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A review by usandalgona
Vortex by S.J. Kincaid
5.0
Once again excellent and with plot twists I didn't see coming. I wish YA like this was still being written - so glad I decided to reread this series. It's a pretty emotional experience observing Tom changing and acknowledging certain things about himself (i.e., before-Spire and after-Spire) that were hinted at in the first book. Especially because we know he's great at compartmentalizing. Too much.
And the character I appreciated reading the most is by far Medusa. Everything about them is deliberate, and every action they take is really fitting. It doesn't stray unnecessarily from their character for the sake of plot, etc. Even when it could be frustrating, since we're in Tom's limited perspective, it makes complete sense from their point of view. It's nice to read a character who isn't just supposed to be a sitting duck. How boring is that. And how prevalent is that nowadays, when the protagonist is a straight guy. (Not saying that there aren't queer stories in which the other character in the relationship does end up a sitting duck, but they're harder to find.)
It is, however, irritating seeing a certain character's hair being described as "silken," most likely due to their ethnicity. And people of certain ethnicities are described with prescribed phrases like "almond-shaped eyes," which never fails to make me feel uncomfortable. I want to say this was the case with YA back then, but to be honest, this probably still happens now because no one is really checking over phrasing to make it feel like it's natural to have a non-white character in the primary cast. It feels like an exception when their ethnicity is over-described, like it's fascinating. Most of publishing is white after all, and the beginning of having more non-white characters in books will always have a few slip-ups. Hopefully writers will be a little more conscious of how they describe people's appearances. I wince when I see "oriental" still used when describing people.
The book itself is spectacular.
I do have to acknowledge that the description of ethnicities was what it was ten years ago, and it was even more prevalent back then.
Regardless of that point, I'm in awe and also just a bit disappointed that I'll probably never see a creative premise like this in YA again. I'll definitely be rereading in a few years. This series should honestly have a comeback, not in terms of a continuation (please, not another Percy Jackson spin-off of a spin-off, unless there's a legit reason to), but just more attention drawn to the series. There isn't going to be another rendition of this kind of video-game, sci-fi like set-up.
And the character I appreciated reading the most is by far Medusa. Everything about them is deliberate, and every action they take is really fitting. It doesn't stray unnecessarily from their character for the sake of plot, etc. Even when it could be frustrating, since we're in Tom's limited perspective, it makes complete sense from their point of view. It's nice to read a character who isn't just supposed to be a sitting duck. How boring is that. And how prevalent is that nowadays, when the protagonist is a straight guy. (Not saying that there aren't queer stories in which the other character in the relationship does end up a sitting duck, but they're harder to find.)
It is, however, irritating seeing a certain character's hair being described as "silken," most likely due to their ethnicity. And people of certain ethnicities are described with prescribed phrases like "almond-shaped eyes," which never fails to make me feel uncomfortable. I want to say this was the case with YA back then, but to be honest, this probably still happens now because no one is really checking over phrasing to make it feel like it's natural to have a non-white character in the primary cast. It feels like an exception when their ethnicity is over-described, like it's fascinating. Most of publishing is white after all, and the beginning of having more non-white characters in books will always have a few slip-ups. Hopefully writers will be a little more conscious of how they describe people's appearances. I wince when I see "oriental" still used when describing people.
The book itself is spectacular.
I do have to acknowledge that the description of ethnicities was what it was ten years ago, and it was even more prevalent back then.
Regardless of that point, I'm in awe and also just a bit disappointed that I'll probably never see a creative premise like this in YA again. I'll definitely be rereading in a few years. This series should honestly have a comeback, not in terms of a continuation (please, not another Percy Jackson spin-off of a spin-off, unless there's a legit reason to), but just more attention drawn to the series. There isn't going to be another rendition of this kind of video-game, sci-fi like set-up.