writesofluid's review
5.0
I don't normally read novellas; especially those in a series. I'm not sure why - I guess I'm just usually so engrossed in my fave genres of crime and psychological thrillers that I just don't leave room for experimental reading. However, knowing some of the writers, I wanted to read this series, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! This isn't what you might think it is - you might be mistaken for thinking it's just another teen fantasy genre, but actually it's more like a post-apocalyptic thriller - just in small doses from different characters. I absolutely love post-apocalyptic movies and TV shows - gimme The Walking Dead and The 100 any day! Which is why I am THRILLED that this series is an accompaniment to a movie, because I was definitely thirsty for more after reading these four novellas as well as the short story preface. I'd say these novellas are most like The 100, but with a very real feeling to it - no cyber technology - as though it could ACTUALLY HAPPEN. This makes it all the more scary. The premise is brilliant - what if women died out and the remaining few were hunted and kept like precious commodities? With this in mind, you can imagine how intriguing and thrilling it is to hear about life from the point of view of five girls at various time frames after The Fall - the dying-out event. I actually read these in the incorrect order, which I don't think mattered - though I would suggest reading the Sons of Gaia one last as it gives some of the answers to mysteries in the other novellas. I really liked each and every one of the novellas; each with female protagonists that were neither weak and feeble nor invincible. My personal favourite was Darklight, because I felt thrilled by the idea that everything the protagonist thought she knew was a lie; plus the living underground aspect. I really enjoyed the setting of Skyjack, with the battle between "sides" and the mystery of the people who fall from the sky. The inter-gender and more adult aspects of Sons of Gaia had me captivated, as did the reveals of the island, and Djinni was really interesting how it looked at the evolution of prejudice - although I would have preferred a less inconclusive ending on this one. In a nutshell: I want more! When are the next ones coming out, so we can find out what happens to the characters in the next phases of their journeys. Plus, will any of them ever meet?!!! :)
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