I cannot wait to see what this book is like as a movie.
Seriously.
It's going to be crazy.
WHAT WAS WRITTEN
Incarceron is a prison so large and so vast that it is practically its own world. It's not only full of cells and corridors, but also full of forests and villages. It has been sealed off for centuries. Only one man knows its location and only one man has ever escaped from within its walls.
Finn has always been a prisoner of Incarceron. For as long as he can remember he's been trapped within the walls of the prison. Despite that, he still believes he is from the Outside.
And then there's Claudia, Finn's link to the Outside. She's trying to get out of an arranged marriage which would make her father the most important man in the realm. She is also the Warden's daughter and she is his one chance to break free from Incarceron forever.
Together they're facing impossible odds - the game is stacked against them and Incarceron itself is their fiercest opponent.
Seriously.
It's going to be crazy.
WHAT WAS WRITTEN
Incarceron is a prison so large and so vast that it is practically its own world. It's not only full of cells and corridors, but also full of forests and villages. It has been sealed off for centuries. Only one man knows its location and only one man has ever escaped from within its walls.
Finn has always been a prisoner of Incarceron. For as long as he can remember he's been trapped within the walls of the prison. Despite that, he still believes he is from the Outside.
And then there's Claudia, Finn's link to the Outside. She's trying to get out of an arranged marriage which would make her father the most important man in the realm. She is also the Warden's daughter and she is his one chance to break free from Incarceron forever.
Together they're facing impossible odds - the game is stacked against them and Incarceron itself is their fiercest opponent.
WHAT MY BRAIN HAS TO SAY ON THE MATTER
This was quite the imaginative and innovative book. A book about a prison that's essentially alive and sentient? The story itself is absolutely brilliant and it was so refreshing to read something so fresh. It was predictable, in a lot of ways, but even while being predictable it was entertaining. Catherine Fisher has drafted an amazing, fast paced, and captivating first novel of what is sure to be a wild ride.
It did take me a while to get into it, however. It felt like I was dumped into the middle of a story that was already set into motion. Book specific terms and ideas were used without any introduction or explanation and characters were introduced slowly and haphazardly. It was a little jarring and hard to become fully oriented with the story.
However, once everything clicked and I fully felt like I 'got it' I was hooked. Finn is a brilliant character and his relationship with Incarceron is haunting and frankly, kinda scary. Despite his situation, he's still a loyal (to a fault, which is endearing) and innocent (he seems to always look out for his friends and choses to see the best out of others).
While I completely loved Finn's character and his story from the beginning, but it took me a while to open up to Claudia and her life Outside. But she, as well as the characters surrounding her, grew on me by the end of the book. She's brash and impulsive, but also smart and determined. Her character isn't as well developed as Finn's (and really, even his development is lacking), but she is headed somewhere interesting. And Jared? Jared may just be my favorite character in the whole novel. I cannot wait to hear more about him.
And then there's Incarceron itself. A living, breathing, bored prison. Which is crazy and amazing and so, so creepy. I don't want to talk too much about it, other than it is the most developed character in the novel.
Best book I've ever read? No. But entertaining and original? Yes. You ought to give this one a chance.
This was quite the imaginative and innovative book. A book about a prison that's essentially alive and sentient? The story itself is absolutely brilliant and it was so refreshing to read something so fresh. It was predictable, in a lot of ways, but even while being predictable it was entertaining. Catherine Fisher has drafted an amazing, fast paced, and captivating first novel of what is sure to be a wild ride.
It did take me a while to get into it, however. It felt like I was dumped into the middle of a story that was already set into motion. Book specific terms and ideas were used without any introduction or explanation and characters were introduced slowly and haphazardly. It was a little jarring and hard to become fully oriented with the story.
However, once everything clicked and I fully felt like I 'got it' I was hooked. Finn is a brilliant character and his relationship with Incarceron is haunting and frankly, kinda scary. Despite his situation, he's still a loyal (to a fault, which is endearing) and innocent (he seems to always look out for his friends and choses to see the best out of others).
While I completely loved Finn's character and his story from the beginning, but it took me a while to open up to Claudia and her life Outside. But she, as well as the characters surrounding her, grew on me by the end of the book. She's brash and impulsive, but also smart and determined. Her character isn't as well developed as Finn's (and really, even his development is lacking), but she is headed somewhere interesting. And Jared? Jared may just be my favorite character in the whole novel. I cannot wait to hear more about him.
And then there's Incarceron itself. A living, breathing, bored prison. Which is crazy and amazing and so, so creepy. I don't want to talk too much about it, other than it is the most developed character in the novel.
Best book I've ever read? No. But entertaining and original? Yes. You ought to give this one a chance.
THE NITTY GRITTY
Title: Incarceron (Incarceron #1)
Author: Catherine Fisher
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Steampunk, SciFi
Medium: Paperback, 442pp
Publisher: Firebird Books (3 May 2007)
Date Read: 21 June 2013
Source: Purchased @ Barnes & Noble
Recommended For: Middle School+, Steampunk Fans, YA, Fantasy Lovers, Dystopian Fans
Challenges: Goodreads, Off the Shelf,
First Line: Finn had been flung on his face and chained to the stone slabs of the transitway.
Favorite Line: Because I have dreams and in those dreams I see the stars.
Last Line: Jared gazed at the cube thoughtfully. "Closer than you think, Finn," he said. [whited out, for spoiler's sake]
Okay, so now I have another book I need to read. You know you're one of the only people whose recommendations I always read? I think you and I have similar expectations in book quality.
ReplyDeleteHave you read the descent series by SM Reine? Just finished the first 4 books, am reading the 5th, and I stayed up until about 2 in the morning for 3 days straight to read them. VERY well written. A tad dark, but sooooooo interesting.