The Transformation of Adam Higgins

The wrath of deep-space gods imperils human existence in this fantasy sequel.

Amazon’s (The Kiss after Midnight, 2012, etc.) second entry in his series merges extraterrestrial prophecies and god worshipping with the thrills of government conspiracies on Earth. Once again, the “boy” (a strange description for someone who looks 18-years-old but has actually lived for centuries) Siroco, an alien with mysterious powers that can kill or save, is causing trouble as he outruns a top-secret organization that’s bigger and more dangerous than the FBI. His need for a safe house drags Adam Higgins; Adam’s sister, Jessica; and Adam’s stepmother, Monica, into events that change their lives. They’d thought they were an average American family with their share of drama—an alcoholic step-mom, an absent father—until Adam learns he’s serving as a human host for the demigod Diavos. He becomes an unwilling hero who buddies up with Ramon, the prince of Corin, to prevent the god Eclipse from starting a civil genocide on Corin and destroying Earth. The book begins at a crawl and is short on exposition, but Amazon soon connects two seemingly distinct stories—the hunt for Siroco on Earth and the politics of Corin—into a cohesive adventure. It’s a good improvement on the first novel. Amazon sometimes dwells on trivialities, however, detailing actions that slow the pace (like the paragraph that painstakingly describes what three characters do with their sandwiches and drinks). The chapter titles are overly broad, and the work includes a few anachronisms—overhead fans in a world filled with castles, barbarians and sword fighting and, worse, photographs of events that date back to 1505. The lengthy battle scenes can grow tedious, and character development is often sacrificed for action.

Piques curiosity for the next installment, but too much detail stalls the action.