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World Of Shell And Bone (2012)

by S.K. Falls(Favorite Author)

3.46 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Smashwords Edition

series

Glimpsing Stars

review 1: While I'm not finished with this yet (and to be honest, I'm not sure I will finish), I wanted to get a few thoughts down about Shell & Bone. I actually preferred the first cover, but that was changed when I had to re-register my Nook, which was really disappointing. Unfortunately, that seems to be par for this book: the story itself is interesting, but the writing is clunky and it takes a long time to really get the main character to DO anything. I understood the need for setting things up, but it took overly long. A character should be pushed to get involved long before chapter 18, even if they're relatively short chapters. And while I don't find the characters one-dimensional, I don't really find them well developed either. They come across as VERY young,But the bigger i... moressue I'm having is believability. Why would a character persist in believing she'd get the chance to emigrate once she has a healthy child if her mother didn't get to after having 3 children, 2 of which were considered healthy? Why is the supposedly constant exposure to radiation/acid rain/etc negatively affecting only some of the population? How did the war manage to wipe out ALL our understanding of disabilities, pregnancy, etc? And those are just a few of the niggling little questions that are ignored as the story plods forward. The larger issue is either the author has no idea what feminism is or is deliberately using a misogynistic view of feminism as the basis of the "feminist" party that now supposedly controls where they live. The former is downright irritating and seems to be the case since there's been no attempt to really convey the latter. Since the feminist party's beliefs and policies are a constant in the story and mentioned over and over again, the reader can't help but bump against the problem: did the author really not research enough to know the way feminism is being presented is problematic or was this a deliberate choice?And I suppose that this is the main reason that I'm continuing to read: to try to understand what the author was attempting to do. The problem with this is that eventually I'll stop because it won't be enough. I need to be invested in the characters so I want to know what happens to THEM and what their STORY is. If that doesn't happen soon (and I'm very close to that point now), I will close the book unfinished.Update: By the middle of the book, the plot becomes unbelievable and the writing overly simplistic and clunky. Actually, in a way, the story ends up more like the writing: overly simplistic with too much black and white and very little shades of gray or depth. I'm not willing to keep slogging through it and can't recommend it as a good read.
review 2: INITIAL THOUGHTSSo first of all I should totally admit I messed up and read Moon which is 1.5 in the Glimpsing Stars Series first. But on a good note it definitely did not spoil my enjoyment of Bk#1 as Moon concentrates on "Moon" as the main character, whereas in World Of Shell And Bone the main characters are really the Cannon family. So as I had read Moon previously I had an inkling I was going to love this book too! As I knew I already enjoyed S.K. Falls writing style, I will say my expectations were even higher for this book. when I started reading it I really hated it every single time I had to put it down! In fact I even took my kindle to read in the college car park whilst waiting to pick my daughter up! I was totally hooked.MY REVIEWI purchased this title in e-book format from Amazon.co.uk after I finished reading Moon in the Darkest Worlds Anthology. So the cover features a woman, presumably Vika in a gorgeous dress holding a bird cage. I think the bird cage could be there to represent how people are literally in cages, in that if they step out of line they can be sent to be gassed. Also women are the rulers of society. It's a total role reversal of our present day society. Men are more considered homemakers and somewhat second class citizens.Would the cover alone make me want to read the book? Being totally truthful no. The cover would maybe make me want to learn more about the book. Though it's the blurb that would totally sell me the book.The book is set in a place called New Amana, which is plainly dying daily. The air is at times un-breathable, the rain burns the skin like acid. It is a society ruled by "higher ups" who decide who can have a place on a ship to a healthier place to live and who will stay behind and die. The members of this society have certain duties they have to take care of. The womens role if to bear healthy children to re-populate New Amana. Men are cast in a supportive role, obviously they have to perform to get the women pregnant when they are "Matched" but after a child is born the women can send the man away, and take another to be matched with for her second child etc. When first matched a couple has a certain amount of tries over 6 months, but the rules can be changed however and whenever the govvernment of women wish it to.So the main character of this book is Vika Canon, daughter of the very important Mathilde Canon. Mathilde Canon is so determined to play by the rules to earn her place on a ship to china she even "sold out" her own daughter Ceres, when it became apparent she was less than perfect, when she began having fits. Ceres is sent away to an Asylum, to be "experimented on" for the wider good of humanity. When Ceres is taken away all traces of her are removed from Vika's home and Mathilde insists that Ceres never be spoken of again. It's literally as if she never ever existed. But Vika remembers her beautiful sister. Mathilde continually puts great pressure on her only remaining daughter to be a perfect example of societies rules. When Vika is "matched" to the male named Shale her mother again puts pressure on them to deliver the goods so to speak. So as in most dystopian societies there are the conformers and the non-conformers, called Rads in this book. The Rads want to rescue the children who were sent to the asylums to be experimented on, as news has leaked out that they are being hurt and abused. Vika hears this news and decides she must rescue her sister Ceres, the beautiful, carefree child she has never forgotten despite her mothers attempts. Vika also has a brother who ends up rebelling against his mother and her governments regime.I really could go on and on forever about this book, I thoroughly immersed myself into this book ad the societies culture as I was reading the book. I was hanging on every word of the book. The book starts at what I'd say was a medium pace and then as you learn the background you need to know, the pace picks up and you, the reader want to figuratively run along faster with it. I couldn't wait to know more and more. I felt Vika's frustration with the social order within New Amana, I felt her broken hearted disappointment when she realises who gave up her sister to be sent to the Asylum. You also feel her desperation and deep need to find Ceres and try to put right all the wrongs that have been done to her in the name of improving humanity. I enjoyed reading about the trials and tribulations Vika goes through, the hard times, dangerous situations and the occasional lucky break she manages to get. When I got to the very end and Vika looks up at a male, wondering if her eyes are telling her the truth about whom she is seeing, I really wanted to flick to the next page on my kindle and see a certain males name but the book just stops short of revealing the males name.I know who I really want it to be, and I'm highly anticipating the next book.So did I enjoy the book? I loved reading this fantastically well thought out dystopian delight! Would I recommend the book? I would highly recommend this book & series. Would I read another book in this series? I have already read Moon, though I read it in the wrong order I loved it. and I am earnestly looking forward to reading Bk#2 Would I read other books by this Author? I would certainly take a closer look at any books by S.K. Falls after reading World Of Shell and Bone. less

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