STARRED Book Review: The Price of Freedom

Reviewed by Melissa Suggitt

Imagine a world where your own thoughts can betray you and the enemy within is far more terrifying than the enemy outside.

“My name is Dray Quintero. I’m not the monster they claim.”

With this bold declaration, Michael C. Bland pulls us back into the heart-stopping dystopian world of this explosive trilogy. If you thought things were intense before, buckle up, because the author might have saved his best for last.

After a brutal, failed uprising against a tyrannical government, our hero Dray Quintero isn’t just imprisoned, he’s trapped within his own mind. Thanks to invasive neural technology disturbingly similar to the real-life Neuralink, Dray is tormented by relentless mental manipulations by the ruthless Agency. He chillingly remarks “The Agency had not only imprisoned my body, they’d hijacked my brain, repeatedly warping it.”

Set against the grim aftermath of the catastrophic OCB1 virus, America is now a shadow of its former self under Authoritarian rule, dominated by mandatory implants originally intended as salvation, now twisted into tools of absolute control. Dray, once a celebrated engineer whose innovations inadvertently fueled this dystopian nightmare, is now branded a traitor and enemy of the state. Throughout the story, his desperate quest to escape captivity, rescue his daughters Raven and Talia, and dismantle the surveillance monstrosity he originally built, fuels every adrenaline-packed page.

His daughters are pivotal to the emotional heartbeat of this novel. Raven is dynamic— scarred yet fierce and unyielding, driven by the unrelenting need for freedom—but Talia’s story captivates the most. Despite devastating injuries and forced participation in cruel experiments, she undergoes a compelling transformation. Initially a victim, she gradually learns to navigate and undermine The Agency’s network from within, declaring defiantly, “They totally whiffed things. They plugged me into their system…I’ve got fingers in the whole soup.” Talia’s arc evolves from passive victim to cunning adversary, reflecting the powerful resilience and adaptability of the human spirit in the face of tyranny.

Author Michael C. Bland’s characters are multi-dimensional, with unique quirks, personalities, and complexities that keep readers questioning their allegiances. Zion Calloway, Dray’s former friend and now merciless Agency leader, perfectly captures how easily power corrupts, coldly justifying his actions: “If you saw, you’d agree, though I’m not sure you’d have the stomach.” Kieran, an enhanced Agent struggling between calculated brutality and uncomfortable moments of humanity, along with Mina, Dray’s complicated and guilt-ridden wife, enrich the narrative’s moral landscape, reminding us how easily good intentions can be corrupted.

Perhaps most unsettling about the narrative is its uncanny resonance with today’s geopolitical tensions. Issues of invasive governmental surveillance, widespread misinformation, and civil unrest aren’t just fiction—they mirror the headlines we see daily. It feels eerily prophetic, turning speculative fiction into something unsettlingly close to reality.

The pacing is flawless too. Exhilarating action coupled with moments of profound reflection keep readers locked in. Bland’s portrayal of family dynamics under intense pressure is genuine and impactful, perfectly balancing edge-of-your-seat thrills with emotional authenticity.

The Price of Freedom isn’t just a fitting end to a gripping trilogy; it’s a provocative exploration of our present-day fears about freedom, power, privacy, and the ethical dilemmas posed by technology’s relentless advance with limited checks and balances. As you race toward the finale, ask yourself this: How far would you go to protect democracy and bodily freedom when both are threatened? And where would you draw the line between safeguarding liberty and becoming the very thing you fear?

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