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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
I feel like The Moon Dwellers had a lot of potential, but never delivered.
The world-building was really good, I always had a sense of where they were and why and how their government (bad as it was) worked.
All the characters were pretty interesting, I guess. Nothing too special.
I like Adele and Tristan's names. Not too confusing, but perfectly unique.
Spoiler
There was a lot of buildup for when Adele and Tristan would finally meet, but it wasn't until the end of the book that they did, and in my opinion it wasn't worth the time took to get there. And they won't even be together in the next book so that's disappointing.The world-building was really good, I always had a sense of where they were and why and how their government (bad as it was) worked.
All the characters were pretty interesting, I guess. Nothing too special.
I like Adele and Tristan's names. Not too confusing, but perfectly unique.
Spoiler
It's hard for me when characters die in the first book of a series, because with only a few exceptions I'm not close enough to them by then to care about whether they die or not, so it's sad that Cole was killed off so early. I feel like I could've really mourned his death if it hadn't been so soon.
I thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian novel about people who live in a massive underground cavern system. As the first installment in the Dwellers series, it does a nice job of setting the scene for the economic system that determines where you live and what your opportunities are. The main characters are the rich son of the President and a poor girl who is sent to prison because of her parent's treason. They develop a strange and electrifying bond at first sight. Lots of action and some violence make an exciting read. I was left wanting answers to some of the questions the story line didn't resolve yet.
Wow! I just realized it's positive reviews month (except for one). Oh yeah, and virtually flawless (in terms of spelling and grammar) books week. *does a lot of happy flips*
Shush. Coming across a row of good books is a good feeling. A very good feeling. I'm ecstatic. And yes, you've seen the monkey before... in my Lichgates review on Wednesday.
I should probably warn I might sound a bit whiny here (I don't think I am) because I sort of had a dystopian fever.
Reading 3-4 dystopians does that to you (The Polaris Uprising, then The Moon Dwellers, and Ashes). You can't help but compare them to other books because they have similar elements in so many ways. It's just written differently and the ideas are different. But I warn you, there MAY BE SPOILERS.
Similar Elements I Noticed:
Enforcers – I could have sworn I've seen these types before in another series. I just don't remember the title. >_<
Sun Dweller Fashion – If anyone's read The Hunger Games, you might notice there's a striking similarity in the fashion compared to the Capitol. Effie Trinket might disapprove of the fashion here though. "Polka dots?! What horrible fashion sense!"
The Pen – VERY similar to the Hole in Branded, it's just not with the 7 sins. Oh, and let's not forget about the break out too... just earlier, and it's much better written.
Realms and Dwellers – Very similar to Under the Never Sky, but very different as well (and better). It's a minor similarity I suppose. And thank gods the romance isn't too fast (hey, I don't mind slow).
SPOILER! And maybe a movie spoiler. That One Scene – Yes, I'm talking about the scene with throwing a cannibal into the fire. I thought it was like Hansel and Gretel. Sort of. But I'm not exactly sure how THAT ends, until I remembered the ending to Sweeney Todd. Or at least NEAR the end. That one chick – I don't know her name but it was played by Helen Boham Carter if I even spelled her name right who essentially died.
The Food – I mean the food in the Pen. It's as gray and tasteless as the one in 1984. In fact...
The quote agrees. Still hungry?
Well, those were the similar elements I found, but I may have missed others. I'm not saying those were bad necessarily, because I actually really liked The Moon Dwellers. It goes straight to the point and flat out says the government – in this world of books, not the actual, although maybe that's sort of true sometimes – sucks. It's corrupted and needs to be fixed.
I like books that go straight to the point. It's either that, or you stall quite well. Or it could be the other way around and it turns out unimpressive.
But The Moon Dwellers also goes straight to the point in the beginning on how the world works currently – in terms of the series – and that's something I probably either a) haven't seen before, or b) I just never noticed it other dystopians. In fact, Tristan's entrance in terms of POVs is named A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TRI-REALMS.
The thing is, it was also a little slow every so rare often (certainly not enough that will make you bored and it's actually good pacing – that's a good thing, right?!), but I can't help but notice that despite the fact it may be slow at times, it's the endings of the chapters. They're written in a way that makes you want to keep reading.
Finally, A Few Random Thoughts....
Roc is like Quentin from the Katana trilogy by Cole Gibsen. He just has a big mouth (Roc. Not Quentin). :p
The characters seem to roar a lot. Literally. If I got a penny for every time the word "roar" appeared, I might be able to buy Simba and Nala.
Of course, if you don't like the above mentioned Adorables, I can give you this instead.
Dual POVs and I are not exactly friends anymore. We have a total love/hate relationship. *sniffles*
------------------------
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Owls
Formatting is lost due to copy and paste
This review and more can be found at Bookwyrming Thoughts
Shush. Coming across a row of good books is a good feeling. A very good feeling. I'm ecstatic. And yes, you've seen the monkey before... in my Lichgates review on Wednesday.
I should probably warn I might sound a bit whiny here (I don't think I am) because I sort of had a dystopian fever.
Reading 3-4 dystopians does that to you (The Polaris Uprising, then The Moon Dwellers, and Ashes). You can't help but compare them to other books because they have similar elements in so many ways. It's just written differently and the ideas are different. But I warn you, there MAY BE SPOILERS.
Similar Elements I Noticed:
Enforcers – I could have sworn I've seen these types before in another series. I just don't remember the title. >_<
The current fashion is to wear bright colors, and the Sun Dwellers take it to the extreme, wearing gaudy red and pink tunics with blue and green polka dots.
Sun Dweller Fashion – If anyone's read The Hunger Games, you might notice there's a striking similarity in the fashion compared to the Capitol. Effie Trinket might disapprove of the fashion here though. "Polka dots?! What horrible fashion sense!"
The Pen – VERY similar to the Hole in Branded, it's just not with the 7 sins. Oh, and let's not forget about the break out too... just earlier, and it's much better written.
Realms and Dwellers – Very similar to Under the Never Sky, but very different as well (and better). It's a minor similarity I suppose. And thank gods the romance isn't too fast (hey, I don't mind slow).
SPOILER! And maybe a movie spoiler. That One Scene – Yes, I'm talking about the scene with throwing a cannibal into the fire. I thought it was like Hansel and Gretel. Sort of. But I'm not exactly sure how THAT ends, until I remembered the ending to Sweeney Todd. Or at least NEAR the end. That one chick – I don't know her name but it was played by Helen Boham Carter if I even spelled her name right who essentially died.
