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A review by fiction_aficionado
Wake by Sherry Rossman
4.0
This is the first in a new dystopian series for young adults set in the future fictional city of Titus, where religion and all forms of expressive art have been banned. When Monet’s friend Luke discovers a history book containing pictures of angels – symbols of the ‘cult’ Monet’s mother belonged to before she was taken away for ‘rehabilitation’ – he is compelled to sculpt them from scraps of metal and other bits and pieces he has found. He is convinced that the ruling Triad is not telling them everything, and he plans to create a series of these illegal sculptures to place around the outskirts of the city.
It is a dangerous enough mission in itself, but when a meteor crashes to earth right where one of Luke's sculpted angels points its extended finger, Monet and Luke begin to suspect that there is much more going on than either of them understand. Their suspicions are realised when a strange phenomenon associated with the meteor produces ghostly images that allow them to watch history being replayed before their eyes. The quest for truth begins.
As the Triad closes in on Luke, Monet, and their friends Fox and Rand, they prepare to escape to the Wild Ones – those who live in the woods outside the boundary of Titus – but leaving Titus is forbidden and things don’t go according to plan. Monet is left behind in a city that is slowly fracturing, under the ever-watchful eye of The Triad. Can she awaken the citizens of Titus to the truth and find her way back to her friends before it’s too late?
This was a new-to-me author, and I found that I enjoyed the strong, well-paced writing. I also found the premise of a world where all forms of expressive art have been banned intriguing (although I can’t say I would like to experience it for myself!) although I would have loved it if this book had explored that concept a little more in its world building. For example, what impact would such a stricture have on society, apart from the obvious legal penalties for disobedience? How would it change individuals? In this novel we see the legal ramifications of challenging this law, but I couldn't help feeling that there would have been deeper consequences arising from the absence of expressive art; after all, it is a defining characteristic of our Creator. Nevertheless, this was an engaging read as Monet and Luke struggled to make sense of the events unfolding in Titus.
This is only the first part of Monet's story, so be prepared to be left anticipating the next part of their journey. I will be interested to see where it takes them.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review.
It is a dangerous enough mission in itself, but when a meteor crashes to earth right where one of Luke's sculpted angels points its extended finger, Monet and Luke begin to suspect that there is much more going on than either of them understand. Their suspicions are realised when a strange phenomenon associated with the meteor produces ghostly images that allow them to watch history being replayed before their eyes. The quest for truth begins.
As the Triad closes in on Luke, Monet, and their friends Fox and Rand, they prepare to escape to the Wild Ones – those who live in the woods outside the boundary of Titus – but leaving Titus is forbidden and things don’t go according to plan. Monet is left behind in a city that is slowly fracturing, under the ever-watchful eye of The Triad. Can she awaken the citizens of Titus to the truth and find her way back to her friends before it’s too late?
This was a new-to-me author, and I found that I enjoyed the strong, well-paced writing. I also found the premise of a world where all forms of expressive art have been banned intriguing (although I can’t say I would like to experience it for myself!) although I would have loved it if this book had explored that concept a little more in its world building. For example, what impact would such a stricture have on society, apart from the obvious legal penalties for disobedience? How would it change individuals? In this novel we see the legal ramifications of challenging this law, but I couldn't help feeling that there would have been deeper consequences arising from the absence of expressive art; after all, it is a defining characteristic of our Creator. Nevertheless, this was an engaging read as Monet and Luke struggled to make sense of the events unfolding in Titus.
This is only the first part of Monet's story, so be prepared to be left anticipating the next part of their journey. I will be interested to see where it takes them.
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review.