A dark, thrilling tale that will keep readers on their toes, although the ending feels abrupt.
A young woman living in a supposedly safe society begins to realize that appearances can be deceptive.
In 2090, America One has been walled off from the rest of the world, run by an anonymous board for the past 60 years for the good of the citizens. Patricia “Patch” Collins is generally happy with her life and her career, one which allows more freedom and less monitoring than most. She believes that the Board has her best interests at heart and initially has little tolerance for traitors, believing that their harsh sentencing is appropriate despite the lingering trauma of witnessing a beloved teacher being hauled away, never to be seen again. An unfortunate run-in with a Board enforcer reveals that her family members may not always have been faithful citizens. Later, a surprise discovery during an unmonitored work trip with her best friend, Rexx, turns her life upside down. As she and Rexx embark on a perilous cross-country journey, they encounter additional horrors, meet like-minded citizens, and develop feelings for one another. Rexx is of Mexican descent, but most characters follow a white default. Castle’s debut has many of the elements one hopes for in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world, and the characters are well-written and well-developed; however, the epilogue does little to resolve the story, leaving readers in the lurch.
A dark, thrilling tale that will keep readers on their toes, although the ending feels abrupt. (Dystopia. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-947848-51-1
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Inkshares
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2018
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning.
Two teens train to be society-sanctioned killers in an otherwise immortal world.
On post-mortal Earth, humans live long (if not particularly passionate) lives without fear of disease, aging, or accidents. Operating independently of the governing AI (called the Thunderhead since it evolved from the cloud), scythes rely on 10 commandments, quotas, and their own moral codes to glean the population. After challenging Hon. Scythe Faraday, 16-year-olds Rowan Damisch and Citra Terranova reluctantly become his apprentices. Subjected to killcraft training, exposed to numerous executions, and discouraged from becoming allies or lovers, the two find themselves engaged in a fatal competition but equally determined to fight corruption and cruelty. The vivid and often violent action unfolds slowly, anchored in complex worldbuilding and propelled by political machinations and existential musings. Scythes’ journal entries accompany Rowan’s and Citra’s dual and dueling narratives, revealing both personal struggles and societal problems. The futuristic post–2042 MidMerican world is both dystopia and utopia, free of fear, unexpected death, and blatant racism—multiracial main characters discuss their diverse ethnic percentages rather than purity—but also lacking creativity, emotion, and purpose. Elegant and elegiac, brooding but imbued with gallows humor, Shusterman’s dark tale thrusts realistic, likable teens into a surreal situation and raises deep philosophic questions.
A thoughtful and thrilling story of life, death, and meaning. (Science fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: Nov. 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4424-7242-6
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 25, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
Some quality worldbuilding, but the story only inches along.
Juliette, the girl with the deadly touch, struggles to fit in with the resistance movement that saved her at the end of Shatter Me(2011).
In training to participate in an inevitable war against the Reestablishment, Juliette Ferrars should feel at home at Omega Point. In addition to no longer being a prisoner, she is surrounded by other people with supernatural gifts. Compassionate Castle tries to help her master her abilities, and Kenji tries to help her fit in, but the devastating nature of Juliette’s power hampers her efforts. Additionally, Adam is acting strangely—in large part because of his work with Castle to determine why he is able to touch Juliette safely—which causes difficulties in their relationship. Soon some of her new comrades are abducted while on patrol by soldiers led by Warner’s father, who demands a meeting with Juliette. The resistance is able to come away from the meeting with a hostage, Warner, who resumes his part in the established love triangle. Too much of the plot relies on Juliette’s withholding of important information and revelations, even against her own judgment. The bloated relationship drama takes priority over the captive resistance members in the buildup to the climax, which finally brings action before setting up the next novel.
Some quality worldbuilding, but the story only inches along. (Science fiction. 13 & up)Pub Date: Feb. 5, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-208553-5
Page Count: 480
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Dec. 11, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2013
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