Review: “Storm of Locusts” by Rebecca Roanhorse

Release Date: April 23, 2018
Publisher: Saga Press
Series: Sixth World #2
Genre: Rural Fantasy, Post-apocalyptic

Description

“It’s been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she’s lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she’s somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.

Then the Goodacre twins show up at Maggie’s door with the news that Kai and the youngest Goodacre, Caleb, have fallen in with a mysterious cult, led by a figure out of Navajo legend called the White Locust. The Goodacres are convinced that Kai’s a true believer, but Maggie suspects there’s more to Kai’s new faith than meets the eye. She vows to track down the White Locust, then rescue Kai and make things right between them.

Her search leads her beyond the Walls of Dinétah and straight into the horrors of the Big Water world outside. With the aid of a motley collection of allies, Maggie must battle body harvesters, newborn casino gods and, ultimately, the White Locust himself. But the cult leader is nothing like she suspected, and Kai might not need rescuing after all. When the full scope of the White Locust’s plans are revealed, Maggie’s burgeoning trust in her friends, and herself, will be pushed to the breaking point, and not everyone will survive.”

My Thoughts

In Trail of Lightning, the first book in Rebecca Roanhorse’s Sixth World series, it was Maggie standing alone against the evils of the world. She had no friends, no family, no one to help her if she was hurt, no one to miss her if she died. The only man she ever loved tried to kill her, so she drowned herself in her clan powers—Honágháahnii (“One Walks Around”) and K’aahanáanii (“Living Arrow”)—by battling the monsters of Dinétah. But by Storm of Locusts, things have shifted. Once again she’s heartbroken and lonely, but she’s no longer alone. This time around she has more companions than she knows what to do with. If the only people you’ve ever loved have abandoned you or died tragically, learning to trust again can feel like an insurmountable feat. But that’s just what she has to do if she has any hope of defeating the White Locust…

To read the rest of my review, head over to Tor.com.

I do change my T-shirt. Same black, but it smells markedly better than the one I slept in. I tighten my moccasin wraps. Tuck my throwing knives into the edges just below the knee. One obsidian blade, one silver. Both made to kill creatures that might not be hurt by steel. My new Böker knife is all steel, and it goes in the sheath at my waist. It’s a recent replacement for the one I lost in the fighting arena at the Shalimar and the first thing I bought with the trade I earned hunting with the Thirsty Boys. I thumb the hilt of the big knife, memories of the Shalimar wanting to surface, but there’s nothing good there and I’ve spent enough time replaying that night in my head. What I need more than anything is a fresh start. I’m tired of carrying around old ghosts.

Thanks to Saga Press for sending me a review copy.

Do the world a favor and buy this book from your local indie bookstore or borrow it from your public library.