WHILE YOU WERE GONE

The other half of the parallel-universe story begun in Now That You’re Here (2014).

No recap’s given, as this story has the same starting point as the previous novel, just different narrators: the other Danny, who wakes up in a different dimension, and the Eevee native to it. This Eevee’s a passionate artist instead of an academic; the daughter of the powerful governor, she nevertheless chafes against the widespread political censorship of art. Despite the big changes between worlds (this Phoenix is on the coast), the biggest shock for Danny is discovering that in this dimension his parents are alive. This Danny and Eevee are connected by fate and by this universe’s Warren, still a supergenius and Eevee’s friend but also with secret ties to various entities, including the anti-government group the other Danny was involved in prior to the explosion. Danny and Eevee have off-the-charts chemistry. The nonromantic storylines—Eevee’s competition for a shot at a foreign art school placement and Danny’s quick immersion in his parallel self’s light rebellion via graffiti—allow the characters to develop outside of their romance. The overarching plot involves fighting the increasingly dystopian society’s latest and most-intrusive-yet surveillance program, and it weaves seamlessly into the dimension hopping. The novel’s tense and exciting throughout, but the ending is far too abrupt and will leave readers demanding the next installment promptly.

Appropriately enough, lots of fun on multiple levels.