The Food – I mean the food in the Pen. It's as gray and tasteless as the one in 1984. In fact...
Seriously. It’s bad. Tasteless. Like eating a shoe. And not a new one. One that has been worn for years by someone who suffers from severe foot sweating.
The quote agrees. Still hungry?
Well, those were the similar elements I found, but I may have missed others. I'm not saying those were bad necessarily, because I actually really liked The Moon Dwellers. It goes straight to the point and flat out says the government – in this world of books, not the actual, although maybe that's sort of true sometimes – sucks. It's corrupted and needs to be fixed.
I like books that go straight to the point. It's either that, or you stall quite well. Or it could be the other way around and it turns out unimpressive.
But The Moon Dwellers also goes straight to the point in the beginning on how the world works currently – in terms of the series – and that's something I probably either a) haven't seen before, or b) I just never noticed it other dystopians. In fact, Tristan's entrance in terms of POVs is named A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TRI-REALMS.
The thing is, it was also a little slow every so rare often (certainly not enough that will make you bored and it's actually good pacing – that's a good thing, right?!), but I can't help but notice that despite the fact it may be slow at times, it's the endings of the chapters. They're written in a way that makes you want to keep reading.
Finally, A Few Random Thoughts....
Roc is like Quentin from the Katana trilogy by Cole Gibsen. He just has a big mouth (Roc. Not Quentin). :p
The characters seem to roar a lot. Literally. If I got a penny for every time the word "roar" appeared, I might be able to buy Simba and Nala.
Of course, if you don't like the above mentioned Adorables, I can give you this instead.
Dual POVs and I are not exactly friends anymore. We have a total love/hate relationship. *sniffles*
Sometimes I feel like I’ve only got two brain cells, and even when I rub both of them together nothing seems to happen.
------------------------
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Owls
Formatting is lost due to copy and paste
This review and more can be found at Bookwyrming Thoughts
I'm going to start this off by saying I received a free copy of The Moon Dwellers from the author (who is not, it appears, CIA Counterterrorist Center Director David Estes from Showtime's Homeland, just in case anyone was wondering, although that would have made for an interesting twist) in exchange for an honest review. So, I'm going to be honest.
I'd hope this information would either be presented in an grand, introductory way in the beginning of the story or — more preferably to my tastes, at least — built up and gathered over the course of the book, subtly revealed here and there as it pertained to the plot (of which there were many wasted occasions). Instead, Estes waits until the half-way point (Chapter 12, at 49% on my Kindle) and throws the breaks on the action he's built up (his female lead, Adele, has just kidnapped/rescued her little sister from an orphanage and she and her friends are being pursued on foot by "President" Nailin's bloodthirsty hired assassin, Rivet, and gang) for a big old info dump of pretty much 500 years of history. He even seems self-conscious about it because, when he's done, his male lead, Tristan Nailin, son of the Prez and next in line for the throne, narrates: "I don't know why I'm thinking about history right now, but I am." Yeah, I don't know why you are either, Tristan. I could have forgiven a lot more of the perceived flaws if the world building on the page would have been handled in a more graceful, engaging way.
The world itself seemed heavily inspired by Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games and Veronica Roth's Divergent. The Sun Realm was very reminiscent of Collins's Capitol, the other realms the less-fortunate Districts who rise up against tyranny. The underground setting was very much like Roth's Dauntless headquarters. This is not necessarily the worst thing in the world, but it left me feeling like it was ground already tread and, at least in the case of The Hunger Games, in a more compelling way. If the revolution against the Sun Realm is supposed to be the main impetus behind the plot of this trilogy, I really needed to feel the pain and get a clearer picture of all the various injustices being committed against the other two realms beyond Adele's and Cole's families' stories, the Sun Realm cheating them out of electricity, and oh yeah, President Nailin being a big, bad meanie. Just because the characters say so over and over again. I don't think we see him actually do much of anything in the book beyond insisting his son calls him Sir, not smiling in pictures, eating a meal at a ridiculously long table with Tristan and his brother, Killen, denying Tristan a trip to the Moon Realm for his vacation and sending him to a really nice spa resort instead, and sending Rivet and some thugs after some teenagers who escaped from the post-apocalyptic version of juvie "The Pen" (because apparently there's nothing more important for these guys to be doing... it's not like there's full-blown terrorist attacks going on in the Moon Realm or anything). I hope the subsequent books paint a more detailed picture.
That being said, Adele's and Cole's (especially Cole's, which goes to surprisingly dark places) backstories are compelling. The prologue, which gives us our first glimpse of Adele's background was taut, intense, and there were subtle hints at what her life was like without launching into lengthy details that would have detracted from the pacing of the action (a problem encountered later on). Unfortunately, this was one of the high points of the book for me. With a click of single page turn on my Kindle, I was literally thrown headfirst into a Nonsenseville. The first paragraph of Chapter One launches this inane plot device I've been calling "Pain at First Sight" in my head the whole time. When she and Tristan see each other for the first time, instead of experiencing the rush of hormones and flutter of attraction, they both experience physical pain they can't explain. It's a twist on the conventional so I was willing to keep going to see what the explanation could possibly be in a book without any visible supernatural elements but... nothing. Nothing. No explanation even by the end of the book, which is probably one of the only hooks that will keep me reading. Not to mention, this idea of romanticizing pain became more and more problematic for me over time, especially in moments where the characters glorified physical pain as a positive thing, e.g. Tristan: "Pain is the great equalizer, the cure to mental anguish..." "The beauty of physical pain is that it wipes out the other forms of pain. Not necessarily completely or for an extended period of time, but long enough to grant a reprieve from my tortured mind and soul." Adele: "A little bit of physical pain always seems to help with the mental pain, helps me forget about the reality of life... It also helps me focus." This is dangerous, troubling logic to be promoting in a YA book of all things, to readers who might cut or think about cutting themselves with exactly this sort of justification in mind.
Unfortunately for Cole, he's killed off too soon to do much of anything to resolve his own story, and instead is just relegated to the annals of history as yet another token black friend who is just there to help the white main character achieve her goals and be the first one sacrificed to the cause. I never quite bought why Cole and their other Pen friend, Tawni, were willing to risk their lives for someone they met literally days before but it was yet another one of those conventions I swallowed down for the sake of the story. Roc, on the other hand, may or may not have also been a person of color (and he happens to be Tristan's servant — ugh — and best friend). At one point his skin is described as "brown" but later on he's described as "white as a ghost," so... which is it? I'm still not sure. Maybe people have developed the ability to switch races at will after 499 years underground.
