The Hangman’s Revolution, by Eoin Colfer, is the second book in the W.A.R.P. (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program) series.
After returning from her trip to Victorian England, Chevron (Chevie) Savano finds herself in an alternate timeline where the world is ruled by the Box Empire. In this new world, the Box Empire reveres Coronal Box as a god and has massacred millions in his name. The enemy of this empire is the French, who are nicknames "Jax". The Thundercats are the Box Empire's silent assassins. In this new reality, Chevie Savano, is cadet for the Box Empire and worships Coronal Box as a god, but she is haunted by visions of her true reality. The FBI Agent Savano within her fights with Cadet Savano over control of her actions. When Chevie meets the Box Empire's version of Professor Charles Smart, she goes back in time to Victorian England in order to fix the past and erase the horrendous present, but she is followed by assassins from the new future.
Once again, neither Riley nor Chevie grow much over the ordeal. Chevie is dealing with an internal battle. The knowledge of two drastically different timelines threatens to rip her apart, but she is also tasked with freeing the future from the Box Empire. Riley has inherited the Orient Theatre after Garrick's death and dubbed himself the Great Savano. Although he is still haunted by his deceased master, he is happy to be alive. Sadly, Riley doesn't get the happiest of endings. Because of the events of the previous book, he has become a Ram, so, before he can become the magician he dreams, members of the Rams come to collect the theater he inherited. Only half the book seems to be devoted to these main characters.
The Hangman’s Revolution was worse than its predecessor. While this installment had higher stakes than the previous book, the stakes were less personal to the characters. They were dealing with saving the future rather than escaping a deadly assassin. Although Eoin Colfer made attempts to make to the plot personal, he fails. Also, there was less time spent with the main characters. There was little character development between Chevie and Riley. The only characters that did grow were the Thundercats, Lunka Witmeyer and Clover Vallicose. We were reintroduced to a couple characters that we met in the previous book and these characters had significantly larger parts. Though the plot was exciting and full of action, the book was written in such a way that the reader can feel detatched from the plot, rather than with the characters. One thing Eoin Colfer does well is describe Victorian London. The writing paints a picture of the disgusting and smelly Victorian London and, since a good part of the book is spent in the sewers, readers are get picture the horrible sewers of Victorian London.
I give this 376 page book 3.5 stars.
W.A.R.P.
The Witness Anonymous Relocation Program is a series of books by Eoin Colfer. The main characters Riley and Chevron Savano travel between the past and present.