A rural noir about a woman on a pulse-pounding expedition to deliver a fugitive — and forced to confront her own past on the journey — this work is a harrowing exploration of family loyalty, trauma, and resilience.
... part adventure novel and part crime novel, set in a dystopian landscape where cellphones, the internet and vehicles are available to only certain people, particularly those in Federal-run cities ... This initial stonewalling is, admittedly, a bit frustrating for readers as well, but as a credit to Foster’s writing, she effectively keeps readers in suspense all the way through.
An enthralling debut novel from Toronto writer Fiona King Foster, begins with a dystopian premise but gradually shifts in both genre and approach; the result is a book which is strangely comfortable but frequently surprising...While the novel is beautifully written and richly characterized, what makes it such a delightful read is Foster’s skill in upending readerly expectations. Partway through the novel, it becomes clear that this isn’t a dystopian thriller so much as it is a western, complete with horses, gunfights, and a family blood-feud. Even at that point, though, Foster continues to subvert expectations. The novel is a powerful but subtle gender swap ... And there’s a third act twist which, on first glance seems excessive, if not outright clichéd, but reveals itself to be the perfect close to a novel obsessed with the nature of family, loyalty, and the weight of the past.
...an intriguing if uneven debut set in a contemporary world that has feel of the Old West ... Brooke’s backstory unfolds at a natural pace, leading the reader gently into feeling compassion for her. Unfortunately, no other character gets similar care, and a conflict between the two rival drug-running families follows a predictable course. The high-tension setup suggests Foster will do better next time.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay[/caption]
