L. S. O'Dea

Lake of Sins: Escape; Book 1 of this fantasy series introduces a world which is new and brave in a genuinely uncomfortable way. Trinity is the engaging heroine, a cross-breed who shouldn't exist, in a world where humans have been genetically altered to serve different purposes and where those in charge - the Almightys (sic) - believe they are have no genetic compatibility with the other, lower, classes. Trinity is the key to proving the lie, and she is helped along by a fantastic (in both show more senses) cast of characters.
Like a parable, this is a well-written, fascinating polemic against racism/specism and any type of negative discrimination. Violent, frightening and hard to read, with some truly horrific 'truths', this is nonetheless a story of hope, of triumph over adversity, and of friendship and love. LS O'Dea captures our emotions, ensuring our sympathy is never far from her protagonists and their stress-filled lives. show less

Lake of Sins: Secrets in Blood; This is book 2 of this intelligent and thought-provoking series and sees Trinity still struggling to find out the truths of her world, especially what happened to her siblings. As with the first book, this unusual and frightening world is vividly created and the tension is ramped up throughout the story as the true horrors of class, species and societal discriminations are laid bare leading to an ending which is as horrific as any I have ever read. The story show more asks serious questions about the way we treat other beings we perceive as different, yet never in a didactic manner, rather we are led to our own conclusions as our hearts and minds are captured by this thrilling tale. Author LS O'Dea keeps her readers enthralled with a story which is thought-provoking, entertaining and not for the faint-hearted; and as with all of her writing, her characters are brilliantly realised. show less

If you haven't read 'The Lake of Sins' series, you will still be excited to read these five tales in the Chimera Chronicles, and if you have, know that these take place before 'Escape', book 1 of 'LOS' and help us understand the provenance of some of the characters we later meet.
These stories take us inside the laboratory of Professor Conguise; we meet some of his scientists and learn in some detail how he is twisting the laws of nature to create what he hopes will be a superhuman army.
I show more have often wondered why we use the term inhumane to describe a lack of compassion and cruelty. Conguise - and some of his staff I will make you wonder as well.
As we read through these tales, we learn of the misery suffered by Conguise's victims and the moral uncertainty felt by some of his staff, although sadly not all. You will these heartbreaking, conscience-nudging and ultimately rooting for the underdog - whatever their species. There are at least two scenes which will move you to tears.
L.S. O'Dea's stories are aimed at young adults. I have a master's degree in literature and I find them riveting, with three dimensional characters and emotionally-charged scenes. show less

L.S. O’Dea’s Escape is a dark fantasy adventure set in a dystopian world where survival is a constant struggle. Though the beginning was a bit slow and introduced many characters at once, the pace soon picked up, and everything started to fall into place, making this an exciting and rewarding read.
The storyline is captivating, full of unexpected twists and well-developed characters. The book takes us into a world forever changed by The Great Death, a devastating plague that wiped out all show more animals over twenty pounds and altered humanity itself. Society is now divided into strict classes, with the Almightys (who are the most human-like) at the top, and Producers, the lowest class, at the bottom. This society's roles are divided among Guards, Trackers, Handlers, and House Servants. While not overly complex, understanding their hierarchy takes time. In this grim society, making the Harvest List can mean life or death.
The world-building is immersive, revealed through the naïve eyes of teenage Trinity. Her perspective makes for a perfect lens to experience the horrors and mysteries of this world.
Read more at https://www.summonfantasy.com/reviews/escape-a-dark-and-riveting-dystopian-fanta.... show less