The weirdest office romance ever. I knew at the end of Hench that Anna/The Auditor was attracted to her boss Leviathan. She sees past the mandibles and carapace to the being underneath.
In the first chapters of this book, we learn that the loss of his nemesis, Supercollider, has plunged Leviathan into a dark depression. The Auditor is holding his organization together by her fingernails as she also mourns for the actively evil Leviathan of the past. In the meantime, the Draft (the training and support organization for superheroes) has been trying to restore Supercollider to normalcy. It does not go well. Leviathan is determined to attend the midnight funeral for Supercollider, so the Auditor leads the way.
The results for Leviathan are positive—he regains his equilibrium. And sweeps the Auditor off to his private quarters to nibble on her with those amazing mouthparts. Initially delighted, Anna comes to wonder about his motivations. What seemed protective and caring before suddenly feels manipulative and controlling. Leviathan seems strangely unfamiliar with human reactions and emotions. He is prepared to impose his will on Anna in a very paternalistic fashion. An employer may expect loyalty and obedience, but how much? How do you say no to someone who can easily rip you apart?
The Draft are not sitting on their hands either. Their Chief Marketing Officer is offering amnesty to any of Leviathan’s people willing to leave and is concentrating his attention on Anna. As they watch Leviathan’s workforce drain away, the Auditor struggles with her own desire for more autonomy versus her loyalty to her boss.
In the acknowledgements, Walschots writes about how difficult this book was to write. Despite that, I have a feeling that we have not seen the last of the Auditor and Leviathan. At least I certainly hope not.
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