding the scientific equivalent of the fountain of youth. But now Ranga is dead. The group he was working for is attempting to synthesize a virus to infect people with long life - a goal that would lead to vast overpopulation taxing the Earth beyond its limits to sustain life. And now the only person who could finish Ranga's work is his daughter Sonia. Hawker and Laidlaw have to find her before the bad guys.

Brown has created a series in the genre of James Rollins - science based thrillers that take some new discovery or ancient text and create a crazy ride of plausible twists that readers love to follow. Laidlaw is a great character who is capable and fun to follow.

Brown, Graham. (2012). The Eden Prophecy. New York: Bantam Books.

Ragnarok (Chess Team #4)

Ragnarok by Jeremy Robinson is the fourth book in his Chess Team series about a an elite black ops team that is tasked with any extraordinary threats.

After losing his whole team Rook decided to take some time to himself to process. He ended up in Norway in a town where suddenly all of the people are acting strangely. In the mean time, the Chess Team is looking for him because there are strange phenomenon occurring around the world.

Globes of light have been appearing in various cities around the world. When they disappear again all that was inside goes with them - buildings, people, cars, everything. The Chess Team must figure out how to find one before it leaves so they can try to find out what they are, what is causing them, and how to stop them.

Robinson, writing this time with Kane Gilmour, has created a series that will appeal to fans of military fiction, science fiction, and more. The Chess Team is an unstoppable force.

Robinson, Jeremy. (2012). Ragnarok. St. Augustine, FL: Seven Realms Publishing.

The Daylight War (Demon Cycle #3)

The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett is his third book in the Demon Cycle series - set in a world where people can do what they wish in the daytime, but at night demons rise from the ground and attack. After 300 years of demons, people are fighting back.

The Warded Man, Arlen Bales, has been traveling around the countryside giving people the tools to protect themselves - wards (symbols) that can repel or even harm demons - and is now returning to the Hollow where he has made his home. Many people think he is the Deliverer who will free them from the terror of the demons. Arlen is convinced that all of the people who fight, together make the Deliverer.

Ahmann Jardir is the head of the people of Krasia, a land to the south of where Arlen lives in Thesa. The Krasians have invaded Krasia and will force the people to follow their religious law. They will teach the men to fight demons and teach the women to be more modest in dress and manner. Jardir's people believe he is the Deliverer, or Shar'Dama Ka, foretold in their holy books.

Regardless of who may be the Deliverer, the demons have noticed the turn in the fight and will send stronger creatures to challenge the humans. Both sides must get ready for more difficult fighting - plus the Karsians have plans to fight a daylight war to take over the rest of Thesa.

Brett has created an amazing fantasy world. The characters are diverse and complex. The demons strong and fierce. And the plot mesmerizing. This is one of the best fantasy series I have read and I will wait impatiently for the next book...

Brett, Peter V. (2013). The Daylight War. New York: Ballantine Books.

Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society #3)

Perfect Scoundrels by Ally Carter is the third book in her Heist Society series about a group of teens who are master thieves.

Kat Bishop and her friends have pulled off some amazing feats of thievery, but they may be up for the biggest challenge yet. While most of the group of young thieve is related to Kat by blood, WW Hale V joined the group when Kat stole him. She was in his grandmother's house to steal a painting but after he caught her he decided to join her in her adventures.

Now Hale's grandmother Hazel has died and he has been summoned back to the super wealthy family that he never felt apart of other than with his grandmother. But when her will is read and someone who believes she has been excluded hires Kat to find and steal the real will the plotting begins. The first step is to break into a museum where Hazel's desk is part of a display of Petrovich puzzle desks.

Carter has created a great teen series that will appeal to readers of espionage, heist books and friendship. The cons are complicated and spectacular and will delight readers. Great, fun series.

Carter, Ally. (2013). Perfect Scoundrels. New York: Hyperion.

The Friday Society (Friday Society #1)

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress is the first book in her series by the same name that is about three young women in early 1900s London who are not satisfied with the roles society proscribed for them - and what they can accomplish when they join together to solve a mystery.

