Written by Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan, ORPHANS OF THE SEA (Underground Book 1) opens with a bleak, unnerving prologue set in the year 3991. It then transports the reader two years earlier to the dojo, where Sook Joo trains under her adopted grandfather Ryu. He is a renowned Orikido sensei and bladesmith, and his murder leads to Sook Joo's confinement aboard a ship called the Tan-Khoi.

ORPHANS OF THE SEA is imaginatively conceived and absorbingly written, finely detailed yet understated. Although this setting is futuristic, with some nicely creative and advanced elements, early chapters depicting Sook Joo’s life at the orphanage are intriguingly rustic—with a slight medieval feel and an Eastern veneer. However, things become grimly dystopian once aboard the Tan-Khoi, which is also marked by a strong, confident tone that propels the action forward. This is an unremittingly abusive and darkly squalid environment for the girls, and it soon becomes clear that the Tan-Khoi and Ryu’s murder are linked through the shadowy Quan (who becomes Sook Joo’s arch-nemesis).

By establishing several points of interest and individuals whom the reader suspects will return in future novels, the book lays solid foundations for further installments. The drama unfolds from Sook Joo’s close third-person perspective, yet there are moments of dramatic irony—especially when Sook Joo meets a seemingly beneficent character.  

Sook Joo could have been a stock teenage girl warrior, but Cooke and Ryan give her original qualities that make her a fascinating, investable main protagonist. Fiercely resourceful and resilient, she often appears older than her years. Her maturity is understandable in context, though she has relatable vulnerabilities and flickers of self-doubt as well. Despite Ryu's swift death, his influence permeates the novel to an almost supernatural extent. His firm voice is a guiding, inspirational presence in Sook Joo’s mind—along with whip-smart asides of her adopted brother from the orphanage, Futotta, with whom she’s lost contact.

Chapters are short, and the novel is fast-paced. Meanwhile, fight scenes are gory and choreographed with cinematic flair, giving a strong visual appeal. The authors lend Sook Joo an unpredictability and a cerebral dimension to her decision-making during these violent clashes, setting her apart from her rivals and heightening her growing self-awareness and knowledge. Her relationship with the other orphans is only briefly explored at this stage, though her increasing closeness with Kim (who may not be entirely reliable) may prove pivotal.

It could be argued that a separate, parallel narrative to Sook Joo’s might have enriched the story’s development and depth, possibly by Cho or someone from her past. Nevertheless, the novel’s conclusion is a neatly satisfying chapter that sets up the next part of this saga.

Charles R. Cooke and Christopher X. Ryan's ORPHANS OF THE SEA (Underground Book 1) is a fresh, thrilling, and action-packed opener to what promises to be a gripping series. Driven by a powerful young protagonist and a diverse cast, this gritty, intense, and tightly plotted slice of dystopia is well worth the read.

~ Rose Auburn for IndieReader