I liked Roc the most, though, because there were so many times he said exactly what I was thinking, which was mostly: "Are we seriously risking our lives to find some random criminal chick who causes you pain just because you're convinced it means something?" Unfortunately, he did a 180 pretty much immediately every time and went back to being Tristan's loyal companion. I understand the value of illustrating a strong friendship, but I think there might have been a more interesting story in Roc thinking it was all completely ridiculous (it was) and remaining the voice of reason while reluctantly helping anyway because he cares so much for Tristan and would protect him to the end instead of just buying into the schmaltzy destiny crap. I also liked Roc because I felt like there was another story underneath his devotion to Tristan; this may not have been the intention of the author at all but I felt like Roc (and maybe even Tristan) felt a little more than friendship or brotherly love toward each other, if you know what I mean. There are numerous homoerotic moments between the two of them, Tristan regularly insists he doesn't sleep with all the beautiful girls that throw themselves at him, and, at times, Roc seems a bit jealous of this mysterious girl they're chasing. I highly doubt this is what Estes had in mind or that it factors into the storyline at all in the following novels, but if it did, I'd applaud him. As it is, I enjoyed the fact that he was brave enough to show men who aren't embarrassed to show physical and emotional affection toward one another. It definitely does not have to be read in a romantic or sexual way. That was definitely a strong point for me.
On the flip side, I was very confused about how I was supposed to read Adele and how other characters in the book read her as well. It's too bad that such an ass kicker was strapped with the typical YA girl insecurity of not thinking she's pretty even though she clearly is (beyond her questionable hygiene while in the Pen): "If Tawni and I are the lead characters in a magical fairy tale, it is obvious who the ugly stepsister is. Not Tawni." I get that it's a trope in YA because most teenage girls are insecure about their looks and this helps them relate to the character, but perpetuating the trope only helps perpetuate the problem. Body image issues are awful. Wouldn't it be wonderful to give girls a role model who's confident of (or, at least, doesn't focus on) her appearance?
I was even more let down by the following passage: "If he was a girl, I wouldn't care one bit, but for some reason with guys it is different. I always feel like I have to try to be equal to them, like I have something to prove." Try to be equal to them? Oh girl. Did feminism not make the trip underground? I guess not. That said, she's a capable fighter (she was trained by her father) and, thankfully, doesn't feel the need to wait around for a man to save her time and time again, which is a positive. (Unfortunately all the violence did take a troubling turn for me when Tristan kills someone just because he's "not in the mood" to show a man mercy who begs for it or when Adele murders Rivet to avenge Cole's death and neither of them reflect on it at all afterward.) But her physical appearance and her other (much more important) qualities seem to swap the spotlight at center stage, especially as far as Tristan is concerned... he seems to insist her looks aren't what's important (good) but when he's first describing her to Roc, we get this full-blown dudebro description of her curves and stuff, man, with a strange mix of poetic musing on her hair (which perfectly represents the unevenness of the writing in general, especially as far as dialogue goes): "So I see this girl, this moon dweller. Roc, lemme tell ya, she was pretty hot. Beautiful. Even wearing her gray prisoner's tunic she was stunning. Her hair fell like a black waterfall around her shoulders. Her eyes were intensely fascinating. And her curves, my God, Roc, were they ever—" Cue Roc's jealousy. Heh. In all seriousness, it was just one of many cases of mixed signals being thrown around and not in a productive way.
This is getting to be a small novel in and of itself, so I'm going to cut to the chase: the end. I'm extremely pleased that Estes didn't sell out and turn it into a full blown love affair (in fact, the characters have yet to do much more than hold hands) as soon as they finally meet each other. Not only would it have been unrealistic (they've just killed people and Adele has witnessed Cole's murder) but it would have ruined what pacing there was to the story. It also would have killed this book and this series for me completely, so I'm really glad he chose the road less traveled here. Of course, there's a lot of really ridiculous talk about how each of them would die for the other one before they've even officially met — Adele: "As much as I am willing to throw my life away in an effort to save Tristan, the causer of pain, I know I can't abandon Elsey." Really? Good to know your sister is more important to you than some random stranger who makes you physically hurt every time you're near him. Tristan, when he believes Adele has been killed: "There is no physical pain that can eclipse the emotional anguish I feel. The only antidote to how I am feeling is death. I hope Killen will finish me off." Seriously, dude? Talk about melodramatic.
The final scenes in which Adele's father gives her her mission that will seemingly be the plot of the next book in the trilogy were not any more realistic. Her father wants her to break into a maximum security prison in the Star Realm and rescue her mother. Okay, dad, sure, easy, no problem. Oh, you won't come with me because you need to stick around and be a father to my little sister, even though nowhere you can go is safe anyway? Sure, that makes perfect sense. Enjoy your domestic bliss, just let the teenager handle everything. I'll just take my pal Tawni with me and maybe this convenient slingshot that showed up right when we needed it to and we'll be on our way. Oy.
A few more minor things: nonsensical metaphors, awkward dialogue, repeated use of the same phrases to describe characters (Elsey, in particular, is always defined by whether she's acting her age or acting more mature than her age... we get it), the attention to the Mary Sue-ish hair and eye colors (violet eyes, really?), the constant telling of things that have already been shown or could have been demonstrated rather than spoon feeding the reader every aspect of the characters' personalities or motivations.
To end on a positive note, because I realize this review may have come off as harsh: I will be reading the next book in the series at the very least. I, like Tristan and Adele, can't stop until I understand what is causing all this pain, even if it causes me a little more pain in the process. I will remain hopeful for added depth of character in both the cast and the world as I continue. I can see Tristan's character taking on a very interesting role if he uses the power afforded to him in a positive way, and I hope to see Adele grow stronger as she ditches the boys and goes off on a girl power quest with her BFF Tawni to the stars. Well, the Star Realm, at least. Thanks again to David Estes for the opportunity to read and review.
