The Pack by LM Preston

Hello there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  I'm certainly glad you could make it today and can't wait to share with you one of my latest reads.  Are you ready?  The feature of today's post comes to us from the YA genre but in a sub category I don't usually venture to....science fiction.  It's not that the future doesn't interest me (I mean, I love new gadgets and gizmos), it's just some of the creatures, worlds, and stretches of the imagination used bridge to that outer part of my mind's eye, tend to leave my attention less than fully gained.  This one however, had me locked on until book's end.  Curious to know what managed that?  Without further adieu...today's book of choice is.....

The Pack

by

LM Preston

We begin with an introduction to our blind heroine....accepting of her slight disadvantage but only to the extend to admit she can't visually see things. Call her disabled? I don't think you should....you see, as in most cases where the body is impaired in some fashion, Shaimira's other senses have fine tuned themselves to work above and beyond the call of duty.  Good thing too since she's going to need all the help she can get from within and from others.  It seems that the dark forces of supposedly reformed criminals that were shipped to Mars in an effort to remove the discarded from Earth are now reeking havoc on their new home planet in a BIG way.  They aren't just selling the latest designer drug, or feeding newly formed addictions to virtual gaming...they plan to take down the security force team and take over the new colony.  Taking down the baddies one at a time, Shairmira was kicking a little bad guy booty, but when her brother is among those kidnapped in an attempt to take down the security team from the inside out....it's time for her to kick it up a notch.

You see, there is one thing beyond her uncanny ability to "see" without seeing....she has an inner strength unlike anything you could imagine.  I'm not just talking about confidence in oneself and your abilities, I mean literal hidden energy waiting to be tapped.  Problem is, when it was inadvertently tapped in the past, someone got hurt.  Can Shairmira learn to control the power she has within in order to save the day before it's too late?  Bigger question still, can she learn to trust those that would assist her along the way given the world she's always known tends to disappoint in the end?  We're about to find out... (well, I already have, since I read it, but YOUR about to if you choose to read it...hehe)

For those of you that read my blog on a slightly regular basis, you know that I don't tend towards the science fiction aspect of the YA genre that often....at least not in it's true sense.  This is one title that I strayed from the norm to take a chance on and I'm certainly glad I did.  The lead character was not expected, and the depth with which she was written worked well for the story.  The technology used/mentioned though advance was believable making this sci-fi adventure within the reach of reality.

One question I had while reading was **SLIGHT SPOILER** why make it so that once her vision was regained she was whole? It almost seemed like a cop out. I mean here you are with a great story and an unexpected leader, but them POOF she's that much more like anyone else. At first it didn't sit well with me but as I continued to read I appreciated the tilt it gave the story. Come to find out, it wasn't so much that her vision made her "normal" again, but at times it was almost a burden, a hindrance to the goal she was trying to reach. Imagine not being able to see and acclimating yourself to that darkened world, only to be thrown into the light with enhanced vision. Your adjustment time to this renewed sense is not going to be instantaneous though you might hope. Shaimira in her signature style pushes through the obstacles, but it doesn't mean that she is perfectly balanced once again. She stumbles, and loses at various intervals that focus she has always depended on reminding us that taking anything for granted whether it be a person, place, or thing (or sense) is never a good idea. Trusting those things though is a whole other story.... **END OF SPOILER**

Overall, I really enjoyed this book from new-to-me author LM Preston. The story line was original, the locales chosen unique for the YA genre, and she wasn't afraid to take chances with her characters. The writing style does wobble at times, but overall it was a kick-butt adventure with an unlikely female heroine that won't shy away from dimming the lights of any evil doers that mess with her family and new found friends (Go Shaimira, go Shaimira). Can't wait to see what happens in the next installment...it should be good!

Special thanks to author LM Preston for the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this author and her work, check out her site, blog, or Twitter feed!  While at her site, be sure to check out her launch party going on for your chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Until next time....happy reading!