Flotsam Prison Blues, the second book in M. K. Gibson’s Technomancer Novels series, is a highly enjoyable read, recommended for fans of the post-apocalyptic, cyber-punk, and urban fantasy genres (as it is a bit of all three). The novel resumes from where its prequel, To Beat The Devil, left off, following the exploits of Salem, a Technomancer, and his growing cadre of allies. Flotsam Prison Blues focuses on Salem, as he is sentenced to the infamous Flotsam Prison, a structure that promises a terrifying and grueling experience for inmates.
The novel’s setting, predominantly Flotsam Prison, renders the story a prison survival and escape tale, making it a fresh take on its predecessor. The book’s most appealing aspect is the well-drawn characters and amusing dialogue. Salem is a tenacious, snarky, and sarcastic protagonist with interactions that offer humor and entertainment throughout. The banter, particularly between Salem and Grim, is well-written and engrossing. The novel is engaging from beginning to end, with no significant drawbacks. However, it is quite dark and foreboding, with gruesome and grim descriptions of life in Flotsam Prison, which may disturb some readers.
The audiobook narration by Jeffrey Kafer is excellent, with his style and delivery adding to the overall experience. Though any change in the narrator during a series is often a point of contention for listeners, Kafer was an excellent choice as a replacement. The quality of audio production and sound is crisp and clear, with Kafer’s voice making Salem’s snark and attitude come alive.
Special thanks to freeaudiobookcodes.com, who provided me with this book at my request.