Book Details:
Book Title: NATIVE SPECIES - A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles by Michael Albergo
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 240 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Electric Torch
Release date: March 2026
Content Rating: PG -13: Some F-words, religious profanities, crude terms; one very tame non-explicit sex scene
Book Title: NATIVE SPECIES - A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles by Michael Albergo
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +), 240 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Electric Torch
Release date: March 2026
Content Rating: PG -13: Some F-words, religious profanities, crude terms; one very tame non-explicit sex scene
Book Description:
It is 1928, and the future is unwritten.
When widowed Professor Horace Jennings reluctantly volunteers to search for a missing student, he trades Rhode Island for the West Coast. This isn’t Providence; this is Los Angeles. And as his hired detective warns him, bootleggers, museum thieves, and crooked cops are no company for a sherry-sipping professor and his precocious protégé, Helen Parker.
But the truly dangerous characters aren’t criminals.
In fact, they aren’t even human.
Shila Ghiss, a scientist from a subterranean race, desires only to experience daylight. One day, she gets her chance—if she is willing to help reclaim the surface from humanity. She’ll need to become human, to learn about powerplants, facial expressions, and hair care. She’ll need to do something awful. But her mentor and his followers are planning to do something far worse—something apocalyptic.
To save both species, she’ll have to work closely with these bizarre, unpredictable humans and become both traitor and savior. She’ll have to decide who she is, and which native species will write the future.
It is 1928, and the future is unwritten.
When widowed Professor Horace Jennings reluctantly volunteers to search for a missing student, he trades Rhode Island for the West Coast. This isn’t Providence; this is Los Angeles. And as his hired detective warns him, bootleggers, museum thieves, and crooked cops are no company for a sherry-sipping professor and his precocious protégé, Helen Parker.
But the truly dangerous characters aren’t criminals.
In fact, they aren’t even human.
Shila Ghiss, a scientist from a subterranean race, desires only to experience daylight. One day, she gets her chance—if she is willing to help reclaim the surface from humanity. She’ll need to become human, to learn about powerplants, facial expressions, and hair care. She’ll need to do something awful. But her mentor and his followers are planning to do something far worse—something apocalyptic.
To save both species, she’ll have to work closely with these bizarre, unpredictable humans and become both traitor and savior. She’ll have to decide who she is, and which native species will write the future.
Meet the Author:
A professional engineer and graduate of MIT (engineering and humanities), Michael Albergo writes character-driven speculative fiction rooted in real-life early 20th century locales, people, and events. He teaches at New York University and is an avid player of board games and role-playing games. Native Species is his first novel.
connect with the author: website ~ goodreads
A professional engineer and graduate of MIT (engineering and humanities), Michael Albergo writes character-driven speculative fiction rooted in real-life early 20th century locales, people, and events. He teaches at New York University and is an avid player of board games and role-playing games. Native Species is his first novel.
connect with the author: website ~ goodreads
Enter the Giveaway:
My Review:
I found Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles to be a fun and entertaining novel from Michael Albergo. It is a great debut for this author. It did take me a few chapters to understand as to what is going and who was who. Once I caught on, I was captivated. I was often on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen from scene to scene. It was a story of two worlds colliding - human and reptiles. I am not one to pick up this type of book, but have to admit that it was intriguing. I am a history lover and loved that I was taken back in time to Los Angeles and clashing with fantasy. I thought it was a fantastic story making me wanting to find out how it would end for the characters.
I am going to give Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who love to read fantasy and science fiction. I would be curious to see what other books Michael Albergo will be releasing the future. I believe this one is worth a read and not to be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Michael Albergo's Native Species: A Tale of Two Civilizations in 1928 Los Angeles from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Amy, thanks so much for your kind and thoughtful review of my novel. It’s a genre bender—sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery. One reviewer told me she felt it was truly a romance novel. Whatever it is, I’m very happy that readers like you who wouldn’t typically pick up such a book still found it a worthwhile read. I hope other readers also find it so. Kind regards, Michael Albergo
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAmy, thank you for your very kind review of my debut novel. You are exactly the kind of reader I am hoping to reach with Native Species —someone not necessarily tied to sci-fi or fantasy but interested in a high-stakes story grounded in authentic people, places, and events, with flawed but engaging characters at its core (human or reptile.)
ReplyDeleteI’ve produced an audiobook of Native Species which your readers might also enjoy. It will be available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes next week. There is also a giveaway of 100 e-books on Goodreads currently ongoing.
Thanks again for your review!