First sentence: It must have been quiet for him to hear the rattling.
Premise/plot: Lifers is a premise-driven science fiction novel for young adults set in Manchester, England. Since it's premise-driven, it's key to know about the premise before picking it up! A secret agency (society?) has found a new way to deal with young delinquents they want off the streets. The solution to send them BTV, beyond the valve. They send them underground, perhaps to another dimension? Regardless, it's a one-way ordeal. There's no coming back if you're a prisoner. Those sent BTV have not been prosecuted and found guilty; they've just disappeared from the system completely. Preston and his friend Mace are investigating very, very vague clues left behind by their friend, Alice, who has disappeared. Alice started investigating because one of her friends, Ryan, disappeared without a trace. And chances are Ryan started investigating because one of his friends disappeared. Curiosity is risky in Lifers. The greater the risk, the greater the reward? Possibly.
My thoughts: The premise was a little over my head. Okay, the premise was a LOT over my head. Much of it depends on world-building. And the author certainly did that. Unfortunately, for me, I really need a connection with the characters to enjoy a book and get excited about it. I didn't care for the characters much, and, wasn't that invested in who made it out of the valve and who didn't.
I do think reading is subjective. Other readers may connect with Preston, Mace, Alice, Ryan, Ellsworth, Shade, etc. and find it a super compelling read. For me, it remains an almost.
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
1 comment:
Connecting with the characters makes a big difference for me, too. This does sound like an interesting world, though.
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