Tending towards blandeur [Refraction by Christopher Hinz]
But then, Aiden learns he was a 'Quiver Kid', one of seven orphaned children drafted for an illicit experiment at Tau Nine-One. Setting out to find the perpetrators and his fellow victims, Aiden's quest quickly turns lethal when he's kidnapped by a maniacal Quiver Kid with a dark agenda.
As he uncovers the dangerous truth about his past, Aiden's very essence is called into question. Will a hellish confrontation at Tau Nine-One reveal the ultimate purpose of the Quiver Kids?
File Under: Fantasy [ Strangest Things | Manifest Destiny | X-Kids | Chunkie ]
I'm generally here for anything under the scope of "secret government experiments on kids," as terrible as that may be. After reading Christopher Hinz's Refraction, and upon reflection of what generally peaks my interests (because, honestly, why am I okay with that umbrella grouping?), I'm thinking I ought to reconsider that ease and eagerness. Maybe I see X-Men and superheroes in everything. Maybe that whole plotline is the highest order of wishful thinking, looking to find a silver lining in everything, to take back power when bodily autonomy is ignored and intrusions are committed against a powerless individual or group. Who knows?
What I do know is that this book was too predictable at times. When the plot was actually in unknown territory, the tropes we fell back upon? Yikes. The constant threat of rape against or looming over the most prominent female character, not to mention the general misogyny? No. The off-handed racism? Nope. The main character was a lazy manchild who conveniently has all the power and is the pinnacle of genetic superiority? Laughable. There's a lot to complain about here but the weird thing is nothing offended me to the degree of me calling this book the worst. The writing wasn't bad. A little dry, yes, but not bad. It was just a bad story I didn't care for. 2 stars from me.
Refraction is set for publication November 10, 2020.
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