I received the novel New Wave by Jennifer Ann Shore as a free .mobi file in exchange for an honest review. I will first say that I went into this novel a bit warily, as it's a young adult novel with dystopian themes, and I'm not typically a fan of that sort of thing--but I'm pleased to say that New Wave was thoroughly entertaining, with an action-filled plot that carried me through the surf of the book.
My Rating: ★★★★
Synopsis: "When seventeen-year-old Mol is caught committing a crime, she kicks and screams her way into a dull existence of servitude in the Authority, the suffocating patriarchal regime that oversees The Network of Islands. Her penance makes her restless, and she soon finds an outlet to direct her attention -- the young Commander who is at the root of her unhappiness." (via Goodreads)
Thoughts and Comments
Pros
- The uniqueness of the names in the novel was a nice touch that added to the otherworldliness of the setting. The main character being named "Mol" was very telling, I thought, as the entire reason she came upon her circumstances working for the Authority was by her own shady actions.
- The novel is well-written, with excellent physical descriptions of the surroundings and appearances no matter what the current scene may hold.
- The author does a terrific job at providing the context of the world of the Network of Islands and how it functions without it seeming like blatant exposition or info dumping.
- The overarching conspiracy that runs throughout the plot is pieced together in unexpected ways that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.
- The characters are developed and strong, and they each play a special part in portraying the workings of the worldbuilding as well as the plot buildup.
Cons
- The beginning of the novel cast the book's shadow in front of it, and it looked awfully like an off-brand Hunger Games with a dash of Divergent, which made me skeptical upon opening it, but after the first two chapters or so, that feeling started to disappear, and the novel took on a form of its own.
- The Authority, which is the oppressive governmental body over Island Seven and the other islands in the Network, is a tired concept, especially for a young adult dystopian novel, in my opinion.
Conclusion
If you're a fan of young adult dystopian fiction with strong female leads, then New Wave should certainly be added to your summer reading list--especially if you're vacationing on an island somewhere this season! Ms. Shore, thank you for the opportunity to review your work. I look forward to seeing more from you in the future!
Amazon Link: See here
Goodreads Link: See here
Riffle Link: See here
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