Review: The Great Migration by Steve Ramirez

A newly forged adventurer finds herself back in a rapidly changing world in The Great Migration by Steve Ramirez, a wildly creative and enrapturing novel. In a capital suddenly beset on all sides by mistrust, incursions, rebellion, and disease, unexpected heroes are forced to righteously rise in defense of their home, their way of life, and the future of the Kingdom.

A misunderstood race of monsters is spreading fear – and a fever – amongst the Citizens, but the true enemy of humanity is something far greater, and overcoming age-old ignorance may be the only hope to save the world. Bellona and Luta are freshly joined as something more than allies following an 8-month sojourn through the wilderness, but as a member of the mysterious Zuni, Luta holds many secrets, including the truth about the “infected” hordes of s’orne that have come to threaten the capital.

Azanon, the grizzled guardian of the Merovian prince, has his mettle and heart tested like never before as chaos and death descends upon the Crystal City. King Cortez enlists the help of a faith-driven schoolteacher named Laena to bring his unruly princess to heel. These and other swirling plot lines twist and tangle, gradually revealing the villains of this story to be shockingly familiar – intelligent creatures who mastered genetic engineering and complex astrophysics, but were forced to flee their reality in the face of two converging black holes. Physics, philosophy, and fantasy collide in this remarkably clever and action-packed read.

Aside from the fantasy elements driving this creative and sprawling plot, Ramirez also explores recognizable themes, some contemporary, and others timeless. For obvious reasons, the fear of a sickness spread by an “other,” and the political power that can be wielded from that same fear, will strike a chord in today’s readers. There are scenes of peaceful public protest being quashed by violent authorities, and uprisings of the frightened masses who feel they’re being lied to regarding a quarantine. The prose also comments on the dangerous influence of developers trying to seize and transform pristine environments for their own profitable ends.

Despite the far-flung nature of this magical realm, the thematic explorations on display hit very close to home. Religion and belief also play crucial roles in the plot, not as static ideas, but critical facets of identity that lead to conflict and connection amongst the Faithful, Chosen, True and more. The author’s dexterity as a storyteller and draftsman is impressive, while the rich cast of characters and relationships makes it nearly impossible to put this sci-fi/fantasy novel down.

On the technical side of the prose, there are few errors or issues, though the author is occasionally redundant in his point-making, such as Bellona’s repeated concerns early on in the narration that “something was wrong with Luta.” This type of foreshadowing in the storytelling isn’t frequent, but it is noticeable throughout, and Ramirez should give his readers more credit to catch subtle hints in the writing, rather than nudging too hard on the same points. The action sequences are sharp and vivid, while the dialogue flows naturally in every varied setting, whether it is a classroom, an Emergency Council meeting, an honorary feast, or the edge of a bloody battlefield.

From royal intrigue and complex cultural betrayals to slow-burning romance and allegorical commentary, The Great Migration holds broad appeal, and deserves wide attention.