Critical Point
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4.1 • 14 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
S. L. Huang's Critical Point is a breakout SF thriller for fans of John Scalzi and Greg Rucka.
Math-genius mercenary Cas Russell has stopped a shadow organization from brainwashing the world and discovered her past was deliberately erased and her superhuman abilities deliberately created.
And that's just the start: when a demolitions expert targets Cas and her friends, and the hidden conspiracy behind Cas's past starts to reappear, the past, present, and future collide in a race to save one of her dearest friends.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Huang's exciting third novel to feature mercenary Cas Russell (after Null Set) finds Cas taking baby steps toward living a normal life until she discovers her friend is missing. Cas's investigation gets off to a dangerous start when a man with the magical power to make people instantly forget about him blows up her Los Angeles office. The action only escalates as clues lead Cas to both a freelance bomber and a recently deceased plastic surgeon. Huang allows plenty of opportunities for antihero Cas to showcase her supernatural mathematical skills by defusing bombs, examining evidence, and executing fantastic feats during the exhilarating action sequences. Less successful are the tale's quieter beats: the dialogue tends to become incoherent when characters are flustered, and some introspection grows tedious as Cas struggles with ethical questions. The reveal of the true antagonist also falls flat, but Huang still manages to bring this complex, many layered plot to a mostly satisfying conclusion. Cas's continuing development will please series fans, but new readers may find the backstory overwhelming. This fast-paced sci-fi thriller makes up for its flaws with clever plotting and thrilling action.
Customer Reviews
Just what I needed during the quarantine.
This book had me addicted from the first explosion to the last gunshot. S.L. Huang continues to expand the depth of her characters as she develops the series, like an artist who has added more shading to a portrait since the last time that you walked by it. She packages it all in a story that moves with the pace of a bullet train; you can almost feel your cheeks flapping in the wind as you read it. Well done, S.L. Huang, and I’ll be looking forward to the next installment!