The Genesis Wars

March 15, 2022
Stung by betrayal and loss, one teenager is determined to make the afterlife a safer place for humans. When Nami Miyamoto died, she found herself in Infinity--an afterlife controlled by malicious AI Ophelia and populated with beautiful, vicious AI Residents who hunt humans, using them as mindless servants--or worse. Nami's attempt to destroy the Residents failed 10 months ago, leading to the loss of her friends, likely to one of Ophelia's Four Courts, among them War and Death. Despite the skepticism of the remaining free humans, Nami is determined to save her friends and to make the afterlife a safer place for all those who have yet to die, including her younger sister. As Nami journeys through the courts looking for her friends, she learns that no alliance is certain, whether with Residents or her fellow humans. Nami is willing to be reckless if it means keeping her sister safe, but what will be the cost? While The Infinity Courts (2021) focused more on what it means to be human, aware, and capable of empathy, this sequel is packed with action, as Nami embraces her powers and fights back whenever she can. Though the stakes are higher here, the more complex ruminations of the earlier entry are missing. The previous work indicated that Nami is Japanese and White. A fast-paced bridge leading toward higher stakes and more complications on the horizon. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

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November 1, 2022

Gr 8 Up-It's been 10 months since the end of The Infinity Courts, and Nami is trying to save humanity from an afterlife run by a vicious AI named Ophelia and her Four Infinity Courts. Ophelia created other Resident AIs to run the courts, and the humans who are trapped in the afterlife are treated as servants-or worse. Mistakes and betrayals have put Nami on the back foot, and now she must make it through hostile courts where no one can be trusted. The first book balanced metaphysical questions like what it means to be human with a high stakes plot, but after a slow start this sequel is near nonstop action that nevertheless retreads old ground. The highlight of this book is Nami's character growth as she comes into her own power. Nami is biracial white and Japanese. VERDICT An exciting sequel that ultimately suffers from middle book syndrome.

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