The Winged Lion: Marion’s Match is a new dystopian novel by Patrick D. Carlson. Carlson is a novelist with Page Publishing and a physical therapist. The novel is set in 2090 and sets up conflict between the United People’s Commonwealth world government and the nonconformist rebels who are led by General Marion. In this world, the United People’s Commonwealth government has dissolved the United States of American and all of the founding documents have been rendered null and void. General Marion leads forces who are committed to restoring life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to the entire world. These fighters believe in the founding principles of the United States and even take on interesting characterizations from the founding fathers, including tricorn hats!

As a history major myself, I really enjoyed all of the allusions to the founding of America, including the names of battles, places, ships, and other nuggets that are woven into the narrative. Clocking in at about 240 pages, this book brings the reader into the world of Peter Barclay and his struggle to not only survive, but also to find his place in the world. Peter attends a commonwealth school where his intellect and critical thinking skills far outrank those of his peers. The reader follows Peter on this journey from Commonwealth school to bigger things!

There are overarching themes in the book about the power of ideology and the dangers of an unstable geo-political scene. The book is fast-pace and the narrative is tightly woven. The action scenes are intriguing I really enjoyed them! Overall, this is a solid book for fans of history, dystopian novels, and interesting characters!

I’d like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book for review! This review is my honest opinion.

-Katie P.

A dazzling dystopian tale…

Set in 2090, this first installment of Carlson’s excellent dystopian series takes readers on an exhilarating journey as a teenager’s nonconformist principles become a catalyst for others to find hope in a world drowning in despair. When Peter Barclay, a prodigious teenager, joins the Commonwealth primary school in Chicago, he is dismayed to see other students blindly following the censored ideas with history either erased or altered from the curriculum. Peter’s individualist beliefs prove to be incompatible with the Commonwealth society, putting him in the path of the ruthless leader of the Commonwealth World government, Premier Kerioth. Meanwhile, a growing rebellion organization seeks the help of Accendia, a mysterious group of soldiers, to overthrow Premier Kerioth’s dictatorial regime. Readers will wonder about Peter’s connection to the Accendia and the tricorn-wearing freedom fighters, and in what direction the story is going. As the pieces come together, things are not as they seem. The swiftly-paced narrative and the tight plotting will keep readers turning the pages fast. Carlson’s crisp prose beautifully captures the phenomenal intellectuality and wise-beyond-years persona of his teen protagonist and the complex theme of the value of the individual free will and liberation in a society. Despite the considerable dramatic weight of the central theme of the story, the book makes for a lighthearted read, and Carlson keeps his readers connected to the intriguing dystopian world he has created. With its fascinating premise, taut dialogue, and hefty characterization, the novel makes for a thoughtful, well-crafted dystopian tale. Readers will look forward to more of Carlson’s work.