by C.B. Lansdell, Book 1 in the Apidecca Duology, Narrated by Amy Jensen and Christopher Tester
Summary:
On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant.
Little can be hidden in the glare of a spotlight.
Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon’s capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities.
A spark in the dank depths.
Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left?
Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?
Review:
Far Removed takes place in a fantastical world with a sociopolitical landscape that manages to be special to the universe while mirroring struggles we face today. It is a balance of alien concepts, sciences, and social structures that explores the familiar themes of class, morality, and self acceptance.
The character designs are inspired by and molded from cephalopods, which when anthropomorphised allows for an interesting expression of self, fashion, and culture. I particularly enjoyed the way that the knyads enhance or adorn their tendrils!
There is a resource called resin which is the strongest power source in their known world with seemingly unlimited uses. Its harvesting is of great importance to the government, and violence both overt and secretive are used to secure it.
Lansdell chooses to guide us through Apidecca with two very different characters, and in doing so gives us a look at how divided the society is.
Oklas shows us, through his privilege and access to the upper echelons, how deeply seeded the resentment and distrust of maskads are. They are viewed not simply as lower, but other, and deserving of their subservient position.
Prismer, a maskad working at the college, teaches us quickly how the maskads have been beaten down and forced into pliancy. They are not allowed to be unmasked around knyads and often are not unmasked around one another, as there is a deep shame in uncovering their faces. The explanation of what happens to make them this way (physically and emotionally) is explained in the later half of the book in great detail, and I won’t spoil it here, just know it is gruesome.
Prismer is creative, strong, and is quick to help others while asking nothing in return. I loved her character from the start! She has this desire for connection to others that surprises even her, and Lansdell uses this character trait to create a yearning in multiple places in the narrative that gave me a twang in my heart. I love LOVE LOVE when authors can achieve this.
Oklas though, had my favorite character arc. He discovers who he is outside of the flirting, politicking, and collegiate presentations, which he is forced to do after a scheme goes sideways. The intricacies of his character cannot be fully appreciated till he is made to face his shortcomings. Lansdell makes him FACE them in a sudden and cruel way.
This character-forward first installment to the Apidecca Duology is a scientific fantasy ride that left me satisfied while excited for book two!
Find out more about Far Removed
Audrie Hopper
Audrie is a PNW based reader, reviewer, and developmental editor. With a passion for connecting one-on-one with authors of all genres, she thrives when discussing writing strategies, character development, and world building.
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