Tlana’s belief in the supremacy of the ways of her people is unshakeable. Her studies of the ways of the Ikayotli and perusing the Nexatlon only serve to cement this mindset. But when she is selected as the next akmo amayak, a living being sacrificed to appease the people’s god, Yaua, her mortality sinks in, and she flees as she desperately seeks a way to avert impending death. In a bid to reshape her destiny, Tlana stumbles upon an ancient secret that remains at odds with all that she has come to believe despite the passage of time. Faced with an impending dilemma, Tlana is tired of running, but is she prepared to challenge the very tenets of her people's existence even if it means destroying all she holds dear? Only time will tell in Koen Martens’ The Ein Particle.

Koen Martens' debut novel is quite an introduction. The storyline is unique, which is what I would expect from a series introducing new worlds and the challenges that come with it. Martens uses indigenous names for his characters and their customs and traditions. This is not a first, but the subtle way he expertly inserts new words into the story's vocabulary creates the kind of immersive atmosphere that science fiction aficionados feed on. His principal characters are impressively balanced, as their brief origin stories are complemented by motivations that become obvious as the story progresses. Tlana’s name change flows with her transition, giving the story some emotional depth. The best part of this novel is how Martens fluidly connects the various subplots into one story that is layered like a Matryoshka doll. The Ein Particle is a masterpiece on a different level.

The Ein Particle combines aspects of science fiction, thrilling action, and adventure. It is best suited to the mature adult reading audience owing to some scenes of violence and gore as well as explicit language and moderate sexual content. Penned by Koen Martens, this highly engaging sci-fi tale takes place in a dystopian world ruled by ancient tech and lore, where a devout student named Tlana suddenly has her faith shaken. Asked to be this year’s sacrifice, Tlana questions everything she thought she knew and begins to dismiss what society has taught her. She examines herself, discovering dark secrets and finding new allies from the depths of the sub-society she used to despise.

Koen Martens has crafted a highly engaging, immersive, and fully-formed science fiction world for eager readers to step into, and I couldn’t get enough of this fascinating dystopian drama. The lore of the world, ideas of religion, devotion, and one’s place in society are so well crafted, and this gives us a realistic understanding of Tlana’s plight and her conflict as she suddenly has to flee the world she thought she’d dedicated herself to forever. This emotional core remains deep at the heart of the tale through some very exciting twists, dark and enigmatic characters with questionable motives, and a psychologically moving journey for Tlana that will be sure to bring tears to readers' eyes. The Ein Particle is a compelling work of sci-fi drama and thrills that I would highly recommend.