Book Title: Synthetic Rise of the Siren
Author: Shonna Wright
Genre: Sci-Fi
When I first started reading this, I really had a hard time understanding this futuristic, post-apocalyptic world that is the background for this story. There really is no explanations as to how or why it is the way it is. I think that's why I kept getting lost at times. I simply didn't get it. But I kept reading, hoping I would, and it all eventually explains itself.
The lead character is Kora. She's a very skilled, I'll call her geneticist/doctor, but it was never really explained what title she has, who has been kept a "prisoner" in a lab. When she tries to escape, they lock her in a closet. She's given only sweats to wear, and she's only given four sets at a time. She's only been given one lab coat the entire times she's been in this lab, so it's tattered and unkempt.
The only people she has contact with are "the face" of the lab. One is the owner and the second is the Doctor, in his crisp, clean, white lab coat, who, on her accolades, his reputation is made. He did win a Nobel Prize however for the very first Synthetically Made BUG. However, it's quickly pointed out that he wasn't the first to do it, implying that Kora was.
Kora gets her orders to make synthetic beings. Her side kick is a giant squid named Ishmael. He's the closest thing she has to actual human interaction with affection. He helps her clean up, do surgeries, hugs her when she needs it and gives her back bone. Her dream is to one day run away from the lab, and go north towards Washington State, where Ishmael can be free in the ocean and she can visit him on the beach. But she knows that will never happen because they'll never find a way out of the lab.
The only thing Kora CAN do is fulfill her orders to make synthetic or cloned beings. She can make anything from a dog, down to mythical creatures like mermaids, faeries, unicorns, etc. She'll make anything. Anything except VAMPIRES.
As she finishes an order, she's informed that she'll be making the delivery. The Doctor always makes the deliveries, so she's excited that she gets to go outside, let alone deliver one of the being that she's made. Ishmael is even put into a carrier of his own design, that allows him to be transferred with her.
Now the adventure begins. I still got lost a lot, because, again, the how's and why's of how the world ended up the way that it did just don't seem to be important enough to explain. So, you're kind of guiding yourself through. This is another one of those stories you shouldn't read when you're going to bed. You'll forget you read something and have to start over at the beginning of the chapter again.
The characters in this book are eclectic, both physically and mentally. They have issues living with the "lady of the house" who is having Kora deliver her newest work. Most of them have big hearts, but they're complex as well. Leading you to sometimes second guess yourself as to their humanity or synthetic being.
The mystery surrounding all the people that live in the mansion Kora is delivered makes her stay even more interesting.
The climactic ending was emotional, unexpected and for me, 'out of the box' which made it a very nice change indeed.
If you like Sci-Fi, with twists and turns, a little bit of horror and mystery to give you a psychological jolt you'll love this book. Let me know if you get lost with the time thing too though!
3.5 Out of 5 Bookmark
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