Challenge #22 ~ “Pick a genre and read nominated books from three different years of the Goodreads Choice Awards – Book 1: YA Fantasy (2014).”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
My opinion in three sentences:
Now that you’ve finished admiring the outstanding cover and moved onto reading my thoughts (and, believe me, we’ve all sat there staring), let me assure you that the wonder and beautiful craftsmanship you observe there also reads true in the actual novel itself. From some strong and distinctive characters to the world-building that is subtle and understated but exquisitely done, Kaufman & Spooner nail every technical element of YA novel writing, and employ a fantastic stylistic choice as a real cherry-on-the-top. When it comes to the plot, there are moments I was less keen on and questions I’m hoping will be addressed in the future instalments, but as a YA sci-fi, it’s only really falling short in comparison to other (more recent) works Kaufman & Spooner have been involved in.
(Without spoiling anything) the best bit:
Can we applaud the way this is formatted, please? It’s not something I’ve seen much talk about in reference to this book, but it definitely deserves some kudos. Scattered in among the regular narrative chapters are unsignposted discussions between Tarver and, well, that would be telling. They’re the type of feature that are confusing at first, as well as rather intriguing, but on a re-read add a whole other level of meaning. I was recommended Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game based on the same stylistic device, but for me, Kaufman & Spooner made it so much stronger and impactful in this novel. It was an unexpected joy crowning the wonder of the rest of the book.
A warning for the book:
I’m back to the age-old ‘make sure you have the sequels to hand’ answer for this, and it rings as true as it did the first time I had to use it (which I believe was on another of Kaufman’s sci-fi trilogies…) That being said, it is very much having the sequels plural, because in typical Kaufman fashion, the second book is wholly focused on an alternative set of characters before the two tales collide for an explosive finale in the third. And, with such gorgeous covers, it’s not like they’re going to be much of an eyesore on the bedside-TBR…
Recommended for fans of:
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Starglass by Phoebe North
- Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller
Dreaming With Your Eyes Wide Open 