Irene Helenowski's "Final Orders"

Title: Let’s Explore Different Dimensions

Final Orders by Irene Helenowski

Reviewed by R.E.Views

05/29/15

4:00 p.m.

Dimension hopping, an evil mastermind, and the fate of hundreds of different worlds; all of these are found within Irene Helenowski’s Final Orders. In Helenowski’s previous books, the character Jane Kremowski has created the Multiverse, which allows people to travel to different dimensions. Within those realities, a person may not remember their other selves and may have completely different lives. Jane marries the love of her life, Randy, and has children but everything goes terribly wrong when Anton Zelov becomes obsessed with her and the Multiverse. He ends up becoming the supreme ruler in most of the dimensions, forcing Jane to marry him, and generally terrorizing everyone with whom he comes in contact.

Final Orders is compelling and fast paced. Within two pages, a character could be introduced, given a motivation, and then killed. It reads like a TV show; everything is fast, vague, and mysterious. It is also confusing. There is little to no description of characters or place, no explanation of what dimension they are in, and the point of view changes without warning. The novel is character based rather than plot based. Many things happen to the characters but it is used more to reveal who those characters are than to move the story along. You will find yourself simultaneously understanding and hating a character.

Dimension hopping, multiple selves, and character motivation all weave together to form a complex story line. No one is completely evil or completely good; it is the everyday decisions that make a person good or bad. Helenowski explores this idea, complexly working through what creates a person and what they are willing to sacrifice. The only thing missing is engrossing description. If you like building a world the way you want it to be—a free-for-all imagination— and enjoy science fiction then this novel is perfect for you.

I give Final Orders a 3 out of 5 stars.

Best Wishes,

R.E.Views