Review: The Drafter by Kim Harrison

Peri Reed is a traitor. At least, that’s what secret government organization she works for thinks. She’s been betrayed by her own partner and her boss, her name put on a list of operatives who have been using their skills and training for their own purposes. The problem for Peri is she doesn’t know if she’s really a traitor or not. She’s a drafter, able to make short jumps through time in order to alter events, but at a cost; she loses her memory of the event and a portion of time preceding it. Normally, a drafter has a partner who is always with them, able to help rebuild a part of the lost memories. Now Peri is on the run, with no partner, in an attempt to discover the truth and clear her name.

I found this to be a really good story, with engaging characters and an interesting environment. Which is just what I would expect from such an accomplished author. The change in genre from the Hollows series in no way impacts Kim’s ability to spin a great tale. As the story progresses, the reader is shown the impact Peri’s memory loss from drafting has on her. In one chapter she’s working alongside a character, in the next she has no memory of them at all. I’ve seen a few comments that some readers had difficulty keeping up with the time jumps and memory loss, but I had no problems. Peri’s memory loss makes it difficult for her to know who she can trust and who is trying to use her for their own ends. Can she overcome her conditioning to be reliant on another or will she break free and become her own person?

If you’re looking for a new version of the Hollows, this book is probably not for you. If you looking for a bit of sci-fi in an excellent story read this. I couldn’t put it down.