James Litherland’s Enemies of the Batsu continues a story begun in Whispers of the Dead, plunging the reader straight into a world of Japanese spies, Batsu overlords, and high-tech futuristic mystery. The characters’ introspective musings offer plenty of reminders of previous events, but readers would probably be advised to start the series at the beginning. So much has already happened, but now Roshike is a guard, risking all to protect both strangers and friends as he hides his true self in fierce anonymity. Meanwhile Seiko determines she “hadn’t maintained her cover here successfully for three years by allowing her feelings to override her training and judgment…” But sometimes judgement might not be sufficiently informed. Feelings could be what make us human. And “the right sort of guidelines actually help us live free.”

There are plenty of thought-provoking situations and ideas in this novel, which maintains a clear moral compass in spite of violence and deception. The story’s end is a powerful blend of the surprising and the inevitable, and I should enjoy reading more.

Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I offer my honest review. ( )