Spoiler
I really wanted to love this book. I really did. I'll be honest, I got drawn in by the cover, which, congratulations, is pretty cool. The world Estes created is a dark one, a vision of the distant aftermath of a meteor strike on Earth that was predicted so far in advance that the U.S. government had time to build an underground world for people to live in. Alright. I'll suspend disbelief, just because. A lottery was then established in order to determine who would get to survive and become the next generation of Mole People. Cool. (It reminds me of the premise of the short-lived TV show Terra Nova on Fox, except there they were going through some kind of portal to a parallel universe 85 million years in the past and hanging with the dinosaurs. Anyone? Anyone?) The idea of the lottery, in general, is scary and twisted and made me realize I definitely would have been among the (assumed?) billions who died above ground because of tsunamis and all that apocalyptic stuff. I mean, I never win raffles and I'm an English major. (Glad to hear at least one set of Harry Potter books made it underground in time, though. Thumbs up.) From there, the government gradually deteriorated into what amounts to the patriarchal dynasty of the Nailin family for the past 350 years. Somewhere in there, as the distribution of wealth became more and more uneven, the people in charge were like, hey, these poor people are annoying and are totally getting in the way of the additional sweet resorts and mansions we could be building, let's make them dig out new levels of hell and banish them there. So the Sun (rich), Moon (middle class), and the Star (poor) realms were born.I'd hope this information would either be presented in an grand, introductory way in the beginning of the story or — more preferably to my tastes, at least — built up and gathered over the course of the book, subtly revealed here and there as it pertained to the plot (of which there were many wasted occasions). Instead, Estes waits until the half-way point (Chapter 12, at 49% on my Kindle) and throws the breaks on the action he's built up (his female lead, Adele, has just kidnapped/rescued her little sister from an orphanage and she and her friends are being pursued on foot by "President" Nailin's bloodthirsty hired assassin, Rivet, and gang) for a big old info dump of pretty much 500 years of history. He even seems self-conscious about it because, when he's done, his male lead, Tristan Nailin, son of the Prez and next in line for the throne, narrates: "I don't know why I'm thinking about history right now, but I am." Yeah, I don't know why you are either, Tristan. I could have forgiven a lot more of the perceived flaws if the world building on the page would have been handled in a more graceful, engaging way.
The world itself seemed heavily inspired by Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games and Veronica Roth's Divergent. The Sun Realm was very reminiscent of Collins's Capitol, the other realms the less-fortunate Districts who rise up against tyranny. The underground setting was very much like Roth's Dauntless headquarters. This is not necessarily the worst thing in the world, but it left me feeling like it was ground already tread and, at least in the case of The Hunger Games, in a more compelling way. If the revolution against the Sun Realm is supposed to be the main impetus behind the plot of this trilogy, I really needed to feel the pain and get a clearer picture of all the various injustices being committed against the other two realms beyond Adele's and Cole's families' stories, the Sun Realm cheating them out of electricity, and oh yeah, President Nailin being a big, bad meanie. Just because the characters say so over and over again. I don't think we see him actually do much of anything in the book beyond insisting his son calls him Sir, not smiling in pictures, eating a meal at a ridiculously long table with Tristan and his brother, Killen, denying Tristan a trip to the Moon Realm for his vacation and sending him to a really nice spa resort instead, and sending Rivet and some thugs after some teenagers who escaped from the post-apocalyptic version of juvie "The Pen" (because apparently there's nothing more important for these guys to be doing... it's not like there's full-blown terrorist attacks going on in the Moon Realm or anything). I hope the subsequent books paint a more detailed picture.
That being said, Adele's and Cole's (especially Cole's, which goes to surprisingly dark places) backstories are compelling. The prologue, which gives us our first glimpse of Adele's background was taut, intense, and there were subtle hints at what her life was like without launching into lengthy details that would have detracted from the pacing of the action (a problem encountered later on). Unfortunately, this was one of the high points of the book for me. With a click of single page turn on my Kindle, I was literally thrown headfirst into a Nonsenseville. The first paragraph of Chapter One launches this inane plot device I've been calling "Pain at First Sight" in my head the whole time. When she and Tristan see each other for the first time, instead of experiencing the rush of hormones and flutter of attraction, they both experience physical pain they can't explain. It's a twist on the conventional so I was willing to keep going to see what the explanation could possibly be in a book without any visible supernatural elements but... nothing. Nothing. No explanation even by the end of the book, which is probably one of the only hooks that will keep me reading. Not to mention, this idea of romanticizing pain became more and more problematic for me over time, especially in moments where the characters glorified physical pain as a positive thing, e.g. Tristan: "Pain is the great equalizer, the cure to mental anguish..." "The beauty of physical pain is that it wipes out the other forms of pain. Not necessarily completely or for an extended period of time, but long enough to grant a reprieve from my tortured mind and soul." Adele: "A little bit of physical pain always seems to help with the mental pain, helps me forget about the reality of life... It also helps me focus." This is dangerous, troubling logic to be promoting in a YA book of all things, to readers who might cut or think about cutting themselves with exactly this sort of justification in mind.
Unfortunately for Cole, he's killed off too soon to do much of anything to resolve his own story, and instead is just relegated to the annals of history as yet another token black friend who is just there to help the white main character achieve her goals and be the first one sacrificed to the cause. I never quite bought why Cole and their other Pen friend, Tawni, were willing to risk their lives for someone they met literally days before but it was yet another one of those conventions I swallowed down for the sake of the story. Roc, on the other hand, may or may not have also been a person of color (and he happens to be Tristan's servant — ugh — and best friend). At one point his skin is described as "brown" but later on he's described as "white as a ghost," so... which is it? I'm still not sure. Maybe people have developed the ability to switch races at will after 499 years underground.
I liked Roc the most, though, because there were so many times he said exactly what I was thinking, which was mostly: "Are we seriously risking our lives to find some random criminal chick who causes you pain just because you're convinced it means something?" Unfortunately, he did a 180 pretty much immediately every time and went back to being Tristan's loyal companion. I understand the value of illustrating a strong friendship, but I think there might have been a more interesting story in Roc thinking it was all completely ridiculous (it was) and remaining the voice of reason while reluctantly helping anyway because he cares so much for Tristan and would protect him to the end instead of just buying into the schmaltzy destiny crap. I also liked Roc because I felt like there was another story underneath his devotion to Tristan; this may not have been the intention of the author at all but I felt like Roc (and maybe even Tristan) felt a little more than friendship or brotherly love toward each other, if you know what I mean. There are numerous homoerotic moments between the two of them, Tristan regularly insists he doesn't sleep with all the beautiful girls that throw themselves at him, and, at times, Roc seems a bit jealous of this mysterious girl they're chasing. I highly doubt this is what Estes had in mind or that it factors into the storyline at all in the following novels, but if it did, I'd applaud him. As it is, I enjoyed the fact that he was brave enough to show men who aren't embarrassed to show physical and emotional affection toward one another. It definitely does not have to be read in a romantic or sexual way. That was definitely a strong point for me.
