Book Review: The Invasion by Peadar Ó Guilín
I know I usually provide hot humans and cool comics, and this is a little outside my wheelhouse, but I really wanted to tell you about this one. Plus it’s World Book Day AND the release date for this one, what better time! The Invasion is book 2 (and the conclusion) of The Grey Land series, which began with The Call. I read The Call last year after it was recommended to me and I loved it. This review for The Invasion will contains some mild spoilers, particularly for The Call, so consider yourself warned.
The story so far
Based in a terrifying future Ireland where the entire country has been cut off by the vengeful Sídhe (pronounced Shee-thuh), the fairy folk who were banished from “Modern” Ireland centuries before. The Sídhe want their home back and The Call begins. Every child between the ages of 10 and 18 will, at some point, be summoned out of our world into the Grey Land. There they have to evade the beautiful but cruel Sídhe. Those who don’t are either killed or turned into playthings for those who live there. Twisted by an agonising touch.
14 year old Nessa Doherty, is a student at Boyle Survival College. Almost all children attend one of these colleges to learn techniques to survive The Call. Nessa is different though, childhood polio has left her with twisted legs – a decided disadvantage when it comes to running for your life. But it only makes Nessa more determined to survive, and thrive. And by Crom, by Danu she does!
The Invasion
Wow! I demolished this book in just a couple of sittings after getting my hands on it a few days early. Jolly good job too as if I had had to wait till today (release day) I would not have gotten it thanks to the Beast from the East (Storm Emma) closing most of my town. I was so excited to return to The Many Coloured Land and find out what had become of Nessa and her love and fellow survivor Anto. The direction that author Ó Guilín took their story in surprised me a little, but it made sense. I think part of the reason I got through the book so fast was because it unfolds at such a breakneck pace. Particularly in the last third or so, you are basically just hanging on for the ride.
The Sídhe are now trying to get back to our world, and when the invasion begins in earnest it is truly terrifying. If you thought some of the creatures that Nessa and her classmates encountered before were horrific you are in for a shock. This second book ups the ante and introduces ever more twisted creations! There’s a moment when a small group of militia face up to a creature that reminded me of a Clive Barker short called In The Hills, The Cities. Enough to evoke the memory, but not so similar to make me go “OI!”, I kind of love it when books bring to mind old faves but with a new spin.
It also takes a much closer look at how fighting for survival changes someone, both emotionally and physically. Nessa and Anto go through considerable upheaval in this book, not always for the better. But when your life is on the line, sometimes even personal beliefs have to be sacrificed.
Summary
If you like your YA dystopian fiction with a healthy side of body horror and the scariest fairies you’re ever going to meet, then I heartily recommend you go out and get The Call and The Invasion. The Invasion is out now in hardback everywhere apart from the US. Sorry, you guys have to wait a little longer until March 27th. The Call should be available everywhere.
If you want to find out more about the author then you can check out his blog, he’s also on twitter and instagram.
