** I received an ARC for an honest review **
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Description
The unique friendship between an angel and a human is the only hope for the future – but can they remain friends?
It’s one thousand years since medical scientists brought a dead brain back to consciousness. When they discovered the reality of life after death, they laid claim to Heaven and set off a war against the angels.
Now the Earth is a ruined wasteland. Descendants of the original scientists continue the war with their armies of artificially created Humen. When the greatest of Doctors, the all-knowing Doctor Saniette, takes control of the Bankstown Camp, the fighting moves to a terrible new phase.
Miriael is the angel who fell to Earth, ate mortal food and can no longer return to Heaven. Ferren is the young tribesman who has been her only friend since her own kind abandoned her. Together, they work to unite the tribes in an alliance independent of the Humen.
But suddenly Miriael has another friend. A beautiful, caring angel visits her in secret and offers her what she most desires: the chance to return to Heaven. The consequences will be extreme … for her, for Ferren, for the world.
Summary
I recently read YA futuristic dystopian fantasy, Ferren and the Doomsday Mission (The Ferren Trilogy, #2) by UK-Australian author Richard Harland.
Review
Ferren and the Doomsday Mission follows from not long after the first instalment of Ferren and the Angel. Here, Harland ups the stakes in a race against time for Ferren and Miriael to unite the remaining scattered human clans against the revenant-like Humen, the warring Angels and the newest threat – Doctor Saniette- a giant welded with multiple intellects.
Harland again excels with action-packed storytelling with the dark design of ultimate hubris reflected in Doctor Saniette and nefarious plans for the warring Angels. In a departure from the first novel, there is more character development with Ferren growing in confidence but also the angel Miriael and her longing to return to Heaven. As we see Ferren grow in strength as a character and leader among the movement of the Residual Alliance, Miriael’s sense of necessity and purpose wanes. Although this feels like a weakening of her character it serves in her undoing. Here, Harland brings into play the Fallen Angels and some clever melding of politics with religion in the Luciferian angels – those rebellious warring angels and their subsequent exile from Heaven.
Ferren and the Doomsday Mission is the second book longed for in character development and further expansion of the futuristic dystopian world-building. Harland does not disappoint in delivering a story that is a dark but compelling young adult sequel.
Conclusion
A recommended read for fans of YA fiction, futuristic dystopian fantasy, cyberpunk, climate and science-fiction. A unique novel combining a dystopian future, scientific hubris and angelology in high-stakes adventure that is not without serious but poignant social and climate realities.
** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **
Leanbh Pearson 