The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman April Spisak Bowman, Akemi Dawn The Infinity Courts. Simon, 2021 [480p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781534456495 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781534456518 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9–12 Eighteen-year-old Nami Miyamoto was murdered because she reacted protectively [End Page 290] during a robbery, and now she’s in Infinity. It takes a bit for her to sort out exactly where she ended up, but once she understands that she is now part of a very small population of conscious humans who are being hunted by artificial intelligence that wants them squashed, she becomes even more heroic. Unfortunately, Nami’s good intentions are not paired with wise judgment, and she stumbles into several choices that expose her comrades to even greater risk. This tendency can make her an exasperating protagonist but also a believably disoriented and flawed one. The world building is even better: the best and most memorable moments are brilliant descriptions of four creepy and distinct kingdoms in this afterlife and what they each represent. There’s not really a happy ending, given that this all takes place post-death, but there are certainly far worse ways to spend eternity than Nami’s battle, and readers will likely be fully invested in her winning. Copyright © 2021 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois