By: Lori Devoti
Self-exiled Amazon mother seeks to discover murderer of two Amazon girls left on her doorstep while attempting to conceal truth of lineage from daughter, facing suspicion from her old tribe, and dealing with rivaling romantic attentions. Mel completely lacks even the merest modicum of wisdom one would suppose a ninety or so old woman could not avoid accumulating (for example, how could she ever hope to conceal the truth of her ancestry from her daughter when the teenager will soon stop aging?). The superficial romances are gag-inducing. Mel's rebellion against her tribe’s philosophies seems more a personal stand based on a single individual than an actual ideological disagreement. Some interesting concepts here, but not well executed in several cases. Villain is fairly predictable, language somewhat banal, several interactions unconvincing. Decent, but by no means extraordinary, read. (Fiction) 07/27/09
