Tuesday 1 November 2016

A Dark Inheritance - Chris d'Lacey - The Unicorne Files

A Dark Inheritance
Unicorne Files Book 1
UFiles #1
Chris d’Lacey
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545608763
ASIN B00G5N4TFI



I just checked and I have read 20 books by Chris d’Lacey in just under a year. 15 of those 20 got a 5/5 stars ratings. And I must admit that this one is another excellent read. I have now read a number of d’Lacey’s standalone books, and now have read at least 1 book from each series. The variety of stories and styles across Chris d’Lacey’s writings is incredible. And the Unicorne Files or UFiles trilogy is at least at this beginning very different from anything else I have read by d’lacey.

This book is more speculative fiction than some of d’Lacey’s other works; with theories of the multiverse, shifting between realities, and also body memory and more. There is a lot packed into this book and all encapsulated in a tightly bound story. For all purposes Michael Malone seems to be a normal school boy. Other than that fact that his father disappeared without a trace. He is pretty normal. He lives with his mother and his sister. They are well off but not rich. And then in a single moment Michael’s life changes, and in more ways than those closest to him might ever know or understand. 

Michael’s life changes when he believes a dog is about to jump off a cliff and he seems to reach the dog instantly. Soon he is a hero in the news, at school. But there are different organizations that he has drawn the attention of. He soon finds out that much about what he believed about his father might not have been true. For Michael Malone discovers he has supernatural abilities and it is likely he got them from his father. He seems to be able to alter reality and soon he is recruited into an organization that claims his father actually worked form them, the Unicorne Corporation. And from there his life just keeps getting more and more complicated.

Michael is now investigating the strange, unusual and possibly paranormal. He is doing so under the impression he will find out more about his father. But the investigation leads his in directions he never expected. The mystery involves the strange Goth girl new at school, the dog he saved from the cliff and a girl who lost her life in a bicycle accident. As Michel is developing his skills new misadventures keep taking him on stranger and stranger tangents. 

This book is a mysterious tale of alternate realities, extraordinary abilities and the beginning of a big adventure. It is in some ways reminiscent of Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein, and a little like the Matrix. For every time Michael uses his powers things shift sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. And using his powers is a bit like Neo altering reality in the Matrix. And even though this book is self-contained it leaves you desperate to read the next volume. 

This is another amazing read by Chris d’Lacey, he is one of my favorite current contemporary authors. I am very thankful I began reading his books last year with my children. And I am greatly anticipating the remaining two books in the series. 

This book is a great beginning and should be an incredible trilogy!
  


Books by Chris d'Lacey:
Dragons of Wayward Crescent
Gruffen (2009)
Gauge (2008)
Glade (2009)
Grabber (2010)

The Erth Dragons
The Wearle (2015)
2. Dark Wyng (2016)
3. The New Age (2018)

The Last Dragon Chronicles with David Rain
The Fire Within (2001)
Icefire (2003)
3 Fire Star (2005)
4 The Fire Eternal (2007)
5 Dark Fire (2009)
6 Fire World (2011)
7 The Fire Ascending (2012)
Rain and Fire: A Guide to the Last Dragon Chronicles (2010)

The Unicorne Files
1 A Dark Inheritance (2014)
2 Alexander's Army (2015)
3 A Crown of Dragons (2016)

Fly, Cherokee Fly Series
Fly, Cherokee Fly
Pawnee Warrior

Other Books
Henry Spaloosh! 
Horace
Shrinking Ralph Perfect
The Snail Patrol
The Table Football League
Riverside United
Lofty
From E to You
Scupper Hargreaves, Football Genie
The Salt Pirates of Skegness
Falling for Mandy
The Prompter

Picture Books:
A Hole at the Pole
Juggling with Jeremy
A Break in the Chain
Read With Bubble and Float
Dexter's Journey
Frankin's Bear

Contributed to:
On Me ‘ead, Santa
Nice One, Santa
The Usborne Book of Christmas Stories
Heroes and Villains
In the Frame
Midnight Feast

Author Profile and Interview with Chris d'Lacey.








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