The Road

I have never read any of James Anderson’s novels. But I was sent Lullaby Road for review and was a little disconcerted finding out that it was a sequel. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to follow the story having nothing to go on from the previous book. However, that worry was unfounded.

Lullaby Road stands well on its own. Following Ben Jones in his truck along highway 117 in Utah made for some interesting adventures. The desert can do some strange things to a person’s mind as we are shown time and time again. Ben himself even has to contend with what the desert has made of him. From the very beginning we are thrown into a strange situation. Ben has stopped by his transport station to pick up a load but also winds up taking a child and a dog that won’t leave its side. As he struggles to make his run with the child, the dog, and his neighbor’s infant, he must also solve a major mystery and a web of lies that has entwined most of the small towns linked by his truck route.

James Anderson has a way of pulling the reader into the story and making them comfortable. Like a warm bed on a cold winter morning, Lullaby Road was hard to get out of. While I wasn’t particularly happy with the ending, I can’t help but applaud Anderson’s ability to weave a tale of intrigue, suspense, and sarcasm.

Sci-Fi gets a fresh new face

I think it’s safe to say that NYXIA is one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read in a really long time. I picked this one up because I kept seeing it comped to Ender’s Game and The Hunger Games. And yes, it uses some of the same elements and tropes that are found in those books, but it’s also SO much more.The best thing about Nyxia is it’s characters. They feel fresh and new and exciting. 

The character development in the story was good. There were a lot of characters in the book, but the author did a great job of introducing their stories, their quirks, and personalities. I enjoyed following Emmet's story and learning about his background and the theories as to why he was chosen for a spot with Babel. Through the story, I was able to get a pretty clear sense of who Emmet is as a person, which is always appreciated. This helped me to feel connected to Emmet throughout the book.

Overall, one the freshest new sci-fi books in stores.