Review: Even better than the first
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 10, 2012
I requested a copy of this book prior to its release because I enjoyed the first book so much. In exchange, I promised an honest review.The original Sub-Normal short story, NOT THE NORM, was excellent except for one slight niggle in that it seemed like a story of two halves, though I enjoyed it anyway. I think UNMASKED ALLOY is a better, more coherent and solid telling of one particular event. It also helps that we know the characters already, so we join them without preamble.The author begins the story at exactly the right moment, right after the capture of fugitives Eden and Dake. This tale is not about what they were doing or where they were before capture, or about the capture itself; it's solely about what happens while they're being marched away -- Eden to a holding cell, and Dake to his execution. Being a short story, this is just a single but important event in their lives on the lam.The possibilities for other stories are absolutely endless. I'm kind of a slow reader, and it makes a really nice change to dive in for a quick and exciting adventure that only takes an hour at most! I definitely look forward to the next.Readers are advised to read NOT THE NORM first because it introduces the characters and explains Eden's flawed ability (which is is only hinted at in UNMASKED ALLOY). Basically, read these short stories as a serial and wait impatiently for the next.