Before I start, I'm going to disclose that I've known the author, Pat Flewwelling, for almost fifteen years. I've read a lot of her work, both the published and the unpublished. And finally, I'll disclose that I'm a fan.

Pat and Tyche were kind enough to let me read an ARC of the novel prior to publication for an honest review. That's what they're gonna get.

On to the review.

This book, Helix: Blight of Exiles, the first in a series of books (a trilogy, if I'm not mistaken), has a lot going for it. It's a strange novel to try and slot into a genre. To be honest, for me, it felt, despite the very obvious [b:Moby-Dick; or, The Whale|153747|Moby-Dick; or, The Whale|Herman Melville|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327940656s/153747.jpg|2409320] references, like a more feral cousin to [b:The Island of Doctor Moreau|23311937|The Island of Doctor Moreau|H. G. Wells|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412577408s/23311937.jpg|42865861]. Same genetics, but also with some Andromeda Strain and The Howling tossed in there.

Flewwelling sets up a fascinating set of mysteries very quickly. What is The Wyrd? Why is Ishmael where he is? Where the hell is he? Why is everyone else here and what's going on with them anyway?

Then there's the characters. Ishmael is a walking question mark. You get some glimpses into his past, then Flewwelling pulls the curtain shut again. Then there's Dr. Foster. What is she studying, exactly? And for whom? There's Padre and Shuffle and Digger...oh, Digger. And then there's some fascinating secondary characters. I'm particularly enamoured with Ferox, myself.

You get all of this in the first half of the novel. Yes, it's a touch dense. There's a lot thrown at you, as a reader. At times, it can feel a touch chaotic, or a bit like trying to sip from a fire hydrant. Flewwelling basically straps you into the roller coaster, then throws the switch. While she'll give you some breathers occasionally, the thing I respect is, she'll never talk down to you, never insult your intelligence. You buy the ticket, you get the full ride.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that the first half is badly paced. No, along with the mysteries, you get a some fantastic action scenes that are an absolute standout in the story. And, to my mind, the author has come up with a ridiculously cool and modern take on lycanthropy…or is that therianthropy?

So, while there's a fair amount of setup in the first half, it's necessary setup, and it all goes to the payoff that is the second half of the novel.
So let's talk about that second half. The first half takes you to the top of the highest spot on the roller coaster. The second half is that crazy drop down the other side.

The second half is where all that setup begins snapping together. But it's so much more than that.

There is a particular action scene near the end. I will not ruin it for anyone, so, no spoilers. But all I can say is, "Holy crap!" Flewwelling opens her bag of tricks and weaves some magic. And that's all I'm going to say. You'll know it when you read it.

And you should read it.

Is it a perfect book? No. Then again, how many are? But is it a book worth your time and money? Hell yes.

I’m really looking forward to where this goes next. ( )