No Plain Rebel Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN: 9781519171993 on December 2nd 2015
Pages: 212
My rating:
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Synopsis
BOOK 2 in the NO ORDINARY STAR series A soldier is summoned to the North Pole, days before the year changes, told to fix a the great Clock for a celebration. He has no idea what to do. A girl, hunted for the crime of being born, almost dies out on the ice. She is rescued by the last polar bear left alive. A library waits for them both, a library built over a span of a hundred years, forgotten in the basement of an ice shack. The world hasn't known hunger or sickness in hundreds of years. It has also forgotten love and beauty. The year is 2524. Inspired by the short stories of Ray Bradbury, this futuristic young adult novel is set in a world where Christmas -among other things- is obsolete and a Clock is what keeps the fragile balance of peace. Written in three installments, this is the breathtaking and sensual story of how two unlikely people change the world, and each other, one book at a time. In No Plain Rebel, Felix finds out the truth. Or so he thinks. He's trying to come to terms with that, as well as with the fact that the Clockmaster's shack has been discovered by his fellow-soldiers, but he can't exactly concentrate. The match girl's fiery curls appear before his eyes every ten seconds, distracting him, and then he starts talking to her in his head. Because she's no longer there. The Stadium is looming in the distance. It's ten heartbeats to midnight.
This review is coming a little later than I’d expected, but I’m happy it’s finally here!
So, No Plain Rebel is the second installment in the No Ordinary Star series. If you read my review of the first part, you’ll see I really, really liked it, but… like wasn’t completely and over the moon in love? It just took some getting used to, the shortness and therefore how everything in that book was more drawn out somehow?
Of course, the story is cool and intriguing and has this air of magic that I love!
Now, for the second part…
The only thing I’ll say is that I’m not sure I like the past getting in the way of what’s happening at the moment. When the book began, I was so happy to be able to continue Astra’s and Felix’s story, but then boom, I’m transported to before.
Now, on to why you, or anyone should definitely read this book:
The characters are amazing
Umm… please elaborate?
Of course both are badass and everything, but what most stood out to me is that both Astra and Felix have a lot of noticeable flaws and they kind of complement each other, making them the perfect team. Of course we get to see them working together now so it’s even more evident. For example, Felix grew up in a pretty cold environment, emotionally speaking, while Astra had her father. But Felix knows how to read, and Astra doesn’t. These small things warmed my writer/reader heart, because it just… fits. I like it when stories have that.
The exploration of the world
I also mentioned for No Ordinary Star that I was taken with the world the author was presenting, and here I got to see more of it, yay! The atmosphere is all dark and magical and brings a lot of old classic tales to mind. In spite of the fact that there’s more happening here, I still feel it’s more about the characters than anything. That said, I was grateful that it was more balanced in this story. I was still getting to learn more about their environment.
The themes!
I like how through the characters we explore several layers of theme, like what it means to be human, and the good ol’ right vs wrong, and friendship, loyalty and even -obvs!- love. I feel like I’m repeating myself but the combination of Astra+Felix really is the big star of these books, as it should be! The characters are the driving force of anything. But even more so with these books. Since they have so much to learn, we are part of that journey too and get to see all those layers.
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Win a signed No Vain Loss (NOS #3) signed paperback
Okay, quick announcement here. By preordering the kindle version of the third book ($0,99!) and sending receipt/confirmation to the author, you’ll be entered to win a signed copy of it!
Don’t miss out!
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Have you read the first book yet? (If you haven’t go go go!) Are you tempted?!
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