Infinity Son is Adam Silvera’s debut fantasy novel, and features two brothers grappling with the ideals of power. There are magical creatures (read phoenixes!), special abilities, warring factions, and a whole lot more, all set in New York City. Silvera also utilises young adult perspectives to comment on social issues found in our current environment, making them relevant to the younger audience.
It goes without saying that Silvera’s novels typically nail the important representation aspect, and Infinity Son is no different. There’s the refreshing addition of an openly gay male protagonist, along with a wide variety of characters with different sexual orientations, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. The addition of Lore, who identifies as genderqueer, is also an added bonus to this novel, as the character is portrayed as a celebrity trying to use their influence for good.
There are also important conversations on talking through trauma and hard to handle situations, with a spotlight cast on group and individual therapy sessions. Silvera takes time to flesh out this aspect of Infinity Son, noting the importance of dealing with such issues in a calm, welcoming environment. There’s an overall sense of release in these scenes, highlighting the need for therapy like situations.
‘Humanity is what makes heroes, not powers.’ – Page 168
The commentary on social media and its positive uses versus its toxic aspects is also another well thought out aspect of this novel. Brighton, who is the brother of ‘Chosen One’ Emil, curates a YouTube channel featuring celestials (people with abilities), and watching his deep dive into hit rates and building a powerful online presence is both fascinating and terrifying.
There are certain instances where Brighton comments on the amount of hits and views he could be getting from certain fight scenes between celestials, which prompts the reader to question his character. This opens up the conversation of someone’s own safety versus their online success, and whether getting the views for a video or post is more important than having a healthy mind set and being present in the moment.
The polarising characteristics of Brighton and Emil further this discussion, and create authentic conflict between the two, while also opening up a conversation on power and how it affects those striving for it, along their loved ones surrounding them.
‘Everyone is throwing darts at a board and praying to the stars they hit their target’ – Page 123
Unfortunately, this book was not without its faults, the main issues being with the world building and pacing.
The world-building requires the reader to suspend their disbelief throughout, as certain elements are introduced without explanation or backstory. There’s also the issue of characterisation between the two warring factions, the Blood Casters and the Spell Walkers, which could have been stronger. Fleshing out these two opposing groups and giving more of an individual voice and backstory to the point of view characters we see from them could reduce confusion when reading.
There’s also the issue with pacing throughout the novel. It felt like the majority of high impact plot points were rushed through, while quiet times between characters were stretched out. This could be the author’s attempt to highlight the destructive qualities of power, and the importance of mental health and wellbeing, but at times it felt like this pacing conflicted with certain elements of the novel.
Overall, Silvera utilises Infinity Son to open up important discussions on diversity, the impact of online presence on one’s self, the abuse of power, mental health and wellbeing, and more. These key themes encourage the reader to take a closer look at the world around them.
If you have loved a Silvera novel in the past, chances are you’ll love this one too. Infinity Son includes the author’s trademark writing style and tone of voice, along with his love for his city, all upon a slightly fantastical backdrop. Explosive and emotional, this trilogy will be one to add to your list if you love young adult fantasy.
Infinity Son is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Balancing epic and intensely personal stakes, bestselling author Adam Silvera’s Infinity Son is a gritty, fast-paced adventure about two brothers caught up in a magical war generations in the making.
Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers—a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures.
Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day.
Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own—one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be.
Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.
