TRUE SON

The third and final installment in the dystopian Psi Chronicles.

Gevri, bitter from Taemon’s perceived betrayal in Archon (2013), has embraced his father, the cruel Gen. Sarin, and his military tactics. However, when his small group of young archons—people with psychic abilities, like himself—is captured and tortured by the Nau, it’s Taemon who saves them. Despite this, Gevri allows himself to continue on his father’s path until his father’s actions cause him to doubt. The narrative switches between Gevri and Taemon—the True Son of Deliverance, who possesses great psychic ability—with Amma getting the last word (or at least perspective) at the end. When Taemon realizes Gen. Sarin won’t keep his word to leave Deliverance in peace if Taemon saves Gevri, he communes with the Heart of the Earth and decides to lead his people away. However, even outside their city, the people of Deliverance are not safe. Each chapter begins with a Nau military correspondence, cluing readers into their actions, which affect both Deliverance and the Republik. The story’s biggest liability is in occasionally unrealistic characterization; Gen. Sarin in particular is too much the quintessentially evil villain to be believable, and the role of a True Son pretender is equally unconvincing.

It would behoove those new to the series to begin with the first book, but those anticipating the conclusion of the trilogy will not be disappointed by the ever-so-slightly-tidy ending.