Title: Delirium
Series: Debt Collector, #1
Author: Susan Kaye Quinn
Published: March 20, 2013
Format: Ebook Novelette
Source: Author
Genre: Futuristic Science Fiction
A debt collector can tell you precisely.
Lirium plays the part of the grim reaper well, with his dark trenchcoat, jackboots, and the black marks on his soul that every debt collector carries. He’s just in it for his cut, the ten percent of the life energy he collects before he transfers it on to the high potentials, the people who will make the world a better place with their brains, their work, and their lives. That hit of life energy, a bottle of vodka, and a visit from one of Madam Anastazja’s sex workers keep him alive, stable, and mostly sane… until he collects again. But when his recovery ritual is disrupted by a sex worker who isn’t what she seems, he has to choose between doing an illegal hit for a girl whose story has more holes than his soul or facing the bottle alone—a dark pit he’s not sure he’ll be able to climb out of again.
Teasers:
Only I’m not healing him, I’m killing him. If only it didn’t feel so damn good. - 14%
I don’t pay attention to the payoffs—they’re
all brilliant or famous or something. Making the world a better place with
their brains and their lives. - 21%
But then the transfer starts, and it
kills any desire in me to smile. Ever again. - 32%
I’m going to regret this. I know I
am. - 56%
She glances at me, then crosses her
arms across her red slicker. The movement reminds me that I still don’t know
what’s underneath. - 58%
Review: Susan Kaye Quinn’s Delirium sets up a great introduction to
her new episodic series, Debt
Collector.
Delirium sweeps the reader into Lirium’s world. As a debt collector, his job is to take the life energy from a dying person and transfer it to the people who will make the world a better place—or so they say. Each transfer creates a blot on his soul. Lirium is dark and tragic, yet I cheered for him and felt connected to his plight. Apple Girl is brave and full of an inner light that makes the reader care about her. She’s a good foil to Lirium. I love how Quinn sets up the minor characters and creates a distrust in the ones with “high potential” as well as the life energy accountants.
This fast-paced episode does its job to set up the main character as well as future problems that could happen in the storyline. The present tense gives an intense edge and sense of immediacy to the story. The amazing futuristic setting is dark, gritty, and has a noir feel—minus the detective. Quinn’s writing rips open the emotions—sadness, horror, smiles, and smirks. I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface, and I can’t wait for future episodes.
The first of nine episodes, Delirium by Susan Kaye Quinn has the reader craving for more, just like a debt collector taking a sweet hit of life energy.
Delirium sweeps the reader into Lirium’s world. As a debt collector, his job is to take the life energy from a dying person and transfer it to the people who will make the world a better place—or so they say. Each transfer creates a blot on his soul. Lirium is dark and tragic, yet I cheered for him and felt connected to his plight. Apple Girl is brave and full of an inner light that makes the reader care about her. She’s a good foil to Lirium. I love how Quinn sets up the minor characters and creates a distrust in the ones with “high potential” as well as the life energy accountants.
This fast-paced episode does its job to set up the main character as well as future problems that could happen in the storyline. The present tense gives an intense edge and sense of immediacy to the story. The amazing futuristic setting is dark, gritty, and has a noir feel—minus the detective. Quinn’s writing rips open the emotions—sadness, horror, smiles, and smirks. I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface, and I can’t wait for future episodes.
The first of nine episodes, Delirium by Susan Kaye Quinn has the reader craving for more, just like a debt collector taking a sweet hit of life energy.
Five Bookworms = I loved it!
