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Battle in the Avenue By Sean McCutchen
Professor Owen Bradley works at one of the remaining institutions in Chicago. He is an expert in the history of the Fuel Wars and in instructing on SOR, or synthetic oil replacement, whose main component is sugar, whose supply is dwindling. Owen is presented with an enigmatic item at the conclusion of one of his classes.
He decides to store it till he gets home despite his interest, only to find that it is empty other than a piece of paper with a hint scrawled on it. Although it seems like a simple sentence, Owen’s life is turned upside down by it, and he must now look for the truth. The truth about his family and how the Fuel Wars have impacted his life in ways he never knew.
The narrative then shifts to Clare Furmore, a cold, collected, and powerful hired assassin. She is skilled in martial arts and other covert killing techniques. Additionally, she is eager to take on cases that allow her to address social injustices. And Vigo, a cunning multimillionaire who appears to be responsible for the long-lasting effects of the Fuel Wars, is one of those social justice targets. Vigo, meanwhile, is a mystery. Where did he come from? What part did he play in Claire’s orphanage situation?
The story of greed and betrayal in Sean McCutchen’s Battle in the Avenue seems plausible. The various storylines are seamlessly transitioned between, and the universe and characters are developed well. You can’t help but root for Owen and Claire as they compete against corporate bad guys in this fast-paced thriller. I enjoyed the backstories developed for each of the characters as well as the unexpected turns of events along the road.
The fact that the universities were practically underground fascinated me. It’s a departure from today, when most people attend college or a university before beginning their chosen careers. I loved that the novel was dystopian and that the dystopian setting wasn’t as as oppressive as Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (which I did love, though).
Battle in the Avenue is a satisfying alternate reality thriller. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoyed Emily St Mandel’s Station Eleven or want a less complex read than the MadAddam series.
About The Book
Almost two decades after the collapse of fossil fuels, civilization is precariously held together by an alternative energy source rising in cost. In order to avoid another Fuel Wars, three long lost family members must each find their own answers to the betrayal that tore their family apart.
Orphaned for as long as he can remember, Owen Bradley grew up searching for an explanation of his isolation. Now a graduate student studying alternative fuels, Owen receives a mysterious package. The cryptic riddle inside sends him on a harrowing journey across Chicago in search of his family and the lineage he didn’t know existed. He only has to outrun those that would stop at nothing to profit from a lucrative new energy source.
Clare Furmore strives to fill the cracks left in justice from the loosely rebuilt world following the Fuel Wars. Clare’s determination stems from her attempts to escape the painful memory of the car wreck that took her parents when she was young. Now, a job has come along that sets her on a collision course to discover the truth from that day. Clare only has to catch the wolf she has suspected her whole life to be behind it all and put a stop to his tyrannical rule.
Dr. James Stevenson is a brilliant physicist and inventor. Predicting the end of fossil fuels, James is betrayed by his lifelong friend and business partner when the man arranges the murder of his family. James is forced to watch as humanity tears itself apart in the wake of the Fuel Wars until a new fuel is discovered.
James learns the fuel is only temporary but not all is lost, he finds there is still something worth the fight. A journey of retribution is ahead, if only he can solve the world’s energy crisis and come up with a plan to take down one of the most powerful men on the planet who was once, his best friend.
The Review
Battle in the Avenue
9.5 Score
This book is fast paced, will pull you in from page one, and is a beautiful ode to the connections of family. I love the world Sean has built. It is intricate and interesting — I hope sequels follow 🤞🏻The navigation of deciding how each character handles challenging situations is done so well; it feels as if you are in the story itself. If you like quick thrillers, dystopian stories such as Hunger Games or Brave New World, or tales of long lost relationships, this book is for you.
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