Review of Homecoming
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Karlee Berrios
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Review of Homecoming
[Following is a volunteer review of "Homecoming" by Jude Austin.]
Homecoming by Jude Austin picks up right where we left off with Kata/Kalin and Tau. They’ve managed to escape GenTech. Now they’re frantically planning their next move while still grappling with the consequences of their escape. In a short amount of time, they confront an interplanetary crime syndicate, a corrupt government official, and a ruthless bounty hunter. (Not to mention an extra nasty swath of alien bees.) With what seems like the entire galaxy trying to get their hands on them, they find themselves separated, fighting desperately to get back to each other.
We are immersed in a new world with so much detail it’s easy to see the love and time put into developing it. It feels as though Project Tau was just the tip of the iceberg in the beautiful universe Jude Austin has created. Every planet is full of unique wildlife and hazards. They each have their own distinct culture and beliefs. Their rich histories and cultural influences give depth to every character and fuel the tension between them.
We also have to discuss the incredible character growth we have seen from the beginning of the series to now. Tau and Kata are not the same boys we met in book one. In Project Tau, Tau is incredibly naive, and Kata seems to be the knowledgeable one. When they were trapped in GenTech it was easy to forget that Kata is still just a teenager. Now that they’re out among others, we see his lack of real-world experience showing. At the same time, we see Tau being more ruthless and cunning in his methods, creating a fantastic paradoxical effect where they’ve almost switched places.
One issue readers may struggle with is the changes in perspective throughout the novel. While written in the third person, and immaculately edited, sometimes the person whose thoughts are being read changes seemingly without warning. Readers may find themselves re-reading a paragraph to clarify who was thinking what.
That said, I still give Homecoming a solid four out of four stars. It is a character-driven, moral dilemma-inducing adventure. We can see that our two heroes are the same, even when those around them disagree. We, as readers, are asked the same questions Kata and Tau are. What is consciousness? Can it be defined? Does it matter if it was born or grown in a lab?
A few trigger warnings do need to be mentioned. This book contains torture, sexual assault, disordered eating/body dysmorphia, physical abuse, gaslighting, and PTSD. While none of the above are intensely graphic, they still need to be taken into consideration for possible readers.
Due to the possible triggers and mature content, I recommend Homecoming to an adult audience looking for a character-driven, emotionally involved sci-fi novel. It doesn’t get too detailed in the science behind it all or major action sequences. It keeps more to the themes of philosophy, morality, friendship, and the juxtaposition of the cruelty and mercy of humanity. It’s a perfect expansion of the characters and universe we found in Project Tau and will make readers very eager to see what’s to come in book three.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Homecoming by Jude Austin picks up right where we left off with Kata/Kalin and Tau. They’ve managed to escape GenTech. Now they’re frantically planning their next move while still grappling with the consequences of their escape. In a short amount of time, they confront an interplanetary crime syndicate, a corrupt government official, and a ruthless bounty hunter. (Not to mention an extra nasty swath of alien bees.) With what seems like the entire galaxy trying to get their hands on them, they find themselves separated, fighting desperately to get back to each other.
We are immersed in a new world with so much detail it’s easy to see the love and time put into developing it. It feels as though Project Tau was just the tip of the iceberg in the beautiful universe Jude Austin has created. Every planet is full of unique wildlife and hazards. They each have their own distinct culture and beliefs. Their rich histories and cultural influences give depth to every character and fuel the tension between them.
We also have to discuss the incredible character growth we have seen from the beginning of the series to now. Tau and Kata are not the same boys we met in book one. In Project Tau, Tau is incredibly naive, and Kata seems to be the knowledgeable one. When they were trapped in GenTech it was easy to forget that Kata is still just a teenager. Now that they’re out among others, we see his lack of real-world experience showing. At the same time, we see Tau being more ruthless and cunning in his methods, creating a fantastic paradoxical effect where they’ve almost switched places.
One issue readers may struggle with is the changes in perspective throughout the novel. While written in the third person, and immaculately edited, sometimes the person whose thoughts are being read changes seemingly without warning. Readers may find themselves re-reading a paragraph to clarify who was thinking what.
That said, I still give Homecoming a solid four out of four stars. It is a character-driven, moral dilemma-inducing adventure. We can see that our two heroes are the same, even when those around them disagree. We, as readers, are asked the same questions Kata and Tau are. What is consciousness? Can it be defined? Does it matter if it was born or grown in a lab?
A few trigger warnings do need to be mentioned. This book contains torture, sexual assault, disordered eating/body dysmorphia, physical abuse, gaslighting, and PTSD. While none of the above are intensely graphic, they still need to be taken into consideration for possible readers.
Due to the possible triggers and mature content, I recommend Homecoming to an adult audience looking for a character-driven, emotionally involved sci-fi novel. It doesn’t get too detailed in the science behind it all or major action sequences. It keeps more to the themes of philosophy, morality, friendship, and the juxtaposition of the cruelty and mercy of humanity. It’s a perfect expansion of the characters and universe we found in Project Tau and will make readers very eager to see what’s to come in book three.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Chameleons by Onyx Gold
