October 28, 2019
A revolutionary invention that generates free, clean energy has devastating repercussions in Winter’s slight but eloquently written dystopian debut, the first in a series. Storm Freeman, creator of a miraculous clean-energy device called the Gatherer, has been hiding out in the Yukon trying to cure the acute sensitivity she’s since developed to electromagnetic fields as a result of prolonged exposure to the Gatherer. Storm is unaware that others are also suffering the Gatherer’s negative side effects until special ops agent Maria Kowalski tracks her down and demands that she fix it. Winter’s accomplished prose paints a convincing portrait of Storm’s debilitating illness and the camaraderie that develops between Maria and Storm as they trek into the city to confront Storm’s mother, who she left in charge of the Gatherer Corporation. The unforeseen consequences of a well-intentioned sustainable energy source make for an original disaster story, but dropped narrative threads and underwhelming plot twists leave this dystopian tale feeling insubstantial. Despite these flaws in execution, Winter’s well-rounded characters and obvious potential will have readers tuning in for the next installment. Agent: Gail Fortune, Talbot Fortune Agency.
November 1, 2019
Storm Freeman thought she was saving the world when she invented a device called the Gatherer. Storm had found a way to pull electromagnetic energy from the air, making endless electricity free to help rural and poor communities across the world. However, the Gatherer soon became a pandemic as the electromagnetic fields created havoc in human bodies. Anyone exposed would eventually come to a painful end. Storm herself is afflicted, but continues her research to find a cure and destroy her invention gone wrong. However the government knows the power of this project, and will not stop searching for Storm to use her work and mind for their own devices. VERDICT This near-future sf thriller illuminates tipping points in ecological power and scientific pursuit. An action-packed plot, with well-rounded characters and an intriguing premise make it recommended for all collections.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
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