Synopsis:
Kara is an outcast. A freak. A non-telepath. The only person to ever show her any kindness − Caethiid, is dead. Ever since the state informed her of Caethiid’s death, Kara’s life has been bleak, consisting of a tedious job, a small book collection and the painful memories of a love that never was. But Kara also harbours a dark secret. Within her is a terrible power, one that’s manifested in times of great danger, with devastating consequences.
When Caethiid miraculously reappears, Kara’s joy is short-lived. From across the galaxy, Caethiid has been listening to Kara’s thoughts. He knows her secret and he wants to use her power to overthrow the state. Kara finds herself trapped in his twisted game of psychological manipulation. As Caethiid’s ruthless nature is revealed, Kara realises the man she once knew may no longer exist. With Caethiid’s grip tightening, Kara begins to wonder whether she can trust her own mind, or whether everything she thought she knew was part of his plan all along.
Review:
Afterburn is the author’s debut novel, written with verve and skill, with a deep focus on character driven science fiction. This is a study of a fractured mind, caught up in a revolution ‒ or are they? – as her powerful but uncontrolled psychic abilities are forced to develop. And forced is the operative world, for Kara is a nonner, her mind supposedly unreadable by most except for one person – Caethid. And it is their painful relationship that the book revolves around. The reader, though tossed and turned in the multiple layers of Kara’s life, is aware of the controlling and abusive relationship that evolves between them, complicated by the strained fabric of Kara’s mind. Are the events she endures real, projected onto her, or created in the brain of someone falling apart?
And this, perhaps, is where the narrative can struggle. Holding so many threads together, while bringing the reader along with you, is a fine art and Andrews does a superb job for the vast majority of the time. But confusion can slip in, and the reader needs to focus on each element to keep the chronology clear.
Ultimately, I highly recommend this novel for those searching for emotionally driven scifi, and Andrews is a voice in the dark I shall be keeping a careful eye on. Cue applause.
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