Review of Homecoming
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Kirstin Kanani
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Review of Homecoming
[Following is a volunteer review of "Homecoming" by Jude Austin.]
Kata and Tau were stuck in the clutches of the galactic business super-power, GenTech, for several years before making a daring escape. The two are on the run, desperate to find safety on Kata's home world, Trandellia. Unfortunately, life outside of captivity isn't as easy as they expected. With every step they take, they uncover more people who want Tau recaptured and want to use Kata as a weapon. Yet everyone underestimates the bond that the cloned Project and manipulated boy share. They will stop at nothing to hold onto their freedom and friendship, but will they be able to pull off another impossible stunt? Homecoming by Jude Austin answers this question while taking the reader on a journey of healing, betrayal, and retribution.
This book is the second in the Five Worlds series and has many of the same styles and elements as the first book. For the most part, points of view between characters switch somewhat randomly throughout the chapters, as opposed to each being dedicated to one person. This approach was a great way to learn more about how multiple characters felt during the same situation. It was also a distinctive way to showcase when another narrator wasn't being very reliable. This is especially prevalent for Kata, as readers don't truly understand how his captivity affected his body because he's too focused on saving himself and Tau. Not only did these quick changes in point-of-view provide greater insight into the characters, but the unique style also kept the book fast-paced and exciting.
While I did appreciate the book's overall structure, my favorite thing about it is the realistic evolution of the characters, particularly Kata and Tau. They have both experienced severe trauma and instead of glossing over it, the book strongly features how these events affect them. Kata deals with many symptoms of PTSD and has to come to terms with that, while Tau has to overcome the conditioning from GenTech and other people that he is somehow less than they are. Considering they both went through such a similarly difficult time, it was intriguing to see how differently they behaved once they had more freedom.
As a whole, I immensely enjoyed Kata and Tau's story in Homecoming; however, I disliked a few things about the book's last few chapters. The typical fast-paced story grinds to a halt in the last few chapters. Instead, there is a lot of information being discussed between several people. These debates are critical as their decision is vital to the plot, but the reader already knows a lot of information, with very few new things learned. A lot of new characters are also introduced during this time. They get a brief description but are otherwise referred to by their name. This felt particularly out of place, especially compared to the rest of the book, where more focus is spent on who everyone is. It also made it difficult to keep track of who was speaking.
Despite a few slow chapters, I think Homecoming is a fantastic book with an exciting plot and great characters, and it was exceptionally well-edited, as I didn't find any errors. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The main characters were developed in very realistic ways, and I loved watching their dynamic change as they tried to navigate new circumstances. The story was also nicely concluded while still leaving room for more.
This book is excellent for those who enjoy realistic science fiction novels with a character-driven plot. It can also be a good match for those who read political intrigue books. However, the frequent vulgar language makes it more appropriate for mature audiences.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Kata and Tau were stuck in the clutches of the galactic business super-power, GenTech, for several years before making a daring escape. The two are on the run, desperate to find safety on Kata's home world, Trandellia. Unfortunately, life outside of captivity isn't as easy as they expected. With every step they take, they uncover more people who want Tau recaptured and want to use Kata as a weapon. Yet everyone underestimates the bond that the cloned Project and manipulated boy share. They will stop at nothing to hold onto their freedom and friendship, but will they be able to pull off another impossible stunt? Homecoming by Jude Austin answers this question while taking the reader on a journey of healing, betrayal, and retribution.
This book is the second in the Five Worlds series and has many of the same styles and elements as the first book. For the most part, points of view between characters switch somewhat randomly throughout the chapters, as opposed to each being dedicated to one person. This approach was a great way to learn more about how multiple characters felt during the same situation. It was also a distinctive way to showcase when another narrator wasn't being very reliable. This is especially prevalent for Kata, as readers don't truly understand how his captivity affected his body because he's too focused on saving himself and Tau. Not only did these quick changes in point-of-view provide greater insight into the characters, but the unique style also kept the book fast-paced and exciting.
While I did appreciate the book's overall structure, my favorite thing about it is the realistic evolution of the characters, particularly Kata and Tau. They have both experienced severe trauma and instead of glossing over it, the book strongly features how these events affect them. Kata deals with many symptoms of PTSD and has to come to terms with that, while Tau has to overcome the conditioning from GenTech and other people that he is somehow less than they are. Considering they both went through such a similarly difficult time, it was intriguing to see how differently they behaved once they had more freedom.
As a whole, I immensely enjoyed Kata and Tau's story in Homecoming; however, I disliked a few things about the book's last few chapters. The typical fast-paced story grinds to a halt in the last few chapters. Instead, there is a lot of information being discussed between several people. These debates are critical as their decision is vital to the plot, but the reader already knows a lot of information, with very few new things learned. A lot of new characters are also introduced during this time. They get a brief description but are otherwise referred to by their name. This felt particularly out of place, especially compared to the rest of the book, where more focus is spent on who everyone is. It also made it difficult to keep track of who was speaking.
Despite a few slow chapters, I think Homecoming is a fantastic book with an exciting plot and great characters, and it was exceptionally well-edited, as I didn't find any errors. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The main characters were developed in very realistic ways, and I loved watching their dynamic change as they tried to navigate new circumstances. The story was also nicely concluded while still leaving room for more.
This book is excellent for those who enjoy realistic science fiction novels with a character-driven plot. It can also be a good match for those who read political intrigue books. However, the frequent vulgar language makes it more appropriate for mature audiences.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Latest Review: The Date Farm by Jack Winnick
