Proceed With Caution
This book contains violence, attempted murder, and mentions of rape.
The Basics
Just like the first book, Saints Astray is narrated in third person by Loup Garron, a teenage girl who inherited her genetically-modified father’s superhuman abilities.
It takes place from Mexico to Scotland to London to Sicily to Vegas, basically all over the world as Loup and her girlfriend Pilar depart on the next adventure of their young lives. You will need to have read Santa Olivia before picking up this one.
My Thoughts
Saints Astray picks up exactly where Santa Olivia ended. Loup and Pilar are being smuggled into Mexico by one of Loup’s cousins. At this point, they’re relatively safe from anyone who is looking for Loup, but their peaceful life is soon interrupted when Loup is recruited as the first GMO bodyguard. Of course, she refuses to leave Pilar behind, and thus the two being their globetrotting adventure.
I was quite disappointed with Saints Astray in the beginning. It’s not bad at all, but the tone is the complete opposite of the previous book. It felt like a completely different series! When Loup and Pilar are going through training, I was getting some major Cadet Kelly vibes. It was the cliche montage of someone who is not at all physical going through military-grade training, failing spectacularly, but then putting their own unique spin on it and coming out on top. Except it wasn’t a montage. It was more like half the book. It was cheesy to say the least.
After that, Saints Astray read more like a holiday special complete with British boyband hijinks. I wish I was kidding, but that’s what happened. I thought these books were suppose to be about revolution and social justice! Overcoming odds! Championing for the little guy! Instead I got nearly 300 pages of Loup and Pilar making googly eyes at each other and touring with popstars.
However, once it got on track, it was really good. I actually came to appreciate how the author showed that you don’t need to be directly in the action or starting war to make change. Loup got her face and her message out into the world through marketing ploys. It was actually quite genius. And I do love a happy ending.