Synopsis:
There’s a thief on the loose. The Tigres excel at tipping the scales in their favor, be it through bribes, politics, or blood. They unofficially run Viterbo, Italy—and somebody stole from them.
Private investigators David and Mafalda De Campo have been hired to help find the thief. They’re in it for the money, but the Tigres just want to make a statement.
Meanwhile, the Heredes have returned: ruthless idealists and revolutionaries. It’s not clear what they’re up to, but they keep getting in the way.
The De Campos will need to decide how far they’re willing to go for this job and the Tigres. Viterbo may soon become a battlefield, and one wrong move could set it aflame.
Review:
Animus Paradox is a continuation of a short story featured in Bassett’s Digital Extremities. The short was one of my favorites, so I was thrilled to follow two characters I fell in love with in the other book, and explore more of their world.
This is a fast-paced sci-fi book. From the beginning, we already know that David and Maf are private investigators who often deal with dangerous groups. Within their realm in Italy, there are multiple gangs, some almost mafia-like, along with the government itself and revolutionary groups. Each has its own stake in the game, and David and Maf find themselves in the middle of all of them.
Bassett’s world, rife with all the must-haves of a cyberpunk tale, is solid. Every detail is on point, never deviating from things described in the past, and this creates such vivid scenes. The characters have mods, ranging from mediocre to luxurious. Dermal plates for armor. Things they can install straight into them to provide memory, night vision, and communication systems. Even weaponry.
Bassett’s characters are rich with differentiations, culture, and personality. Though set in Italy, we have many characters who are from other countries, and Bassett portrays each one in such a unique fashion. David, the main character, is an American and former Army who is getting along in age and probably not suited for such a perilous task as stepping into gang territory. However, his wife Maf has taken on a job, and he is determined to help. And help, he does.
Animus Paradox gives no room to breathe as the action barrels along, which I highly enjoyed. Some stories and genres benefit from slower moments, which we saw Bassett master in Digital Extremities. But this story thrives in the fast-paced environment.
The characters are more in-depth than just gangsters and bad guys versus good guys. Each one has an angle, and each one is understandable. There were times when I almost did not want the good guys to achieve what they were set out to do, yet I couldn’t fathom them losing either. The push and pull of morals is done very well here.
I had the pleasure of listening to this on audio, and I highly enjoyed the narrator. Again, totally no bias. The narrator did a great job with accents and pacing.
If you’re ready for complex characters, action that doesn’t stop, and an immersive, cyberpunk adventure, you’re ready for Animus Paradox.
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