Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.8 / 5 stars)
Forget everything you think you know.
Sam thought his father worked in the boring patent office in London, pushing papers and stamping documents. After his father brings him to work one day, Sam discovers that the patent office is far more than he ever thought. It turns out, his father is one of the Few, aiming to protect humanity from risky inventions that threaten to take over the world. After an attack occurs in a room that shouldn’t exist, Sam is offered a “summer internship” of sorts to begin his induction process into the Few. With his new friends, Joe, Fedor, and Veronique, they are tasked to become the new generation of the Few…or their families will be cast out for good.
In a fast paced adventure, filled with well defined characters, unique technology, and a blend of sci-fi with fantasy, we enter the world of the Few. Everything we think we know is turned on its head. Immortality exists. People can be modified. You can “fold” to different locations. And the world is not quite as small as people think. Eddy Telviot creates a unique sci-fi world that has not been explored in these lengths.
Telviot’s knowledge of technology, patents, and science shine in this book. He has put a lot of thought into all these elements, and it shows! Equally, he also has done a great job defining the four main characters. Sam is the traditional protagonist, with a hero complex and self-righteous desire to protect his friends. Fedor is the stereotypical “strong man” with a heart of gold. Joe is the standard smart, little nerd with big glasses but a hidden toughness. Then there is Veronique, who only pretends to be aloof, but is actually very attentive to her place in the world. They form a great rag-tag team, and their strengths and weaknesses come together to excel as a cadre.
While the story gripped me from beginning to end, I realized while reading this that books written in third-person omnipresent need to be done a certain way for me to love them. While the writing in this book was well done, sometimes I struggled to figure out who’s perspective we were in, or the perspective switched too quickly. It almost read as if it were ultimately designed to be a graphic novel. In fact, I can even picture it as such. As a graphic novel, the reader would be able to see all the technology, as well as get those momentary glimpses into the antagonist’s lives, the side characters, and so forth.
Even so, the plot does not get lost despite the constant shifts. It is a wonderful induction into the world of the Few and the Fabulous Arrangement of Atoms. The ending will leave you wanting more.
So do you want to become one of the Few? Why not check out The Stone Thieves and the Honourable Order of Inventors! You’ll have a fun, action packed time!
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What’s it about?
Escape into a world you never knew existed.
There is a book which has shaped the course of history. For thousands of years, a secret society of inventors have guarded it. From the Greeks and Persians to mighty Hannibal and the formidable Caesars of Rome. Viking raiders. Crusaders. Even Genghis Khan and the Conquistadors sought it. Yet none have come close to finding it, until now.
Taking a seemingly innocent summer apprenticeship, fifteen-year-old Sam is drawn into the mysterious world of The Few. He and three new friends are chosen to be trained in forgotten arts by this ancient order of inventors, whose existence is shrouded in dark science, marvellous modifications and incredible creations. It’s the beginning of an epic and relentless adventure that will blur the boundaries of their reality – full of action, gadgets and intrigue.
The stakes are high and The Few must adapt if they are to survive this new threat, for Ms Keller and Harbinger Robotics are poised for victory. They have learned of a scroll which will lead them to the book and, with it, change the world forever…
E.S. Barrison 