Figgy O'Connell

I wanted so badly for this to be a five star read.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down, and when I finished reading it last night (up past my bedtime) and went to sleep, I dreamt about this world and the people in it, though more surreal and dream like, of course. My dream back log is often two weeks long, which means something that happens in the real world won't show up in Dreamland for about fourteen days. This jumped the subconscious queue.


There were a couple of consistency and other errors, such as Fian remarking towards the end of the book that he had never seen snow before, when their first day in the impact suits they looked out on a New York which was now covered in snow, which was not how Jarra had seen it on past trips there.

The language could have been explained better. I still don't know what "grazzed" is supposed to mean, though I'm pretty sure it was used with both good and bad vibes. Is it supposed to be shock?
Also, "powered" seems to mean any of the following: excited, happy, dunk, drugged, stoned, horny.

I really did like how they had their own developments in their language, as it should be after 700 years, but I was a bit confused as to their definite meaning. If they have one.


The concept is really interesting, the writing style shows skill and talent, I loved the voice, the characters are fleshed out, the world building is fantastic, and I totally wanted to be Jarra's best friend.

I adored Jarra, and loved the little boost of confidence that JMK gave to the Jarra who was somehow totally out of her element, yet so very in it at the same time. I didn't loveJMK. When Jarra had a mental break, and JMK came out to drive for a while and protect Jarra, I didn't love who JMK was. She was far too cocky.

She just wasn't Jarra.

Now, really, before you go objecting, I understand that this was well written by the author, for me to long for Jarra's return because I didn't like JMK, the persona Jarra had created. But after a while of JMK being in the driver's seat, being cocky and obnoxious, I got really BORED.


Don't get me wrong. At no point during this book did I find myself wishing it was over, or wishing I could just put it down and walk away from it. I HAD to read it, I HAD to know how it would all work out for Jarra and the rest of the class.


I really, really enjoyed it.


But I feel like I was robbed.


There was a scene I was waiting for all book.

Call me sadistic, call me a Schadenfreude seeker, call me pretty much anything you want. They might be true, but I don't think they're the reason for this particular feeling.

I spent ALL BOOK waiting for that moment when the class would find out, or Jarra would tell them, that she was handicapped. I wanted to see their reactions. I wanted to see how Krath would react when he found out the person he had been hitting on was an "ape".

Instead, Jarra is in an induced coma for a week due to injuries that need time to heal, and she wakes up to be told by Fian that he broke the news to the class.

Yes, I realise that is likely a thing he would do, especially if he was worried that Jarra was going to back out and run away instead. But YOU ROBBED ME, FIAN! And that goes for you too, Janet Edwards.


I WILL be reading the next book. In fact, I ordered it when I ordered the first and am still waiting for it to show up.

I was devastated when I got home to an empty mailbox and the knowledge that there is no post tomorrow because it's New Year's Day.

I'll see you and your Earth Star in 2014 Ms. Edwards. (Didn't mean that to sound quite so naughty or sinister.)