November 11, 2013
Friedman (the Magister Trilogy) launches a series with this dimension-hopping, genre-bending adventure that will appeal to both adults and teens. After a DNA test reveals that 16-year-old Jesse Drake isn’t related to either of her parents, she begins investigating her true heritage, only to learn that she might not even be human and that other “changelings” are dying in freak accidents all over the world. When her house is destroyed and her brother kidnapped by mysterious beings, Jesse and her newfound changeling friends travel to a parallel Earth and discover a society built on magic and extradimensional exploitation. To get home, they will have to challenge the powerful Guilds, who control all passage. Friedman skillfully blends science fiction and fantasy elements, tying them together with fairy tales and solid worldbuilding, but both the magic-driven alternate world and the romantic undercurrent feel too familiar. The bulk of the book is aimed at laying the groundwork for a much larger story, albeit one laden with potential. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.
January 1, 2014
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Drake draws the vivid things she sees in her dreams. Having just undergone DNA testing and learned that she somehow doesn't belong in her own family, Jessica connects with other "DNA orphans," only to find they are dying mysteriously. When her brother is kidnapped by forces who think he is the dreamer they seek, Jessica and her friends travel to another dimension to get him back. VERDICT Epic fantasy writer Friedman (Black Sun Rising) shows her customary imagination but otherwise changes course with a urban fantasy that looks like the first of a new series. The fast pace and younger protagonist will make this an obvious crossover book for YA readers, appealing more to those teens (and adults) who enjoy Cassandra Clare than to fans looking for the deep worldbuilding of Friedman's earlier books.
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