REVIEW: Children of the Different by S C Flynn

Children of the Different by S C Flynn
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: Self-Published
ISBN: 9780954311889
Standalone
Copy: Provided by Author
Reviewer: Tyson

Amazon

Synopsis: "killed most of the world’s population. The survivors all had something different about their minds. Now, at the start of adolescence, their children enter a trance-like state known as the Changeland and either emerge with special mental powers or as cannibalistic Ferals.

In the great forest of south-western Australia, thirteen year-old Arika and her twin brother Narrah go through the Changeland. They encounter an enemy known as the Anteater who feeds on human life. He exists both in the Changeland and in the outside world, and he wants the twins dead.

After their Changings, the twins have powers that let them fight their enemy and face their destiny on a long journey to an abandoned American military base on the north-west coast of Australia. If they can reach it before time runs out.

CHILDREN OF THE DIFFERENT is a post-apocalyptic fantasy novel set among the varied landscapes and wildlife of Western Australia."

Not too long ago we had a guest post for S C Flynn to promote his first book Children of the Different (post here). Stuart is a friend and fellow blogger (Flynn's Blog) and when he asked me to read and review his book I didn't hesitate to say yes.

Children of the Different tells the post apocalyptic tale in an unfamiliar Australia. A strange disease has wiped out most of the world's population and as children enter puberty they go into a short coma and either come out with strange new powers or come out as animalistic creatures hell-bent on killing the survivors.

The story begins with Arika and her twin brother Narrah on the cusp of adulthood. When the time comes, they are thrust into events that will alter the future. One thing that Flynn did well is show the love and affection the twins have for one another and their community. The two siblings have a special bond that allows them to communicate with each other over great distances and when the coma hits them, they are able to continue that telepathic bond through their adventure in the Changeland. Their first adventure in this strange world really set the book apart from others.

One complaint that I had was the world building. We had a population crippling pandemic and it would have been nice to see how it was in the beginning of the apocalypse. I was also a little confused how some adults could survive when I was lead to believe that all of them had been wiped from the face of the earth. While it wasn't a deal breaker, it was a minor niggle in the back of my mind. The fact that the story takes place in Australia is also a nice touch as it gives us just a taste of the familiar while adding a large dose of the unknown as there aren't enough books that take place on the island continent. The fact that he didn't base the story in Europe or North America was a special treat.

The story really never lets up. After a few pages in, the book just picks up steam and doesn't let up until the end. Children of the Different takes the idea of a coming of age tale and flips it on its head, while giving us quite a bit of action. It was a nice change of pace on a well-worn concept. As far as debut novels go, this one hits all the right buttons and does so with efficiency. Recommended.

7/10