ARC: No cover available at time of review. Blending complex characters and plausible future technology with a starkly unequal society, Cox offers another mature and engaging addition to the cyberpunk genre that also offers much to readers of other genres.
This is the second book in the Faded Skies series. Spoilers might occur.
Two weeks ago, Maya Oman revealed to the world that Ascendant, her birth mother’s corporation, were deliberately releasing a bio-weapon into civilian populations so they could sell the cure. She, and the disadvantaged among whom she’d made a home, thought she’d started a change. But, instead of arrests and a police force no longer in thrall to the corporation, everything continues as before. As the days pass with neither improvement nor retribution, Maya begins to doubt anyone of consequence cared about her broadcast. Then special forces attack her tower block.
Although this novel has a nine-year-old protagonist, it is neither middle grade nor young adult in style and substance; therefore—while the prose is as accessible as the archetypal young woman fights against a dystopian ruler—the unpleasantness of the world is both more real and less black-and-white.
As with the previous volume, Cox skilfully balances descriptions of world with character-driven action, creating a powerful and nuanced portrayal of a cyberpunk future that is enhanced by—but does not rely on—the differences with our modern world. As such, this book is likely to suit readers of both classic techo-dystopia and those who favour books about human struggle over (not very) shiny objects.
This mix of large and small scale is equally evident in the emotional landscape: Cox layers the pseudo-familial politics of Maya’s new home with both the almost tribal structure of the area surrounding it and the near-corpocracy of the advantaged regions, to create a study in contrasts and similarities that is both plausible and disturbing.
The plot takes full advantage of this level of detail. While Cox is constrained by the need to confine challenges to those a nine-year-old might plausibly overcome, the variety of surroundings and characters prevent this from feeling like a rehash of the previous book.
Maya remains an engaging protagonist; although her time outside of the corporate bubble has granted her a broader insight, she remains information rich but experience poor leading to both inventive solutions to situations and unexpected failures. This mix of genetically enhanced mental skills and childish naïvety also make her an excellent narrator, capable of plausibly providing complex descriptions and explanations to seat the reader’s understanding without losing the ability to see things for the first time along with the reader.
The supporting cast are similarly balanced, each possessing a clear echo of genre tropes and an individuality that both expands and limits them in meaningful ways.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel immensely. I recommend it to readers seeking nuanced cyberpunk or fast-paced adventure.
I received a free advance copy from the publisher with a request for a fair review.
