CONVERGENCE

In Smith’s debut YA series starter, a young scientist’s research brings together three spiritually powerful teenagers who embark on a mission to save the world.

Researcher Robyn Greene doesn’t have much of a social life outside her lab. Her law-student friend Kara drags her to parties that she dislikes, and people often see her fringe research into evolutionary genetics as comical. Specifically, she believes that some people’s DNA contains a mutation that could let them communicate across species. Her tests discover an anonymous blood donor has this anomaly, and Kara’s punkish twin sister, Kate, manages to locate the person. Soon, Robyn is face to face with young Fletcher Lowman and his giant bear, Eva; the animal sees Fletcher as her “spirit partner.” Unbeknownst to Robyn, the cutthroat Mitochondrial Research Institute is monitoring her work and wants to exploit “spirit walkers” like Fletcher for nefarious purposes. Robyn, Fletcher, Eva, and others soon find themselves on a world-spanning adventure, joined by other researchers as well as other “spirit walkers” that MRI has created or seeks to control. Robyn also receives warnings about an impending world-ending environmental disaster and experiences her own awakening after meeting vibrant gene therapy researcher Catherine Heather. Smith focuses almost entirely on worldbuilding in this opening series entry. To that end, she introduces an impressive cast of characters, including scientists, hackers, villains, telepathic animals, and spirit monks, and each is distinctive enough that readers will easily find a favorite or two among them. There’s plenty of action, but the book lacks a central challenge; there’s no single dragon to slay or Death Star to destroy. A promising subplot involving freeing another spirit walker is exciting, but surprisingly short. Although much of the novel focuses on Fletcher, the other spirit walkers, and the researchers drawing parallels between the scientific and the spiritual, the most consistent conflict is Robyn’s struggle with her unexpected feelings for Catherine, which isn’t quite enough to maintain interest.

A nice intro to an SF/fantasy epic but one that barely starts its adventure.