Book Review
Title: New York: The Queen Of Coney Island (The Change #2)
Author: Guy Adams
Genre: YA/Action/Survival
Rating: ***
Review: After the dramatic and slightly gory events in London: Orbital I was keen to see where Adams would take the story in New York: The Queen of Coney Island as there are plenty of options. Unlike London: Orbital this story follows Grace and the search for her brother, but I have a feeling that our characters might cross paths at some point in the series.
From the offset, we see things are no better in America than they were in London. Grace as a 15-year-old African American girl is often hit on by men that no longer see the need for laws now the world has changed and there is also the threat of cannibals patrolling the river. We learn that Grace’s brother is on Ricker’s Island and the only way to get there is across the river, but you can’t cross without the Queen’s permission. Along the way, Grace meets a man claiming to be God and he gives her some advice.
Grace and God managed to make it to the Queen’s hideout but not without some trouble along the way. While they are waiting to see the Queen, they decide to take in some of the entertainment on offer including a meal on a roller coaster. While this book seems to be lacking the gore of the first novel it has a dark humour that is just as entertaining. By the time Grace gets to see the Queen she doesn’t think that the Queen will grant her request, however, the Queen agrees on the condition that Grace feeds the babies in Dreamland. Given the number of humanoid creatures, we have seen this isn’t going to be a nice experience for Grace.
Entering Dreamland Grace and God find some of the most wondrous things in the changed world. However, when they find the babies, they make a bid for freedom which isn’t good. In order to fulfil their agreement Grace and God have to round up the babies but the park itself seems to be coming to life and it drives the different factions of the park to war. While being hunted by various factions Grace and God manage to find some allies. It also seems that a few of the park residents are actually dead, kept there by the park itself.
The Queen of Coney Island wasn’t in my opinion as good as London: Orbital because it lacked the true sense of danger and gory atmosphere, but it was still equally creepy in its own right. I really enjoyed the characters and their journey, but I was a bit disappointed that Grace’s story didn’t get much resolution as she was searching for her brother and the novel ends with the gang beginning their journey to Ricker’s.
Buy it here:
Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com
I received this review copy from NetGalley
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