ROSEWATER The Wormwood Trilogy, Book 1

This first installment of Thompson's science fiction Wormwood Trilogy, set in 2066, follows antihero Kaaro, a Nigerian "Sensitive" who is capable of extracting information from people's minds. Rosewater's mysterious dome draws West African residents who are seeking healing and suspicious officials demanding answers. Narrator Bayo Gbadamosi creates a distinct sense of place as he ably characterizes Nigerians with competing motivations. As the story alternates between past and present, Gbadamosi's tone builds connections between Kaaro's felonious youth and other parts of the story. Despite an interesting premise featuring an enigmatic extraterrestrial lifeform and surrounding government intrigue, this production lacks a compelling sense of urgency with respect to Kaaro's personal life and unfolding events. Disparate narrative threads sometimes get lost in the mix of other story elements. J.R.T. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]