Book Review: Aaru: Halls of Hel by David Meredith

Who’s ready for a sequel? I love a good sequel and getting immersed in a new series is one of the best things about this book blogger life. Today, I’m heading back to Aaru, that wonderful dystopian universe I introduced you to some months ago.

Aaru: Halls of Hel by David Meredith brings us back to the virtual paradise of Aaru where Rose is a Veda – and immortal. With the ability to will anything she wants to life and a cute boyfriend, Franco, Rose should be satisfied but wonders if there is more to life than play. She is also worried about her sister Koren whose life is spiraling out of control despite being idolized by millions of fans. Unbeknown to the sisters is that Magic Man’s obsession with Koren has not lessened and with vital aid from an unexpected source, his nefarious schemes to make Koren his own and to hack the Aaru mainframe are on track and moving forward. Can the sisters save Aaru once again?

I liked this book more than I did the first one. It is probably because I am more familiar with the characters and Aaru. However, I would recommend reading the series in order. While information is provided that will get you somewhat up to speed, it is not enough to get the most out of this book.

The messages that the author sets out to portray are much clearer in Halls of Hel, in my opinion. As Koren struggles more and more, the reader truly realizes the struggles of fame and celebrity. Likewise with technology. Not everybody is happy with the everlasting life that Elysian Industries offers and with the return of Magic Man, it is obvious that modern technology is not as safe or secure as we think/hope it to be. When will enough be enough in terms of development? Will we really reach a stage when eternal “life” can be offered? And will it be all it’s cracked up to be?

The level of imagination demonstrated in Halls of Hel is amazing. I truly admire someone who can build a new and exciting world. What I appreciated most in this book though was how the characters have developed and grown. The characters have really come into their own and have distinct roles and personalities this time around. However, Halls of Hel is a lot darker than the first book and sometimes I felt the characters didn’t match this. The younger characters like Koren, Rose and their friends intrigued me but sometimes I found their actions too young for my liking.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I was sucked in more than I thought I would be. I’m invested in the world of Aaru now and am looking forward to the next adventure.

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.