Cora Bell is the assistant to Lord White who is a secret inventor. She helps in the laboratory both building and inventing. She is in charge of Lord White's schedule and making sure he get where is supposed to be on time.

Nellie Harrison is the assistant to the Great Raheem, London's best magician. They are a very popular act for all types of audiences. Nellie is often underestimated because she is beautiful.

Michiko was studying to be a Samurai in Japan but knew she was at risk for arrest since it was a daily possibility if discovered. When a British man came through town studying different types of martial arts and asked her to come back to London to be his assistant she jumped at the chance. But in London she is mostly a servant. She performs battle on stage to get clients for him, but she is mostly confined to the house.

Cora, Nellie and Michiko meet at an gala and after on their individual travels home meet up again at the scene of a murder. That night sets in motion events that will lead to the three of them joining forces to solve a mystery that could destroy all of London.

Kress has created a great beginning to what is hopefully a long series featuring Cora, Nellie and Michiko. The Friday Society combines mystery, historical fiction, steampunk and more that will delight readers.

Kress, Adrienne. (2013). The Friday Society. New York: Dial Books

Playing to Win (Play by Play #4)

Playing to Win by Jaci Burton is the fourth book in her Play by Play series - a romance series featuring professional athletes.

Like his cousins (from the first books) Cole Riley plays sports. He is a professional football player who has just been traded to his home team in St. Louis. He has been on a few teams and has a reputation as a great athlete who is not a team player. But Suzanna Brooks has been hired by his manager to be his image consultant.

Suzanna is a well respected image consultant who has not worked with a professional sports figure before but has some ideas. First she needs to get to know Cole and see if his image is anything like the real person.

Burton has written sexy series that romance readers will devour.

Burton, Jaci. (2012). Playing to Win. New York: Penguin.

Prodigy (Legend #2)

Legend by Marie Lu is the second book in her Legend series - a dystopian future world after the collapse of the US as we know it, now divided into the Republic of American and the colonies to the East.

June grew up within the upper classes of the Republic. She went to the best schools and lived in a nice apartment. She was trained to think that the Republic was the only way to survive in the world. But when she met Day, who grew up on the outside - one of the many lower classes who make the Republic viable - June started to see things differently. Especially after she fell in love with Day.

Now they have escaped the city of Los Angeles and are trying to make their way to Las Vegas to find the Rebels who are fighting against the Republic. But when they arrive, it is announced that the Elector Primo has died and his son Anden has taken over. And the Rebels will only help Day and June if they agree to kill the new Elector.

Lu has created a believable and realistic future world after climate change alters the landscape and people from the coasts have to flee inland. Like all dystopian fiction, there are two sides to the story - depending whether you are on the side of the elite or not. She does a great job of showing both sides with their strengths and flaws. The Legend series is a compelling plot filled with great characters. Readers will impatiently await the next book!

Lu, Marie. (2012). Prodigy. New York: G.P.Putnam's Sons.

Unorthodox

Unorthodox by Deborah Feldman is her story of growing up Hasidic. Born in Brooklyn into the Satmar community of ultra-orthodox Jews, Deborah grew up in a world that few outsiders have ever glimpsed.

Before World War II and Hitler's attempt to murder all Jews, many of the orthodox Jewish communities in Europe were losing people to some form of assimilation. But as a response to the genocide, a few rabbis began new, more stringent communities to fight back against annihilation. One of these rabbis form the Satmar community in Williamsburg Brooklyn.

Many may classify Satmar as a cult do its separation from the outside word and its strict laws and rules about everything - many of which are much more restrictive that the original rules in the Torah. Deborah grew up with very delineated boundaries - where she could go in relation to the neighborhood she lived in (she did not visit Manhattan until high school even though she could see the skyline from home), what she could wear due to modesty, what she could read and what her role would be in society (women's domain is the home; girls are only educated to 10th grade as any more would be a waste).

Deborah knew she didn't quite fit in from an early age. But her whole world was Williamsburg. Her family was there, though her mother had left the community. Everything she knew was there. For a time her only refuge was the books she read when she snuck into the public library. But the stories allowed her imagination to grow eventually allowing her to see a way to another life.

