Release by Patrick Ness

Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022--San Antonio

Release by Patrick Ness is a novel with two stories going along simultaneously--a science fiction story about a water queen (who is a spirit responsible for all life on earth and whose spirit can sometimes join temporarily, but only until sunset without all creation ending, with those of humans who have died plus her companion who accompanies her when she leaves the water world) and a story of a group of high school students living in a small Seattle suburb.  The Queen and the spirit of one of the high school girls whose meth-head boyfriend a week earlier strangled her then threw her body into the lake where the Queen lives have become conjoined inside the physical body of the girl and have left the lake for the day because of unfinished business the girl's spirit wants to handle.  The main story among the students revolves around a boy whose father is an evangelical minister and his friends and others who are a part of his life.  In effect, both stories deal with muddling through life that is difficult and confusing, yet hoping that life will still be good in the long run.  I read the book quickly and enjoyed both stories.  The author did a good job of tying them together at the end.  I gave the book 4 stars out of 5.