"Sanctuary" by Caryn Lix

    Being a security guard for a prison in space that holds Earth’s most dangerous superpowered teenagers runs in the family and Kenzie is finally able to prove her worth after spending her whole life in training. When Kenzie gets caught up in an actual jailbreak, though, she’s on her own because, you know, protocol says no negotiating with prisoners even if they have your daughter. It soon becomes clear that something beyond protocol is threatening the lives of everyone on board Sanctuary and it's up to the teenagers to save the day. Will they save each other and the world?

    I liked this book a lot and sped through most of it. There was a build up in the beginning, that showed normalcy is being crushed, that everything Kenzie believes in is going to change. The transition feels real because she kept going back and forth between Omnistellar Concepts protocol and surviving.

    The action and mystery get phased in. You only get a snapshot of a character’s life before the plot of the book, which really brings you in to how much the characters’ lives have changed, how much they rely on routine. Kenzie’s parents are extremely loyal to Omnistellar Concepts, the corporation that gives them citizenship and they have ingrained those loyalties in Kenzie as well. They stick to Omnistellar’s protocols and rules to keep them all safe because other people have it worse. They want to show how grateful they are to have a life where they are provided for. Even though Omnistellar authorities have a feeling something is going to happen soon because an anniversary is coming up, they are unable to protect their citizens or their prisoners.

    In true monster story fashion, we don’t know what’s going on until the main character is right in the thick of things. Someone manages to get away from the initial attack and is able to vaguely give the characters a glimpse of what they’re dealing with. They then slowly piece together what’s going on, well, they have a guess with the information they are able to gather. Just because it’s a classic plot doesn’t mean its any less disturbing or intriguing. I was drawn in once Kenzie entered the prison. The AI runs things, not necessarily the human security guards, so its like venturing into the great unknown. It’s not the setting that draws you in, it's the characters because you don’t know what they are capable of, you don’t know what they’re up to while the security guards are in the command center. The AI takes care of it, which is concerning because if there’s anything we’ve learned from science fiction and a few dystopian novels, its that AIs can go bad, even with the best intentions and programming. Don’t you worry, though, the AI isn’t the big problem in this one!

"The Boneless Mercies" by April Genevieve Tucholke

    Boneless Mercies have managed to stay in business throughout constant changes to the world around them. They travel in groups across Vorseland, being paid very little to end the lives of those who suffer from illness or old age, the sight of their signature raven cloaks enough to turn most away. Frey, Ovie, Runa, and Juniper are one such group of Boneless Mercies and they travel with a former healer named Trigve. They all want to live different lives outside of the death trade. As they’re traveling between jobs, the group hears that a beast has been ravaging a jarldom in northern Vorseland. Will this group of Boneless Mercies bring an end to one jarldom’s suffering? If they go up against this beast, they will have a challenging journey ahead of them with danger lurking in the depths of the Red Willow Marsh and the forests of Blue Vee.

    Overall, I enjoyed this story! It was imaginative and makes me envision a world similar to the Vikings, at least in the general knowledge of them that I have because of the clothes, hair, weapons, and warrior mentality that most characters in this story have. I was not a big fan of the point of view this story was written in even though I understand that it adds to what Frey wanted out of her life, being known for something worthy of a saga, one known by all of Vorseland.

    The pace of the story was also a little slow for me. In hindsight, I see that there has to be a build up of events that lead to them leaving the Mercy trade. They even explore each of the options that they have. We end up being able to hear the stories of how each Mercy ended up becoming a part of the death trade, which is very interesting.

    I like that there was not any definitive romance until the end because it makes the story unique and adds to the chosen point of view. Frey has a possible romantic relationship with Jarl Roth but goes with her close friend Trigve while he attends healer school. Ovie, Runa, Juniper, and Trigve get close to people the group encounters throughout the story but they do not seem to amount to anything serious. It is a relatable situation, though, because it’s confusing and blurry when you’re a part of the situation.

    This group’s journey as Boneless Mercies is unique and pretty dark, to say the least, but they embark on a journey to make their line of work famous. Will you tag along?