On the flip side, I was very confused about how I was supposed to read Adele and how other characters in the book read her as well. It's too bad that such an ass kicker was strapped with the typical YA girl insecurity of not thinking she's pretty even though she clearly is (beyond her questionable hygiene while in the Pen): "If Tawni and I are the lead characters in a magical fairy tale, it is obvious who the ugly stepsister is. Not Tawni." I get that it's a trope in YA because most teenage girls are insecure about their looks and this helps them relate to the character, but perpetuating the trope only helps perpetuate the problem. Body image issues are awful. Wouldn't it be wonderful to give girls a role model who's confident of (or, at least, doesn't focus on) her appearance?
I was even more let down by the following passage: "If he was a girl, I wouldn't care one bit, but for some reason with guys it is different. I always feel like I have to try to be equal to them, like I have something to prove." Try to be equal to them? Oh girl. Did feminism not make the trip underground? I guess not. That said, she's a capable fighter (she was trained by her father) and, thankfully, doesn't feel the need to wait around for a man to save her time and time again, which is a positive. (Unfortunately all the violence did take a troubling turn for me when Tristan kills someone just because he's "not in the mood" to show a man mercy who begs for it or when Adele murders Rivet to avenge Cole's death and neither of them reflect on it at all afterward.) But her physical appearance and her other (much more important) qualities seem to swap the spotlight at center stage, especially as far as Tristan is concerned... he seems to insist her looks aren't what's important (good) but when he's first describing her to Roc, we get this full-blown dudebro description of her curves and stuff, man, with a strange mix of poetic musing on her hair (which perfectly represents the unevenness of the writing in general, especially as far as dialogue goes): "So I see this girl, this moon dweller. Roc, lemme tell ya, she was pretty hot. Beautiful. Even wearing her gray prisoner's tunic she was stunning. Her hair fell like a black waterfall around her shoulders. Her eyes were intensely fascinating. And her curves, my God, Roc, were they ever—" Cue Roc's jealousy. Heh. In all seriousness, it was just one of many cases of mixed signals being thrown around and not in a productive way.
This is getting to be a small novel in and of itself, so I'm going to cut to the chase: the end. I'm extremely pleased that Estes didn't sell out and turn it into a full blown love affair (in fact, the characters have yet to do much more than hold hands) as soon as they finally meet each other. Not only would it have been unrealistic (they've just killed people and Adele has witnessed Cole's murder) but it would have ruined what pacing there was to the story. It also would have killed this book and this series for me completely, so I'm really glad he chose the road less traveled here. Of course, there's a lot of really ridiculous talk about how each of them would die for the other one before they've even officially met — Adele: "As much as I am willing to throw my life away in an effort to save Tristan, the causer of pain, I know I can't abandon Elsey." Really? Good to know your sister is more important to you than some random stranger who makes you physically hurt every time you're near him. Tristan, when he believes Adele has been killed: "There is no physical pain that can eclipse the emotional anguish I feel. The only antidote to how I am feeling is death. I hope Killen will finish me off." Seriously, dude? Talk about melodramatic.
The final scenes in which Adele's father gives her her mission that will seemingly be the plot of the next book in the trilogy were not any more realistic. Her father wants her to break into a maximum security prison in the Star Realm and rescue her mother. Okay, dad, sure, easy, no problem. Oh, you won't come with me because you need to stick around and be a father to my little sister, even though nowhere you can go is safe anyway? Sure, that makes perfect sense. Enjoy your domestic bliss, just let the teenager handle everything. I'll just take my pal Tawni with me and maybe this convenient slingshot that showed up right when we needed it to and we'll be on our way. Oy.
A few more minor things: nonsensical metaphors, awkward dialogue, repeated use of the same phrases to describe characters (Elsey, in particular, is always defined by whether she's acting her age or acting more mature than her age... we get it), the attention to the Mary Sue-ish hair and eye colors (violet eyes, really?), the constant telling of things that have already been shown or could have been demonstrated rather than spoon feeding the reader every aspect of the characters' personalities or motivations.
To end on a positive note, because I realize this review may have come off as harsh: I will be reading the next book in the series at the very least. I, like Tristan and Adele, can't stop until I understand what is causing all this pain, even if it causes me a little more pain in the process. I will remain hopeful for added depth of character in both the cast and the world as I continue. I can see Tristan's character taking on a very interesting role if he uses the power afforded to him in a positive way, and I hope to see Adele grow stronger as she ditches the boys and goes off on a girl power quest with her BFF Tawni to the stars. Well, the Star Realm, at least. Thanks again to David Estes for the opportunity to read and review.
I read this book purely because it was written by David Estes. He is one of my goodreads friends, and although he is super busy, he was one of my few friends that read my budding book and gave me honest feedback, which has seriously changed the way I was going. So I have deep respect for him and the fact he is honestly a nice guy. He did this even though I wasn't that nice (I'd like to think I was just savagely honest) in a review of his book Angel Evolution.
Luckily, this book is not that one. Just in reading this book I can see a huge evolution in David's writing. He has been honing his craft and it shows. The writing and the plot are much more cohesive and smooth. I'm not saying it was problem free, because it isn't, but this book was a mile above the other in its execution. I gave it four stars because I truly, "really liked" it.
Pros: First, the world building was fantastic. This is a young adult dystopian tale that takes place under the earth's surface. An asteroid hit the planet 500 or so years ago. Planning for it, the American government had prepared a huge cavern under the ground. A lottery was held, and the remnants of the human race were saved. Over the years as government devolved and the population grew, further caverns were built deeper into the earth. The top layer are the sun dwellers; the middle layer are the moon dwellers, and at the bottom are the star dwellers. They aren't just separated by position, but also by caste. The top layer are the rich and privileged, and the others decrease as you go deeper. I found the description of this to be discussed and discovered throughout the story in a very unobtrusive way. I thought the idea was deeply original and fascinating.
The characterization was also well done. The main characters come through quite well, you feel Adele's angst, and Tristan's anger. You feel their connections with their friends, and understand clearly their motivations.
Cons: The more minor characters tend to be flat. Their motivations are too simple and they aren't as believable.
