Review: Apocalyptic Science Fiction with Romance, a Unique World, and Memorable Characters
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2014
“The Two Towers” is post-apocalyptic science fiction that stands out from the rest both because of its inventive plot and because of its feisty, hot-headed heroine, Kayla.In the world of “The Two Towers,” humanity has been divided into two groups—those who have been living a life of luxury in the OmniLab towers, which were created to protect the families who could afford it during the war over a century ago, and those who live on the surface, scavenging to survive. The tower-dwellers have a taste for “relics” of the world as it was, and people like Kayla (ruin rats) explore the ruins daily to find and sell those relics for supplies to survive.A successful trader named Carl has his eye on Kayla and wants to recruit her to his own team—they’re instantly drawn to one another even when they’re at odds. However, Kayla’s past holds a secret even she doesn’t know, and it will threaten their romance and shake her identity to the core.I never get tired of well-written apocalypse novels, and “The Two Towers” fits that bill. Kayla immediately draws your empathy as a reader—she’s strong and can be rash, but at the same time she’s fiercely devoted to those she cares about and has her own moments of vulnerability. Carl is also a great romantic lead in that he’s the only one who can challenge her—he’s just as stubborn (not to mention good-looking), but he also can be tender and truly cares for her. My favorite part of this book, though, is the world the author has created—how the people are divided, the ruined cities and abandoned buildings, and Kayla’s strange powers all drew me into the story, and I got just enough answers to make me excited for the next book (especially with the love triangle that develops).Recommended to readers who love post-apocalyptic science fiction that features a unique world and memorable characters.