Scan barcode
nebraskanwriter's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Lu’s story takes us into a dystopian world of Mara, the last country free of the Karensa Federation’s clutches who has slowly taken over the whole island that they live on. Mara is just barely holding on to its freedom, save for the Strikers that our main character, Talin, is a part of. The Strikers are a task force of elite fighters fighting to keep Mara safe from the Ghosts (ghoulish experiments that the Karensa government sicks on their enemies) and from the Karensa Federation. Without the Strikers, Mara would have fallen long ago. When a man from the Karensa military is captured and brought before the Strikers to be put to death, no one could have imagined the events that will unfold and how Talin’s life and all of Mara will be forever changed.
•
This book was so good! I was enraptured by Talin’s story from the very beginning. A girl who is treated like dirt by the country she lives in because she is a refugee yet she still fights to protect it was a beautiful theme to explore and I am sure many people out there have felt that way being a refugee in a new country. Another thing that I loved was that in order to be as stealthy as possible, the Strikers were all taught sign. Talin cannot speak and so she signs the entire novel and I love that Lu brought that representation into this story. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020! Also, are these not the most beautiful book covers you have ever seen?
•
I would recommend this story to: those who want more representation and more diverse characters in the books they read, like dystopian novels, enjoy action packed scenes, underdog storylines and books centering around strong friendships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Torture, and Violence
More...