Excellent book, loved it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Unfortunately I'm going to have to DNF this one after 50 pages. While undoubtably ambitious, it has not connected with me. I may pick it up again at a later time, but for now I am saying goodbye.

Any Human Power tries to blend fantasy with political commentary but ends up feeling scattered and preachy. While the concept is intriguing, the execution lacks depth, leaving the characters feeling more like tools for the message than fully realized individuals.

Let me start out by saying there were parts of this book I really enjoyed - it was quite unlike anything I can recall reading before and there was a delightful lyrical flow to the sections dealing with the afterlife and the interventions and monitoring undertaken by Lan (put shortly, after she passes she does not transition to whatever lies behind due to making a promise to her grandson, and can keep an eye on her family as they brew a societal revolution instigated by a tweet for her granddaughter. She can use animals as vehicles to move around the land of the living, most usually a crow).

There are a lot of ideas jammed in here and perhaps a little too much going on - it almost feels like two different books running side by side, the magical realism part and then the political manifesto part as the family goes all out to create a better future and stop the desecration of the planet. The latter is undoubtedly admirable and an important message, but felt a little too worthy for my tastes, and I found myself enjoying Lan's exploits in various metaphysical locations more. Possibly, the book could have been streamlined and edited a little more to make a more cohesive read. But I cannot fault the ambition and intention on display here.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

~*ARC Reader*~

I was much more interested in the beginning of this story then I was the majority of it. It started with Lan's death and journey to the Inbetween and I was enticed by the exploration of the afterlife, especially one she's locked herself out of leaving with a binding promise. However, once we reach part 2 and the politics kick in, I began to feel drained while reading. It isn't that the story wasn't compelling or interesting, it's just that it's an election year in America and I'm already tapped out on politics. I may have enjoyed it more if I'd picked it up at a different time, and I'll acknowledge that. The juxtaposition of the exploration of Lan's afterlife and her tie to her living family did feel strained at times, like we forgot about Lan for periods of time (even though she's our narrator) and then suddenly jumped back into the mystical things she had access to. Overall though I think it was an okay book; it flowed smoothly for the most part and was paced well. I appreciate the use of chapter breaks to skip days, some authors who are telling a short timelined story don't utilize that as well as Manda Scott did so kudos to them. I will recommend this if you have the emotional capacity for a heavily political story, but maybe pass if you're not in the right headspace for that.

In 'Any Human Power' by Manda Scott, we meet an unlikely hero in the form of a crow. Lan is the mother and grandmother to a family who is tied together through unlikely bonds. Lan narrates a beautiful depiction of the afterlife, from the beyond, present, and in-between. While recently deceased, she traverses through time and space to intercept the dreams of her loved ones. This book encapsulates the risks taken, promises made, and the love of a family trumping all else.
While the first half of this book explores the vast multiverse of the living, dreamlands, and the in-between, the second half deals with a vow that Lan makes with her grandson, Finn. Lan's promise creates friction within the family, trapping her between worlds so she is not able to enter the peace and bliss of the afterlife. A dangerous tweet then sends the youngest grandchild into a tailspin, taking the family with her. There were parts of this book that became deeply political, which isn't usually something I'm interested in, but it ties in well to our world's relevant issues today.
Overall, this tale gets a 3/5 for the creative and fresh take on the afterlife, family bonds, and diving deep into the meaning of our words and the effect they have on a generation and future generations.

Any Human Power explores themes of rebellion, social justice and the strength of relationships.

The book is narrated by Lan, a grandmother who made a promise on her deathbed which results in her being bound to the Beyond. Ten years later, her granddaughter, Kaitlin, sparks a revolution against the online sexual exploitation of girls her age. Support is short-lived and she and her family must work together to defend against the backlash and try to make positive societal change, and the varying ways this can happen across time.

This book was an especially interesting read around the 2024 UK general election. While a fair few parts of it are, in my opinion, entirely improbable, there are enough truths within it for believable parallels to be made with modern day events. Some other elements also felt questionable but, on the whole, it was a riveting and enjoyable read.

