Book Review: Semper

Semper by Peter Dudley

Dane has spent his life being groomed to take his position as Semper of the post-apocalyptic community of Southshaw when his father retires. Sixteen years old and barely a man, he is pushed into the role by his father’s sudden death, just as he has begun to question the web of superstition that holds his people together. Upon Dane’s initiation as Semper, his treacherous uncle turns his people against him with lies and violence and forces him and his new wife into exile in the wilds outside Southshaw, dooming them to die of radiation poisoning—or so he thought. In fact, his community has hidden and ignored more than he could ever imagine, and it becomes vital for him to unravel the truth so he can save his people and rebuild life in a ravaged world.

When I was first offered this book, I was somewhat skeptical. Self-published books can often be unoriginal, filled with mistakes, and downright boring. Happily, this book is an exception to that trend. Semper is a thought-provoking, nail-biting read. It manages to be fast-paced and include lots of action without neglecting character development. Unlike most YA authors, Dudley is unafraid to challenge his readers with mature concepts of marriage, leadership, and hierarchy without subjecting them to inappropriate or graphic content. I found the tone, setting, and themes of this book were very different from mainstream YA, but it was a difference that I very much enjoyed. This book is appropriate for 12 and over content-wise, but I think that those 14 and older would more fully appreciate it.

--Magdalen