Incarceron {book review} * * * * 1/2

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

- dystopian, fantasy, YA -

reviewed by Tara SG

borrowed from library

Book Order (Incarceron)

1. Incarceron * * * * 1/2
2. Sapphique (12.28.10)

Links

Author’s Website : www.catherine-fisher.com

Amazon : hardcover / paperback

Add To Your GoodReads TBR List

This book in 6 words:

didn’t want to escape enthralling world

Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this. I didn’t even really read any reviews for it. A book about a prison? Why would I want to read that?! I loved this book! I can’t believe I almost passed this up. The world building was fantastic. The characters were very well-developed. The writing style and pacing kept you on the edge of your seat through-out the entire book. While there were a few things I figured out a little early, overall I was very impressed with the twists and turns. I’ll definitely be finishing this series.

Brief Summary

Incarceron — a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology — a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber — chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison — a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device — a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn’s escape is born …

- via GoodReads.com

Plot/Pacing/Writing Style

I really can’t say enough about how amazing this plot was. The story takes place from two main POVs (with a few others from time to time). Finn and Claudia’s worlds are very different in most ways, but they are both wishing to be free. I loved the juxtaposition of their prisons and their common goal to do what they have to free each other.

The only issue I had with the writing style was that I had a hard time picturing Incarceron. I’m not sure why it was so hard for me to picture where they were. I had no problem with Claudia’s world. Overall, I still loved the story and the pacing was perfect. You end every chapter needing to continue to the next one.

Characters

Finn is fantastic. We see a young man who wants to be good. Who doesn’t believe he belongs in the prison or that he was even born there. He cares about those around him and has done things he’s not proud of to survive. He is strong-willed and desperate. You can’t help but care about him and hope that he finds a way out.

Claudia is smart, clever, and a little cold. She has been raised with a specific purpose. She is to marry the prince and become queen to fulfill her father’s dreams. She hates the rules and era that everyone is stuck in. She plays the games of court, but hates them as well. She risks a lot to save a man who she thinks could save them all, but she also does what she can to protect the ones she loves along the way.

The side characters are also fantastic. The warden, the queen, the fellow prisoners, the tutors… they are all very well-developed and complex. I cannot wait to see more of them!

Favorite Quotes

“… or is it that man contains within himself the seeds of evil? That even if he is placed in a paradise perfectly formed for him he will poison it, slowly, with his own jealousies and desires? I fear it may be that we blame the Prison for our own corruption…”

- Lord Calliston, the first prisoner

“None of us have much idea where we are. Perhaps all our lives we are too concerned with where, and not enough with who.”

- Sapphique

Recommendations

Whether or not you read a lot of YA, I highly recommend this book. If you like dystopian worlds, mystery and a thrilling ride, then this is the book for you. It even had a touch of sci-fi/advanced technology that I loved.

Going Deeper – NO spoilers

Incarceron is believed to be a paradise to those in the Outside world. That is what it was created for. Over the centuries that it was closed off it turned dark. It was discussed by the philosophers who started the project and the prison itself that men are inherently evil. The idea that you cannot create a world without violence and crime because men will always follow that path. It’s an idea that I find very interesting and thought it was blended with the story beautifully. It wasn’t overwhelming, but older audiences in particular will hopefully enjoy talking about this philosophy.