Illusion

Yelich-Koth embarks on a new science fiction saga, her first foray into prose fiction following her graphic novel series Hollow’s Prism. Eight years after the omnipotent military dictator known as Jacin Jaxx committed suicide, his former second-in-command kidnaps Jaxx’s daughter, Daith, destroying her memories in the process. Without any knowledge of her past or who to trust, Daith must unlock her powers and find out what secrets have been stolen from her. Though the book takes place entirely on a single spaceship, Yelich-Koth manages to hint at a rich galaxy of life forms beyond its confines; her offhand descriptions of bizarre aliens and quirky cultures are the book’s best features. Substantially less compelling is the plot, which meanders between training sessions to establish Daith’s godlike powers and naps that allow the characters to dream about more interesting events. The book feels more like a lengthy prologue for the next installment, as the plodding conflict and incremental character development don’t go anywhere fast enough to hold the reader’s interest. (Sept.)