First off, I'd like to preface this review by letting everyone know : this is the first in a trilogy, not a standalone novel. The second novel, Fuse, comes out on February 19th, 2013.
This novel takes place in the not so distant American future, where Detonations have occurred, causing death to most, and fusions of humans to items they were touching with a part of their body or were around, at the time of the blast.
Main character Pressia is a young girl who was living with her grandfather at the time of the Detonations, herself incurring a doll onto her hand, and her grandfather a fan motor into his throat. Other characters are fused with siblings, have birds infused into their back, or were fused with a cement walkway and had to be removed. These members of society are living in an ash filled world, just trying to survive the post-apocalyptic scenario.
On the flip side, there are members who live in the Dome, and are deemed Pure. They reached this safe haven before the Detonations occurred, and live in a life of semi-luxury, away from the death and mutations. One boy though, Patridge, lives in the Dome, but comes to find out his mother might still be alive on the outside, and plans an escape.
How does the escape happen, and why is it so easy? Who does Patridge meet on the outside to help him along his way? What secrets are revealed between Patridge's father, his mother, and Pressia? Who is trying to take over whom for ultimate authority? What do they do to children when they turn 16 in the world outside of the Dome? Why were these Detonations allowed in the first place, and why did some know about them in advance? Those are what will be revealed and more within this twisting novel.
I felt the overall theme is one of dystopian nature, as well as a slight bizarro-like feel. The novel started out a bit slow, and had a few slow spots in the middle, giving some character development and enveloping you with the world that has resulted from these Detonations. It didn't skip around to the point that you felt lost, but did delve into quite a few side stories that connected by the end. It set it up pretty well for a second book, but I have my reservations on if it can keep steam for a full trilogy, we'll have to see. The first book has also been optioned for movie form, so that could be interesting as well.
Overall grade : B-
Review by Kyle Lybeck
This novel takes place in the not so distant American future, where Detonations have occurred, causing death to most, and fusions of humans to items they were touching with a part of their body or were around, at the time of the blast.
Main character Pressia is a young girl who was living with her grandfather at the time of the Detonations, herself incurring a doll onto her hand, and her grandfather a fan motor into his throat. Other characters are fused with siblings, have birds infused into their back, or were fused with a cement walkway and had to be removed. These members of society are living in an ash filled world, just trying to survive the post-apocalyptic scenario.
On the flip side, there are members who live in the Dome, and are deemed Pure. They reached this safe haven before the Detonations occurred, and live in a life of semi-luxury, away from the death and mutations. One boy though, Patridge, lives in the Dome, but comes to find out his mother might still be alive on the outside, and plans an escape.
How does the escape happen, and why is it so easy? Who does Patridge meet on the outside to help him along his way? What secrets are revealed between Patridge's father, his mother, and Pressia? Who is trying to take over whom for ultimate authority? What do they do to children when they turn 16 in the world outside of the Dome? Why were these Detonations allowed in the first place, and why did some know about them in advance? Those are what will be revealed and more within this twisting novel.
I felt the overall theme is one of dystopian nature, as well as a slight bizarro-like feel. The novel started out a bit slow, and had a few slow spots in the middle, giving some character development and enveloping you with the world that has resulted from these Detonations. It didn't skip around to the point that you felt lost, but did delve into quite a few side stories that connected by the end. It set it up pretty well for a second book, but I have my reservations on if it can keep steam for a full trilogy, we'll have to see. The first book has also been optioned for movie form, so that could be interesting as well.
Overall grade : B-
Review by Kyle Lybeck
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