Invisible Sun

Gr 9 Up—In this sequel to Black Hole Sun (HarperCollins, 2010), Vienne and her chief, Durango, are the only Regulators from their unit to have survived their Lord's disgrace. They are dalit now, mercenary soldiers marked by the absence of a pinky finger, on a quest to retrieve classified information about Durango's past. Told from alternating perspectives, the story follows Durango and Vienne as they raid and escape pursuit, switching periodically to Durango's nemesis, the pyromaniac Archibald, who is bent on bringing about an apocalypse. Descriptions of the harsh Mars terrain, history, and politics and the assassins' high-tech gadgets are neglected in favor of witty banter and action sequences. The most amusing exchanges happen in Durango's head, where Mimi, an artificial intelligence attached to his brain, provides guidance and commentary. Readers will have to suspend disbelief as Durango not only survives but also continues to fight through concussions, broken limbs, gunfire, and other violence in pursuit of the truth and love. The emotionally devastating climax will leave fans eager for the next installment.—Nicole Politi, The Ocean County Library, Lavallette, NJ