The Gatherer

A revolutionary invention that generates free, clean energy has devastating repercussions in Winter’s slight but eloquently written dystopian debut, the first in a series. Storm Freeman, creator of a miraculous clean-energy device called the Gatherer, has been hiding out in the Yukon trying to cure the acute sensitivity she’s since developed to electromagnetic fields as a result of prolonged exposure to the Gatherer. Storm is unaware that others are also suffering the Gatherer’s negative side effects until special ops agent Maria Kowalski tracks her down and demands that she fix it. Winter’s accomplished prose paints a convincing portrait of Storm’s debilitating illness and the camaraderie that develops between Maria and Storm as they trek into the city to confront Storm’s mother, who she left in charge of the Gatherer Corporation. The unforeseen consequences of a well-intentioned sustainable energy source make for an original disaster story, but dropped narrative threads and underwhelming plot twists leave this dystopian tale feeling insubstantial. Despite these flaws in execution, Winter’s well-rounded characters and obvious potential will have readers tuning in for the next installment. Agent: Gail Fortune, Talbot Fortune Agency. (Dec.)