Review by La Loca Designs -- Homecoming by Jude Austin

[La Loca Designs]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Homecoming" by Jude Austin.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Homecoming by Jude Austin is the second book in the Projects Series and continues the story of Kata and Tau. I previously reviewed Project Tau, the first book in the series.

The book begins where the first book left off with Kata and Tau escaping GenTech, the company that had plans to sell the two projects for billions of dollars. Kata and Tau know that GenTech will not allow them to get away easily but they are hopeful that they can find a safe place to live out the rest of their lives. Their search for safety and home takes some unexpected turns along the way.

The world-building in this second book is much more successful than in the first book. There is still at least one instance where the author uses current pop culture references but this book relies more on descriptions of the universe where Kata and Tau find themselves. The two main characters travel to four different planets throughout the story and the author describes each new location in detail. Austin has created a whole universe with a history, animal and plant life, inhabitants with distinct personalities, and technologies that are appropriately advanced for the time period.

Since this book is the second in the series, the author has to include some back story. Austin weaves the back story into the new story artfully. It never feels like the author is trying to catch the reader up. The book is well edited.

Like the first book in the series, Homecoming tackles the topic of cloning and the ethics surrounding the practice. Kata and Tau are treated like livestock and have to fight for their freedom. This book takes their fight further than the first book, with Kata and Tau fighting to be recognized as citizens and to find their home. The author takes great pains to show how out of place Tau feels outside the lab, unsure if he is deserving of “human food” or how to even make a decision without someone telling him what to do. The book also tackles other difficult topics, such as immigration, bullying, child abuse, and the cruelty of humans.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I think this book is a good fit for readers who like books set in the future and readers who like books that ask questions about the ethics of technological advancements. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

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Homecoming
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