Feldman bravely chronicles her early life as an ultra-orthodox Jew in Brooklyn and her eventual escape into our broader society. She is the first woman to leave the Satmar community and be allowed to take her child with her to her new life. Her book is heart-wrenching and compelling and worth a read.

Feldman, Deborah. (2012). Unorthodox. New York: Simon and Schuster.

I, Q: Kitty Hawk (IQ #3)

Kitty Hawk by Roland Smith is his third book in the IQ series about siblings - Q and Angela - who are on the road with their parents for a year. They are supposed to be learning about US history as they travel through the states, but they are also learning about terrorism.

Q and Angela have only been siblings for a short time. Angela's dad married Q's mom and they have a hit single on the charts which lead them to decide to take the kids on the road while they tour. But there is more to their travels than they first thought. Angela's mother was a Secret Service agent killed in the line of duty - or so Angela thought.

Q and Angela, along with their driver/roadie who is an undercover spy, have been pulled into a web of terrorism and espionage. Angela's mother is undercover trying to infiltrate a ghost cell that is terrorizing the US. Between the skills Angela learned from her mother and Q's magician tricks, they are a great help in uncovering a plot against the President's daughter.

And when the President's daughter is kidnapped by Angela's mother - Q and Angela are part of the team that tracks the SUV holding them in order to get information and then get them out. But things never go according to plan...

Smith has created a great James Bond / Spy Kids like series that is fast paced (the first three books take place within the same week) and will attract readers from grade 3 through adult. Read the first one today!

Smith, Roland. (2012). I,Q: Kitty Hawk. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

Merciless (Mercy Gunderson #3)

Merciless by Lori Armstrong is the third book in her Mercy Gunderson series - an ex-sniper who has moved back to South Dakota and is readjusting to civilian life while solving crimes in and around the local reservation.

Mercy is now FBI Special Agent Gunderson. She is newly minted and assigned to Rapid City. Her first case begins when a young woman is murdered on the Eagle River reservation and tribal police ask for FBI help. A clue leads Mercy to research previous cases and finds that there is a large number of unsolved cases involving murdered women, in sets of three, in the fall/winter for the last few years. Each case was written off as some other cause. But this years murder could be nothing else - the young woman was tied to the ground and staked with a wooden spike.

With three different police forces potentially working together, things will either run smoothly or protocols and rivalries will keep the case from being solved. Mercy works on the case while dealing with changes in her private life and life around the reservation.

Armstrong has created a great but flawed character who readers will follow for many more books. Mercy is strong but fragile at the beginning of the series, but her progression back into civilian and family life after twenty years in the military is as fascinating to watch as a train wreck. Great mystery series that will appeal to a wide swath of readers.

Armstrong, Lori. (2013). Merciless. New York: Touchstone.

Total Control

Total Control by David Baldacci is a thrill ride from the get go.

Jason Archer is an executive at Triton Global, the world's leading technology company. He is also copying documents in the warehouse and delivering them to someone. For the final transfer his contact changes things. He is to buy a plane ticket to L.A., but at the last minute trade tickets with someone else who will be dressed and made up to look just like him. When he gets to Seattle to make the document exchange, he is shocked to see that the plane to L.A. has crashed.

Sydney Archer, Jason's wife, is a high powered attorney working for a firm that represents Triton Global in their bid to buy a small company that will change the way information is exchanged on the Internet. She thinks Jason is on his way to a job interview with a different tech company while she away in New York to work on the CyberCom deal. She is interrupted during the meeting by the airline calling to inform her of husband's plane crash.

FBI Special Agent Lee Sawyer quickly takes over the plane crash investigation from the NTSB when sabotage is discovered. He will have to find the motivation behind the crash to follow the vague trail of clues to find out who caused it. The only passenger who looks like he could be the target is the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Baldacci has written a great thriller with elements to technology (circa 1997), finance, mystery and more. Total Control is a fun, tense ride from beginning to end. Great read on the beach or when you are hiding from the winter.

Baldacci, David. (1997). Total Control. New York: Warner Books.

Taking a Shot (Play by Play #3)

Taking a Shot by Jaci Burton is the third book in her Play by Play series about gorgeous sports stars.

