Jack Skillingstead

Olivia Nikitas, a hardened investigation journalist reporting on the long civil war in Syria (the story takes place in 2029), has just had her lover die in her arms. She was tracking down a story and let Brian tag along. Moments after his death however, she has some sort of psychic breakdown, and finds that Brian is alive. Injured, but very much alive.

Back home in Seattle, they try to start a life together. She is afraid of commitment, really, of letting anyone into her life, while he is very trusting and open. It doesn't sound like a match made in heaven but it seems to be working. Then the world starts to fall apart. A weaponized version of smallpox has been released into the world.

Olivia soon learns that she is accidentally in possession of a technology that allows her to change some past event to change the present. How this happens sort of makes sense but I can't go into it as it would be too much of a spoiler. This is why Brian isn't dead. Did her action lead to the smallpox crisis? Can she fix it and still keep Brian alive.

This is a book of choices. The choices a woman can make while trying to save her lover and the world.

Olivia is a difficult person to get close to. She strong and willful but very insecure. Her parents died while she was young and she has never been able to get over the sense that she was deserted by them. It's why today it's so difficult for her to accept Brian, because she's sure he will eventually desert her too.

She doesn't want this new power she has but she has to make the choice. Save Brian now or save the world for later.

The world of 2029 is frightening. It seems a lot like 2019 but with some interesting overlays. That the war in Syria is still raging is plausible. The everyday technology in use is also plausible. The thing I liked best is 3D cell phones. Your phone can, for example, project a 3 dimensional image of the person you're talking to.

I very much liked this book and will be looking for Jack Skillingstead's other works.… (more)

Olivia Nikitas has finally let someone into her heart. It was not intentional, but somehow, Brian worked his way in. Ever since the death of her mother and then, not much later, of her father, she has made sure that she has a barrier in place. She could not afford to love, again. She could not endure that pain, again. And there had been no one, until Brian.

As a reporter, Olivia covers the civil war in Aleppo, Syria. When Brian follows her into a ruined, ancient sacred site, he is killed. Something happens to her, there, too, something that is difficult to believe. She receives mysterious and ancient powers that could allow her to save Brian, but only by risking the entire human race!

This is an interesting futuristic story. It has it all. It is filled with action, imagination, and love. The character development is good, making the story more intriguing.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.… (more)