Book Review: Mirror's Brink by E. S. Fein

Book Blurb

Toil. Transform. Triumph. In the wake of destiny, fate begins to shatter. Aliana, Aurelia, and the Lord of Limbs must contend with the god-like powers lurking in Downver. With her newfound abilities, Aliana wants to protect her sister, who appears to have totally changed after the events of the third book. However, the Lord of Limbs seems to have their own agenda, which may or may not include the safety of the girls.

Samuel races against time alongside Leif Mainstone, tunneling through the very bowels of the Earth to reach Downver. As Samuel grapples with the potential power of his mirror-body and the weight of Fana Tsehay's prophecies, he must decide whether to use the twins for his own ends or to genuinely aid them in their monumental task.

Thompson, haunted by visions of Andre Madeira's life and torn between his love for Anna and the looming shadow of Mendel's plan, faces a heart-wrenching decision. With MaxxEl by his side, he approaches Downver and wrestles with his own purpose in to either aid the twins in their quest or to end their lives and thwart Mendel's grand design.

Lain, driven by vengeance, continues her relentless hunt for Nichole Adamich, guided by the enigmatic King BigBilly, whose own ambitions and plans for the Rovers begin to unfurl.

Amidst this intricate dance of fate, the orbiting city of Astrea faces its own dire challenges as otherworldly monsters released by the Queen threaten the lives of Astrea's inhabitants.

Overall Analysis of Mirror’s Brink

Mirror’s Brink, the fourth volume of E. S. Fein’s The Collected Histories of Neoevolution Earth series, is a continuation of the sci-fi epic that induces crippling dread. In this installment, Fein ups the ante as he explores the implications of one’s choices—literally—on a universal scale (when you read the chapter, you’ll know what I mean). New godlike and fearsome players are introduced, the concept of fate and free will is brought into question, and the unraveling of reality is understood as the consequence of selfish ambition or ascension.

This series thrives off its multiple viewpoint characters, giving fresh perspectives on the chaotic events unfolding in this rich and complicated setting. For example, it’s amusing to see Samuel—The Mirror Man—floundering about in an attempt to save his family while characters like the naive Thompson view him as a confident master strategist. Also, it’s interesting to see that despite the cataclysmic power and strength of the characters, it always seems they’re slaves to something greater.

One of the more interesting aspects of this series, and something I hadn’t really thought about until mentioned in this book, is that the books released so far all take place within the course of 24 hours or so. Despite the passing of such a short time, the evolution and psychological development of the characters are brilliantly executed by Fein, especially when it comes to Aurelia and Aliana.

A warning to those who cannot stomach gore but have somehow made it this far into the series: The gruesomeness does not let up. The ending of Mirror’s Brink hits you like a bullet train, vaporizing your psyche, the remnants of which are carried off by the tailwinds of despair. However, I surprisingly found catharsis in the brutality of this story. We face horrors each day as current events unfold. In a way, The Collected Histories of Neoevolution Earth serves as a reminder that no matter how bad it gets, it can always get worse. 

Final Thoughts

I’ve said it before, E. S. Fein is a tragically unsung author. I have yet to read anything quite like this series, so it is difficult to compare him to other authors, but if I had a gun to my head, I would put him in league with Philip K. Dick. His writing is rich with philosophical musings while not deviating from the setting. It’s a grisly parable about greed and misguided altruism. The subtext of Fein’s writings should be a college course all on its own. Also, the book is recommended for anyone who likes cybernetic arachnid-women, mom-buildings, and wired zombie-marionettes. I’m hoping one day E. S. Fein donates his brain to science.