LIFEL1K3

Post-apocalyptic sagas come in all shapes and sizes, but rarely with as much lurid attitude as Lifel1k3, the latest book from author Jay Kristoff. Pivoting from the dark fantasy of his recent novels, Kristoff has delivered an action-packed dose of comic-strip sci-fi that’s almost colourful and over-thetop enough to counteract its many flaws.

Set in a robot-infested future USA (now known as Yousay), the story follows Eve, a young scavenger whose fortunes change for the worse when she finds a handsome and damaged android – one of the legendary Lifelikes. This discovery forces her into a dangerous quest across the Yousay to uncover her own past, with the book stirring together influences like Mad Max, Tank Girl and Blade Runner to give the classic “Lost Princess” story a remixed twist.

Kristoff pulls off an energetic pace and plenty of stylised action sequences, but is less effective when it comes to characters and tone. The melodrama and the punky attitude are cranked up to suffocating levels, while the book fails to bring much new to the over-familiar “androids turning on their creator” plotline. There are definitely some inventive moments and thrilling sequences to be found here, but ultimately it would have been nice if Likel1k3 didn’t feel quite so much like a self-conscious teenager trying too hard to impress. Saxon Bullock