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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.
kangokaren's review against another edition
4.0
About an entire world that is a living prison. Very interesting. Waiting for sequel to come in from my library hold.
angelatastic16's review against another edition
Incarceron is a story by Catherine Fisher about a prisoner named Finn who is trying to escape from Incarceron, a prison that is alive, with the help of Claudia, the well-to-do daughter of the warden of Incarceron. There are two different worlds in this book, Incarceron and a futuristic world. In the futuristic world, people live as they did in the colonial ages, making the whole book an anachronism. A common theme in this book is that people are always trying to escape themselves by blaming the world around them for their faults. This theme is apparent in many places in the book. For example, Finn blames all his faults on the prison and he is constantly telling himself the only reason why he murders, steals, etc. is because he must in order to survive in the prison. Jared, Claudia’s tutor, blames his position in society for his fault of never speaking his mind or never speaking up against the injustice that goes on around him. Another common theme in the book is justice is not always just. Incarceron was invented in order to punish the guilty and render justice. Over time, the prison became obsessed with serving justice to the point where it would punish the prisoners for crimes they had not yet committed by forcing them to live in poverty, fear, and danger. This was an interesting philosophical thought I had never pondered before, however after reading this book, more thought must go into the statement: justice is not always just.
This novel starts off slow and picks up speed as it goes along. At first, the reader will be very disappointed and wonder why they are reading this. They will also be very confused at the beginning and might want to keep reading to find out what happens; more likely, they won’t get past the first few pages due to being stymied. Personally, I think starting off a story at a slow pace and confusing the reader, is a weak way to begin a story. However, once you get to about page 100, the story really takes off, and instantly becomes a page turner. The plot twists in this story are extremely predictable. The reader can guess that Finn is going to end up being the lost prince, Giles. The idea of Finn, or Giles, having an evil stepmother who paid through blackmail to have him imprisoned so her son could rule is very cliché. Although this novel has many philosophical points and life statements, it has a weak plotline. Another weakness is the fact that the reader does not get attached to the characters at all. The characters seem hollow and not like the real people. Each character seems to by symbolic of an idea or concept and therefore does not seem like a complex human being. I was also disappointed by the lack of violence, surprises, and romance.
One of Ms. Fisher’s greatest attributes as a writer is world building skills. In this novel, she has created not one, but two worlds that seem vivid, real, and plausible. Before reading this book, I thought the idea of an alive prison was ludicrous. Albeit, once I read this book, not only did Incarceron seem real and scare me but it seemed as if an alive prison, such as Incarceron, could truly be invented in the future. Another positive point in the story was that before each chapter was a quote from fictional pieces of work that the characters would have read such as the diary of the man who invented the prison or the bible-like book of the only prison to ever escape Incarceron. The main conflict of man vs. machine seemed fresh and unique, since it is a type of conflict not used to the degree it is used in this book in many other pieces of literature.
Despite the fact that the book was obviously well thought out and many arduous hours of planning probably went into the making of the worlds the readers will experience if they chose to pick up this book, the plot line is weak and the reader’s craving for an exciting, emotionally fulfilling book is still hungry even after they read the last line of the book. Readers who pursue reading for entertainment, a large portion of readers, will be disappointed in Incarceron. At the same time, readers who wish to read a thought provoking novel that will make them question their beliefs will enjoy Incarceron. Personally, I would not recommend Incarceron to anyone who wants to pick up a book to read in their free time because it is dry. I do believe, however, that this novel would make a good read for an English class or any other organization that wants to have discussions and debates over a deep, meaningful work of literature.
[b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327414514s/332775.jpg|323310]
This novel starts off slow and picks up speed as it goes along. At first, the reader will be very disappointed and wonder why they are reading this. They will also be very confused at the beginning and might want to keep reading to find out what happens; more likely, they won’t get past the first few pages due to being stymied. Personally, I think starting off a story at a slow pace and confusing the reader, is a weak way to begin a story. However, once you get to about page 100, the story really takes off, and instantly becomes a page turner. The plot twists in this story are extremely predictable. The reader can guess that Finn is going to end up being the lost prince, Giles. The idea of Finn, or Giles, having an evil stepmother who paid through blackmail to have him imprisoned so her son could rule is very cliché. Although this novel has many philosophical points and life statements, it has a weak plotline. Another weakness is the fact that the reader does not get attached to the characters at all. The characters seem hollow and not like the real people. Each character seems to by symbolic of an idea or concept and therefore does not seem like a complex human being. I was also disappointed by the lack of violence, surprises, and romance.
