Review: Edge of Truth by Natasha Hanova

Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.

It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression.

Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?

Title: Edge of Truth

Publication date: June 6th 2013 by Sapphire Star Publishing
ISBN-10: 1938404599 (ISBN-13: 978-1938404597)

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Budding love, new friendships, and undying loyalty are only a few reasons I loved this story.

I did have a few problems with the book. Well, not problems really, just questions that weren't answered. Two of them being: How did Overlord Andrick come to power? Why are some people Others? It doesn't seem to be genetic, but I would've liked to know a lot more about them. Although, because they're all in hiding, Rena might not know either. A second book definitely could answer all of these questions and then show us what happens after the ending. The great ending, which I will expand on later.

Rena has a huge secret, she's Other, and even her best friend doesn't know. That's until she accidentally caused an earthquake bigger than she expected and almost hurt her. Blaze promises to keep her secret, about her powers and the cave they find with treasures. Treasures that later cause Blaze to be kidnapped. Her kidnappers will try to have her show them the caves, but with her awful sense of direction, she doesn't know where they are. Blaze might have sold some of them treasures, but that's because of her amazing bargaining skills (and because Rena was grounded), only Rena knows where the caves are. Rena will go to all lengths to get her best friend back, but Nevan finds out and won't let her do it alone. I'm really glad Rena wasn't alone, Nevan was a great addition to the story (as well as his sister, Chai, but I rather you find out how amazing she is on your own), once they started talking I knew they'd be a great couple. Nevan seemed like he would be a very quiet character in the beginning, but he opens up as the book goes on.  

Rena and Nevan had never spoken before, but when she and Blaze show up to his house after curfew looking for a place to stay. His presence makes her heart race, and she can't thin or stop saying exactly whats on her mind. 

"Sweet Mother Earth. I'm sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to sit on your bed. I mean, I always wondered what it would be like but..." She caught the flash of crinkles on Nevan's forehead and the slackness of his jaw before she spun toward the door.

Their romance was sweet, and took it's time. They were friends, more than that even, but Rena would be confused when she was with Blaze and Nevan, should she sleep on her side facing Nevan, or Blaze? She wanted to keep her long term friendship while also nurturing the new friendship with Nevan, someone she's dreamed about being with, and maybe, she finally can be.

So I won't ruin the plot, I won't mention who kidnapped Blaze, but I can mention the Synbot's, and the Overlord. Synbot's are like the police of this world, only worse. Rena hasn't started earning wages yet, and she's already over 200,000 units in debt, for simple things like kicking a can or twig and talking back to the Synbot's, if only to explain that what she did wasn't wrong. The idea of Synbot's is nice, but the Overlords laws seemed very overwhelming.

I must mention I love the entire time they're in the Underground, but I won't say anything more about it. The ending made me so happy, but I really, truly think she left ample space for another story to be written. The book, as a standalone, would be fine. With another book to tie up all of the loose ends, plus tell the readers more about the Others and the world Rena lives in would be great. I would definitely buy the second book, and hope enough people agree to convince the publisher to publish another one of these books, and Natasha Hanova to write another.

"A blessed companion is a book! A book that, fitly chosen, is a life-long friend." -Douglas Jerrod

Book Nerd and Proud, 

K.G.