A review by erika_lin
Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book had some of the most vivid and beautiful world building I’ve ever read. I mean come on, parasitic humans living inside a space beast???!?!? That’s so cool! The entire caste system, as well as family structure  was amazingly well thought out and was so much fun to explore. however I was entirely unable to form any connection with these characters. Their moral compasses and connections to each other seemed to change from scene to scene, so I had no real sense as to who these people were. Also scenes that should have cut deep were only explained, not felt.

I.e. when mantis dies there was a very brief moment when sisterkin and seske worked together. There should be SO much feeling there. This is a moment when two enemies are united by the loss of a mother and are feeling what it is that binds them together, sisterhood, which is an entirely unique bond in this world.What I was given was sisterkin helps seske. Sisterkin betrays seske. That’s it. Also side bar, if I was sister Kin, I would be bitter too. What do you mean as I child I MADE UP A NAME TO FEEL BELONGING AND OH NO! I CALLED MYSELF BY THE FAMILY NAME, THE NAME OF ALL THE PEOPLE I LOVE AND YOU TATTLED AND I WAS TORTURED FOR DARING TO WANT TO BELONG SOMEWHERE???? AND THEN YOU KEEP TELLING MY MOTHER SHE SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME TOO MY FACE?? I refuse to believe in such a one dimensional “evil” character. I’d try to feed you to the wall too. Very rude. If this is addressed in the second book I take it back. Also what up with her ordering the deaths of most of the ship randomly, but absolutely refusing to kill another beast for their survival? Or her comparing however many hundreds of lives that Adalla fought to save to the one singular egg she carried? Really what I’m saying is I do not like Seske.

Character development fell flat as well for the same reason, none of the emotions that spark change were felt. This made the book feel very frustrating and confusing.