From their first encounter, keeper of the eternal flame, Rory Larken, becomes all too aware of the undeniable connection to a beautiful stranger seemingly delivered to her by fate and his life rests in her hands. Jacoby Garrick, the most powerful man in the new world, finds himself at the mercy of an unlikely savior. An incredible woman with otherworldly magic. He simply can’t leave Rory behind … behind living her meager life at the Crossroads, but regrets flood in as Jacoby must decide to follow his heart and stake his claim or bow to duty surrendering her to another.
An extraordinary journey lies ahead full of firsts in both experiences and love for Rory as she takes control of her own destiny and builds a marvelous life she never could have imagined.
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3001 was an interesting dystopian novel that presented lots of twists I wasn’t expecting. Rory lives with a community of people in the heart of a mountain. She’s been widowed and is still not over the death of her husband. It’s a primitive setting with herbal remedies, soap made from goat’s milk, and gives the sense this is a time several hundred years ago. One thing I really enjoyed was the way the book turned my expectations on their head with every new section I read. Rory has special abilities—to control fire and heat. Her village knows about her, and she uses her powers to help people. When a stranger named Jacoby is found half-frozen near their mountain, Rory helps to save him, and they form a bond. He takes her away to the colony where he is from, and the story takes some interesting turns!
Spoilers ahead…
I loved the way this started off almost like a fantasy novel, but as you get further in, it becomes more of a dystopian sci-fi. Surprise, there are solar panels! Communicators! Aliens! I was definitely intrigued and enjoyed the interesting world building. Rory is not exactly what she seemed at first and I enjoyed the way this was revealed later in the story. There is a love triangle as Rory is pursued by both Jacoby and Quinn, one of the officers at the colony. Gorgeous prose and lovely descriptions. Enjoyed the way this one kept the surprises coming!
“Solitude is only good for a person in small servings.”
3001 examines this idea and the very human need for true companionship. The book illustrates that one can experience solitude even when surrounded by others. We see this in Rory, a widow of ten years, “the loss left her alone,” even though she was in charge of the village’s fire “the source of light and heat for so many, was perpetuated by Rory’s own hand.” We see it in Jacoby. Although a major general, and soon to be governor of the Briar and surrounded by many, he is truly alone until he meets Rory. Finally we see it with Captain Quinn. A worldly military man who never knew the meaning of true companionship until now.
The world of 3001 created by Lee can be thought of as a metaphor of the world that existed 300 years or so ago. Very different levels of technology and advancement exist in the different areas. We get to experience the marvels of the Briar through Rory’s eyes as she discovers a society that she never knew existed. It is also a world to be envied as the citizens are quite accepting of the half human/half aliens that live among them.
At it’s heart, this is Rory’s story. And it is told well. Would I have liked to learn and experience more of the battles with the dragons or see more of Rory using her powers, yes. Could I personally have done without all the details of Rory’s love life, yes. But this is the story Ginger Lee wanted to tell and she did it well.
Ginger Lee, a new author of sci-fi/fantasy, hits the market running with 3001. Rory’s story will capture readers and not let them go until the last page. Lee’s characters are emotionally realistic, the twists and turns of the plot are engaging, and the fantasy settings’ descriptions are magical.
If you’re looking for a new book and want to start at the beginning of the journey, begin here with 3001.