Every so often an author blesses me with an early copy of their latest book and then agrees to a short interview to amuse my readers. Tomorrow marks the launch of Allison Maruska‘s latest novel, The Seventh Seed.

Seed is the standalone sequel to The Fourth Descendant, and despite not having read it, I was not at all lost or confused. Nor was I drowning in back story. In fact, I was rather intrigued to read the previous book and learn more about the characters who have clearly been up to some interesting things.

Seed is a well done conspiracy book. The historian in me has no problem believing it’s coming. After all similar things have happened more than once before. I don’t want to give away too much. Let’s just say many people in Seed have taken to heart Margaret Mead’s famous quote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” It makes for compelling reading. I quickly became invested in the welfare of the characters.

℘℘℘℘ – Four pages. Fun read with insidious ideas that linger.

A little about The Seventh Seed:
(Summary provided by author)

While researching beehive demise across the country, Javier stumbles onto a breakthrough – a virus carried by bugs that insecticides can’t eradicate. The discovery explains a string of human illnesses and deaths, and it means a vaccine is possible. But instead of his bosses celebrating his achievement, they try to kill him.

After evading capture, Javier meets Liz, a widow who works at a homeless shelter. Together, they become fugitives, and in searching for a vaccine, they discover an intricate chain of secrets that leads to the most powerful entities in the country.

To break the chain and free the people, Javier and Liz must fight an impossible battle. While winning means relief from decades of manipulation and oppression, losing would result in more deaths than the virus ever threatened.