Review #501
How did I read two books in a row involving cannibalism?!?!?
I’m so conflicted after finishing this. It will tend out as memorable compared to so many other YA fantasy books I’ve read but it also feels too dark to be YA. I saw it won some sort of “kids ___ award” but I wouldn’t recommend this for under age 16 for sure.
The author did an amazing job of making me care about the main character but I still wanted more emotions shown for the terrible events that were happening. It was intense and sometimes they brushed over it for the sake of moving on in the plot.
a strength was how much I was impressed by the social issues and environmentalism playing such a huge role in the theme of a fantasy novel and it works into the world building naturally.
I think I need to give this a 4.3/5 for now but am not set on that.
Here’s my live thoughts while reading (be careful of possible spoilers):
Okay. I’m already so intrigued that it’s sci fi date of year 2121ish. What do these klujn creatures look like? Are they human like?
I love that it’s set in autumn timeline as a fall read.
What does her adoptive mother know that Ava doesn’t and how long has she lived with them?
Is the scar actually from a a wolf?
Who put here outside the fence when she was unconscious and why?
Why do they only steal females?
Why 14?
Why are her memories coming back of the orphanage as if they were all wiped clean at some point?
Will she ever get her pendant returned?
How did her classmate get captured too?
How can their city by so detailed and lived in if they’re nomadic? How long do they stay in one place?
I’m surprised no one died during the first cave challenge.
Halfway it feels like a mix of Divergent and The Hunger Games but all female. Unfortunately there’s no romance so far.
The 1:1 battles are much more intense than I expected.
The dinner scene for what they had to eat was almost too much for me.
I’ve felt a disturbing sense of unease through the majority of reading this and it’s not pleasant
The concept of the third and fourth eye is quite interesting and unique.
Did Circo know the hunters would track her?
I don’t know how I feel at the end since it’s a cliffhanger. There are no inklings online for a sequel. I looked at the author’s insta page and website and nothing points towards a follow up.