Norma Hinkens

Opal of Light. The first book in the Keeper Chronicles & my second read from author Norma Hinkens is an easy read. Its cast of diverse personalities comes off as people, not just words in a book, but the characters could have had more depth & development. I’m a character reader I get into who the characters are & why they do the things they do, that is lacking in the books I’ve read by Hinkens. Other than that I enjoyed the story-line. I’m looking forward to reading the next book despite the shortcomings Norma Hinkens is on my radar! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).… (mehr)

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I think I've reached the point where I should take a break from the Dystopian future. This is the newest reading experience in a growing string of books from the genre that I didn't like. I think I might have saturated my need for Dystopian stories for a while. At least for the ones that don't seem to make a lot of sense.

Derry and her family and friends live in underground bunkers out of fear for the Sweepers who abduct people into aircrafts. The description is not unlike alien abduction. When her brother is taken, Derry will do everything she can to rescue him, at least until the love interest shows up. A girl and her priorities, I guess?

There are certain things that could have saved the novel, but unfortunately didn't. One of which was Derry's character. She was rather annoying, and the easy way in which she seems to forget her goals doesn't speak for her either. She's supposed to be the kick-ass heroine familiar to the genre, but instead she usually gets into trouble and needs to be rescued by a group of strong men. Also, I was quite disappointed with the reveal about the Sweepers. It didn't make a lot of sense to me, but to be completely honest, I was past really caring at that point.

Immurement is the first book of the Undergrounders.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!… (mehr)

Not a bad sci-fi story. I liked the premise, the kids being launched off the planet in order to save them. Trattora was a good character, she was strong willed and smart, even though sometimes she was too brash and reckless. Velkan definitely got the short end of the stick of the kids, he's an indentured servant. That would be hard growing up that way. I'm glad they found each other, they work well together. The amount of shit Trattora got herself involved in was crazy. It's like because she was so sheltered on her planet, she decided to do all the dangerous things, including threatening people lol. The ending was a bit abrupt and I didn't like the introduction of Phin at the very last minute. I do wonder what will happen and if any of their parents are still alive.… (mehr)

Trattora and Velkan are two teenagers, each of mysterious background, but who clearly have a common origin, even though they've never met.

Trattora has grown up a chieftain's daughter on a rather backward and isolated planet, while Velkan has grown up a serf--essentially a slave--on a trading ship whose owner-captain, Sarth, is not overly concerned with the law.

Trattora has always known she was adopted, brought to the planet Cwelt by the last trading ship that reached them before Sarth's. It doesn't take the two young people long to discover that they each have one item from their unknown parents: bracelets identical except for the name engraved on it.

Trade negotiations are already not going well when it's discovered just how much Sarth doesn't care about the law, and Trattora is determined to save her new friend regardless of the risks. But when Marauders show up, Trattora's people have no option but to hide in the caves, while Sarth, her crew, Trattora, and two other Cweltans are near enough to Sarth's ship that getting off planet fast is the better choice.

What follows is adventure, treachery, and derring-do, much of it wildly improbable. Trattora often seems simultaneously too naive, given her age and her upbringing as a chief's daughter, and too sophisticated, given her upbringing on a backward world, with no direct experience of high tech except the education programs her father bought for her at the same time he bought her from that last previous trade ship. They visit a prison planet, a couple of trading worlds, and finally Aristozonex, where Trattora and Velkan hope to finally track down some real information on their parents, how they came to be living in such different circumstances, with only the identical bracelets as clues to their origins.

There are many problems with the book, some already mentioned. I don't think enough thought went into the world building, though I could be proven wrong in subsequent books in the series. It is nowhere explained why the Cweltans use "moons" to refer to years, i.e., it has been fourteen "moons" since Trattora arrived and was adopted by parents, and she's now clearly in her late teens. It's silly stuff.

And yet I liked the characters, and enjoyed both their developing personalities and relationships, and the often silly plot. This won't be on anyone's nominations lists, but it is an enjoyable read.

Recommended on that basis.

I received a free electronic galley of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily.… (mehr)