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A review by ghostbird
The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
5.0
This book immediately sunk its hooks in me, and didn't let go until I had reached the end. It was fast paced and engaging. I never felt like it drew out scenes unnecessarily and I didn't feel bored at any point.
I found this take on a dystopian future fascinating, and it was built up well for the reader. The beasts called Reckoners were so interesting to me and I loved learning about how they were created, and about what their physiology, behavior and subsequent training was like.
The variety of stereotype-breaking characters was incredibly refreshing to me. There were queer and female characters and main characters, but the story does not focus on their sexuality or gender in the overplayed way many stories about queer or female character are but rather focused on the adventure and interpersonal relationships.
This story also includes elements of ethics and morality from the point of the main character. It asks questions like, what is considered self defense as opposed to needless murder? It shows how people on the fringes of society can be pushed to support themselves in ways that aren't condoned by society, due to not being supported by society.
Overall, I enjoyed this book from an entertainment point of view as well as from an intellectual point of view. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series, or on any other book I can find by this author!
(Also I noticed the author is from the town I went to college in and lived in for years - how cool is that?)
Content Warnings: Animal death, details of blood and gore, manipulation murder and abuse (in the piratical fashion), slavery mention.
I found this take on a dystopian future fascinating, and it was built up well for the reader. The beasts called Reckoners were so interesting to me and I loved learning about how they were created, and about what their physiology, behavior and subsequent training was like.
The variety of stereotype-breaking characters was incredibly refreshing to me. There were queer and female characters and main characters, but the story does not focus on their sexuality or gender in the overplayed way many stories about queer or female character are but rather focused on the adventure and interpersonal relationships.
This story also includes elements of ethics and morality from the point of the main character. It asks questions like, what is considered self defense as opposed to needless murder? It shows how people on the fringes of society can be pushed to support themselves in ways that aren't condoned by society, due to not being supported by society.
Overall, I enjoyed this book from an entertainment point of view as well as from an intellectual point of view. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series, or on any other book I can find by this author!
(Also I noticed the author is from the town I went to college in and lived in for years - how cool is that?)
Content Warnings: