Vera, member of the ruling Matsumoto family, and her bodyguard, Roman, live in a futuristic world of space travel and colonised planets, and are connected by the computers in their heads. They can silently co-ordinate and comment on the world around them. The downside? They’re on an impossible mission set by a vengeful emperor who would prefer to see them both dead. Not many sixteen-year-olds have to fight an entire empire for survival – and not many would be so good at it. This is a great story. A really good read for anyone who enjoys YA Sci Fi. It's also not too young; the protagonist is a very mature 16 yr old. Characters are complex and well drawn, plot is strong, concept and world building are excellent and the pacing moves along, keeping you invested, so why only 3 stars? Editing. It needs a copy edit or at least a proof read by someone who knows what they're doing. It's an indication of how good the story is that I actually finished it, because the missing … [Read more...]
Excellent YA Fantasy: Paladin by Sally Slater
This is a great book. I read a lot, and few books hold me like this one. The concept of a young woman dressing as a man so that she can follow a path other than marriage is not new, but this is done with a unique angle and such skill and that that doesn’t matter. It’s a classic theme, one that raises issues of equality and equal opportunity that will always be relevant, and Paladin combines this theme with a budding romance and questions of loyalty and betrayal. The story is set in a traditional medieval fantasy world, but there’s no sorcery. There is, however, plenty of sword and plenty of demons. Our heroine is good with her sword and wants to be a warrior, not a wife. The plot is strong and the pace excellent. I never wanted to put the book down. The characters are fully fleshed, likeable, and not always predictable but always believable. On top of this, the book has been expertly written and edited. I could not fault it on technical issues at all. The prose is excellent and … [Read more...]
