Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Cammie’s Unique Perspective Shines in Storm Warning (gen:LOCK)

Storm Warning is the first novel to come out of the gen world:LOCK. Gen:LOCK is an animated (and hit) series about a world full of advanced technology and a war against the Union. The series became more famous thanks to the voice actors they brought onto the team: Michael B. Jordan, Dakota Fanning, David Tennant, and Maisie Williams.

So far, gen:LOCK has only released one season (though the second is actively being worked on now). That isn’t much for fans to hold onto. Thankfully, there’s a graphic novel series and now a novel! I can’t be the only fan hoping this is just the first of many.

Following the events of season one, the gen:LOCK team has been working hard to resist the Union and to help civilians and the Polity whenever possible. However, a storm grounds the team in the middle of a rescue, giving Cammie a surprising chance to shine, just not in the way she expected.

Writing

Melissa Scott is the one who stepped up to write the first gen:LOCK novel, Storm Warning. While each and every member of the gen:LOCK team is present (and even get a chance to shine), there’s no doubt that Cammie steals the show.

It makes sense; Cammie is the only member of the team without combat experience or training. This is never a world or role she had wished for herself. This entire novel is about her adjusting to that life and making her own path within the life that she has been handed.

It’s wonderfully done when you look at it like that. It portrays many elements that made fans fall in love with the series. As well as plenty of little details for them to pick up and hold onto. Anything to help the wait, you know?

Storm Warning would have held up just fine without a series to lean on. The character dynamics and unique take on combat and action were brilliant. It’s something that fans of the series will be familiar with but with a few Cammie-oriented twists.

Development

Storm Warning is a fast-paced read, with the gen:LOCK team dealing with one event or disaster after another. Picture the animated series and all of the dangers they were facing regularly. Now convert that to a novel format, and you have a solid idea of what is in store here.

Yet, thanks to the fact that it is a novel, there’s much less of a show/tell issue here. That allowed Scott to dive further into the world – the lore, tech, and characters- without feeling like we had information shoved down our throats.

You’d be wrong if you think that would slow the novel down. Each and every revelation seemed to be leading towards something. Giving the gen:LOCK team more reasons to learn and to grow as a team.

The whole story felt comprehensive. As I mentioned above, it predominantly focuses on Cammie, yet the other characters also play a role. It leaves me hopeful that we’ll see stories from their perspectives later. All of which would further flesh out the world.

Conclusion

Storm Warning is the perfect novel for any and all gen:LOCK fans. It’s not the same as watching the show, but it is close. I adored this novel and all the added insight into the world and characters.

On that note, I hope this is the start of something new. An entire novel series with this focus would make for a great read while allowing the wait between seasons to feel more bearable.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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