Hardcover Book: Aquifer
Author: Jonathan Friesen
Length: 303 pages
Publilsher: BlinkYABooks.
Price: from $9.99
Book synopsis: In the year 2250, a ruling class controls the entire world by controlling the only source of hydration, buried deep underground—and they also control the flow of knowledge. While the Wise Ones can monitor the Topper world above and the “Water Rat” mines below, there’s one boy they can’t watch, and he has the passion and knowledge to find a crucial prophecy and potentially change the world.
This book was a short but confusing read, I finished it in two hours on a quiet Sunday afternoon. I found that I couldn't write this review right away, I needed to let the book sort itself out in my head.
I have to admit, it was an interesting read, but it left me feeling dissatisfied. I read it wanting and needing to know what happened next and when the book was finished it was like... BUT that can't be the end? There's another book waiting here and want to know the full ending of the book. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.... I really like having a feeling of completion when finishing a book and this book didn't leave me with that.
As for the book itself, it's written in the first person. Descriptions are keen and well-written, I can see/feel what is going on in the book quite well. Characters are well-developed. Plots are well-tied together if one takes the time to follow them through. There is a spiritual component with a voice that speaks into Luca's head. The voice provides guidance for Luca even though he doesn't fully understand it. The young love aspect seemed rather unrealistic to me.
The world in which Luca lives is divided into Toppers (those that live above ground), Rats (those that live below), Amongus (those the act as the policemen of society) and the Council (those in control) and the Wishers (spiritual component). Figuring out the divisions in society is relatively easy to do. Seeing how power is sought regardless of where you live was a good point to make.
I could not write this review write after I finished reading it, I needed to let it settle in my head a bit and reread that last couple of chapters. It still left me feeling dissatisfied, like there is more to the story, but that may well have been intentional on the authors part. How can one tell where life will take you when your world has been so radically altered? You can't!
Should you read it? I don't know, I honestly don't. If you like first person fantasy books go for it! :) If you like short reads that make you ponder them a bit... go for it. But if you want a short read that is always easy to follow, this perhaps is not the book for you. :) If you like clear cut answers, not the book for you. :) But the book will make you think and that's not a bad thing eh? :)
I got this book free throughBooksneeze for my honest evaluation. I was not told it needed to be positive review, only that I would get the book and be able to tell you my thoughts on it.