I found this book because of a
post by the author on a Facebook page. I went to Amazon and looked at the cover
and blurb and both intrigued me.
Fate Unfollowed is a well
written and edited post-apocalyptic science fiction story well worth the time
to read. As a debut novel, it is a great start to a promising career. There is
plenty of action, great characters that grow through the story, and some
incredible world building included in this story.
In a world that has suffered a
cataclysm, people work to survive as best they can. The planet they are on has
been plunged into a dismal place where there are constant storms under darkened
skies. Nearly everyone is exploited by politicians who have promised better
conditions, and a despotic capitalist who wants power over everything, but
isn't particularly interested in being recognized as the seat of governance.
Akara is a young man who isn't
what he appears to be. He is actually a member of a race of beings that are
thought to be extinct. He moved among the humans disguised as one and is in a
relationship with a human woman named Marianne. She has no idea what he is, but
they are very much in love. One of the things Marianne doesn't know is that
Akara has a destiny beyond masquerading as a human.
Daemon Pramoore sits atop a
tower that dominates the skyline of the city, quietly directing the fates of
the people who live on the surface. He maintains control through the use of
several henchmen who do his bidding without question. He also controls a large
army of people with psychic abilities to make sure the non-human residents of
the planet, if there are any left, do not cause him problems. But he also has a
dark secret in the form of an army of genetically manipulated creatures
standing by to enforce his will should they be needed.
Underground live the refugees
of the beings thought to be extinct.
When it is discovered, the
underground beings are still around, all hell breaks loose and the city is
plunged into a bloody conflict that makes Akara have to fulfill the destiny he
has so long denied.
The characters in this tale are
at the center of the story. We get to know them and their ambitions. Many are
characters one can care about as they go about their business, and their growth
is amazing. Akara experiences the most growth in a journey of self-discovery
when he finds himself pulled between his destiny and his relationship with
Marianne. It causes a strain on his relationship with his father and his best
friend and finally finds him having to make a difficult choice. Akara's story
is a tragic one that will take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride
from the heights of happiness to the depths of despair.
But Akara isn't the only
character worth watching, there are a plethora of others. There is a teacher
and his pupil from the psychics that share a triumphant journey through this
story. There is also some focus on Daemon’s minions that help flesh out the
tale and paint a complete picture of life at the upper echelons of this
society.
My favorite thing about this
book is the world building. Peterson sets the stage with descriptions of the
people and places that are almost poetic. I also enjoyed the noir feeling I got
while reading this. The city is a desolate place that seems to hold little hope
for those living in the city. The constant storms are a pall that hang over
everything, making the mood dark and sometimes depressing.
Peterson's descriptions are
full of metaphors that make the setting palpable. One can feel the feelings,
sense the smells, and see the sights of this place.
My takeaway from this story is
the theme that no matter how hard one tries, one cannot escape his or her
destiny. This applies to Akara more than other characters, but it can be
extended to them as well. The reader will see what I mean when they get into
the book.
Fate Unfollowed is an
outstanding story that will stimulate a reader's imagination. It is a tragic
and triumphant story at the same time. Don't pass this one by; it is worth the
time to read, and I give it high recommendations for readers who like a great
sci-fi tale. I read this very quickly because every time I set it aside, all I
could think about was getting back to it as soon as possible.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For reasons of self-preservation,
he kept to himself, creating private worlds with his stuffed animals and flea
market action figures. This seclusion led to an adolescence of poor decisions
and social disparagement, which ultimately ended with him as an ostracized
teen, hungry and homeless on the wintery streets of Wisconsin.
It was there that he returned
to his fictional worlds, scribbling ideas onto the backs of placemats from
24-hour diners. In the long, slow hours of his mind’s eye theater, he followed
each story to its inevitable conclusion – tragedy. That realization was all the
spark he needed to reinvent himself and begin building a different life.
There were many more adventures
in the years that followed, but he eventually found himself in a safe harbor.
He now shares a warm home with the love of his life. They sing together and
dance together. They take vacations. They cook meals, drink wine, and watch
movies.
When fairy tales end with
“-they lived happily ever after”, this is what they mean.
He writes these stories now,
partially as remembrance, a testament to where he’s been, and partially as a
beacon for others, a lighthouse to find their way through the murk and mire of
their lives. It’s his hope that these tales will protect others as they did
him, and inspire them to carry on, to reach their own happy ending.
Well, there it is...
Qapla!