The plot is a little to contrived, as everything seems to fall neatly into place. For example, every time the characters are in danger, a convenient bomb falls to let them get them out. Unless some explanation occurs in a later book, this doesn't work well (there is something like a hint towards the end that it may be purposeful, but I can't see a reason for it in this book). Also, Tristan and Roc seem to follow Adele's trail a little to easily, always running in to her just as she needs them. It works well one time, that seems like fate, but not more than once.
The last thing is that the instant attraction thing wasn't well explained. I have no trouble with instant attraction, because it happens. I've been drawn to people the first time I've met them; I haven't run into danger for them for no reason, but I can believe that part. What I don't understand, is the reasoning behind it. Are we going to find out why it occurred? Or is it going to be left to teenage hormones? I sure hope not.
Finally, the big test for me is will I make the effort to read the sequel and would I recommend it? Well, even though this wasn't a book I "couldn't put down" I found it interesting enough to want to read the sequels. I do want to know if the three realms can be united and the tyrant put down. It doesn't hurt that I have deep respect for the author.
Will I recommend it? Yes, I can honestly say this is a very decent YA dystopian novel and I can heartily recommend it to lovers of the genre. I would even recommend it to my high school students, who I think would really love it.
David if you read this, good luck! You deserve it!
Luckily, this book is not that one. Just in reading this book I can see a huge evolution in David's writing. He has been honing his craft and it shows. The writing and the plot are much more cohesive and smooth. I'm not saying it was problem free, because it isn't, but this book was a mile above the other in its execution. I gave it four stars because I truly, "really liked" it.
Pros: First, the world building was fantastic. This is a young adult dystopian tale that takes place under the earth's surface. An asteroid hit the planet 500 or so years ago. Planning for it, the American government had prepared a huge cavern under the ground. A lottery was held, and the remnants of the human race were saved. Over the years as government devolved and the population grew, further caverns were built deeper into the earth. The top layer are the sun dwellers; the middle layer are the moon dwellers, and at the bottom are the star dwellers. They aren't just separated by position, but also by caste. The top layer are the rich and privileged, and the others decrease as you go deeper. I found the description of this to be discussed and discovered throughout the story in a very unobtrusive way. I thought the idea was deeply original and fascinating.
The characterization was also well done. The main characters come through quite well, you feel Adele's angst, and Tristan's anger. You feel their connections with their friends, and understand clearly their motivations.
Cons: The more minor characters tend to be flat. Their motivations are too simple and they aren't as believable.
The plot is a little to contrived, as everything seems to fall neatly into place. For example, every time the characters are in danger, a convenient bomb falls to let them get them out. Unless some explanation occurs in a later book, this doesn't work well (there is something like a hint towards the end that it may be purposeful, but I can't see a reason for it in this book). Also, Tristan and Roc seem to follow Adele's trail a little to easily, always running in to her just as she needs them. It works well one time, that seems like fate, but not more than once.
The last thing is that the instant attraction thing wasn't well explained. I have no trouble with instant attraction, because it happens. I've been drawn to people the first time I've met them; I haven't run into danger for them for no reason, but I can believe that part. What I don't understand, is the reasoning behind it. Are we going to find out why it occurred? Or is it going to be left to teenage hormones? I sure hope not.
Finally, the big test for me is will I make the effort to read the sequel and would I recommend it? Well, even though this wasn't a book I "couldn't put down" I found it interesting enough to want to read the sequels. I do want to know if the three realms can be united and the tyrant put down. It doesn't hurt that I have deep respect for the author.
Will I recommend it? Yes, I can honestly say this is a very decent YA dystopian novel and I can heartily recommend it to lovers of the genre. I would even recommend it to my high school students, who I think would really love it.
David if you read this, good luck! You deserve it!
For more reviews, guest blog posts, author interviews and giveaways check out my blog: https://inkandpapercuts.wordpress.com/
What is the book about?
Following an annihilation of Earth’s surface, humanity is forced to live underground creating thus the Tri-Realms, a new society, which consists of three subcategories: the Moon Dwellers, the Sun Dwellers and the Star Dwellers.
Adele, the seventeen-year-old female protagonist is a Moon Dweller who, due to her parents’ treason, appears to be incarcerated at the beginning of the novel. She desperately wishes to escape and locate her –imprisoned as well–family.
On the opposite side, Tristan is the young son of the President. He certainly does not regard highly of his father and once he catches sight of Adele, he decides to seek her out.
Against a post-apocalyptic backdrop and in the midst of a social crisis, Adele inaugurates a journey which reserves intense moments, strong emotions and cliffhangers.
What did I like about the book?
People tend to find similarities and patterns where, in the first place, they should not. By extension, best-selling novels tend to dominate the market and when novels of the same/similar genre come out, a plethora of readers–falsely–draws parallels between the most popular book and the less popular one.
David Estes’s self-published dystopian novel consists such a case. When I was given the ARC to read and honestly review it, I saw everywhere in the comments that the novel was for devotees to the Hunger Games and the Divergent series. After I finished reading the copy, I was bereft of any words. I recall it was half-past five in the morning and I could neither sleep nor try to close my eyes. I kept glancing at the screen of my laptop, thinking about the novel I had just read. It took me almost a week to read it but I’m sure, if I had the time, I would definitely devour it in just under three days.
The Moon Dwellers comprises a novel of its own. Why on earth should people keep shelving it as a “because you like Hunger Games” novel”? The setting is ingenious, underneath Earth, the protagonists are common people who just happen to be born in such a terrible place and era. Moreover, any climax is undoubtedly well-thought and -crafted. David Estes has managed to do the impossible: using two of the most thought out genres, the dystopia and YA, he produced an outstanding sample of twentieth-first century contemporary dystopian young adult writing. Many believe that YA and science-fiction are basically dead; writers like David Estes stand for the opposite. Evidently, the genre is not rotten, it keeps growing and climbing up the walls of peculiar creatures, readers like me who search for the distinguishable in the vast sea of writing homogeneity.
A male author managed to adopt perfectly a female point of view, Adele’s point of view, and he managed to produce with such care all-too-real characters in an all-too-unreal setting. Not so many have the ability to step onto something well-worn and refashion it in order to evolve it.
To whom should I recommend it?
Readers who missed the days when pulling an all-nighter meant happiness. Strongly recommended to those who seek out a thrilling adventure fused with the adolescent spirit of defiance and ignorance of the risks involved.
