Scan barcode
A review by alina_leonova
The Chasm by Branwen OShea, Branwen OShea
5.0
The book drew me in immediately and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I couldn't put it down and sacrificed a lot of sleep, unable to stop reading. It was intense, fast-paced, full of dramatic action, brimming with tension and threats. The part where the characters go exploring new lands, looking for the Western Haven was so viscerally haunting that I couldn't fall asleep after finally putting the book down. The mysterious danger stalking the characters was palpable, making my skin crawl, and then there was a very intense action sequence with twists and turns during which I didn't know what would happen to the characters.
We get to know the characters we've met in the first book better. The Chasm allows us a glimpse into Savas's past partially explaining his behavior and motivations. I hated him in The Calling, but I started feeling sorry for him now. We also get a deeper understanding of Kalakanya's powers, and how much they burden her. Some characters get to grow and change, all of them undergo their own inner turmoil, and there is romance to spice up the already exciting adventure.
And, of course, there is a new terrifying danger, unlike anything either star beings or humans could have imagined. If you've read The Cords That Bind — a novella the events of which happen between The Calling and The Chasm, you've already had a glimpse of it. I've actually guessed the nature of this power after reading it (at least as much as is revealed in this book because it remains pretty mysterious). The book ends on a cliffhanger, but it feels like a good place to end it and get a breather before the third part. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
If you loved The Calling, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy The Chasm too. If you haven't started the series yet, you might like it if you're into original YA adventures with a hopeful spin, post-apocalyptic stories and ice age settings. I find it difficult to classify the story, as it can be both sci-fi and fantasy, but the author herself calls it hope punk, which I think is true :).
This review was first published on my website about sci-fi where you'll find more reviews, lists, recommendations, interviews, short stories and other stuff.
We get to know the characters we've met in the first book better. The Chasm allows us a glimpse into Savas's past partially explaining his behavior and motivations. I hated him in The Calling, but I started feeling sorry for him now. We also get a deeper understanding of Kalakanya's powers, and how much they burden her. Some characters get to grow and change, all of them undergo their own inner turmoil, and there is romance to spice up the already exciting adventure.
And, of course, there is a new terrifying danger, unlike anything either star beings or humans could have imagined. If you've read The Cords That Bind — a novella the events of which happen between The Calling and The Chasm, you've already had a glimpse of it. I've actually guessed the nature of this power after reading it (at least as much as is revealed in this book because it remains pretty mysterious). The book ends on a cliffhanger, but it feels like a good place to end it and get a breather before the third part. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
If you loved The Calling, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy The Chasm too. If you haven't started the series yet, you might like it if you're into original YA adventures with a hopeful spin, post-apocalyptic stories and ice age settings. I find it difficult to classify the story, as it can be both sci-fi and fantasy, but the author herself calls it hope punk, which I think is true :).
This review was first published on my website about sci-fi where you'll find more reviews, lists, recommendations, interviews, short stories and other stuff.