Author: Steven Kotler
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Released: April 19, 2022
Received: NetGalley

I’ve been picking up a lot of authors that I’ve never read before, so why not keep the trend going? The Devil’s Dictionary, written by Steven Kotler, is the first I’ve read by this author – though I can already tell that I enjoy his style.

Many experts have theorized that humanity will fracture sometime in the future. That is exactly what is happening here, as the world struggles to adjust to new abilities and talents. Lion Zorn is what some would call an emotional soothsayer. He can detect things that no other being can.

His gifts, and the need to understand, pulls Lion Zorn into a culture like no other. Trapped in this battle, he will travel to America, hoping to find a way to save the rest of his species before it is too late.

I’ll admit it: I have a weak spot for science fiction/dystopia that leaves room for empaths and the like. It adds a human element that many stories can overlook (not always, mind you). So I was excited to pick up The Devil’s Dictionary.

In this instance, empathy is the story’s focal point, the world. All of it. Or maybe I should be saying it’s the lack of empathy that’s a focal point? What I’m trying to say is that people have turned pretty rotten, forcing one empath to step up and try and do something about it. Like I said, interesting premise.

There’s a lot that happens in this book, throwing the main character from one place to the next. Honestly, there were times when it got a bit busy (there were lots of adventures, including robots and wild creatures).

Part of the problem here is that I made a huge mistake: I didn’t realize this was a sequel until it was too late. By then, I was invested, and my stubborn butt wasn’t turning around. I’m sure I missed some critical worldbuilding details there. So, don’t be like me – read Last Tango first. I think you’ll appreciate Lion Zorn’s character more that way.

Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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