LIA, HUMAN OF UTAH

In this sequel, a woman with enhanced powers faces off against aliens and mutated humans.

It hasn’t been long since Lia awakened in a post-apocalyptic Utah populated by murderous creatures. Slowly regaining her memories, she gets some clarification: Her husband, James, created the L strain to combat a super-cancer infecting their daughter, Tory. At the time, extraterrestrial technology had led to advances on Earth, and James derived the L strain from an “alien substance.” This ultimately led to extensive human mutation, including in Lia, whose body can generate “razor-sharp tendrils,” among other changes. Now in the 24th century, after Lia has lost colleagues and loved ones, there’s little remaining on Earth. James suggests traveling to a colony ship in space, in which human survivors fled back when the L strain and an alien invasion were growing concerns. The couple find the ship, but their predicament hardly improves. Soon they’re up against more mutated creatures as well as aliens on the hunt for human slaves. As the story progresses, Lia garners additional abilities and an immense power that’s virtually limitless—with the potential to destroy an entire planet. Ramsay’s (Lia, Human of Utah: Book One, 2017) first installment thrived on mystery, as Lia initially could remember nothing. This book, in contrast, delves into engrossing backstories for Lia, James, and even the aliens. The exposition rarely affects the narrative’s steady pace, and the second half is jampacked with rousing action sequences featuring lethal weapons: “Lia forced her armour to obey, reconstituting it around the reverberating power…she redirected that energy to her katana, pointing directly at the curious monster’s face.” At the same time, the plot boasts a couple of genuine surprises and profound moments of Lia ruminating about mutated people she has had to kill. While the ending is definitive, readers may want another installment or even a prequel or spinoff centered on another character.

A thoroughly enjoyable sci-fi tale that surpasses its predecessor.