Jenna Riley hates sports. She is surround by them - she has a brother who plays professional football and another who plays professional baseball, and her family owns a popular sports bar that she now manages. She can quote stats for any local team but only because she absorbs it at work and needs to be able to talk about sports with her customers. So in her time off, she wants nothing to do with sports. She will not date anyone who plays sports or obsesses over them on television.

The problem is that she cannot get Tyler Anderson out of her head. She met him through her sister-in-law who is a sports agent but she will not date him because of her rule. Maybe the only way to get him out of her head is to invite him into her bed. Then he will not be some mysterious attraction and she can move on with her life.

Ty knows about Jenna's rule but once he decides something he does not give up. And he has decided that he wants to get to know Jenna better. He is not sure why since she is the opposite of the women he usually dates - she has short spiky hair with blue tips, a row of ear piercings, and wears boots that could squash him - but he cannot stop thinking about her.

Burton has delivered another fun read in this series filled with talented men and the amazing women with whom they fall in love. Great read if you find yourself on a tropical breach anytime soon.

Burton, Jaci. (2012). Taking the Shot. New York: Heat.

The Rogue's Princess (Lacey Chronicles #3)

The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards is the third book in her Lacey Chronicles about a family of brothers in 1500s England.

Kit Turner is a half-brother to the Earl of Dorset, the illegitimate son of the previous Earl. Though he grew up without his wealth father's family, he now has a new relationship with his brothers. To support himself, Kit has been a stage actor since the age of twelve.

While in attendance at the home of wealthy patron of the theater, Kit meets Mercy Hart. Mercy would never dream of going to the theater - such base entertainment must lead to sin. But Kit convinces her that she cannot decide unless she sees a play. As the daughter of a wealthy cloth merchant, and devout Puritan, Mercy spends her days trying to do what God would want - according to her father's strict interpretation. But Kit's challenge leads her to believe that there may be some theater worth investigating.

What Mercy does not know is that Kit will be on the stage when she sees a play. Though they are already enamored of each other, Kit and Mercy are of different classes and even Kit's ties to the Earl may not be enough to bridge the gap...

The Lacey Chronicles is a fun series of historical romance. The characters are charming and readers will want to follow them through many stories.

Edwards, Eve. (2013). The Rogue's Princess. New York: Delcaourte Press.

The Gilded Seal (Tom Kirk #3)

The Glided Seal by James Twining is the third book in his Tom Kirk series - and the best one yet. Kirk is a retired art thief who now helps people recover stolen art.

When Tom Kirk is called to Scotland to the theft of a Da Vinci painting, he is shocked to see the calling card of his nemesis - a man who is supposed to be in prison for another six years. At the same time, Kirk's longtime friend and master forger is murdered. Before he died he left something for Tom.

In New York, FBI agent Jennifer Browne is asked to look into an art forgery. A painting by Gauguin is both on the wall of a Soho gallery and listed as being for auction by a Japanese man. Representatives from both Christie's and Sotheby's would like an answer clearing their client.

As Tom and Jennifer separately investigate the possibility of a forgery ring, evidence that Tom's nemesis Milo is up to something big. Possibly trying to break into the Louvre Museum to steal the most famous painting of all time - the Mona Lisa.

Twining combines action, art, and history to take readers through a maze of plot and history. Kirk both investigates a theft, tries to stop Milo and plans a heist. The Gilded Seal is a great book that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Twining, James. (2007). The Gilded Seal. New York: HarperCollins.

Mudbound

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan is a look at two families in the South in 1946.

Laura McAllen was surprised when her husband Henry announced that he had bought a farm on the Mississippi Delta. They had been married for a while, had two daughters, and he had never mentioned his desire to own land. His grandfather was a farmer and Henry always thought he would inherit the farm - until he went to war and his father sold it. Laura grew up in a small city. She had no desire to move to the middle of nowhere - away from her family and friends.

Florence and Hap Jackson are sharecroppers on the land that Henry bought. They work the land with their twin sons and daughter while their eldest son, Ronsel, is fighting in WWII. Ronsel is part of the first group of black soldiers to actually fight for the modern US military. He is part of the 761st Tank Battalion - the Black Panthers - fighting under General Patton.

