Review of Nowhere to Hide

[Merits Anih]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Nowhere to Hide" by Jude Austin.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Kalin (Kata) is nineteen years old but has seen some bad and tormenting sides of life. A group of GenTech scientists kidnapped him and turned him into what I would refer to as a "lab rat." Having been used for experiments for two years, he managed to escape to Akkhen, and Alan Morgan helped him in his recovery process. However, their situation soon grew dire as holins from Core Central in Trandellia were headed to Akkhen, which meant danger to Kata. Meanwhile, Kata's abusive parents reached out electronically, expressing a desire for his return. But Kata could not bear the thought of seeing or communicating with them after the emotional torments they had put him through. To protect himself, he knew he must flee Akkhen before his parents could find him again. Would he be able to do this?

Nowhere to Hide is book 3 of the Five Worlds series. Through this series, Jude Austin's sci-fi realism approach allows her to explore thought-provoking "what if" scenarios through an intimate, character-focused lens. Her world may contain ingenious new species or natural phenomena, but the story remains driven by believable human motivations and emotions. This balancing act between realism and imagination is what makes Austin such a skilled practitioner of the sci-fi realism subgenre. Her tales remind me that science fiction can examine the depths of the human condition while still kindling our sense of wonder at the possibilities the universe may hold.

I love how the author developed the relationship between Kata and the character Tau. As an individual with limited interpersonal experience, Tau provides an intriguing counterpoint perspective. Watching Tau navigate new social dynamics and forge an identity in this unfamiliar environment proves both humorous and insightful. The complex friendship between Kata and Tau forms the emotional core of the narrative. What begins as a straightforward connection reveals deeper layers as the story progresses. Austin expertly subverts expectations by exposing the discrepancies between what Kata and Tau each want and need from their association. Their relationship highlights the difficulties of true understanding between two people from vastly different backgrounds.

I recommend this book to those who love reading science fiction. The book was professionally edited, and I disliked nothing about it. As a result, I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

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Nowhere to Hide
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