Good afternoon! Yes, I'm very late, today. School started Monday, and in our house, we always need about a week or so to get back into the swing of things. While I did contemplate shoving this one back a few days, I really didn't want to do another switch-a-roo...I mean, what's the purpose of giving everyone a sneak peek, and then, changing it without notice all of the time?
This one is book 2 of a series...one I haven't read except for this book. I would love to change that if my schedule allows soon because I did enjoy this one as much as I like the cover. It's a young adult novel placed in the future and holds tons of intrigue.
Ready to take a jump into the future?
THE JADE TALISMAN
The Jade Chronicles #2
by Alanna Mackenzie
Willow Lane Publishing
Young Adult Science Fiction / Fantasy / Dystopian
209 pages
A talisman. A song. A gift that bends time, and alters the course of destiny itself.
It is the year 2762 in the Empire of Khalendar, and AI Masters rule the civilized world, striving to crush all dissent. But they have not yet managed to quell the Jade Rebellion or its leader, Walter Saltanetska. The rebels have sailed beyond the Empire’s borders to the infamous isle of Vei’arash. Their mission is to find animal spirits exiled long ago by the AI Masters, and return them to the mainland. With any luck, the spirits will strengthen the fading magical powers of their allies, the Western Mages, and join the battle against their oppressive rulers.
As the rebels plunge deeper into the jungle, physical laws are upended. The plants and animals of the rainforest are inextricably linked to divine beings. An ancient shaman-god entrusts Walter with the Jade Talisman, an enchanted gemstone that warps the basic rules of time and space.
The Talisman allows Walter to gaze into a mesmerizing labyrinth of future possibilities. But the visions it offers up are troublingly dark, giving Walter insight into the potential fates of himself and his loved ones. This gift proves to be a crushing burden, and Walter desperately longs for an ordinary life. But there is no going back…
The gripping sequel to The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman explores whether nature and spirituality are capable of persevering in a world dominated by the cold logic of artificial intelligence.
It is the year 2762 in the Empire of Khalendar, and AI Masters rule the civilized world, striving to crush all dissent. But they have not yet managed to quell the Jade Rebellion or its leader, Walter Saltanetska. The rebels have sailed beyond the Empire’s borders to the infamous isle of Vei’arash. Their mission is to find animal spirits exiled long ago by the AI Masters, and return them to the mainland. With any luck, the spirits will strengthen the fading magical powers of their allies, the Western Mages, and join the battle against their oppressive rulers.
As the rebels plunge deeper into the jungle, physical laws are upended. The plants and animals of the rainforest are inextricably linked to divine beings. An ancient shaman-god entrusts Walter with the Jade Talisman, an enchanted gemstone that warps the basic rules of time and space.
The Talisman allows Walter to gaze into a mesmerizing labyrinth of future possibilities. But the visions it offers up are troublingly dark, giving Walter insight into the potential fates of himself and his loved ones. This gift proves to be a crushing burden, and Walter desperately longs for an ordinary life. But there is no going back…
The gripping sequel to The Jade Rebellion, The Jade Talisman explores whether nature and spirituality are capable of persevering in a world dominated by the cold logic of artificial intelligence.
MY TIDBITS
Future, past, magic and high-tech come together in a fast paced, futuristic novel, which grabs into a intriguing world.
Walter lives in the future, where AIs are in charge and magic is as much a part of the high-tech as circuits. Realizing that nature and the world are at stake, he seeks to find a way to rebel and save what remains. During his search in the outlaying towns and areas, nature's spirits are on his side. when he gains a talisman, which allows him to see the future, he's left with a web of visions, which he may not be able to handle, but must if he wants to succeed.
I did not read the first one in the series, and that was a mistake. While I could think my way through the beginning and figure out what was going on, reading the first book would have been helpful and definitely enriched the world. So, read this one as a series if possible.
This is a well-created world, which takes a dystopian viewpoint where AIs rule and run everything. But it's not pure science fiction, either. Rather, magic plays just as an important role and has melded seamlessly into the advancements. This alone was a treat to read, since the author does pull the elements together very nicely. But it doesn't stop there. It takes a look at the need for nature survive, and on this side, uses natural spirits, who fight to continue their existence. So, there are several layers in this plot.
Both tension and pacing remain high. Walter is determined to save what still remains of nature and Earth, and he's pitted against impossible odds. But it's about more than just this battle. Walter needs to learn to deal with his own abilities and that of the world around him. He has quite a bit to figure out and adjust to, while learning to gain a better understanding of everything involved. In other words, there are quite a few unexpected moments, situations which aren't sure victories, and plenty of times to wonder how it will work out. It's an interesting read, which grabs and holds in a unique world.
1 comment:
If this book is as interesting as its cover it must be a good one!
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