VERDICT: Adele, the female lead of the “The Moon Dwellers” by David Estes, does not compromise. Nor does she settle for what she is told to do. She keeps running and running until the push comes to shove. David Estes celebrates the spirit of female defiance in a refashioning of the dystopian YA genre. This particular work consists the reason ontemporary works of this kind should and must be included in discussions of high caliber.
What is the book about?
Following an annihilation of Earth’s surface, humanity is forced to live underground creating thus the Tri-Realms, a new society, which consists of three subcategories: the Moon Dwellers, the Sun Dwellers and the Star Dwellers.
Adele, the seventeen-year-old female protagonist is a Moon Dweller who, due to her parents’ treason, appears to be incarcerated at the beginning of the novel. She desperately wishes to escape and locate her –imprisoned as well–family.
On the opposite side, Tristan is the young son of the President. He certainly does not regard highly of his father and once he catches sight of Adele, he decides to seek her out.
Against a post-apocalyptic backdrop and in the midst of a social crisis, Adele inaugurates a journey which reserves intense moments, strong emotions and cliffhangers.
What did I like about the book?
People tend to find similarities and patterns where, in the first place, they should not. By extension, best-selling novels tend to dominate the market and when novels of the same/similar genre come out, a plethora of readers–falsely–draws parallels between the most popular book and the less popular one.
David Estes’s self-published dystopian novel consists such a case. When I was given the ARC to read and honestly review it, I saw everywhere in the comments that the novel was for devotees to the Hunger Games and the Divergent series. After I finished reading the copy, I was bereft of any words. I recall it was half-past five in the morning and I could neither sleep nor try to close my eyes. I kept glancing at the screen of my laptop, thinking about the novel I had just read. It took me almost a week to read it but I’m sure, if I had the time, I would definitely devour it in just under three days.
The Moon Dwellers comprises a novel of its own. Why on earth should people keep shelving it as a “because you like Hunger Games” novel”? The setting is ingenious, underneath Earth, the protagonists are common people who just happen to be born in such a terrible place and era. Moreover, any climax is undoubtedly well-thought and -crafted. David Estes has managed to do the impossible: using two of the most thought out genres, the dystopia and YA, he produced an outstanding sample of twentieth-first century contemporary dystopian young adult writing. Many believe that YA and science-fiction are basically dead; writers like David Estes stand for the opposite. Evidently, the genre is not rotten, it keeps growing and climbing up the walls of peculiar creatures, readers like me who search for the distinguishable in the vast sea of writing homogeneity.
A male author managed to adopt perfectly a female point of view, Adele’s point of view, and he managed to produce with such care all-too-real characters in an all-too-unreal setting. Not so many have the ability to step onto something well-worn and refashion it in order to evolve it.
To whom should I recommend it?
Readers who missed the days when pulling an all-nighter meant happiness. Strongly recommended to those who seek out a thrilling adventure fused with the adolescent spirit of defiance and ignorance of the risks involved.
VERDICT: Adele, the female lead of the “The Moon Dwellers” by David Estes, does not compromise. Nor does she settle for what she is told to do. She keeps running and running until the push comes to shove. David Estes celebrates the spirit of female defiance in a refashioning of the dystopian YA genre. This particular work consists the reason ontemporary works of this kind should and must be included in discussions of high caliber.
Honest review for ebook: wow. By wow, I mean wow. Where do I begin?
The Moon Dwellers is the journey of a kick butt girl named Adele trying to save her family. Does that sound too overdone? She's saving them after she breaks out of prison, while she tries to make sense of the prince of the Sun Dwellers, aka the oppressors, giving her unintentional intense pain whenever he is around. The Prince, Tristan, is also a victim of their strange pain inducing bond. Oh, and don't forget the Star Dwellers who find bombing the Moon Dwellers to be beneficial. It's not a typical story in any way once you throw all that in.
Adele and Tristan are great lead characters. They are so understandable, and both are killer fighters. The secondary characters are just as good, and all of them make excellent people to follow through the story.
The plot is action packed, intense, tear jerking, and lovable in every way. I couldn't put my ereader down when I was reading this.
Obviously, I would recommend this book. If you liked Hunger Games, the Delirium books, the Divergent books, etc. give this book a try. Even if you didn't like any on that list, give it try. It's a truly remarkable read, and I can't wait to read the sequel.
The Moon Dwellers is the journey of a kick butt girl named Adele trying to save her family. Does that sound too overdone? She's saving them after she breaks out of prison, while she tries to make sense of the prince of the Sun Dwellers, aka the oppressors, giving her unintentional intense pain whenever he is around. The Prince, Tristan, is also a victim of their strange pain inducing bond. Oh, and don't forget the Star Dwellers who find bombing the Moon Dwellers to be beneficial. It's not a typical story in any way once you throw all that in.
Adele and Tristan are great lead characters. They are so understandable, and both are killer fighters. The secondary characters are just as good, and all of them make excellent people to follow through the story.
The plot is action packed, intense, tear jerking, and lovable in every way. I couldn't put my ereader down when I was reading this.
Obviously, I would recommend this book. If you liked Hunger Games, the Delirium books, the Divergent books, etc. give this book a try. Even if you didn't like any on that list, give it try. It's a truly remarkable read, and I can't wait to read the sequel.
This didn't work for me because I didn't like either of the main protagonists. They were juvenile, immature and driven by emotions beyond reality. I could write a page long ranting review but it's been 3 years since this came out so I don't think my two cents will matter much.
I'm probably still going to continue the series because I liked the premise, and from the looks of it, the fun's about to get started.
I'm probably still going to continue the series because I liked the premise, and from the looks of it, the fun's about to get started.
I would like to thank author David Estes for sending me a copy of this book to read and review. Review also posted here:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-moon-dwellers-dwellers-1-by-david.html?showComment=1343297317962&m=1#c7734232636942359634
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-moon-dwellers-david-estes/1111871065?ean=2940014644938
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FJV8SQ/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
It's a been a bit since I read a dystopian novel. I have been wrapped up in paranormal lately, so this was really a great change.
First, I must address the world that David built. I really love the concept of having to move beneath the earth to escape after the collapse on the earth's surface. I would have liked this to go a little more into the depth of why it happened. I think that would have made it a little more believable for me. With that said, I could totally picture David's worlds. The Sun Dweller realm reminded me a bit of the ship from the movie Walle. I could see how things were made to help simulate sun and being on the earth's crust. The Moon Dweller realm reminded me of caves. All I could think about was dark gray rock, rising on all sides, lit only by the timed lights that created "day" and "night." I cannot really picture the Star Dweller realm at this time, as we haven't really been there, but I know that comes in the next book. In my mind there's a lot of dirt! LOL!
