Out of the dawn A novel

This rocky sequel to bestseller Cast's gender apocalypse Into the Mist loses a bit of its predecessor's gonzo charm while picking up an Anne Bishop vibe of nature taking violent revenge. The central question of why an earth goddess bombed humanity remains unresolved, but any reader geared up for book two isn't going to be put off by holes in the story's logic. Mercury Rhodes and her superpowered teacher crew have found a cliff to homestead on, if they can scavenge enough building materials and library books to figure out construction. Unfortunately, they're unaware of arcane loopholes in their hypothesis that the bombs' green-mist payload gives women powers and kills men. (In Cast's hands, gender is treated as a biological binary.) These quirks allow baddies from book one to reprise roles--with mutations--enabling what conflict the plot has. Largely, however, the page count is eaten up by repetitive scenes of the women sourcing and making adobe bricks, with asides on finding stashes of gasoline, coffee, and wine, all with a Thelma and Louise sheen. Is it fun? Sometimes. Still, fans of book one eager for another girl power--infused fantasy will find plenty to enjoy just in checking in with the cast. (Aug.)

In this sequel, Mercury is despondent over Ford's death and the traumatic events of Into the Mist, which ended known civilization. As Mercury recovers, she is eager to build a new life for herself and her friends in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. The group has become skilled at avoiding marauders and foraging for supplies from abandoned stores. They have ambitious plans for creating a safe and lasting home. However, old enemies aren't entirely gone from the picture, and the small community is vulnerable. Plus, the magical green mist that killed so many men remains a danger to all, even though it did give some women superhuman abilities. Unfortunately, the villains in the novel are irredeemable, making the chapters written from their POV seem rather tiresome, and the overall story is predictable. VERDICT For fans of the previous book in this duology or those interested in postapocalyptic stories of women regaining their power. This could work as a stand-alone, as Cast effectively recaps key events from the previous novel.--Laurel Bliss