This is probably a YA dystopian, but it reads well enough for the older. The basic premise is there has been marked social engineering, and society, at least in this limited area, has been split into three zones occupied according to class: upper (U) prospers, middle (M) is tolerated, and lower (L). The zones are separated by "impenetrable" barriers. (A challenge here!) The objective is to get rid of the lower class, and while large scale genocide is out, it can be done by refusing permission for them to breed. Children born to the lower class are removed from their parents, presumably to be killed. Emma Whisperer is the youngest person in L; she was born just before this law was imposed. In L, any misdemeanor earns 30 days jail; recidivism indefinite jail. In M it appears that an additional means of enforcing order is the possibility of relegation to L. As you might gather, the form of governance is dictatorship, and there are plenty of guards, etc, to enforce it. In L, being a guard seems to be the only way to avoid near absolute poverty. There is no mention of te general economy, and it appears L does not produce anything. Then author probably put that condition there to explain why there is no reproduction, but are the upper classes really going out to the farm to drive tractrs all day or do manual work?
I think the author wrote Emma from the heart. She is a bit self-centred, very introspective, but rebellious. (There has to be a story.) The other characters tend to be a bit grey, or in one or two cases, a bit stereotyped to do the job, e.g. President Esther. The better-written male characters are resonable, but in my opinion, clearly written by a woman. (This is stated more as an example of the difficulty of writing the other gender and is no reson not to read this book; I suspect the author could retaliate quite nicely criticizing my female characters.) This is apparently the start of a series, and the plot is a little stretched. World building is very good, aand quite dystopian. The limited action is rather well written, and the limited supply is to the author's credit. When it turns up, it is far more effective than in many other novels. To summarise, I thought it quite well done, it is easy to read, but the plot stretching, Emma's total lack of planning at times, the complete lack of any economic structure or consequences from this social experiment, and the limited number of stereotyped characters prevent five stars.
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Very good read
This is a very original story about a girl who doesn't believe her world should be living the way it does. Separated by classes.Emma has just turned 18, the last one to do so in her world, she has to find a job in the poor territory of L, she hates it there.We follow her through a series of seemingly random events to find out it is all connected.I liked the building romantic relationship between Emma and Eric (please don't do a triangle with Samuel!) There isn't the instalove, that is so annoying, they are slowly building up to something.I hate cliff hangers when the 2nd book isn't out yet😤. I do look forward to book two though.*Thank you to voraciousreadersonly for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Top reviews from other countries
Leo
Interesting take on a class system
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2024Kindle Customer
if you like Insergent you will like this book
Reviewed in Canada on March 24, 2020
Hannah S
Interesting start to a series, cruel world, strong heroine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2021