One of the most interesting things about Sanctuary, is that it explores its dystopian setting with reference to a protagonist who is both quite naïve, and yet almost entirely unlikable. Real monsters however are on the way, savage alien creatures with a horrifying agender of their own, forcing Kenzie to band together with the former prisoners in order to survive. Though she is initially calm, having faith in Omnistellar and the efficiency of the system, Kenzie quickly finds her faith being shaken, particularly when it turns out the prisoners are far from the monsters she expected them to be. During a standard drill however, Kenzie finds herself unexpectedly taken hostage by a group of prisoners bent on escape. Fortunately, with usual corporate efficiency, the station is so heavily controlled by one AI, that it can be staffed with only six human guards including Kenzie and her parents, after all each prisoner has a chip to suppress their powers and the AI’s control of the prison’s routine is absolute.

50 years ago the probes came, imbuing the next generation with various special abilities, and Sanctuary serves as a prison for some of the most dangerous, teenage criminals with super powers. Like her parents, Kenzie has always been a loyal citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the corporation which controls most of the world’s law enforcement, after all she knows that being a corporate citizen provides her and her family wealth, status and luxury way beyond what is available to government citizens in their crime ridden, run down government cities.

The story is told entirely from the first person perspective of 17 year old Kenzie Cord a junior prison guard on the space station Sanctuary. While super powers have never been a favourite plot device of mine, I have always been up for a bit of space opera and dystopia, and the idea of a novel set on a prison in space with one of its guards as a protagonist was certainly one that got my attention.

Sanctuary book caryn lix