Ghosts

Down in the depths of London, where even the police won't go, are the ganglands, a place where the group with the most gun power rules. It is here that one will find the Ghosts, a gang so silent that nobody ever has seen one of its members yet so powerful that when another gang starts invading Ghost Territory, they will always lose, and always have a run of bad luck with the police (also known as the Seccies). It should come as no surprise to anybody who has read the prequels to HEX: Ghosts that Raven and the other Hexes along with the terrorist group Anglecynn are at the head of this gang. Now if you are new to this series, a Hex is a person who has been genetically enhanced to be able to enter his or her mind into the Internet and roam around like a fish in water. They can bypass security and make changes to any computer without its user knowing. This makes them the ultimate hacker. Their very existence is illegal and being a Hex is punishable by death. Most Hexes don't make it out of childhood. Two years have passed since Raven escaped the Federation and killed Dr. Kalden, a scientist who performed horrific experiments on Hexes, and much has happened. Raven is striving to find and train another Hex who is as powerful as she. Luciel, who was one of the first Hexes that Raven ever rescued, works to save other Hex children from the CPS. It is these children that make up the bulk of the Ghosts. However, the Hexes cannot stay in hiding forever, so Alaric, former leader of Anglecynn, is now planning an attack on the Federation that, if successful, will bring down the government for good and allow Hexes their freedom. Overall this is a strong finish to what has been an excellent sci-fi/fantasy trilogy. There are a few weak points --- two new characters named Gift and Talent are the children of a woman named Harmony Freedom, which is just incredibly cheesy. There is also one part of the ending that is so unrealistic (even considering that the book is a fantasy set in a futuristic world) it almost killed the entire book. However, many of the strong points that make the first two books of this trilogy great are present in HEX: Ghosts. For one thing, Rhiannon Lassiter has a real flair for atmosphere. She manages to convey how tense things are without constantly saying how tense things are. Plus the characters are just great. Raven and her brother, Wraith, are two of the most interesting characters that I have seen in a sci-fi/fantasy story in quite a while. These two characters help make HEX: Ghosts the coolest bit of sci-fi/fantasy that I have ever read. --- Reviewed by Kathy Hale

Smart, thrilling, and glam, this is a young adults trilogy that has been sadly overlooked. Set in a futuristic world where some humans have adapted to interact with machines naturally, and are persecuted for their gift, a young spoiled rich girl, a rock star, and a revolutionary all join forces to fight an oppressive government. It has the sizzle of a good page-turner, but isn't as hollow as so many YA books. If you liked Nix's "Shade's Children" or Haddix's "Among the Hidden" series, or TV shows like Alias, X-Files, or even Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you'll enjoy this series.

By looking at the awesome cover, I never would have guessed that this final book in a series of three was so well written. Rhiannon has an amazing talent for creating her characters and giving them depth. In this book we are introduced to Drow, who has become my favorite character. I love how Rhiannon described the technology in his hair, and the purpose of the Chromes in the society. I also enjoyed reading that the Hexes grew as a gang against so many others. I think this book also reflects on our own history about how the Jews were treated, because the Hex people were treated in much the same way. This book will cause you to think, but mostly you'll enjoy the emotion and adventure that is created.