Review by parg28 -- Homecoming by Jude Austin
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parg28
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Review by parg28 -- Homecoming by Jude Austin
[Following is a volunteer review of "Homecoming" by Jude Austin.]
Picking up where the first book left off, Homecoming by Jude Austin is an adventure and fight for survival all rolled into one. Kata and Tau made their escape from the horrors they suffered at GenTech Labs, but escape doesn’t mean freedom. Especially not for Projects who are considered property and less than humans. They plan to return to the one place Kata believes is safe, his home world. However, things don’t go according to plan and Kata ends up making a choice that sets his final fate into motion. After Tau is kidnapped by a bounty hunter and Kata almost dies on a fools errand, Kata’s only thought is to find Tau and hide. Fortunately, he’s not alone. A doctor who saved him slowly helps Kata learn to trust again while Tau learns more about humans and how to think for himself. Together with his new friends, Tau is rescued and their final fight for freedom from GenTech is set into motion. Will they be set free from the horrors of their past, or will death be their only option?
What I liked most about this book was the fast pace. After reading the first book in the series, I anticipated that this story would be packed with action and I was not disappointed. The author hooks you from the very beginning and pulls you further into the story as Kata and Tau make their escape. The suspense is built beautifully with each chapter so you’re on the edge of your seat, biting your nails as you wait to find out whether Kata and Tau will survive, or who will betray them next. Switching between character viewpoints at crucial moments also helped to increase the tension.
Another thing I liked was the emotional resonance. Some authors might gloss over the psychological damage of torture, but Jude Austin didn’t. Instead, she let the characters experience and deal with the trauma in a realistic way while also exploring the feelings that come along with growing up and changing as people. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Kata is still very much a kid, seeing as how he’s only 19, but the author is able to show the juxtaposition of his youth and the difficult choices he’s made and situations he’s been through.
If I had to pick something I disliked most, it would be the amount of profanity. There is quite of lot of it but, at the same time, it fits the characters and situations. In that way, it is not out of place and does not take away from the story at all. This is simply a personal preference.
This book is for anyone who loves an action packed, well-written sci-fi/fantasy novel that deals with important social issues with a coming-of-age running through it. This is the second book in the series and reading the first is necessary to understand the full scope. As a warning, there are mentions of rape, but there are no explicit details. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for the excellent story, professional editing and engaging writing.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Picking up where the first book left off, Homecoming by Jude Austin is an adventure and fight for survival all rolled into one. Kata and Tau made their escape from the horrors they suffered at GenTech Labs, but escape doesn’t mean freedom. Especially not for Projects who are considered property and less than humans. They plan to return to the one place Kata believes is safe, his home world. However, things don’t go according to plan and Kata ends up making a choice that sets his final fate into motion. After Tau is kidnapped by a bounty hunter and Kata almost dies on a fools errand, Kata’s only thought is to find Tau and hide. Fortunately, he’s not alone. A doctor who saved him slowly helps Kata learn to trust again while Tau learns more about humans and how to think for himself. Together with his new friends, Tau is rescued and their final fight for freedom from GenTech is set into motion. Will they be set free from the horrors of their past, or will death be their only option?
What I liked most about this book was the fast pace. After reading the first book in the series, I anticipated that this story would be packed with action and I was not disappointed. The author hooks you from the very beginning and pulls you further into the story as Kata and Tau make their escape. The suspense is built beautifully with each chapter so you’re on the edge of your seat, biting your nails as you wait to find out whether Kata and Tau will survive, or who will betray them next. Switching between character viewpoints at crucial moments also helped to increase the tension.
Another thing I liked was the emotional resonance. Some authors might gloss over the psychological damage of torture, but Jude Austin didn’t. Instead, she let the characters experience and deal with the trauma in a realistic way while also exploring the feelings that come along with growing up and changing as people. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Kata is still very much a kid, seeing as how he’s only 19, but the author is able to show the juxtaposition of his youth and the difficult choices he’s made and situations he’s been through.
If I had to pick something I disliked most, it would be the amount of profanity. There is quite of lot of it but, at the same time, it fits the characters and situations. In that way, it is not out of place and does not take away from the story at all. This is simply a personal preference.
This book is for anyone who loves an action packed, well-written sci-fi/fantasy novel that deals with important social issues with a coming-of-age running through it. This is the second book in the series and reading the first is necessary to understand the full scope. As a warning, there are mentions of rape, but there are no explicit details. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars for the excellent story, professional editing and engaging writing.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Individual Influence by Brian Smith and Mary Smith
