5 Stars!
I am xxxxx-blown away! This was a phenomenal novel! It is probably the best book I've read all year! At it's core it's a science fiction, ya-romance, but it's broader than those simplistic labels.
Let's start off with the structure, because that's where you'll notice a complete divergence from the norm. The "story" is relayed via a collection of briefing documents: conversation transcripts, memos, maps, etc. Soooo, there's a bit of inferring to be done in order to put the pieces of the puzzle together. However, paperclip briefing notes help the reader make sense of the varying documents and point out some easily missed important details for consideration. The integrated graphics and running text plays with shape and space for a truly artistic layout. Much of the story is relayed through transcripts of casual conversations built like text message exchanges making for fun reading.
It is chock full of literary devices for exploration. Allusion with a snarky bite abounds as do other forms of figurative language. Sarcasm is rampant, but I think I enjoyed the many allusions so much more. I found myself laughing when I noticed some of the odder references. Multiple thematic topics are explored including love, loyalty, duty, family, ethics, bioweapons, artificial intelligence, the meaning of life, and more. Rather than a hodgepodge of truisms, these themes are woven throughout with a subtlety that is natural and thought-provoking. The plot develops at a reasonable pace that seems true to a possible real-life scenario. It is neither rushed nor stilted. Goldilocks would say that it's just right. This would be a fun novel to explore with a high school class. Some of the topics are a bit mature for in-class exploration at the middle school level.
I also loved the characters! Kady Grant is a smart 17-year-old dealing with an emotional break up when she is thrust into the middle of a horrific situation. Yet throughout her ordeal, she manages to hold on to her core values, even though others falter. Her ex-boyfriend Ezra Mason is a decent guy also caught up in this fight for survival, but his interactions with Kady are remote by necessity. Add in an insane AI computer, some people constrained by military duty, and some ethical scientists, and you have the recipe for great conflict!
Inherent to the story is its science fiction core. The action begins at a remote mining colony in another universe. Space travel, wormholes, vector jump drives, and technical specs are referenced throughout the tale. Critical to the storyline is the presence of a ship's artificial intelligence onboard computer. For those new to science fiction, these are concepts that should be investigated beforehand so that understanding of the plot is easier. Also, basic understanding of military positions (lieutenant, captain, corporal, etc.) would be helpful as there is a big military component to this novel.
So, a couple of warnings. While there are no explicit expletives, the number of blacked out blanks for expletives leaves little room for the imagination. It's pretty clear what's being said, and being said frequently. Also, there are a few sexual references during conversations among some of the male characters, but I think that makes it a bit more realistic. Yes, this is a violent book with extreme loss of life thrown directly in your face, so this is not a book for those upset by violence.
At times I found myself angry beyond belief, and then a few pages later, I was crying. Wait a bit, and then I'm chuckling. Yes, this book evoked so many emotions for me, but it wasn't overkill. Again, it was just right. I think I liked the fact that this novel wasn't a straight romance, but it had romantic overtones; it wasn't an epic adventure, but it had plenty of heart-pounding action; it wasn't a morose, cerebral text, but it encouraged deeper thought; it may have been science-fiction, but it had the right amount of realism.
My friends, it is a long text (600 pages), but it is totally worth the read. I HIGHLY recommend it!
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