Skip to main content

A Review of "Anchor Leg"




Introduction

Unfortunately, readers, this is the first book that I've reviewed that I simply couldn't end up finishing. While Anchor Leg by Jack Croxall had an interesting plot, the rest of the novel wasn't enough to keep my attention. The synopsis sounded exciting, and the first few chapters were inviting, but the story slowed as it went on, and I only ended up reading to 48%.

My Rating: ★★

Synopsis: "Humanity has spilled out into the Solar System, into a succession of giant space stations known as the Relay. Seren Temples is a security apprentice running the Relay’s remote Anchor Leg. When sabotage strands her vessel near another damaged ship, Seren and her team are sent across to investigate. The second ship is a zero-G graveyard. Inside its vast hold, nothing but a single vial of frozen blood. " (via Goodreads)

Thoughts and Comments

Pros
  • There were many creative ideas about space exploration and gathering resources--for instance, both Martian mining and surveying ice on frozen planets were mentioned, and I found that to be a neat bit of worldbuilding.
  • Along with the worldbuilding, there was a small amount of "space lingo", if you will, especially in the dialogue, but it was comfortable and easy to understand.
  • The dialogue itself seemed natural and unforced, which is a strong positive aspect in a young adult novel.
  • The technology in the universe is believable and not too-far-out-there to be considered as a part of the near-future. The reader doesn't have to do very much work in figuring out how all of the gadgets work.
  • The pacing was even and properly spaced out, for the most part--I didn't feel like anything was rushed in the novel for the sole sake of getting to the next plot point.

Cons

  • There were a lot of noticeable grammar issues that distracted me greatly, especially in dialogue.
  • Some scenes didn't seem to contribute to the plot; rather, they seemed to be there for the sole purpose of telling us the history of Seren.
  • A lot of blatant exposition was used throughout the novel--the author does a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Additionally, the exposition comes in chunks, as if to get it out of the way in order to explain what's going on in the present timeline of the novel.
  • In some instances, the tenses seemed to switch, which was a bit confusing
  • I found side character Abril Antonio to be very much a "Mary Sue" character--all of the boys seemed to admire her; she was always lithe and graceful in her movements; she was incredibly talented in the technology department--I didn't find a single flaw in this character, which points to shallow character development.
  • Perhaps the biggest reason that I couldn't finish this book is because Seren fit the mold of "dystopian YA orphan girl" to a T. She was plain, but pretty; she was clumsier than the rest of them, but she managed to shoot a perfect headshot the first time she ever fired a gun; her parents died when she was young, which contributed to her troubled past, since she always finds herself running away--it's a tired trope that shouldn't be involved in young adult novels anymore.



Conclusion

If you're a fan of space adventures, or sci-fi in general, I'd still recommend that you give this book a try! Just because it's not my cup of tea doesn't mean that it won't be yours. It should be taken into consideration that this review of the book seems to go against the majority of the reviews on Goodreads, as the average rating was a 4.13. This hasn't (by ANY means!) swayed my love for space fiction, and I would be more than willing to see something else written by Mr. Croxall.


Amazon Link: See here
Goodreads Link: See here
Riffle Link: See here

 This fulfills my "Soft Science Fiction" subgenre of the Science Fiction genre!


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Review of "Tales of a Paperboy"

Introduction As always, let me first put the disclaimer that I received a free .mobi file of Tales of a Paperboy from author Andrew J. Mair in exchange for an honest review. Readers, I am so delighted that this book was the book that marked my return to reviewing. It was a beautifully heartwarming Christmas story that really replenished a "Christmas Spirit" in me that I haven't felt in quite a few years, and I'm so thrilled that I was able to read it so close to the holidays. My Rating:   ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Following the death of his mother, fourteen-year-old Daniel Morgan moves from Texas to Utah to live with his grandma and new step-grandfather while his dad pursues a job out of state. Encouraged by his father, Daniel reluctantly starts his first job as a paperboy. Lonely and lost in an unfamiliar environment and with the holiday approaching, Daniel finds comfort and hope in the sound of local church bells.  Through his grandparents and the retired families li...
2 comments
Read more

A Review of "Big Red"

Introduction A thrilling read with a unique plot in a classic setting, Big Red by author Damien Larkin is sure to please any sci-fi fan out there. Published by Dancing Lemur Press LLC and sent to me directly in exchange for an honest review, the novel intertwines modern-day technology with imaginative futuristic innovations that make Mars seem like more than just a dusty red planet. My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "Suffering the side effects of Compression travel, soldier Darren Loughlin wakes up screaming from a gunshot wound that isn't there. Despite a fractured memory, he is forced to recount his year-long tour of duty on Mars to uncover the mysterious fate of Earth's off-world colonies and the whereabouts of his shattered battalion. With time running out, Darren recalls his tour of duty with the Mars Occupation Force in New Berlin colony, their brutal MARSCORP masters, and the vicious war against the hostile alien natives. But as he exposes the ...
2 comments
Read more

A Review of "Over the Pass, and Other Stories"

Introduction When author Susan Mary Malone contacted me about this book and told me that she was a native Texan, I was delighted! I don't get too many opportunities to meet Texan authors outside of writers' conferences, and I don't recall ever reviewing a book by a Texan author before. She kindly gave me a .mobi file of Over the Pass, and Other Stories in exchange for an honest review, and I'm certainly glad that she did, because I loved this book! My Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Synopsis: "From the expansive openness of Texas to the steep peaks of Montana, this collection of stories mines iconic landscapes--the internal mirroring the outer realms. Many previously published in Literary journals and anthologies, some, original here, all explore what it means to be human. They are stories of the heart."  (via Goodreads) Thoughts and Comments Pros Let me start by saying that I think this book is extremely well-written. I was impressed by the syn...
2 comments
Read more