This is a really difficult book to rate and review. I think the best way to describe it is ambitious.

It starts with the death of Lan, our main character, and her passing on into the afterlife. She doesn't move on completely after promising to stay around to look after her family. But this isn't really a fantasy - I've seen it described as dystopian but I think it's too close to reality to call it that. Lan watches over her family across many years, sometimes attempting to nudge things along if she can.

The main story kicks off when her teenage granddaughter (born after her death) makes several posts on social media about pornography. This leads to all the media attacks and dissections you'd expect, but it also exposes the nastier habits of many of the people in charge. This all ends up with the family trying to make seismic changes to how the world is run, starting with a UK general election (what a time to be reading this), focussing on honesty, transparency, trying to shift towards sustainability etc.

It took me a long time to get into, and then I would waver between liking it and getting frustrated. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters, and a lot of the time they felt just like walking manifestos - somehow especially when they were all together - it just didn't feel like a natural way for families to talk to each other.

And whilst all their beliefs and targets are largely admirable and I'm sure are meant to be inspiring; I can't help feel like it gives the message that you need plenty of money (ethically sourced, obviously - not like those other people), connections, legal knowledge, the resources of a large online community, all of whom happen to be super ethical, and are willing to do miraculous hacking and coding in the blink of an eye, in order to bring about change. You probably do.

If you enjoy a lot of politics and activism and don't mind a healthy dose of fantasy/spiritualism, then I think you'll enjoy this. Although I didn't love it, I think it's a book that I will continue to think about.

Not at all what I expected, but all the better for it. A handbook for activism and social change, wrapped up in a contemporary story with mythology and ghostly layers to the world. Slightly surreal timing, to read the significant section about a fictional UK General Election in the run up to the real one atm, but such a relief to see clear radical thinking laid out in an easily understood way

Compelling and thoughtful, I enjoyed the relationships between the generations and the life cycle of a political and social movement. Poignant and brilliant fusion between political thriller and fantasy.

I was so excited when I saw this book was available as an ARC because I had read her Boudicca stories and loved them, but I’m afraid this was a DNF for me.
It just seemed very slow and I guess I’m not a particularly spiritual person so I had little interest in a long drawn- out exploration in what happens after we die. I think I probably only made it about 10% in. I found it perplexing; not badly-written. People who have a more mystical bent than me may well enjoy it.

Unfortunately had to dnf this after a couple of chapters. I picked this up loving the cover and the premise of the book. However after reading 50 pages I can't continue, I find the plot too confusing and have no idea what is going on.

This is a difficult one to review. I didn't like it, but I do respect it. The prose is gorgeous, and the juxtaposition of the spiritual with the cut and thrust of modern politics was radical and inspired. But it's very much a political book: there is no sense of distance, of the story as metaphor or conversation opener: this is a call to action, at times a rant. It's powerful, and I respect the author's vision. But personally, I'm simply not political, so I found it hard to enjoy any aspects of the book since the political message was so entwined into every part.

Any Human Power is a sprawling multi-generational narrative about family, death, and changing the world. Following Alanna, an elderly woman who passes away but is tethered to the world by a promise to her grandson, this book dissects the future our modern world is hurtling towards and the systems upholding our current structures. Beginning in 2008 with Lan’s death and ending in 2023 with a movement begun by her granddaughter, Kaitlyn, Any Human Power builds its foundation on the recent generational divisions between Baby Boomers and Gen Z.

The bulk of this book can be divided into two camps: political discussion and the afterlife. Each was compelling in its own rights, though the political discussions make up much of the narrative. The development and relationships between the generations and, more importantly, the life cycle of a political and social movement, drive the story forward, creating a novel that is poignant in our current year. Add to that the metaphysical narrative with Lan and the entities of the afterlife, and you get the perfect blend of fantasy and political thriller.

