The Crystal Cube (Children Of Pisces 3) by R.E. Lewin (book review).

During the Covid lockdowns, many people turned to writing or baking as a means of occupying time during isolation. R.E. Lewin already had her books written but had children to entertain. ‘The Children Of Pisces’ sequence has been refurbished from its original form and is expected to be five books of which this, ‘The Crystal Cube’ is the third and middle volume. Since the main characters are mature, early teens, the books are likely to be placed in the teen section of a bookshop.

The setting is a 2050s Earth that has been devastated by the Pisces Virus pandemic, a far more serious disease than covid as only about a tenth of the population has survived and it attacked all mammals, not just humans. It is only later that it becomes known that it was brought by aliens with the intention of total depopulation. Having destroyed their own planet, they now want ours. Fortunately, not all aliens are single-mindedly set on our destruction and one group provided the antidote which prevented total wipe-out. This group also forecast a future showdown and, in preparation, managed to produce human-alien hybrids. Born to a human mother, Sarah, the four babies are separated at birth and brought up in different situations in an attempt to keep them safe. Volume 1, ‘The Two Pendants’, focuses on Tammy and Mikie who, by the end, have made their home on what was the Isle of Wight and is now called Vivacity Island and is a breeding sanctuary helping to replenish the numbers of mammals in the wild.

The second volume, ‘The Crystal Earrings’, brings rebellious Mina into the family. Each of the teenagers has a special power due to their hybrid inheritance. Tammy has an affinity with animals and can understand them; Mikie can read minds and, if necessary, can coerce people to do what he wants; Mina can manipulate inorganic materials and she can use her earrings to become invisible. While their talents can be useful, there is a downside, they can also be used for the wrong reasons.

This, third volume has the youngsters looking for their brother, Diego. They know from previous experience that the ‘bad’ aliens, led by Lieutenant Kodo, will be hunting for him as well. Discovering that he is hiding in Peru, it becomes a race to reach him. Diego was left with Charles, an ex-boyfriend of the siblings and it is he who has taken the boy to Machu Picchu which is now the home of an important Inca tribe. Now that tourism is a thing of the past, the native peoples have reclaimed their ancestral homes and blend the traditional with more modern methods that fit with their chosen lifestyle (the king did go to University in America). Diego’s special power is that he can control lightening with the help of the crystal cube he wears on a wrist band. The problem is that he hasn’t total control and the other boys in the village are wary of him. He feels like an outsider except with Quilla, the king’s daughter.

There are some delightful moments in this book such as when Tammy calls a number of mature anacondas to help defeat Kodo’s team of aliens.

While Tammy and Mikie have been well-adjusted almost from the start, both Mina and Diego have found it much harder being more spontaneous and unintentionally getting into trouble. In this volume, they have the opportunity hone their characters.

If what you want from a book is a good, fast-moving adventure where the youngsters are the problem-solvers and the adults are very much peripheral, only nudging them in the right direction when necessary, this is the place to stop reading this review. If you are a picky reader, carry on.

This is a novel with issues. While the aliens have attempted to rid Earth of all mammals and failed, there is no indication that they have drastically altered the geography of the planet, so we are faced with a serious case of mistaken identity. At one point, the group are travelling down the Amazon towards Cusco from Machu Picchu. There is in this section a delightful encounter with Amazon pink river dolphins. The problem is that the Amazon rises on the Eastern flanks of the Andes. Machu Picchu and Cusco are on the Western flank of the Andes The river running past the Inca settlement is the Urubamba, a river sacred to the Incas and it flows north-east, away from Cusco. There are waterfalls around Mach Picchu but the highest in only around 30 metres, so hopefully the description of the one that plays a significant part in the plot is a misprint when quoted as having a fall of 300 metres.

A good book has the ability to educate the reader, even if they are unaware that it is happening. It is therefore important to stick to known facts. When they travel to Peru, the group take with them a couple of animals, the horse Sirocco and Jet, a black panther. There is a danger here of anthropomorphism. With the exception of lions, most adult big cats are solitary except when seeking mate. While it is understandable that Tammy would be in sync with the animals she has affinity with, it is unlikely to be reciprocated. Jet would be highly likely to pair with a receptive female jaguar, but as she is totally wild, she would see him off after five days. Jet’s nature would not have him stay in Peru except as a solitary male. Also, jaguar litters are usually a maximum of two cubs.

It is very reasonable for Tammy and Jax to choose to be vegetarian. Tammy, due to her affinity with animals, and Jax as he intends to become a vet but, at one point, the reader is given a lecture about not eating meat, perhaps a case of the author’s views creeping into the text. While it is true that the average inhabitant of the western hemisphere should eat less meat and the events leading up to the point in time have reduced the availability, it is also a fact that humans are omnivores and have the dentition and digestive system designed for the purpose.

There are a lot of characters that readers may have already met but, if there is a gap between reading books 2 and 3, it is easy to forget them and their relationships. It would have been nice to have a recap of earlier volumes or a list of characters at the back of the book that could be referred to.

For the critical reader, these points can distract from what is an entertaining teen adventure.

Pauline Morgan

July 2024

(pub: R.E.Lewin Publishing, UK, 2023. 386 page paperback. Price: £10.99 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-7394262-7-9)

check out of website: https://relewin.com/