ASTRAL ALIGNMENT

by Randall Sharpe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 6, 2022

Alien creatures, armed cultists, and a psychic-powered teen come together in the pages of Sharpe’s speculative fiction novel, the first in a series.

In this first part of this bifurcated novel, a woman awakens in a strange forest. Her ID says she’s Clover Fields, but she can’t remember her past or how she got there. Fortunately, she’s taken in by a group of Forestrunners, and she learns about the dangers this world has to offer. One peril is the monstrous “shades,” creatures with which Clover shares at least a few features, including a tail and an ovipositor (an egg-laying organ). She also has powers to help defend the Forestrunners against such threats as the “ancients,” who create the shades and revel in torturing their victims. Clover can dreamwalk, a process in which she essentially enters someone else’s body. Part Two shifts the narrative to 14-year-old Josiah Powers, whose estranged father, Nicholas, needs his help. A cult is likely responsible for the death of Nicholas Powers’ brother, and “super-psychic” Josiah can surely find the cult and its leader. The boy didn’t know he had such abilities; once they’ve been awakened, Josiah begins involuntarily communicating with an alien. This alien tells Josiah about a “project” it’s working on and later warns him of an imminent event, one that practically demands the boy and his mother flee. In the book’s “interlude,” a mysterious man using the alias Darien Weever lands at a Tokyo airport to recover a Codex. His pursuit takes him into the city’s sewer system, which ultimately leads to a labyrinthine network of tunnels.

Sharpe introduces readers to myriad characters and concepts in this opening series installment. Clover and Josiah each make for likable, relatable protagonists: In her story, Clover vows to hone her dreamwalks, since she initially can’t control when they happen; Josiah, who has Asperger’s, begins one school day determined to stand up to a bully. Josiah’s mother, Linda, is another memorable character—she’s a great caregiver who manages to keep her sense of humor despite the travails that she and her son go through. The narrative moves at a steady clip as various creatures, astonishing abilities, and even the hint of alternate dimensions enter the mix. The author’s pithy prose gives the relatively short scenes and numerous subplots boosts of energy and conveys solid action: “The two of them rushed her, one leaping onto the wall with bare feet, sticking to it with crackles of blue energy. The other one came at her with an overhead swing of their staff, followed by an electrified kick as Clover parried the blow.” The quieter moments shine as well, as when Clover awakens with a cell phone and learns about her beloved father and sister by perusing old text messages. With the occasionally overwhelming influx of concepts, the stories don’t always mesh when Clover’s narrative suddenly hops to Weever’s and then to Josiah’s. (Most of what unfolds does connect in some manner before the novel is over—Weever pops up in Josiah’s story, and some characters are revealed to have unexpected relationships with others.) Numerous plot threads are left dangling for sequels to pick up.

An exceptional cast and intriguing SF/paranormal elements usher in a yarn that’s primed for expansion.

Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022

ISBN: 9798367175424

Page Count: 305

Publisher: Independently Published

Review Posted Online: June 10, 2026

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

SCIENCE FICTION | GENERAL SCIENCE FICTION | ACTION & ADVENTURE SCI-FI