One of Ms. Fisher’s greatest attributes as a writer is world building skills. In this novel, she has created not one, but two worlds that seem vivid, real, and plausible. Before reading this book, I thought the idea of an alive prison was ludicrous. Albeit, once I read this book, not only did Incarceron seem real and scare me but it seemed as if an alive prison, such as Incarceron, could truly be invented in the future. Another positive point in the story was that before each chapter was a quote from fictional pieces of work that the characters would have read such as the diary of the man who invented the prison or the bible-like book of the only prison to ever escape Incarceron. The main conflict of man vs. machine seemed fresh and unique, since it is a type of conflict not used to the degree it is used in this book in many other pieces of literature.
Despite the fact that the book was obviously well thought out and many arduous hours of planning probably went into the making of the worlds the readers will experience if they chose to pick up this book, the plot line is weak and the reader’s craving for an exciting, emotionally fulfilling book is still hungry even after they read the last line of the book. Readers who pursue reading for entertainment, a large portion of readers, will be disappointed in Incarceron. At the same time, readers who wish to read a thought provoking novel that will make them question their beliefs will enjoy Incarceron. Personally, I would not recommend Incarceron to anyone who wants to pick up a book to read in their free time because it is dry. I do believe, however, that this novel would make a good read for an English class or any other organization that wants to have discussions and debates over a deep, meaningful work of literature.
[b:Incarceron|332775|Incarceron (Incarceron, #1)|Catherine Fisher|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327414514s/332775.jpg|323310]
anacatnascimento's review against another edition
3.0
Catherine Fisher surge com uma ideia que me chamou bastante à atenção: Incarceron é uma super prisão, um mundo dentro do mundo, que embora tenha sido idealizado como um paraíso, acaba por se tornar num verdadeiro inferno.
Este conceito interessou-me na medida em que me fez pensar em várias coisas. Primeiro, que a solução dos humanos para as maldades do mundo foi apenas “deitar fora” quem as praticava e cultivar apenas as partes positivas da sociedade - ou melhor, as partes que o rei considerava positivas.
Claro que isto colocava outro problema: e se o rei acabasse por ser um desses dissidentes?
E ainda havia outra coisa, que ao longo de todo o livro nunca deixou de estar assim a flutuar, nos arredores dos meus pensamentos sobre este livro: e a maldade que é intrínseca a alguns seres humanos? E não descrimino relativamente à origem, seja genética, ambiental, social ou outra coisa qualquer - a verdade é que ela existe. Fiquei a pensar que num mundo em que tudo fosse perfeito, talvez se criassem precisamente as condições ideais para ela se desenvolver. Não haveria equilíbrio.
Penso que foi por isso, para criar algum senso de que a balança estava mais ou menos ajustada, que a autora fez o falecido rei parar o Tempo e criar o Protocolo. Edron, era esse o seu nome, fez o seu reino estancar num momento que comparo ao século XIX, onde tudo era representação, cortesias, connections e muitos jogos políticos.
Esse é o contexto histórico de "Incarceron", que eu achei que nem sempre era claro ou bem explicado. A autora não nasceu para fazer boas descrições de coisa nenhuma, e isso era bastante óbvio depois das primeiras páginas. E que fique assente que não sou fã dos métodos de Eça, por exemplo, que demora 10 páginas para descrever uma fachada.
Contudo, há situações em "Incarceron" que deixam a desejar pela falta de pormenor. E outras, por pormenores a mais. Passo a explicar:
Catherine Fisher não só não é boa com descrições de cenas, lugares, situações, como também não desenhou bem os personagens principais, Claudia, Finn e Jared. Os dois primeiros são jovens que a narrativa nos indica ter pelo menos 17 ou 18 anos, mas que em tudo parecem agir como se tivessem 10. É difícil tirar deles um traço de personalidade até quase mesmo ao final do livro, coisa que, pessoalmente, não me agradou.
Já Jared, é mais velho, um Sapiente erudito, mas é fraco, medroso e assustado, e parece ter uma doença secreta que, adivinhe-se, não é explicada.
Dou a mão à palmatória, contudo, nas personagens de Keiro, Gilas e até do Governador: secundárias e, curiosamente, melhor estruturadas.
Relativamente à história em si, foi difícil de achar boas razões para continuar a ler, no início. Eventualmente, a coisa fica mais complexa e dá mais gosto.
Mas “Incarceron” é sempre um livro confuso, em certa medida - e não sei bem como explicar isto. Tive este feeling com o livro o tempo todo, uma mistura entre "wtf", "oh my gaaawd yes" e "wait, what". Por outras palavras, foi agridoce.
