ARC Review: “Escaping Exodus” by Nicky Drayden

“Escaping Exodus” by Nicky Drayden

Publishing Date: October 15, 2019

Genre: Sci-Fi, Fiction

Page Length: 368 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Earth is a distant memory. Habitable extrasolar planets are still out of reach. For generations, humanity has been clinging to survival by establishing colonies within enormous vacuum-breathing space beasts and mining their resources to the point of depletion.

Rash, dreamy, and unconventional, Seske Kaleigh should be preparing for her future role as clan leader, but her people have just culled their latest beast, and she’s eager to find the cause of the violent tremors plaguing their new home. Defying social barriers, Seske teams up with her best friend, a beast worker, and ventures into restricted areas for answers to end the mounting fear and rumors. Instead, they discover grim truths about the price of life in the void.

Then, Seske is unexpectedly thrust into the role of clan matriarch, responsible for thousands of lives in a harsh universe where a single mistake can be fatal. Her claim to the throne is challenged by a rival determined to overthrow her and take control—her intelligent, cunning, and confident sister.

Seske may not be a born leader like her sister, yet her unorthodox outlook and incorruptible idealism may be what the clan needs to save themselves and their world. (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Escaping Exodus is told is told through two main characters, Seske and Adalla, who are best friends and secret lovers. Adalla is a beastworker and Seske is line for the matriarch. They live inside a beast’s body between its walls and do their best to thrive in an environment where they are at risk of danger and death. While Seske and Adalla try to go through their everyday lives we see all of politics, clans, monarchy, workers. Will they be able to save their world as it’s crumbling down?

There are so many interesting concepts in this novel. Its fresh, unique and everything I want in a Sci-Fi novel. One of the aspects I enjoyed is how the fantasy elements have a somewhat magical quality to them. Even when describing the mechanics of their world or fairy tale like dresses of the royal matriarchs.

Both Seske and Adalla are a pivotal points in their life. They are willing to risk to see if they can take their friendship further despite what society has planned for them. Adalla is becoming of the best beastworkers and wants to show her strength to rise to the top while Seske wants more power and to take the throne back from her sisterkin. Both want to prove their worth, but are frustrated by society constraints.

Starting this novel was a bit difficult and I had so many questions about everything, but as time went on everything became clearer. It’s slow paced with immersive world building process. It leaves the reader shrouded in mystery and you have to put the pieces together yourself instead of the story putting it together for you. Sometimes the story concepts get a bit confusing and I think the novel could have benefited from using a glossary.

Sibling rivalry, romance, action, drama, mystery all wrapped up in one world. Escaping Exodus is a good read for Sci-fi fans!

Final Verdict: