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After years of working in the streets as a patrol officer, Vayla sees her chance to become a detective. Rumors have it Hakim’s last partner became a drainer due to the long hours and lack of downtime. But Vayla’s dream is to become a detective and help bring criminals to justice. Yet even though Vayla knew the hours would be long and the crime scenes brutal, she never could have expected the darker underbelly of her society. One that she has unwittingly been a part of for years.
Synth takes the concept of vampires and flips some of the long standing perceptions. Reborn are the dominant species instead of humans. And to become a drainer, means they devolve into the familiar vampiric state readers know. High off the feel of draining, they become deadly hunters with elongated fangs and claws. But here’s the other twist. Reborn hunt for pleasure versus need. They can access food with blood or synthetic blood just like humans in our world can go to the grocery store and buy meat or meat substitutes.
Which leads to the dark and highly disturbing part of Synth. This piece of the reborn culture was so well integrated into the storyline and plays so close to how meat is farmed in real life. It will send chills through the reader as the reality of what is happening hits. There are farms in this world, human farms. Humans are taken in as babies, and raised in horrid conditions to have their blood harvested to feed the reborn population.
As a detective Vayla’s first big case is on a farm and she sees firsthand where her food comes from. When she meets her first human born outside a farm, it is an entire culture shock. She and all other reborn are raised to believe humans are nothing more than animals. Yet the human she encounters outside the farm holds an intelligence well above the animal level and can actively hold a conversation. Everything Vayla has been led to believe is put in question. And with her discovery, there comes a choice. Continue to consume blood and remain ignorant, or open her eyes fully to the problem.
Synth does such a phenomenal job showing how ethical implications affect the characters. The writing creates a creepy, dark and intense atmosphere that drives the reader to know more. Not to mention the fully realized characters and conflicts that arise both personal and professional. The plot is a tightly woven combination of tension and action. Readers who enjoy crime thrillers and dark fantasy have to give this a try.
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