Faraday: 3 (Tesla Evolution) by Mark Lingane

Faraday: 3 (Tesla Evolution) by Mark Lingane
Buy Faraday: 3 (Tesla Evolution) by Mark Lingane at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Teens
Reviewer: Ani Johnson
Summary: Tesla Book 3: The Hive is only the start of Sebastian's problems. He still has a world to save and some unexpected friends (and abilities) to help him. This sci-fi series is a roller coaster of thrills and shocks. The result? A great, one-sitting read for strong stomached adults and teens alike.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 354	Date: August 2014
Publisher: Insync Holdings Pty Ltd
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-0992593513
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Alert: if you haven't read the first two Tesla books, this contains spoilers. So if you'd like to come back once you've read them?

Sebastian and his friends finally get out of the Hive but did he do it in the right way or has he caused a chain reaction that will destroy the world? Seb and Melanie don't have too much time to reason that out though as they travel across Australia to continue the war against the cyborgs and the mysterious Iris. Perhaps if Seb realised they were taking one of the most dangerous foes with him, they'd reconsider the passenger list?

Aussie author Mark Lingane once again takes us to his dystopian Mad-Max-meets-Dr Who-meets-Blade Runner Earth and plonks us right in the middle of Tesla Sebastian's nightmare reality. (This is a series begging to be read in the right order, but for newbies, a Tesla is someone who can manipulate electricity in amazing ways.)

It's classed as a teen series but it's becoming increasingly dark. While the language and lack of swearing makes it suitable across the YA age range, the fear factor and depth of gore points it towards those with strong stomachs. (E.g. at one point the removal of an eye is recounted graphically, including all the attendant mess plus there are some bloodthirsty undead to encounter.)

Indeed, we travel with Seb, Melanie and old friends like the commander Nikola, Michael the vet (animal vet rather than army) and Albert the Germanic-sounding ding scientist on a road trip that brings some interesting revelations about Seb's past and horrific encounters. Melanie is also hit hard by romantic issues, but male readers need not squirm; Mark doesn't go soppy so no need to look away. Faraday, like the rest of the series, has plenty for both genders without embarrassing either.

Once again Mark invites us to play the mind game common to all his novels right across the age divide: spot the homage. This time the fleeting tributes are as different as poet William Wordsworth, the animated movie Up and a nod to the pioneering days of nursing among others. (Oh, and the aforementioned Albert of course!)

There's also the second fascinating feature continued across this series: a made in heaven marriage of adventure and science. Mark has mastered the knack of working scientific explanation into a story without affecting the pace. But it's not all a matter of reacquaintance with past successes; there are new concepts to come to terms with and, indeed, new characters to meet.

We wait a while to come across The Hunter (he's well worth the wait!) but while we're waiting there's Angel Snow. She has the allure of a Bond girl as well as a name that suggests she should be but is she angelic? Can a faraday be angelic? I'll leave that for you to decide.

There's just a bit of clunking at the beginning as characters recall past events through conversation; always a difficult device to work in seamlessly. Yet, it's soon forgotten as we race through sadness (tissues may be required!), shocks and shed loads of thrills and excitement.

This series is the ideal gift for anyone with a strong stomach and a love of adrenaline surges. However if you're giving the gift and can't afford a second copy, best start practising turning pages gently. Whichever method you use, you're missing out if you don't read it yourself too. Meanwhile Book 4, Fusion comes out in 2015.

Huge thanks, as always, to Mark for providing us with a copy of his work for review.

Further Reading: I'm going to be boring and repeat my suggestion that Book 1 and Book 2. If you're already a fan, we also recommend Noggin by John Corey Whaley.

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