The Conformity (The Twelve-Fingered Boy Trilogy) - Hardcover

John Hornor Jacobs is the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including The Twelve-Fingered Boy

and The Shibboleth. He lives in Arkansas with his family.

"The Twelve-Fingered Boy trilogy has been uncommon since the first page, and Jacobs sends it off in kindred style. The action is immediate: Shreve and his gang of 'extranaturals' at last attack the humanity-devouring Conformity. It materializes as 'soldiers,' giant human-shaped golems built from thousands of tormented people and reminiscent of Clive Barker's landmark story, 'In the Hills, the Cities.' As baddies go, they're pretty awesome to behold, and soon our troop retreats with a comatose Shreve. With our protagonist gone for much of the book, Jacobs splinters the narrative among the side characters―a fortuitous circumstance, as the rock-'em-sock-'em stuff, filled with shouting sidekicks, is a bit hard to follow. The resulting plot treads water somewhat, but as a multiple-character study, it's a fine read, with Jacobs perpetuating his fascinating proclivity toward tumbling, sensory, sometimes puzzling, but always resonant prose: 'I became the green fuse that drives the flower. I became electricity itself.' The finale, as you'd hope, is in the spirit of the entire series: obstinate, brash, and even transcendent."―Booklist

"The conclusion to the thrilling 'Twelve-Fingered Boy' trilogy (Carolrhoda Lab) has it all: explosions, romance, mental telepathy, hellish creatures comprised of living humans, and a crazy religious cult. This final installment opens immediately after its predecessor ends with little summation of what has lead up to the opening scene. The nation is being attacked by horrifying creatures made up of swarms of terrified humans, controlled by the Conformity: an evil, bodiless entity that feeds on the psychic energy of those with special abilities. Shreve and a small band of 'extranaturals' are faced with the task of saving humanity. Like the first two books, there is plenty of action, mature language, and a darkness that pervades the work. The narration is told from several perspectives, which enhances the storytelling and helps develop the lead characters (particularly giving insight as to why the young adults have become so jaded). This conclusion wraps up quickly and is not as concrete as the previous entries. For the story to work, readers must be willing to embrace the notion of Shreve using his astral body to perform supernatural feats. VERDICT: Fans of the series will be satisfied."―School Library Journal