Li este livro em português, e vou recordar o nome de Mário Dias Correia como um tradutor muito competente que, se não fez mais, foi porque os diálogos que a autora lhe deixou não eram grande coisa.
É bastante claro que o livro tem continuação, "Sapphique", que vou sem dúvida ler. Fiquei curiosa com o destino do Governador, mais do que o de Finn ou Claudia.
Para terminar, uma confissão: a certa altura, não consegui deixar de equiparar Catherine Fisher ao meu grande amigo Brian Keaney, que conseguiu a proeza de estragar uma boa premissa literária numa trilogia (da qual ainda me falta ler o último volume - help!) sem pés nem cabeça.
Mas good for you, Cate. Deste a volta por cima e, embora muiiiiito longe do meu top e nunca me dando um momento verdadeiramente feliz em TODO o livro, criaste uma coisa que me fez passar algumas horas sem conseguir parar de virar a página.
Este conceito interessou-me na medida em que me fez pensar em várias coisas. Primeiro, que a solução dos humanos para as maldades do mundo foi apenas “deitar fora” quem as praticava e cultivar apenas as partes positivas da sociedade - ou melhor, as partes que o rei considerava positivas.
Claro que isto colocava outro problema: e se o rei acabasse por ser um desses dissidentes?
E ainda havia outra coisa, que ao longo de todo o livro nunca deixou de estar assim a flutuar, nos arredores dos meus pensamentos sobre este livro: e a maldade que é intrínseca a alguns seres humanos? E não descrimino relativamente à origem, seja genética, ambiental, social ou outra coisa qualquer - a verdade é que ela existe. Fiquei a pensar que num mundo em que tudo fosse perfeito, talvez se criassem precisamente as condições ideais para ela se desenvolver. Não haveria equilíbrio.
Penso que foi por isso, para criar algum senso de que a balança estava mais ou menos ajustada, que a autora fez o falecido rei parar o Tempo e criar o Protocolo. Edron, era esse o seu nome, fez o seu reino estancar num momento que comparo ao século XIX, onde tudo era representação, cortesias, connections e muitos jogos políticos.
Esse é o contexto histórico de "Incarceron", que eu achei que nem sempre era claro ou bem explicado. A autora não nasceu para fazer boas descrições de coisa nenhuma, e isso era bastante óbvio depois das primeiras páginas. E que fique assente que não sou fã dos métodos de Eça, por exemplo, que demora 10 páginas para descrever uma fachada.
Contudo, há situações em "Incarceron" que deixam a desejar pela falta de pormenor. E outras, por pormenores a mais. Passo a explicar:
Catherine Fisher não só não é boa com descrições de cenas, lugares, situações, como também não desenhou bem os personagens principais, Claudia, Finn e Jared. Os dois primeiros são jovens que a narrativa nos indica ter pelo menos 17 ou 18 anos, mas que em tudo parecem agir como se tivessem 10. É difícil tirar deles um traço de personalidade até quase mesmo ao final do livro, coisa que, pessoalmente, não me agradou.
Já Jared, é mais velho, um Sapiente erudito, mas é fraco, medroso e assustado, e parece ter uma doença secreta que, adivinhe-se, não é explicada.
Dou a mão à palmatória, contudo, nas personagens de Keiro, Gilas e até do Governador: secundárias e, curiosamente, melhor estruturadas.
Relativamente à história em si, foi difícil de achar boas razões para continuar a ler, no início. Eventualmente, a coisa fica mais complexa e dá mais gosto.
Mas “Incarceron” é sempre um livro confuso, em certa medida - e não sei bem como explicar isto. Tive este feeling com o livro o tempo todo, uma mistura entre "wtf", "oh my gaaawd yes" e "wait, what". Por outras palavras, foi agridoce.
Li este livro em português, e vou recordar o nome de Mário Dias Correia como um tradutor muito competente que, se não fez mais, foi porque os diálogos que a autora lhe deixou não eram grande coisa.
É bastante claro que o livro tem continuação, "Sapphique", que vou sem dúvida ler. Fiquei curiosa com o destino do Governador, mais do que o de Finn ou Claudia.
Para terminar, uma confissão: a certa altura, não consegui deixar de equiparar Catherine Fisher ao meu grande amigo Brian Keaney, que conseguiu a proeza de estragar uma boa premissa literária numa trilogia (da qual ainda me falta ler o último volume - help!) sem pés nem cabeça.
Mas good for you, Cate. Deste a volta por cima e, embora muiiiiito longe do meu top e nunca me dando um momento verdadeiramente feliz em TODO o livro, criaste uma coisa que me fez passar algumas horas sem conseguir parar de virar a página.