Hearts of Aphra

From Left Behind to The Leftovers and beyond, stories that feature a slate of mysterious disappearances and/or deaths have always fascinated me. The promise of the blurb that it isn't the two main culprits, a religious rapture or mass alien abduction, dragged me in. And for the most part, Hearts of Aphra did deliver on that promise pretty well.

Largely set in a small town in Arizona, a mayor trying to oust her to pave the way for nefarious schemes seems the least of the sheriff's worries. Then, a blinding light and blaring siren in the early hours of the morning land her in one of the worst situations imaginable. Almost 20% of the population dies in an instant, both the bodies themselves and the survivors separate and escalating problems. The who, the why, and the how this happens drives both characters and story.

An ensemble cast with multiple points of view that rotate with each chapter, a few of the supporting POV characters were a bit weaker than others. Many of the more main characters do make up for this in the long run, driving the narrative and making us care as the stakes ratchet higher. My favorites from the story are some of the best I've read in recent history, but I did find one character (and not the grifter mayor) hard to sympathize with. It sat strangely with me that he seems to get rewarded for some truly awful behavior and is the vehicle for readers finally learning many of the answers surrounding the central questions driving the plot.

There were a few continuity errors, as well as some slower pacing in the middle, that stemmed from juggling so many POV characters. A few explanations happen in full detail for the reader multiple times as they are relayed around town. Issues with scope and dangling threads also pulled me out of the story at points.

Readers intrigued by stories of mass disappearances or deaths will enjoy Hearts of Aphra. The answers, once reached, are rather unique to anything else I've read in the genre. A strong beginning and strong ending make the middle journey worth it.