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magikspells's review against another edition
4.0
If you could imagine the bastard child of The Demon King (with it's monarch struggles), Divergent (with its government imposed way of life), and Terminator (machines are taking over!!) with a little bit of the Danger Room from X-men thrown in (obviously the jail), this is what you'd get with this story. This is a terrible description though since this book came out before some of these others. Nevertheless, I actually kinda loved this book. And it's ironic that it can go on both my 'future sounds depressing' and 'old school' shelves. I think this is the first book I've read that can be both.
If you disregard some of the basic questions like what happens to the prisoners and bad people that come along after the prison is constructed or why people decide to live in a past time period just to placate a king, you'll find a unique and interesting story. I liked all of the characters, I was taken by surprise more than once and I just generally had a good time with it once I got into the story. I'll be checking out the next book, I'm interested to see what comes next.
If you disregard some of the basic questions like what happens to the prisoners and bad people that come along after the prison is constructed or why people decide to live in a past time period just to placate a king, you'll find a unique and interesting story. I liked all of the characters, I was taken by surprise more than once and I just generally had a good time with it once I got into the story. I'll be checking out the next book, I'm interested to see what comes next.
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
AMAZING! can i give it SIX stars?!?! the story is an excellent juxtapositioning of sci-fi and historical fic. great characters, scene switches with cliff hangers, great action and back story. the plot's penultimate climax is an astounding piece of written art, and i can barely contain my thrill for whoever decides to read it!
alex_watkins's review against another edition
5.0
This book is fantastic. I really could not put it down. Written in a style similar to most teen fantasy novels, but it was darker, more creative, and never grating. The book always unlike some other teen novels, respects the intelligence of the reader. But mostly it was creative really well done fantasy/sci fi. Creepy as well in some parts. Can I make a tag that is for people living underground that have never seen the outside, because this could probably be a new genre. Though even as this approaches a cliche, I will still love it. My only complaint is sometimes I couldn't figure out what was happening, I find that happens in many books though. The twist I have to say was not expected at all, very well done.
Also this would make a great movie. In my head the character of Gildas is Ian Holm. I mean literally the part was written for him! If they cast anyone else in this theoretical movie I will boycott it.
Also this would make a great movie. In my head the character of Gildas is Ian Holm. I mean literally the part was written for him! If they cast anyone else in this theoretical movie I will boycott it.
hirayaryuu's review against another edition
3.0
it was very hard to start. The writing style wasn't as enticing during the first few chapters as it was at the end, only during the last few chapters was i able to not put the book down, in some way i could skip whole paragraphs because they seemed empty. yes, the world created by Catherine Fisher is certainly amazing, the characters, the plot, everything, i just wish that there were more things tying us down to read the book in a more fascinating manner. overall it was an okay-good book read :)
lucita_knjige's review against another edition
2.0
Dvije zvijezde samo zato što je čitljivo. Meh, zapravo sam samo prelistala i svejedno sam mogla pratiti o čemu je riječ. Tolko o tome
npmartins's review against another edition
3.0
Very good concept and story potential, however, it is slow to catch up and the story in itself is not the most cativating. What the author can create with this universe can achieve a great series, lets see what the other books will add to it.
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
There are two kinds of great novels. There’s the kind that you can’t put down, an addiction running through your bloodstream, the kind that, time permitting, you inhale in one single reading. That kind would be those rare books like The Hunger Games.
Then there’s the other kind of great book. This kind shakes the foundations of your literary beliefs. It haunts your dreams, your thoughts during the daytime, and may even give you nightmares. But you can’t read this in one sitting, so intense it is, so much figurative weight it holds.
INCARCERON is this type of novel.
It’s not a book that makes you immediately fall in love with it. In fact, in many aspects it’s actually quite the opposite. Neither Claudia nor Finn are extremely likable: Claudia was raised by the Warden to be shrewd and calculating, while Finn often feels like a passive goody-two-shoes undeservingly stuck in a horrible situation. Catherine Fisher also drops readers unapologetically into her world, with the result being that you’re left scrambling for something to hold onto as you struggle to adjust yourself to this confusing world full of court intrigue, secrets, and threats.
But as the story moved along, I found myself slowly being drawn in, gradually getting caught up in the parallel desperations of Finn and Claudia’s stories. While the plot arc of the novel seems to move slowly, each chapter is packed full of interesting conversations or scenarios, so that, while you are able to put down the book, you will hardly lose interest. Fisher has an effortless way with words, mesmerizing and creepy at the same time.
The revelation at the end is of the jaw-dropping degree, and is what convinced me of Catherine Fisher’s literary mastery. It’s not often that an author can manage to string readers along, and then throw them for a completely unexpected—and yet, if you think about it, actually quite brilliantly sensible—loop. Fisher’s storytelling experience shows in the way she weaves together this complex novel.
INCARCERON will probably best appeal to fans of high sci-fi or fantasy, as it is a difficult story to digest. But if this is the type of book you crave, then you will be justly rewarded for your time. Perhaps you, too, will be like me, and try to recommend this book to everyone you know, believing that it is a book worthy of handselling and wider recognition.
Then there’s the other kind of great book. This kind shakes the foundations of your literary beliefs. It haunts your dreams, your thoughts during the daytime, and may even give you nightmares. But you can’t read this in one sitting, so intense it is, so much figurative weight it holds.
INCARCERON is this type of novel.
It’s not a book that makes you immediately fall in love with it. In fact, in many aspects it’s actually quite the opposite. Neither Claudia nor Finn are extremely likable: Claudia was raised by the Warden to be shrewd and calculating, while Finn often feels like a passive goody-two-shoes undeservingly stuck in a horrible situation. Catherine Fisher also drops readers unapologetically into her world, with the result being that you’re left scrambling for something to hold onto as you struggle to adjust yourself to this confusing world full of court intrigue, secrets, and threats.
But as the story moved along, I found myself slowly being drawn in, gradually getting caught up in the parallel desperations of Finn and Claudia’s stories. While the plot arc of the novel seems to move slowly, each chapter is packed full of interesting conversations or scenarios, so that, while you are able to put down the book, you will hardly lose interest. Fisher has an effortless way with words, mesmerizing and creepy at the same time.
The revelation at the end is of the jaw-dropping degree, and is what convinced me of Catherine Fisher’s literary mastery. It’s not often that an author can manage to string readers along, and then throw them for a completely unexpected—and yet, if you think about it, actually quite brilliantly sensible—loop. Fisher’s storytelling experience shows in the way she weaves together this complex novel.
INCARCERON will probably best appeal to fans of high sci-fi or fantasy, as it is a difficult story to digest. But if this is the type of book you crave, then you will be justly rewarded for your time. Perhaps you, too, will be like me, and try to recommend this book to everyone you know, believing that it is a book worthy of handselling and wider recognition.