Shawn Wilson‘s ninth Ultimate Level 1 novel has some odd pacing, starting off hectic as it deals with the kidnapping from the prequel and then just kind of sliding into some incredibly laid-back tower-clearing. There’s a threat of war looming in the background but everyone just kind of ignores it until they literally can’t any more, then essentially just go right back to tower clearing as if nothing happened. At least they do, finally, clear the tower (apparently marking the end of the story’s first segment). It was certainly a mixed bag of a journey.
Escape from Heavalun‘s title is a bit misleading as only the first quarter takes place there, with the rest occurring on the lizard people’s homeworld. Now you could argue that the title is metaphorical and references the protagonist’s efforts to escape from his past (an argument the author attempts at the very end)… but that’s pushing things. Although it’s not really a big deal either way. No, more of an issue is how heavy the romance goes right from the starting line. We’re talking a ‘soulmates at first sight’ kind of deal which everything else revolves upon to a sometimes implausible degree.