I was worried about the book being told from two points of view. I am always worried about this, especially when it is a male and female POV, which have to sound very different to be believable. I was not disappointed. I was a bit shocked by the "insta-love" between the two main characters, but I almost feel there is more to this that we have yet to learn about. So I was able to put that on the back burner. And I loved the way that David kept us in suspense through most of the book as the characters almost met a number of times before they finally come together.
Adele is a kick butt heroine. I love kick butt heroines. She is smart and sassy. She is certainly strong and capable. She is also loving and compassionate. She knows how to distance herself so she won't become attached or get herself into a situation where she might have to fight her way out. But she also shows the side of herself that is a teenage, falling for Tristan as only a teen would do: by seeing him and locking eyes with him in an almost "love at first sight" way. She appropriately grieves death in the book, which I think is a hard thing to write. And she shows us that you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it. Although, she does have some luck along the way. And she has flaws, which definitely make her more relatable to the reader.
Tristan is not at all what I would have expected. He is strong and funny. He has so much love, you can feel it coming off the page (for both Adele and his friend Roc). He is honest, almost to a flaw, but it suits him and makes him more relatable. And you can see that his ideals are in the right place, even if his father's are not. I am curious as to what exactly it is he knows, as we don't really get any information on this during the book, except that it seems to be something that will help them change their worlds.
The supporting characters, Roc, Cole and Tawni, are really great. I love Cole's sense of humor and I was sad to see him go, as I really thought there could have been a lot more to come with him in the story. Tawni is certainly strong. And she is definitely holding back some secrets (that she seems to share with Roc and Tristan). And Roc, well, I just love him. He's such a great friend to Tristan, despite his position in the Sun Dweller realm as a basic servant to the prince. Elsey is wise beyond her years. I did find when she spoke that I really didn't see a 10 year old girl. I know that she was supposed to have really grown while in the orphanage, but to me it wasn't quite believable. And I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ben Rose, as I am sure he and Tristan are going to bond in the future over their love for Adele.
I was a little disappointed that we didn't get more insight into the evils that truly lurk in these worlds. Alas, there is Star Dwellers for that to happen, no? And I'm excited to see if Adele finds her mother, and who else she and Tawni meet along the way.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I read it for a chapter a day read in Never Too Old for YA Books, and, let me tell you, it was hard to stop at just the chapters we were reading for that day! I didn't read the sneak peak to Star Dwellers. I want to be surprised when it comes out! And I will read the rest of this trilogy, that is for certain. Nicely done, Mr. Estes! I am looking forward to spending more time in the realms come this fall!
I'm rating this a 4/5 stars.
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-moon-dwellers-dwellers-1-by-david.html?showComment=1343297317962&m=1#c7734232636942359634
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-moon-dwellers-david-estes/1111871065?ean=2940014644938
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FJV8SQ/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img
It's a been a bit since I read a dystopian novel. I have been wrapped up in paranormal lately, so this was really a great change.
First, I must address the world that David built. I really love the concept of having to move beneath the earth to escape after the collapse on the earth's surface. I would have liked this to go a little more into the depth of why it happened. I think that would have made it a little more believable for me. With that said, I could totally picture David's worlds. The Sun Dweller realm reminded me a bit of the ship from the movie Walle. I could see how things were made to help simulate sun and being on the earth's crust. The Moon Dweller realm reminded me of caves. All I could think about was dark gray rock, rising on all sides, lit only by the timed lights that created "day" and "night." I cannot really picture the Star Dweller realm at this time, as we haven't really been there, but I know that comes in the next book. In my mind there's a lot of dirt! LOL!
I was worried about the book being told from two points of view. I am always worried about this, especially when it is a male and female POV, which have to sound very different to be believable. I was not disappointed. I was a bit shocked by the "insta-love" between the two main characters, but I almost feel there is more to this that we have yet to learn about. So I was able to put that on the back burner. And I loved the way that David kept us in suspense through most of the book as the characters almost met a number of times before they finally come together.
Adele is a kick butt heroine. I love kick butt heroines. She is smart and sassy. She is certainly strong and capable. She is also loving and compassionate. She knows how to distance herself so she won't become attached or get herself into a situation where she might have to fight her way out. But she also shows the side of herself that is a teenage, falling for Tristan as only a teen would do: by seeing him and locking eyes with him in an almost "love at first sight" way. She appropriately grieves death in the book, which I think is a hard thing to write. And she shows us that you can overcome anything if you put your mind to it. Although, she does have some luck along the way. And she has flaws, which definitely make her more relatable to the reader.
Tristan is not at all what I would have expected. He is strong and funny. He has so much love, you can feel it coming off the page (for both Adele and his friend Roc). He is honest, almost to a flaw, but it suits him and makes him more relatable. And you can see that his ideals are in the right place, even if his father's are not. I am curious as to what exactly it is he knows, as we don't really get any information on this during the book, except that it seems to be something that will help them change their worlds.
The supporting characters, Roc, Cole and Tawni, are really great. I love Cole's sense of humor and I was sad to see him go, as I really thought there could have been a lot more to come with him in the story. Tawni is certainly strong. And she is definitely holding back some secrets (that she seems to share with Roc and Tristan). And Roc, well, I just love him. He's such a great friend to Tristan, despite his position in the Sun Dweller realm as a basic servant to the prince. Elsey is wise beyond her years. I did find when she spoke that I really didn't see a 10 year old girl. I know that she was supposed to have really grown while in the orphanage, but to me it wasn't quite believable. And I'm looking forward to seeing more from Ben Rose, as I am sure he and Tristan are going to bond in the future over their love for Adele.
I was a little disappointed that we didn't get more insight into the evils that truly lurk in these worlds. Alas, there is Star Dwellers for that to happen, no? And I'm excited to see if Adele finds her mother, and who else she and Tawni meet along the way.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I read it for a chapter a day read in Never Too Old for YA Books, and, let me tell you, it was hard to stop at just the chapters we were reading for that day! I didn't read the sneak peak to Star Dwellers. I want to be surprised when it comes out! And I will read the rest of this trilogy, that is for certain. Nicely done, Mr. Estes! I am looking forward to spending more time in the realms come this fall!
I'm rating this a 4/5 stars.