(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC in exchange for review through Edelweiss. Trigger warning for gratuitous violence.)

Set in a near dystopian future where a fascist movement known as the Machine rules, Kali is the leader of an all-woman motorcycle gang. The Matrikas are one of many rebel groups resisting assimilation - or actively fighting it. That is, until a violent coup ends with Kali stabbed in the back, wandering the desert wasteland and, eventually, poisoned and captured by the Machine's army. She's got just twenty-four hours to live - but she's determined to make the most of it, by taking down as many turncoats as possible. Even if one of them is her literal sister.

KALI is a stylish, action-packed story that's sadly lacking in much substance (assuming that this isn't the first volume in a series, anyway). The world-building is pretty minimal; for example, we don't learn a whole lot about the Machine, how it came to be, etc. (unless we're simply meant to extrapolate from current events - which, given the group's Nazi-esque vibe, isn't a stretch). The story arc involving Kali's seeming amnesia, followed by the "big reveal," feels almost anti-climactic, which is strange given the divergence of everyone's realities.

The artwork has a gritty, MAD MAX vibe, and while the narrative aims for the same, it does fall a bit short. Still, a wild enough ride. ( )