Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac

358 p. Tu Books/ Lee & Low Books, October 1, 2013.  9781620141434. (Review from arc provided by publisher at 
ALA Annual)

Sometime in the future, the world is ruled by the "haves" known as the Ones, people that could afford to genetically enhance themselves to the point where they are nearly immortal and not very human. Of course, they surrounded themselves with small armies of bodyguards to ensure their safety and they were served by the "have-nots," everyone else.

That was BC, before the Cloud that descended on Earth and destroyed all technology. The top tier of Ones were instantaneously fried, but the lower tiers, the Ones who weren't quite as genetically modified, managed to survive, form uneasily alliances with other Ones and set up compounds in which they are served by surviving have-nots behind prison walls in which the guards are on the look-out for monsters known as gemods (think eagle as big as an airbus) instead of preventing any escape by the have-nots.

Seventeen-year-old Lozen is a have-not, but thanks to her father and uncle's combat training, as well as familial and cultural traditions and a blood line that could be traced back to the original Lozen, who fought with Geronimo, Lozen is prized for her hunting skills and kept in line by the constant threat to her mother, sister and brother's lives by the four Ones who run their prison/ compound.

Killer of Enemies hits the ground running and allows the reader neither rest nor breath. I wanted to read it in one sitting. Indeed, it was difficult to put down but I had to for fear of having a heart attack.

Lozen is a truly kick-ass heroine, loyal and powerful, someone I wouldn't want to cross and one I'd definitely want watching my back. The desert setting is vivid - unforgiving and beautiful. The genetically modified monsters (gemods) were terrifying and wonderous; but perhaps not as terrifying as the four duplicitous Ones and their bodyguards.

This genre-blender is a true original. I have purposely left the synopsis vague and sketchy. Discover it for yourself. I can't wait to get back to school and get it in the hands of my dystopian fans, of which there are many at my school, as well as fans of the author. This book appears to be a stand alone, but I really wouldn't mind reading about Lozen again.

Author web page.
Publisher/ book web page.