Tory Brennan and the Virals Return in Seizure
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Author: Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
Title: Seizure: A Virals Novel Genre: young adult When last we saw Tory Brennan and her cohort, the four (plus a wolf-dog cross) were reeling from the effects of the genetically-altered parvovirus that modified their DNA. The human teenagers found that – in the grand old tradition of Peter Parker and Bruce Banner – their exposure had imbued them with special powers. Fumbling at first with their newfound abilities, the four still managed to foil a heinous plot and save the wild things on their barrier island habitat off Charleston Bay. As Seizure, the second “Virals” adventure opens, Loggerhead Island is again in danger, mere weeks after the plucky teens saved the day. This time, it’s money: hard up for cash, the U plans to disband the Loggerhead Island Research Institute and sell the three islands to developers. Unable to countenance the breakup of their pack, the Virals set out to save the day; a little tough since three of the five are grounded for the summer (and the fifth is 100% canine). Never underestimate the power of a Brennan, however. Tory and her buds Shelton, Hi and Ben put their heads together and come up with the perfect plan: find the lost treasure of Anne Bonny, the greatest (and red-headedest) pirate of the Carolina coast in the 18thCentury. Wanna bet that’ll be no big deal for four fifteen-year-olds who can FLARE!!! The four begin their adventure by stealing Bonny’s treasure map from its case in the local museum. Through logic and a little luck, they suss out Bonny’s hiding place… ooops, she moved the treasure and left a cryptic clue. Rounds of puzzle-solving worthy of Robert Langdon, more curfew-breaking and more breaking and entering ensue. Along the twisty way the youths discover that they are being tailed by deadly (but anonymous) adversaries who have no qualms about putting a bullet in a teenaged kid. They’re the Virals, though, but are their wolfish powers and other, more useful abilities a match for cold steel and hot lead? Sure. It’s YA… Seizure is the second novel in the Virals Series, penned by Kathy Reichs (Bones to Ashes, Devil Bones) and her son Brendan. It follows Virals and precedes Code. A fourth installment, Exposure, was published in Spring 2014. Alpha Viral Victoria “Tory” Brennan is the grand-neice of Reichs character Temperance “Bones” Brennan. Her father, Kit Howard, is the son of Brennan’s sister Harry; although Tory’s Brennan surname comes from her mother (who died months before the first installment). Contrived? Yeah, a little… The four human Virals and the wolf-dog Cooper prance merrily about the bays and barrier islands off the Carolina Coast, depending mainly on the boat that belongs to one member (Ben) on the water and stealing Kit’s FourRunner for land transport. These kids do nothing to set a good example! In terms of plotting, Seizure is constructed in the time-honored “pile disaster on disaster” motif. At every turn until the final triumph, the outlook gets darker and darker for the four teens. Worse, almost every adult they meet, no matter how benign their meeting, ends up murderous or thieving. In simplest terms, the kids run wild depending upon the doctrine of “the end justifies the means” to allow them to atone for a wide variety of broken rules and downright crimes. The protagonist is strong, the four kids are smart and self-sufficient and they have the greater good in mind. The plot revolves around historical facts (Anne Bonny was a real Carolina pirate) and the kids do some good research. On the other hand, they set a lousy example by lying, stealing, cheating and all-around chicanery. As a consequence, I can’t recommend Seizure to anyone whose Young Adult reader might decide to emulate these teens – they’re just a little too antihero for my tastes. |