Title: Forest Fusion
Author: AD Parker
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 979-8-7652-1579-1
Pages: 142
Genre: Sci-Fi / Novel
Reviewer: Arthur Thares

Read Book Review

What sets science fiction so far apart from other works of fiction is how the only limitations you have are your mind. Author AD Parker clearly demonstrates this with a novel about humanoids with different DNA and different habitats working together to save themselves from the dangers of a post-apocalyptic world. Forest Fusion isn’t formatted in the way of a typical novel, which some readers may find intriguing enough by itself to make it worth checking out. For those who aren’t quite sold, the characters will have to speak for themselves.

Facing a growing threat from a group called the Townlanders, the Villagers decide to leave their home in hopes of teaming up with other groups to protect themselves. The first stop is meeting with the Pangolls, a group of giant warlords with a good relationship with the Villagers. After learning of the Townlander’s imminent threat, the Pangolls agree to allow the Villagers to shelter with them, but on the way back to town to share the good news, one of the Villagers goes missing. This sets the scene for the rapid inclusion of characters that would be challenging to keep straight if it weren’t for the descriptions and illustrations of each one. As the threat of the Townspeople looms, this wide cast of characters from all walks of life must work together for the safety and future of all of them.

There are elements of this book which stand out and make it incredibly unique. It is clear that AD Parker has a vivid imagination with truly unique characters. The added elements of illustrations and descriptions of each character also go a long way to help visualize the entire story. One aspect that could use a little work is the pacing of the story. It moves pretty fast, which can make reading comprehension challenging in some portions of the book. On the other hand, that makes Forest Fusion a great quick read. The story is devoid of more mature content like sex, extreme violence, and swearing, which makes it a fantastic choice for the young, burgeoning science fiction reader.

Forest Fusion is a fun fantasy book that may have been better served as a film script at some points. Ultimately, the rough edges don’t affect the book’s message, which is about unity and working together for a better future despite differences. This book feels like it may be the foundation for something much bigger to come. Hopefully, we’ll get to know much more about this cast of intriguing characters that grew out of the mind of a very imaginative writer in possible future episodes.