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The Turncoats by G. L. Twynham, Book Review

Turncoat: 1550-60. Originally a person, who tries to hide, or turn round the badge of their party or leader, a traitor.

The blue sparks are back and this time they’re teleporting us straight into the next book in G. L. Twynham’s debut series following The Thirteenth. The life of protagonist Val not only gets more out of this world, but to our delight a whole lot more sci-fi too!

The Thirteenth left Val feeling empty and alone, having the parents she came to hold so dear acting as if she never existed, the love of her life left in 1645 and the whole weight of the world on her half alien and part witch shoulders. You can’t help, but feel the turmoil that she goes through with the fast-paced nature of the book. However in every negative, Val seems to find herself back on her feet and never loses her quirky sense of humour, which she has inherited from the author.

The Turncoats brings a stream of traitors into Val’s life; old and new faces alike, as she embarks on her mission in life, to protect the portal that leads to the prison on Alchany and search out and return all prisoners who have taken form inside living humans and are causing havoc on earth. Officially she’s now a guard and also the proud owner of a bookshop that houses this portal and you’ll be happy to know her friends from the first book are still sticking by her side and will to the very end.

As a guard, Val is partnered with a hunter from the alien planet of Alchany and he has to be our favourite part of this adventure. As soon as he arrives on earth he gives himself the earth name, Zac Efron after Val describes him as almost godlike on earth, which leads to amused expressions to everyone he introduces himself to. Val finds out she’s classed as a reject as she’s not pure alien, but then Zac has a few secrets in his closet which make her feel a little better about being a reject.

Zac is one of the most loveable characters in The Turncoats and his best bits will make you laugh out loud. The first being when Val explains why we take Sunday as a day of rest, with Zac asking people afterwards whether they are resting in the name of their god. The second being the time they all go to the cinema to see Transformers in 3D, where Zac instantly jumps up onto his seat and tries to protect Val from the Transformer coming directly at him from the movie screen. Brilliant!

Excariot, who is still on a mission to rule the world is up to his usual tricks, but a few surprise visitors are interfering with his plans as well as Val’s attempts to save humanity. Flo, an ‘old’ one is a fantastic new character we’d love to see more of in book 3. We won’t say too much, but just imagine a tobacco chewing 12-year-old dead girl with the personality of someone who’s lived hundreds of years.

Wendy, our resident witch and seer comes into her own and there are a few marvels that you would never have guessed in The Thirteenth that will make you grow quite attached to her. After a life dedicated to protecting Val, she even finds herself a potential boyfriend, but that’s all we’re saying on that one. Val’s love interest from her other life in 1645, Sam still makes us weak at the knees and his one line is utterly beautiful... ‘My love for you has no walls.’ Magic.

The Turncoats allows Val to totally embrace her destiny as she begins her journey to control her powers after a few setting herself on fire moments with the guidance of her hunter Zac. Their connection and dedication to each other is similar to what we’ve seen in Syfy’s Quantum Leap with Sam and Al with his inside info and friendship. The sci-fi elements come to a crescendo at the end and we even see a Dr. Who style tear in the universe along with the time travel we’ve got used to from the first.

A few hearts will be crushed, over 400 prisoners will be set lose on planet earth, characters will ascend to other dimensions and Val will forever feel the adrenalin rush that is now her life, but her sense of balance and humour will save her.

If you’re planning on delving into G. L Twynham’s world, you’ll have a hell of a ride that you won’t want to come off, but with The Turncoats following straight on from the first, make sure you’ve read The Thirteenth before you get your teeth into it.

Rating: 5

Read our review of The Thirteenth if you’re a G. L. Twynham newbie here.

Written by Lyndsey Cooper

Previously working at Syfy, but still writing for the pure passion of it all. Beetlejuice and Alice are at the top of her list . Really wants to step through the looking glass, visit the wonderful wizard of Oz, live through the animated world of Lenore and escape to the written realm that Neil Gaiman lives within.