For centuries, the Legion of Pneumos has lurked behind the seat of power in Loren. To preserve order across worlds, they are charged with battling chaos in all its forms, no matter the cost. Keira Altman, the newest Legionnaire, has spent years perfecting the art of wielding pneuma and channeling order out of chaos. Ripped from her own world and into one she barely understands, the only thing Keira knows for certain is that she has a purpose. Now, if only she knew what it was.
Plot
This book absolutely nails the passing and tension you’d expect in a YA Fantasy novel. The plot hooks you in early on and slowly lays on the mystery in the opening chapters until things finally come to a head, at exactly the right time. I found myself easily turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next, and often surprised by how much time had passed when I set the book down.
Characters
While Chaos Looming has a number of interesting and endearing supporting characters, I struggled to connect with the main character, Keira, especially early on. Part of this is just due to Keira’s personality. She’s guarded and on edge, so that isn’t an easy way for readers to feel attached to her. However, I did warm up to her eventually and until that point the other characters pulled keep me engaged.
Setting
My favorite thing about this novel is the unique magic system in this world. The author’s creation of Pneuma is essential to the story, isn’t too complicated to explain, and was exciting to explore as a reader. Moreover, the existence of multiple worlds, including our own, was a fun twist on the non-portal based YA novels.
My Recommendation
Chaos Looming is an excellent YA Fantasy read to start off 2021! The plot is gripping and perfectly passed. The magic system and setting were unique, fun, and memorable. While Keira as a main character was difficult, the supporting characters and other excellent elements of the novel easily make up for it. I’m looking forward to what H.B. Reneau writes next.
