I’m so glad I got to read this amazing book after some of my recent disastrous reads. This book takes your over-rated dystopian genre and snows all over it. The plot is such a strong sci-fi, the kind of sci-fi we fail to see in YA genres for some reason because I think “adults” think that “kids” can’t process/handle all that info.
The plot: Take our Earth and dip it in a snow-cone and VOILA! You have Earthland. A world that’s trapped in a perpetual ice-age. There is an endless grey-sky that further promotes the continuous snow fall.
A bad government called the Cerebus Command who rule Rhone, a place where the wealthy and the elite enjoy normal lives, while the rest suffer the consequences of the ice. Cerebus controls the outside by ensuring that they depend on them for food.
How gorgeous is this cover?
This book covers two main POV’s, one of Reynal Królik (an 18 year old ice-sled messenger on Earthland) and the other of Odessa (a genetically engineered 19 year old MED-cadet from Rhone). If the term a genetically engineered MED-cadet did not turn your head into a whirlpool then I’ll be disappointed because one of the reasons I read this book is because I wanted to know more about this character.
I liked that there were a few other POV’s as well besides the main characters because I always love it when the authors force you to connect the dots. It makes for an engaging and engrossing read.
The writing was super easy and adaptable. I had trouble putting this book down, once I reached 15% of the book because the writing was constantly flowing, and I was already invested in the characters. In the early 15% it took me a little while to adapt to the new characters, setting and plot in the beginning but that’s normal I guess.
The plot is very unique (obviously) and it’s not similar to anything I’ve read so far. I was constantly amazed by the detailed world-building and how similar yet different their world felt.
The characters are nothing like your average sci-fi. They are very smart, independent and strikingly realistic. I’m so tired of seeing dumb YA characters who make terrible decisions constantly, even though the surrounding in which they grew up in should obviously make them sturdier, as was the case in this book.
I love the lack of romance and the amazing characters development. This fact deserves a whole star in itself.
There’s great diversity in the book too, as you can see in the names: Mustafa, Darjeeling and Navid. These names are very common in South Asia or even in Muslim communities (There are no religions in the book as everything was wiped out in the beginning off the ice fall) And I also loved the Icelandic curse words that were used often.
While I found this book fabulous and loved its amazing and enjoyable characters, I did have an issue with Winnie (another genetically engineered MED-cadet), maybe because she was portrayed as giggling all the time or maybe it’s because Odessa kept mentioning the fact that Winnie was like her sister and she loved her so much but it felt like a lot of telling and less showing because I wanted to see Winnie and Odessa act like sisters instead of just having Odessa think it.
And also those occasions where Reynal was info-dumped by the Professor, regarding his past and his mum. I would have liked it if the information was weaved into the story line instead of having the Professor and Reynal go on mini walks/adventures and get Reynal a.k.a us, bombarded with so much information at once.
Besides these two shortcomings, I absolutely adored the book! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book by the authors. And if you too enjoy a good sci-fi and do not find multiple POV’s confusing, definitely give this a try!
Have you guys read this book? If yes, let me know your thoughts down in the comments. And if not, then go ahead and suggest me some of your favourite recent sci-fi reads!
Lots of love,
Raven
Goodreads, Amazon, Author’s site
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