Review: Yesterday's Kin by Nancy Kress

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Aliens have landed in New York. 

A deadly cloud of spores has already infected and killed the inhabitants of two worlds. Now that plague is heading for Earth, and threatens humans and aliens alike. Can either species be trusted to find the cure?

Geneticist Marianne Jenner is immersed in the desperate race to save humanity, yet her family is tearing itself apart. Siblings Elizabeth and Ryan are strident isolationists who agree only that an alien conspiracy is in play. Marianne’s youngest, Noah, is a loner addicted to a drug that constantly changes his identity. But between the four Jenners, the course of human history will be forever altered. 

Earth’s most elite scientists have ten months to prevent human extinction—and not everyone is willing to wait.

I really enjoyed this novel by Nancy Kress. Shortly after starting it, I found myself so taken with it that I looked to see if she had written anything else. I must have been living under a rock! She has so much more I want to read. *super happy reader*

Though a short novel, Yesterday's Kin immersed me. Mainly because the human reactions to the Deneb's arrival are all too plausible. I can all too easily see the paths of isolationism and mob mentality as reactions because there are so much of those things already. Existing solationism fuels xenophobia, particularly in the New Yorkers who live with the Deneb ship overhead. This theme also serves to divide Marianne's family as they come to terms with the Deneb's arrival and what it means for them and humanity.

I also very much liked Marianne, struggling so much balancing work and family. Although her children have grown into adult lives of their own and she has time to devote to (or hide in) her career she doesn't let go of the need to look after them.

I felt the novel could have been longer as there were some things I found abbreviated or touched on particularly with the Denebs. I wanted to understand them better. We only see them from the point of view of Marianne and her children.

I definitely recommend this book!