The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina (review)

Ashala Wolf has heard the rumors, so she knows exactly what is in store for her after she is captured by Gull City’s enforcers: Chief Administrator Rose and his mad-scientist assistant will torture her and learn the hidden location of her Tribe and the other Illegals, teenagers born with superhuman abilities, thus quashing her rebellion. What she does not know, at least consciously, and what readers learn right along with her, is that being captured was the plan all along, that her memories have been purposely manipulated by another Illegal, and that Justin, her jailer and the boy she thought betrayed her, is actually the love of her life and the one who is going to help carry out Ashala’s plan to destroy Rose and keep her Tribe safe. A series of flashbacks slowly unravels the intricate setup, working backwards in a way that imbues Ashala’s current situation with more meaning as the past is revealed, raising the stakes and the tension. Once all the secrets are disclosed, however, the story loses its momentum, becoming a dialogue-heavy stream of Ashala’s plans and worries and not a whole lot of action, and the romance between Ashala and Justin deflates. The dystopian world here offers a bit more nuance than the traditional fare, allowing for good guys to find themselves in bad situations, and emphasizing the idea that power can use even a message of peace and balance to corrupt. Feisty heroines looking to save the world are by no means losing their popularity, and their fans may wish to follow Ashala’s adventures.