REVIEW: Infinity Son by Adam Silvera

High fantasy, urban fantasy and superhero fiction combine, with an added dash of LGBTQ+

Infinity Son by Adam Silvera Published on 14th January 2020 by Simon & Schuster

I first discovered Adam Silvera when I came across the genius concept behind They Both Die at the End, and, despite being completely emotionally destroyed by that book, I decided I needed to dive into more of his writing. Fast forward a few years, and I’ve read everything that Adam’s ever had published, so when I heard the next book would be the start of a fantasy series with LGBTQ+ characters, my eyes damn-near popped out of my head in excitement, and the countdown waiting for proofs has been torturous.

In short, I had some pretty darn high expectations for Infinity Son. Thankfully, the book is everything I could’ve asked for, combining a fantastically built urban fantasy world with a colourful and largely-brilliantly developed cast, including a cracking pair of protagonists.

For me, the world-building is always the most important part of any fantasy or speculative novel. No matter how great the characters or plot, if the setting doesn’t feel exciting and fully-crafted, you’re fighting a losing battle. Luckily, Infinity Son borrows some of the best elements of urban fantasy, traditional fantasy and superhero mythology, with a glimpse at social media and influencer culture thrown in for good measure.

Set in an alternate version of New York, the book throws a pair of twins, Emil and Brighton, into the middle of a war generations in the making. Emil and Brighton both dream of being celestials – humans who develop superhero-style powers like flight and control over the wind – and, despite having no powers, they are drawn into the war between celestials and specters, humans who artificially give themselves powers by transfusing the blood of mythical creatures.

This is where some of the traditional high fantasy elements come in, with much of the world built around various types of phoenix, though basilisks, hydras and more are also deeply embroiled in the mythology. It makes for a fascinating cocktail of the best of fantasy fiction, even before you add in deliciously nerdy references to memorabilia and Funko pops.

The plot itself is strong, with a logical structure, good twists and turns and a brilliant cliffhanger that’s left me desperate for the second book already. But, as ever with Adam’s books, it’s the characters that really shine. Emil and Brighton have a fantastic relationship that never feels forced and develops in an incredibly realistic way throughout the book, and both twins’ relationship with their friend Prudencia is also cleverly nuanced.

As ever, I’m a sucker for a gay storyline, and there’s several to sink your teeth into here, as you’d expect from one of Adam’s books. I won’t say too much more for spoilers-sake, though I suspect anyone will quickly spot who the main two love interests are in the book, and their relationship is a highly satisfying combination of first love, teen angst and conflict, which had me desperately rooting for the couple.

As you can tell, I’m a real fan of this one. There’s always a fear when an author switches genres that it’ll be a stretch too far, but Adam Silvera casts all those fears from mind in just a few short pages, and the end result is a brilliant first entry in a highly promising new series that gives some much-needed LGBT representation to a genre desperately starved of such characters. I’m already eagerly awaiting the next book (and the one after), and can’t wait for everyone else to read this too!

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I received a proof copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy.