Published: 2012
Author: A.G. Chambers
An assured debut which could make a science fiction fan of me…
I started this year with good intentions. I had intended to read lots of science fiction and fantasy books in order to get to know the genres better. I had also intended to lose 4 stone but New Year’s resolutions hardly ever work out though do they? I read a couple of fantasy books which I enjoyed and one dystopian novel which was ok but science fiction hadn’t managed to break through my very large wall of crime fiction. So when A.G. Chambers, an author local to me in Surrey contacted me with details of her debut science fiction novel Jaded Rein it gave me the perfect opportunity to widen my horizons before the end of 2012.
In a futuristic world a number of humans have mutated and have their own doppelgangers (DPs) which give their host humans extra powers including physical and mental abilities which are attractive to political leaders and those who wish to see enemies destroyed. Our heroine Jade leads a mercenary team who carry out espionage and assassinations for a high fee. Called in by the government to destroy a deadly cult which has taken all of Stratford hostage, Jade is forced to recruit Rein – one of the country’s most powerful DPs (and sexiest men).
From the very first page which depicted a traumatic event early in Jade’s life I was gripped – even if at times I didn’t entirely understand what was going on. I’m not attuned to SF norms so it probably took me longer to adjust to the idea of humans having DPs than it would a science fiction fan. Having said that though once I did fully understand what was going on I completely bought into the storyline and the characters. It helped that Chambers mixed the science fiction narrative of the DPs with the very human storyline of politics and terrorism which doesn’t need much introduction.
The characters are likeable and (so far as is possible in a scenario where they have powers which allow them to have superhuman strengths or the ability to heal broken bones instantaneously or translate emotions into smells) completely believable. The story whipped along at a cracking pace and the action scenes were exciting and satisfying. Jade is a fantastic new heroine and her romance with Rein is steamy and sparky although with 4 more installments in Jade’s story planned there is a risk that the tension which is so much fun in this book could become a little tiresome by part 5.
A.G. Chambers is only 18 (grrrr) and this is an assured debut but I hope she doesn’t find it too condescending of me to say that there’s a bit of room for improvement and growth. There are some areas of dialogue that do sound a bit teenagerish. If that sounds overly critical I don’t intend it to be – I’m double Chambers age and haven’t written a novel. Not only have I not written a novel, I haven’t written an exciting science fiction novel with fabulous characters that leaves the reader desperate for more. I’m very much looking forward to part two of this exciting new series – A.G. Chambers may just have made a science fiction fan of me.