In the fourth book of the Chronicles of the Threlphax series, Of Kith and Kin by Laura Lee Dooley, Tae-hee Kim is a nurse whose life extends far past a normal span. When a man named Kit claims to be her twin brother Tae-soo, declared dead during the Korean War, he forces her to confront a history she believed sealed. Kit proves his identity through memories rooted in nineteenth-century Korea and a body altered by a threlphax presence, an alien lifeform sharing human bodies. Tae-hee brings him into KSH House, a communal home whose residents live by trust built over time. Kit’s arrival triggers a reaction within the house itself as long-hidden vessels begin to respond to him. As Kit settles into daily life and forms a connection with Jong-hyun Park, Tae-hee’s choice to protect her brother draws everyone at KSH House into events that trace family origin across centuries and place their present lives at risk.

Laura Lee Dooley’s Of Kith and Kin is an ambitious speculative science fiction novel. Dooley's ability to perfectly execute such a long-arc design is why I felt at ease picking up book four in this sweeping series. The title refers to bonds formed by blood, by choice, and by inheritance that cross centuries, applying most powerfully to twinhood, found household ties at KSH House, and lineage that persists through altered bodies and memory. I love that we are situated in a contemporary world, albeit one shaped by covert longevity science; the most brilliant example appears when dormant vessels stored beneath KSH House emit light in response to a presence. All the characters are fully fleshed out, but, for me, it is Jong-hyun Park’s attentiveness and consent-centered actions that take center stage. The settings are amazing and near cinematic, and I was standing right on that New England shoreline for a special renewal. Overall, this is a series and a read worth the time investment. Very highly recommended.

~ Jamie Michele