Book Review: Piker’s Retribution

*Spoiler Alert: Please be aware that this is the second book in this series. If you haven’t read the previous novel, this review might spoil events in that book. If you want to see my review of the first novel, click here.

Tyra is a Piker. That makes her a supporter of the Dingoes. Her adoptive father was also a Piker before he was killed by a Republic Solider. Even eight years later, she can’t get over the pain of his loss. She refuses to accept anything related to the Republic no matter what. But, one day her leader decides to buy some slaves, and slaves are captured from the Republic…

Piker’s Retribution is an interesting sequel for Amanda Newman’s first novel Children of the Outback. Instead of continuing forward with the characters that we came to know in the first book, she has taken us to another group. We get to see more about the Piker group who helped the Dingos during the conflict with the Republic at the end of the first book. In fact, other than the details concerning the setting and magic system, any reader who picked up this book would be able to follow the plot line with only minimal difficulties. I actually really like that about this book. It is a refreshing change to have a series that expands outwards instead of moving forward down a liner path. Newman did a good job eventually connecting it back to the events of the first novel in an unexpected way. 

I also really like how she continues to expand the world building from what we experienced before. Our understanding of the types of people, creatures, and magic that exist in this version of Australia, grows and develops as she adds new elements and characters. While reading the previous novel, I liked the unique world Newman created, and now, I think it is her strongest draw for this series. It could easily incise a reader to want to read more with a third novel.

Unfortunately, there were several aspects of the novel that didn’t work so well for me. The most prevalent aspect was how unrealistic the slave characters were. I understand the personalities that Newman was trying to give both them (Tejal and Holly); however, ninety percent of their actions didn’t make any sense to me. There are countless times that one or both of them say something to their owners, or in front of their owners, that wouldn’t really happen. Both of them ask very forward questions of their owners after thinking about how they are too scared to ask questions. Or, they discuss how terrible their owners have to be right in front of said owner. I find that to be completely unrealistic even though their Piker masters are nice guys. There is just no way that scared slave girls would do that. It became very frustrating for me to continue to read these interactions.