Chaos, by indie author Jimi Rodriguez, is an interesting YA/CoA (?) story. Loads of teenage angst and sexuality without being pornographic. With a hodge-podge of Hogwarts meets Hunger Games meets Divergent vibes, Chaos focuses on the life of Jacob Titus and his continual struggle to navigate the often deadly magical world with his very real secrets. Titus is a scholarship student at Valcrest School for the Promised. When a magical talent scout spots him on the streets of Eslor Island, Titus makes the tough decision to leave his mother and take the opportunity offered by Valcrest. He has little interest in magic though, preferring to search for an Alzheimer's cure to salvage what's left of his mother's mind. The concept behind Chaos is intriguing but, I admit, the sexual overtones were occasionally distracting. Maybe I'm just old. Ha! Still, if you're a YA/CoA fan, you might dig this one. Chaos is action packed and moves along at a quick clip.
Not to be confused with legendary journalist Barbara Walters, political scientist Barbara F. Walter serves up an engrossing study on civil wars in How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them. I am an avid amateur poli-sci student and history nut. Civil Wars grabbed me by the throat and throttled me. I was by turns horrified and hopeful. She takes her readers on a break-neck trip around the world, pointing to triggers and indicators across the political regime spectrum about how and where civil wars began, could begin, and how world citizens can prevent them. Walter's delivery is warm and inviting without being dry or opaque. All poli-sci books should be so easy to read. This timely and thought provoking book took me about ten days to get through and I didn't mind one bit. Seriously, this one should be added to required reading lists in high school and college civics/political science classes.
Welcome to Dominion. A land powered by the highly regulated, and subjugated, "tainted" - people with talents ranging from the ability to heal, remove pain, light lamps, power machinery, to blowing up buildings. Krystle Matar's Legacy of the Brightwash is a gorgeous display of gaslamp/grimdark fiction. Regulation Officer Tashue Blackwood, is charged with keeping track of the "tainted" in his area. He's never questioned the law which requires people with "talent" to register and use their gifts in service to the nation. Well, not until his own son refused to register and is imprisoned in the Rift for non-compliance. But, Tashue still has his doubts. After all, his son's refusal to register may just be a flight of youthful defiance lashing out at authority. A decorated war-veteran, Tashue develops feelings for a tainted neighbor, Stella Whiterock and her daughter, Ceridwen. His complicating and complicated attachment to the mother and daughter pulls at the loose threads of his loyalty to Dominion. The plight of the tainted nags at him from every direction. Matar's fantastic new world is beckoning to you. Don't miss out on this #Stabby award nominee and SPFBO finalist. Legacy of the Brightwash is sure to be a fantasy classic before long.
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