'The Border Reiver'

'The Border Reiver' is a fantastic story from a fantastic writer. And Nick Christofides is that writer. The alternate-world setting is both well-imagined and evoked in a non-intrusive telling way. Instead of beating up the reader with polemics about complex issues like the erosion of civil liberties or the geopolitical conflicts of the region, this book tells its story in a way that is accessible and relevant to people who don't have patience for politics. Told from the perspective of real people dealing with extraordinary circumstances you can't help but be entertained. The main character Nat, starts out a bit two-dimensional but grows to be three-dimensional over the course of the story. Atmospheric at times, this book was well worth the read.