Infinity: The Secret of the Diamonds by Tejas Mathai

Every family has its secrets, but for Jack Stone, the hidden parts of his family and his father’s ambitious inventions could very well change the course of the universe. In Infinity: The Secret of the Diamonds, young author Tejas Mathai welcomes readers into a world of fantasy and magic, unraveling a sci-fi thriller that pulls from all the best parts of various popular genres, both past and present.

Jack Stone always knew that his father was a brilliant man, but when a team of otherworldly defenders ends up on Earth with a clear interest in his family, this 18-year-old New Yorker realizes that his life is about to change forever. This young protagonist is pulled into a galaxy-spanning struggle that could spell the end of every life in New York City—and the universe as a whole.

The plot in Infinity has certain original elements, but the parallels between this story and today’s dominant superhero franchise are hard to ignore. Some basic revisions could eliminate these overlaps, while a firm editorial hand could improve the flow of more natural-sounding dialogue. Additionally, while the plot moves at a good pace, some of the narrative writing fails to keep the energy and interest up. In a short novel such as this one, every word should count, and the injection of more literary tools and creative imagery would help the flow of the story.

That being said, from an author who hasn’t reached the age of 16, this is an impressive and polished foray into the realm of sci-fi, and readers of this genre should expect great things from Tejas Mathai in the years to come.