Izquierdo’s debut novel and series launch finds a teen unwittingly entangled in two diverse societies and a whole mess of corruption.

In 1988, Ellis Cattivo comes home from school to find his mother dead from an apparent suicide. His father Julius’ rather bizarre instinct is to run. It transpires that Julius belongs to a secret society that, in a subsequent ritual Ellis unfortunately witnesses, kills the boy’s father. Sadie, a mysterious, high-ranking official in this society, called “Involuntarius,” ropes in Ellis, who has little choice but to join. Involuntarius is a world all its own, following the religion Vehementis, which starkly differs from the Congregatio society and the goddess-worshiping Mirata religion that Ellis has always known. Sadie and others are convinced Ellis has the Aurum Pugio—a solid-gold dagger Julius has likely hidden. As Ellis doesn’t know the secret society’s rules, it’s hardly surprising when he breaks them, as when he invokes an otherworldly being that’s lately been whispering to him. This incites and most assuredly scares Involuntarius officials, whose complex hierarchy Ellis is still figuring out (he knows that he, as an Imperavi, is actually not the lowest ranked). Spadices, a fellow Imperavi who’s enduring uncontrollable visions (seeing through others’ eyes), is drawn to the teenager. She may be able to help Ellis evade enemies, which is an advantage as certain individuals are intent upon seeing him dead. Now if they could just identify who those enemies are—those from within Involuntarius and, quite possibly, Congregatio as well.

Izquierdo’s tale is a learning experience for both Ellis and readers. The opening scene, set in a classroom, elucidates (for readers) Congregatio’s hierarchy and religion. As the story progresses, and Ellis falls deeper into Involuntarius, the teen protagonist is perpetually and understandably confused. This prompts numerous scenes of him questioning rankings and comparing the two societies’ dense histories and creeds. In some instances, the clarification he gets needs further elaboration, as when Spadices explains to him, “The Novem Nostrum plainly means ‘Nine of Us’. Their title is Sanctissimus, and they are nine individuals who control the Congregatio apparatus.” Despite this onslaught of exposition, the author from the start instills an intensity that rarely lets up. (Involuntarius members suffer violent punishments; Ellis himself takes the brunt of a whipping cane.) These scenes (and others depicting sexual assault and characters hacked to pieces) have impact without indulging in gratuitous particulars. The story’s ever-changing structure features various narrative perspectives and flashbacks, some of the latter brought on by Spadices’ visions of both living and dead people. It’s actually very easy to follow, as the story explicitly notes when a memory is beginning and when it ends. Readers will welcome the steady supply of action (Ellis and Spadices evading foes or opting to fight) and effective twists (from a significant character’s early demise to a startling buried secret).

A dense but consistently gripping thriller.