PRO CONNECT
Author Marc Daniel Acriche is a hardcore native New Yorker who currently lives in a tiny apartment in the East Village of Manhattan with his girlfriend, Dina. DRAINED is his debut novel (unless you count the one he wrote about dinosaurs in the first grade).
“Indelible characters populate a diverting, near-future tale of combating oppression.”
– Kirkus Reviews
In this debut dystopian novel, a teen joins the fight against a totalitarian force’s hold on mid-21st-century New York City.
Casey Parker is lucky to live in an uptown New York apartment in 2048. To preserve electricity, authorities schedule regular power outages—usually downtown. Things aren’t likely to improve if Michael Hargrove wins the mayoral election. He heads the Independent Coalition Party, a military-type unit so intimidating that criticizing it publicly is dangerous. When the “almost-boyfriend” of her best friend, Jennifer Hargrove—Michael’s daughter—becomes an ICP Recruit and unexpectedly vanishes, Casey helps look for him downtown during a blackout. She learns the hard way just how the ICP enlists people when two strangers, stepping out of an unmarked van, suddenly chase her. Surprisingly, her father comes to her rescue; she hasn’t seen him in over a year after the ICP’s corruption charges ruined his police career. Her dad is secretly part of the Resistance against the ICP, which is reputedly abducting and brainwashing “Recruits” to be soldiers. Finding where this atrocity takes place would expose Michael’s nefarious organization. So Casey agrees to leave the Resistance’s protection, knowing fully well the ICP will grab her. But the plan—monitor Casey with a tracking device—doesn’t quite work out. Now she’s on her own in enemy territory, trying to convince other Recruits what’s happening and hoping she can withstand brainwashing tactics. If Casey can escape, she’ll lead the Resistance right back to the ICP’s hideout. She has other allies as well, including Jennifer, who unquestionably disapproves of her father’s work.
Acriche simplifies his tale by confining the action to New York. The story hints at greater problems (for example, “travel restrictions” between states) as well as Michael’s potentially expanding his diabolical scheme. Though the cast is extensive, characters enter and exit the tale organically as Casey’s adventure continues. For example, she meets members of the Resistance before mingling with other ICP Recruits. These characters are often surrounded by mystery: Some die without warning; some vanish; and some may be involved in a double-cross. Class distinctions in the story are apparent; “the have-nots” are left in the dark during the scheduled outages. There’s moreover an implication that Michael is racist, but this is more an individual trait as a villain than commentary on widespread discrimination. The author writes in a crisp, easygoing style even when describing Casey’s facing danger: “As expected, a drone—black and menacing—hovered in the clearing….She turned, pressing her back against the tree, willing herself small. If the thing had a heat sensor, she was screwed.” In the same vein, the abundant profanity in the narrative and dialogue is generally flippant—expressing annoyance more often than anger or hostility. While the novel’s latter half offers exciting action scenes, it feels a bit rushed. In particular, Casey has a romantic relationship that, without much development, has very little impact. Still, the ending is memorable, and this book could act as either a stand-alone or the start of a series.
Indelible characters populate a diverting, near-future tale of combating oppression.
Pub Date: May 25, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73581-610-4
Page count: 254pp
Publisher: Sunken Island Books
Review Posted Online: April 30, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
DRAINED: Book Trailer
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