secre's review
5.0
I really didn't know what to expect when going into NACL: Eye of the Storm. The front page is full of trigger warnings; death, violence, explicit scenes, slavery and references to rape. This was slightly concerning, but forewarned is forearmed and all. I have read some of Allegra Pescatore's works before - A Bond of Thread, which is equally excellent - so knew I should at least be getting high quality writing and a fascinating narrative.
Well, I wasn't wrong. NACL is one of those books that excels in just about every single way it could do. It has a wide and expansive world, full of corruption, power struggles and rebellion. It has an innovative and exceptionally well explored magic system, and also balances the power of the magic with the pitfalls and their place in a highly controlled world. And it has a fantastic cast of characters who are all vividly imagined and fully realised humans, full of flaws and strengths. As the final cherry on the cake, it is beautifully written, balancing the dark aspects of the world with a sense of humour and witty snark.
It starts off small; Lani is sent to a remote area of the world by a Precog, only to find out that this may have been the worst decision of her admittedly long life so far. As a Rogue Marked, she is always on the lookout for the Corporation. But this time, she finds herself embroiled in a plot that might change the fate of the world. If they can make it through alive. It's a wild and crazy ride, full of twists, turns and really unexpected bumps. And because the story is split between the perspectives of each of the key characters, you get a real insight into their personalities and motivations.
This is a high stakes, high octane novel that still manages to slow down and let you fully grasp the frailties and struggles of the characters, the over-riding political agenda and slot in some aspects that almost, almost break the forth wall. Not quite, but pretty darn close and very well executed indeed. Nothing is quite as it seems and you will change how you think about events multiple times as you keep reading.
If you're looking for a novel with a fascinating world - the idea of a world having too low a supply of Salt to survive is one that's handled brilliantly -, a full score of background politics, family squabbles going back centuries and additional world building via a computer system - which actually works really well - then this is well worth looking into. When you combine that with the stunningly realised characters, a magic system that only grows in depth as you discover more about the origins and how it's been utilised by the Corporation and a writing style that engages you every second of every page, this is almost certainly one of my top reads for 2022.
My only complaint is that book 2 is not yet out. I have however discovered that there is another series set in the same 'universe' and that has definitely rocketed to the top of my to-read list.
Well, I wasn't wrong. NACL is one of those books that excels in just about every single way it could do. It has a wide and expansive world, full of corruption, power struggles and rebellion. It has an innovative and exceptionally well explored magic system, and also balances the power of the magic with the pitfalls and their place in a highly controlled world. And it has a fantastic cast of characters who are all vividly imagined and fully realised humans, full of flaws and strengths. As the final cherry on the cake, it is beautifully written, balancing the dark aspects of the world with a sense of humour and witty snark.
It starts off small; Lani is sent to a remote area of the world by a Precog, only to find out that this may have been the worst decision of her admittedly long life so far. As a Rogue Marked, she is always on the lookout for the Corporation. But this time, she finds herself embroiled in a plot that might change the fate of the world. If they can make it through alive. It's a wild and crazy ride, full of twists, turns and really unexpected bumps. And because the story is split between the perspectives of each of the key characters, you get a real insight into their personalities and motivations.
This is a high stakes, high octane novel that still manages to slow down and let you fully grasp the frailties and struggles of the characters, the over-riding political agenda and slot in some aspects that almost, almost break the forth wall. Not quite, but pretty darn close and very well executed indeed. Nothing is quite as it seems and you will change how you think about events multiple times as you keep reading.
If you're looking for a novel with a fascinating world - the idea of a world having too low a supply of Salt to survive is one that's handled brilliantly -, a full score of background politics, family squabbles going back centuries and additional world building via a computer system - which actually works really well - then this is well worth looking into. When you combine that with the stunningly realised characters, a magic system that only grows in depth as you discover more about the origins and how it's been utilised by the Corporation and a writing style that engages you every second of every page, this is almost certainly one of my top reads for 2022.
My only complaint is that book 2 is not yet out. I have however discovered that there is another series set in the same 'universe' and that has definitely rocketed to the top of my to-read list.
authorallegra's review
5.0
This book holds a special place in my heart. E. Sands and I wrote it in a strange fugue of anger and passion over a mad-dash six weeks, very much mirroring the timing of the adventure within. It carried us away in a manner that I have never experienced before, and I think it created a very unique story. We poured raw emotion in, and a book came out.
While we didn't know exactly what the world would look like in the fall of 2020 when we wrote this, I do feel like the story is topical to today's world. It deals with abuses of power within captive populations, exploitative and fear-mongering propaganda, essential resources in the hands of those at the top of the economic food chain, and an environment struggling because of human hubris. This is not a book that would exist without the climate in which it was written, and it never tries to not be allegorical.
However, it is also a fantasy story. It started with real issues, but like I've always experienced while writing, the characters and places took on a life of their own. The subjects and challenges they deal with are inspired by real life, but only small facets of larger, more complicated problems. Likewise, the six protagonists each developed their own passions and causes. They are flawed people, who don't always react to their challenges in healthy or understanding ways. We're leaving it up to the reader, in the end, to determine who among them is a hero, and who a villain.
If you've picked up NACL: Eye of the Storm, thank you. I hope it sweeps you off your feet. This was a passion project through and through, and we understand that it will not be everyone's cup of salty, salty tea. It deals with dark, uncomfortable topics, so if you only get as far as the trigger warning, thank you regardless for giving it a shot. If, like us, though, you find that the world of Fortune sucked you in and took you on a wild ride, please consider leaving us a review and helping spread the word. We'll be coming back to it with a sequel soon, and in the meantime, look for a Moe cameo in Where Shadows Lie, Book One of the Ao Collective novels, of which NACL; Eye of the Storm is Book Two.
While we didn't know exactly what the world would look like in the fall of 2020 when we wrote this, I do feel like the story is topical to today's world. It deals with abuses of power within captive populations, exploitative and fear-mongering propaganda, essential resources in the hands of those at the top of the economic food chain, and an environment struggling because of human hubris. This is not a book that would exist without the climate in which it was written, and it never tries to not be allegorical.
However, it is also a fantasy story. It started with real issues, but like I've always experienced while writing, the characters and places took on a life of their own. The subjects and challenges they deal with are inspired by real life, but only small facets of larger, more complicated problems. Likewise, the six protagonists each developed their own passions and causes. They are flawed people, who don't always react to their challenges in healthy or understanding ways. We're leaving it up to the reader, in the end, to determine who among them is a hero, and who a villain.
If you've picked up NACL: Eye of the Storm, thank you. I hope it sweeps you off your feet. This was a passion project through and through, and we understand that it will not be everyone's cup of salty, salty tea. It deals with dark, uncomfortable topics, so if you only get as far as the trigger warning, thank you regardless for giving it a shot. If, like us, though, you find that the world of Fortune sucked you in and took you on a wild ride, please consider leaving us a review and helping spread the word. We'll be coming back to it with a sequel soon, and in the meantime, look for a Moe cameo in Where Shadows Lie, Book One of the Ao Collective novels, of which NACL; Eye of the Storm is Book Two.
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