UNDAUNTED

Five years in the making, this sequel to Inhuman (2013) is dedicated to “the readers who waited.”

It’s been six months since 17-year-old Lane McEvoy returned to the safety of the West from the dark chaos of the Feral Zone. Now, Lane must return to the land of her nightmares with her father, who has been hired to fetch blood samples from those infected with the Ferae virus so scientists can complete development of a vaccine. The 50 types of virus strains cause sufferers to mutate into lions, apes, a Komodo dragon, and other animal forms. When Lane arrives in the East, she discovers no one has seen broody heartthrob Rafe, who was infected just before Lane returned home. She’ll ally herself with old friend Everson and a group of fierce lion-women in order to track him down. And when she finds him, Lane might have to carry through on her promise to end his life if he’s gone feral. There’s a lot going on in terms of events and character development but Falls makes it work. The action unfolds evenly and swiftly: Rafe’s and Everson’s respective histories are revealed, and narrator/protagonist Lane remains strong and steady even as she struggles with the PTSD resulting from her previous time in the zone. All characters, except one minor secondary character who has dark skin, are assumed white.

A conclusion worth waiting for.