SMASHER

A robot girl transports Charlie from medieval Europe to a futuristic Los Angeles with the explanation that only he can save the world.

Almost all of Charlie’s family has been killed for their ability to harness the Hum, a mysterious force that gives the wielder unimaginable power. Charlie has been taught that the Hum is to be used with love, but in LAanges the Hum is being used to terrible effect by Gramercy Foxx, a ruthless genius focused on world domination. When Charlie and his robot friend, Geneva, discover Foxx’s animal-experimentation lab, where he is attempting to alter a computer virus to infect human DNA, they know they must stop him no matter the cost. It is not until Charlie returns to his time and discovers Foxx’s true identity that it becomes personal. The fast-paced plot, supersaturated with technology and complex puzzles, is warmed by Geneva and Charlie’s unlikely friendship. Foxx is the consummate villain, preying on children and animals without remorse—a predilection that is not soft-pedaled in the text, particularly with regard to animals, which will put readers squarely in Geneva and Charlie’s court.

An unusual premise vibrates with a combination of science and magic.