Agent Ortez makes his living entering people's dreams, minds, and deepest secrets. Using elixirs and headgear lined with electrodes, he is able to walk beside his clients within their minds and see and hear everything his clients do.

The story starts off with intrigue as Agent Ortez is brought into the courtroom to be tried on suspicion of murder. This is when we learn about him being requested to come to Aurora—a town that is half in the light, and half in the dark because it's nestled inside of a mountain ridge. Aurora is a mining town. Just about everyone living there depends on Everett Day, the man who owns the mining company, and most of the town. He's the one who brought Agent Ortez to town under false and curious circumstances.

The story moves at a fabulous pace. It kept me intrigued with each page. The secret that awaits Ortez and his friends is an adventure none of them will ever forget. It's a trip into another world, without ever leaving Earth. A story of courtroom drama, murder, gaslamp mystery, a bit of sci-fi, and the metaphysical.

The relationship between the main characters, and the unexpected story plot.

I felt like one of the main character's could have been fleshed out a bit more.

Read more from this author.

Trevor Melanson is the author of Trial of the Alchemist and The Terminal City Saga. A former journalist, he currently runs communications at a clean energy think tank. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and two precious cats.

2024 Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year, 3rd Place Award.
Ranked 1 of 20 Best Completed Stories on Royal Road
A SPFBO 9 Semi-Finalist
Jan. 26.2023

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Created Feb 28, 2025 at 9:16am • Submit your own review...