Genre: Contemporary Fantasy Age Range: YA Star Rating: 2.5 stars Series: yes - first book
Synopsis:
Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.
Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.
Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.
Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.
Synopsis taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
INFINITY SON, one of the books on my list of “contemporary fantasies I need to finally read and decide if I’m just going to avoid this sub genre.” The fact that it has taken me thing long to even get halfway through the list (and I have realised I have some more contemporary fantasies) is showing how reluctant I am to pick them up.
Usually, with contemporary fantasy, I struggle to get into the world. In INFINITY SON’s case, I liked the world and the idea of these star-based powers, and the darker side of giving yourself powers by stealing it from magic creatures. It’s nothing new (I can think of a dozen books with either element). However, the book manages to use it as a fun element of the world rather than the core premise or selling point. In stead, the book is about the characters.
Which, unfortunately, is why I didn’t enjoy it.
I didn’t mind Emil, but I viscerally disliked Brighton, and hating one of the leads is never good. Brighton managed to be everything I hate about influencer and wanna-be influencer culture, without any of the bits I like. He was just a vain, self-obsessed, jealous boy who believed he deserved the world. He resented anyone else getting even a breadcrumb if he didn’t get a slice. I could find no redeeming qualities to make me like him, and he just got worse across the book.
I had thought this was just a dual POV book between the brothers, and it seemed that way, until two new POVs were dropped on me. And because they came out of nowhere (neither character had been introduced before, and one took a while to become important), I struggled with their chapters. Particularly Ness, who honestly felt like he was there so the reader knows what the villains are up to, and to add “mystery” over his background. (I read the character as a girl before the identity reveal, because Ness is a nickname for Agnes in my experience, rather than a man’s name.)
I doubt I will be reading on, as I don’t think I can stomach another book of Brighton, let alone two. He’d need to have a very big turn around for me to like him, but the end of this book makes it look like he’ll be going deeper and darker in the next installment.
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 