In this sequel to The Atlantis Gene, a dire plague has spread over Earth, killing most of the people it touches, while leaving some of the survivors without human intelligence and “evolving” others to an even more advanced (perhaps) mental state.
A drug called Orchid stops the symptoms but does not cure the plague, and much of humanity has been herded into Orchid Districts to be given the drug until a cure can be found. However, the secretive organization known as the Immari believe that the plague will select out the strongest and best of humanity – and they are willing to make war on Orchid in order to enforce their wishes. Dr. Kate Warner, blamed unfairly for the plague’s release, and David Vale, resurrected by alien technology, find themselves on the run together, trying to track down a cure for the deadly disease. To complicate matters, both Dr. Warner and their adversary, Dorian Sloane, seem to share past memories of Atlanteans, alien beings who have manipulated the human genome in the past and have dangerous and conflicting plans for our future. Can Kate and David stand up for the human race, solve the mystery of our past, and save the world from the Atlantis Plague?
This is an energetic book, which, like its predecessor, never stops moving. There is no shortage of action and adventure here, and plot twists keep the reader guessing from beginning to end. The historical and scientific scope of the book is ambitious and thoughtful, ranging from prehistory to modern times, and exploring the possibilities of the human genome in a way which may or may not be scientifically accurate, but at least feels plausible to the lay reader. The characters are complex, interesting, and in the case of David and Kate, quite sympathetic.
There are very occasional typos and incidents of clumsy phrasing, but they detract very little from the story. Genuine human emotions sometimes get lost in the fast-paced action, but then, that is perhaps to be expected in such a desperate situation.
This is not a standalone book – read The Atlantis Gene first, or you’ll have a hard time keeping up. But it’s certainly a worthy sequel to that novel, full of as much adrenaline and mental stimulation as the original.
Reviewed by Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader