Book Review: Graphite and Turbulence by Jami Fairleigh
Genre(s): Fantasy / Post-apocalyptic
Content warning: There are some scenes depicting wounds/injuries that some readers may find unpleasant, a theme of kidnapping, and some scenes of mild violence as well.
Matthew Sugiyama is an Artist; he has been trained to repair and reconstruct physical objects (buildings, walls, etc.) using sketches and paintings. Artists are in high demand as the world has crumbled and decayed from the time of Before. He’s on a journey to reach Toronto Depot in the hope of discovering the family he’s never known, along with his young ward, Akiko, who harbors a unique—and potentially dangerous—ability of her own.
Many of the characters from Oil and Dust made a return in the second book, but there were a number of new ones that appeared as well. I love the found family theme that became most prominent at the end, and the idea the author has that family doesn’t have to be those you’re born with, but it’s those you choose to be with. Family is what you make it, and that sentiment makes me a happy reader.
Some of my favorite parts were the interactions between Matthew and Akiko. She is one funny kid, and their scenes helped lighten the tone of the story after some of the darker passages.
While the storyline seemed at first straightforward, it didn’t stay that way. There were a number of unexpected twists and turns in the plot which kept things interesting—and paved the way for book three, which according to the author’s note will release in 2023. Even so, it ended in a cohesive manner and didn’t stop on a cliffhanger.
There was a fair bit of action toward the end of the book, but less than the first in the series. It was engaging and kept my attention throughout. I think the fencing scene was particularly well done in terms of action/combat.
When compared to Oil and Dust, Graphite and Turbulence was just as well-written, but there were a few transitions between chapters or scenes that felt a little abrupt. I would have liked a little more explanation as to why certain things occurred or how they happened, but maybe some of what I sensed as “missing” will be revealed in the next book. It’s hard to say on that part.
Overall, it was an interesting continuation of the series and a good read.
Graphite and Turbulence is the sequel to Oil and Dust. I reviewed the first book in 2021. You can read my thoughts on it here, as part of my November book review blog post.
Author website: jamifairleigh.com
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