Review: Different from its prequel, but just as good
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2013
The second novella in the "Desolate" trilogy differs quite a bit from the first installment. Where the premier is set in the cold, vast landscape of Antarctica, it's sequel, 'Exposure' takes place in the sweltering heat of Jamaica.Readers are shown a more intimate side of protagonist Howard Bell as the book is written primarily in first person. The chapters alternate in the beginning between Bell's experiences and thought processes and flash back chapters portraying how exactly he got from the arctic to the tropic. We're given insight into who really Howard was before the drunk driving accident that sent him to his impending doom at the labor camp/prison and a more true taste of his character.As the plot thickens, readers see that the alien encounter from the first installment leaves much of the population dead or dying. Bell is one of the chosen few to survive this plague somehow, though not much reasoning is given to why he is immune. And just like the previous book, this one ends with another cliffhanger, though much steeper.Yet another quick read from Brumm, enjoyable, yet I still desire more explanation and detail. I find his choice to change to first-person narrative questionable, however, as if writing in third-person was more of a challenge. I would be intrigued to read a re-written version of the first book entirely from Howard's perspective. I am enjoying it enough to know that I am sticking around for the finale in the trilogy, though.