De la Cruz (
Gates of Paradise) and her husband, Johnson, team up for a gripping dystopian adventure. Natasha Kestal is a young New Vegas blackjack dealer struggling to hide her true nature as she seeks escape from her frozen, polluted, and dying world. Nat is one of the "marked," a race of outcasts who are feared and persecuted for their psychic or magical powers. A mysterious voice in her head commands her to search the seas for a hidden doorway that will take her to the Blue, a legendary paradise where the sun still shines warmly and the waters are turquoise instead of toxic black. To get there, she must fight off a dizzying array of dangers, including pirates and slavers, with the help of mercenary runner Ryan "Wes" Wesson. The narrative point of view shifts frequently between Nat and Wes, represented with capable voice work by Phoebe Strole and Dan Bittner.
VERDICT Nonstop action, inventive dangers, and a surprising conclusion make this an enjoyable thriller, although the romantic angle is nothing special and the dialog is sometimes a little clichéd. Recommended for most public library collections.
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