This was a very compelling read, though a lot closer to home than I tend to read. That aside, I enjoyed both the more fantastical elements as well as the in-depth political discussions that occur throughout. If you’ve enjoyed books like Infomocracy, this is a solidly similar read, and i’d recommend it.

I am late to the party of this author’s work and I have so much to catch up on. This novel was outstanding. Seamlessly blending ghosts, politics, love in many shapes and forms, and mythical lands. I loved this book, one of my favourites of the year so far. Looking forward to diving into the back catalogue. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Thank you, Netgalley and September Publishing, for allowing me this book to review. Unfortunately, I had to DNF. I struggled to get through the first few chapters, often confused by what was happening in a single chapter. It seemed every time I thought I knew what a scene was about, the next sentence would seem completely out of context. I truly could not make it through the first 8 chapters because I could not get a handle on what was happening or why there were suddenly new characters. I thought the concept was certainly interesting, the writing style just may not fit me.

Thanks to the publisher for making the ARC available!

'Any Human Power' reminds me strongly of both Matt Haig's 'The Midnight Library' and L.X. Beckett's 'Gamechanger'.

It is about recognizing the deeply troubling state of our planet and moving decisively on the best possible path forward. Author Manda Scott uses this book to relay her vision of many specific and general issues and scenarios, and I love the energy she has brought to discussing them.

However, I'm struggling to pinpoint who this book is for. It's exploring so many roads that there's certainly something here for everybody, but at the same time I don't know if the work entire will be a perfect fit for anybody.

Still, an imaginative book with an essential message for our world. I'll probably still recommend 'Gamechanger' first to nerdier folks, but this one will be great for more general readers.

First of all, I'd like to thank Netgalley and September Publishing for sending me this book to review. Unfortunately, I had to DNF. I tried for a week to get into the book but I struggled to get through it (my slight reading slump certainly didn't help). The concept certainly interested me but I've decided that it's not for me. It took 8 chapters for anything to truly happen and I'm more of a fast-paced book type of person. The beginning was really long, slow and full of descriptions I wasn't following (though I was fascinated by it being set in the afterlife) and once things kicked off I was confused. I struggled to get a clear image of who was related to who and how and I felt like the scene where the family is being "attacked" by paparazzi was a little dramatic. This might just be me, but I didn't understand why they didn't call the authorities. Surely, they would've answered that call. Unfortunately, I didn't get past that scene.
Of course, these are all my opinions and I can definitely see there being an audience for the book, but I wouldn't consider myself apart of it.
Once again thank you to Netgalley and September Publishing.

I chose this from Manda Scott as I had loved A Treachery of Spies, this is rather different and fascinating, elements of which will be familiar to readers who have come across the writings of the likes of Carlos Castaneda. She threads myths, legends, stories, and speculates of political and radical change in the future. I both read and listened to this on audio, approximately 19 hours and 20 minutes long, ably narrated by Clare Corbett who kept my attention firmly on the unfolding storytelling and the ancient wisdom, power, dreams, hope and light it contains, particularly given our troubled contemporary world.

It all begins with the impending death of 66 year old Alanna 'Lan' Penhalighon from cancer, with her is the young distraught Finn and she can see at least one crow. There is nothing Lan can do to prevent dying, but she does not want to leave him without hope, her relationship with Finn so strong, partly due to their long history of seriously playing video war games with him as she was raising him. Lan is an unusual woman, who has developed her open minded family's practice of 'lucid dreaming', dreaming with deliberate intent, which she herself had learnt from Uuri. Lan is going to be desperately needed down the line.

We follow a path to the future, a future with obstacles coming from establishment sources. I am not sure this will be a read for everyone, but I do think it will appeal to dreamers, readers looking for something different, those weary and fearful of the state of our world today, as there is a thought provoking possibility of positivity and inspiration provided by Scott here. Many thanks to the publisher and Bolinda Audio for an ALC.

I had a hard time connecting to this book, and am DNFing it at 10%. The writing style isn't for me, and I'm not invested in any of the characters. The formatting on Kindle isn't great and made it even harder to get into.