Henry's brother, Jaime, joins them on the farm after he returns from the war. While friendship between black and white men is still as taboo as it was during slavery, Ronsel may be the only person who understands what Jaime went through in the war. But any version of a friendship between them will cause trouble - not least of all from Jaime's father who has no respect for anyone, least of all a black man.

Jordan's debut novel was praised all over the literary world and won the Bellweather Prize. While this time period in our history is never a comfortable read, she has created a great novel that looks at many types of people in the South in 1946.

Jordan, Hillary. (2008). Mudbound. New York: Workman Publishing.

Typhoon

Typhoon by Joseph Conrad captures the feel of a hurricane from the decks of an early-1900s steam ship upon the South China Sea.

Using delightful language, Conrad tells the story of a ship's captain so calm and stead that his men think him dull. He speaks little and does only what must be done. Owners of ships love him because he is reliable. Jukes, the chief mate, things he is about to get them killed.

Captain MacWhirr lives in the moment - not to say that he takes life by the horns, but he has no concern of the events that have past or may happen in the future. He has seen what he calls "dirty weather" before and is not concerned that a typhoon could be any match for his new ship.

What follows is the tale of a ship fighting a hurricane without being prepared for the force of the storm. Conrad describes the violence of the wind like "the sudden smash of a vial of wrath." Having lived through two hurricanes on land, I could not imagine what is would be like to face one on a ship, but Conrad's tale captures the event with both wit and accuracy. Great read.

Conrad, Joseph.(1903). Typhoon. New York: Forge.

The Black Sun (Tom Kirk #2)

The Black Sun by James Twining is the second book in his Tom Kirk series. Kirk is an ex-art thief who used to help the CIA on occasion, but has retired and now helps people recover stolen art.

When a synagogue in Prague is broken into, it looks to Kirk like the thieves were using the racist graffiti to cover their actual target - a painting by Bellak, a Jew who was killed during the holocaust.

In Maryland, the National Cryptology Museum was broken into and a German Enigma machine was stolen. The Enigma is what created the coded messages the Germans used to communicate during WWII.

In a hospice care, two men break in, kill a holocaust survivor and cut off the arm with his numbered tattoo.

Using these seemingly random acts of violence/crime, the FBI, the CIA and Tom Kirk will follow a trail of clues that will lead to the discovery of an elite troop of SS who were in charge of stolen art during the war.

Twining has a gift for weaving a love of art, our history and a suspenseful plot that will keep readers coming back for more. Fans of mystery, espionage, historical fiction, and suspense will love this series.

Twining, James. (2006). The Black Sun. New York: HarperCollins.

Breaking Point (Crashers #2)

Breaking Point by Dana Haynes is the second book in his Crashers series about a group of National Transportation Safety Board - people who investigate airplane crashes.

Tommy Tomzak, Kiki Duval and Isaiah Grey are about to board a flight to Seattle. But that flight will crash in Colorado.

Another team of Crasher will be sent to Twin Pines, Colorado to investigate before they even realize that their coworkers were on the flight. What they do not know is that a man - who is responsible for the downing of the aircraft - walked among the survivors to ask if they knew why the plane crashed. And anyone who had even a clue that all of the power went out, was killed by that man. A man who will do anything to make sure no one finds out what brought down Flight 78.

Haynes is a brilliant writer who knows the ins and outs of the NTSB. His books are thrilling from beginning to end. And this book has ever thing that can go wrong happen to the main characters. This is a great read.

Haynes, Dana. (2011). Breaking Point. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Back Sun (Danielle Laidlaw #2)

Black Sun by Graham Brown is the second book in his Danielle Laidlaw series. Laidlaw works for a branch of the US government, the NRI, that is like the science and technology CIA. They find, steal, or create new technology before other countries can use it against us.

Two years after Laidlaw risked her life in the Amazon and recovered a stone that seems to create energy, she is pulled back into the agency from retirement. Professor McCarter, who was with her in the Amazon, is going after other parts of the Mayan prophecy that tells of a major change (not destruction) in the world in December 2012.

While Danielle and McCarter are in Mexico at a Mayan sculpture deep in the wilderness, they are attacked by a group of Chinese men. Danielle is captured and taken to Hong Kong to a "business" man who sent the team.

With a stone in US custody that seems to be counting down to December 21, 2012 at 5:32 pm, and Danielle - the only one who may be able to figure out what the count down is leading to, the head of the NRI begs ex-CIA agent Hawker to break Danielle out of Hong Kong and find McCarter in Mexico - all in the next week before the potential end of the world.

Brown has taken ancient Mayan legend and created a contemporary thriller that will keep readers on edge until the last page.

Brown, Graham. (2010). Black Sun. New York: Bantam Books.

Black Rain (Danielle Laidlaw #1)

Black Rain by Graham Brown is the first book in his series featuring Danielle Laidlaw. Laidlaw works for a shadowy government branch whose job it is to come up with the latest technology through development, theft, espionage or other means.

Laidlaw is being sent to the Amazon to look for an ancient Mayan city. In spite of the theory of the Maya in the Amazon being likely laughed out of any academic setting, Laidlaw is tasked with setting up a team of researchers, mercenaries for protection, and one ex-CIA pilot to trek up a branch of the river to a place the natives avoid like the plague.

In this James Rollins style adventure thriller, the scientists have to fight against the jungle, the native tribes, and some strange quirks of evolution to find the site they are seeking and come out alive - if, in fact, they do live.

Laidlaw is a great character who will catch the attention of readers and be followed through many adventures. Hopefully, others from this book will make appearances in the future as well. Can't wait to see where she goes next!

Brown, Graham. (2010). Black Rain. New York: Dell Books.

Able One

Able One by Ben Bova is a thrill ride from page one to the last word - not surprising considering how many of his books have won awards.

ABL-1 is a Boeing 747 outfitted with a high powered laser that - in theory - can shoot missiles out of the sky before they can land on their targets. It is still in the test phase. And after an explosion in an earlier prototype, they have been exiled to an airbase in Alaska for tests far from civilians.

When the North Koreans launch a satellite into orbit, analysts in the United States are surprised at their technology - North Korea is not known for its accuracy with missile launches. Then, when all civilian and non-hardened satellites lose power it appears that the launch was not of a satellite of their own, but a weapon that disabled most the world's GPS, Internet, TV and Cellphone networks.

With two more missiles sitting on a launch pad in North Korea, ABL-1, or Able One, just went from a training flight to an understaffed mission to save the US from a potential nuclear missile strike. With the President on his way to San Francisco to give a speech, he is counting on both the inability of North Korea to have the technology to reach him and of Able One to stop any incoming threats.

Bova has created a tense situation for both the technicians and Air Force on the plane and the government team in conference. As launch begins to look eminent, analysts hope that they can prevent a potential world-wide nuclear war. Techs on the plane fight to get their laser up to speed and get into position to - hopefully - be able to help out. Great technological thriller.

Bova, Ben. (2010). Able One. New York: Tor.

The Inexplicables (Clockwork Century #5)

The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest is the fifth book in her Clockwork Century series - an alternate history of the US Civil War period.

Rector Sherman grew up in an orphanage. He was a child of the Blight - a poisonous gas that was released when a tunnel machine broke through an underground cavern - but now he is turning 18 and will have to make it on his own.

Rector uses Sap - a drug form of the gas - to escape his ugly life. But when he is high, he is haunted by the ghost of a young man he led into the ruined city of Seattle. As he has to begin a new life anyway, he decides to make his way into Seattle and find the body of his friend so he can be at rest.

Zeke, however, is not dead. He is living underground in the sealed off parts of the city. When people go above ground they must wear gas masks to prevent the gas from effecting them - and turning them into Rotters.

Fans of Priest will enjoy catching up with characters of previous books in the Clockwork Century series in this ode to the city of Seattle. Her steampunk is great - she is considered one of the best steampunk writers of today. If you have not read any steampunk and would like to begin, start with her book Boneshaker.

Priest, Cherie. (2012). The Inexplicables. New York: Tor.