Book Review: Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Title: Sapphique
Author: Catherine Fisher
Series: Incarceron (Book #2)
Publisher: Dial Books
Year Published: 2010

"Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn's escaped, only to find  that Outside is not at all what he expected. used to the technologically advance, if violently harsh, condition of the prison, fin is now forced to obey the rule of Protocol, which require all people to live without technology. To Finn, Outside is just a prison of another kin, especially when Claudia the daughter of the prison's warden  declared Finn the lost heir to the throne. When another claimant emerges, both Finns and Claudia's very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court of something that even he doesn't fully believe.
Meanwhile, Finn's oathbrother Keiro and his friend Attia are still trapped inside Incarceron. They are searching for a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to escape to find it, they must battle the prison itself, because Incarceron wants the glove too."

My Rating: 4/5

This is the sequel to the book Incarceron, and in all honesty I don't think it did the first book justice. It was an interesting way to continue, but the characters seemed less complex, and harder to understand at the same time. This could of course be of course because of the way we see so much more of Attia and Kerio still inside the prison. I found it interesting to learn of the other rules that took place on the outside. I think the reason that this book wasn't as good mainly is because Incarceron become the real main character. The setting was really important in this book and so I found it hard to connect.
THANK YOU CATHERINE FISHER FOR MAKING ME REALIZE HOW SMALL WE REALLY ARE!

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny Ross♥♪♫

Spoiler: Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

This book wasn't as good as I had hoped, but it was a solid 8 I'd say, or I did say in the book review above. I love the way that the setting because such a big deal, but the way that Incarceron itself became a main character was disjointed and confusing. The fact that it spoke to the to the prisoners made me wonder if it was in a male or female voice, and it doesn't really give you an answer to that, your just left to assume. I did like the way we got to see what Outside looks like without Protocol over it. I also liked how some of the characters reacted (Keiro).

Characters:
Attia: I didn't really notice her much in the first book, but in this one you don't have a choice but to notice her. She's far more brave and she isn't afraid to stand up to anyone in her way of getting Outside. It was shocking at the end when she almost chose to stay with Rix. I think that would have been stupid after all the work she put into finding an escape.

Keiro: I still find him to be arrogant  but in this book he's more funny than anything. I think after reading that he's a half-man it lets the reader understand him and give him more sympathy. I hope he doesn't screw up in the outside world as he did in the prison though.

Claudia: She is less prominent in this story, and the only time we really see is when she's deciding who she's going to back when the Pretender appears. She definitely chose right. I can't believe that she asks her father at the end if she chose right. Blah.

Finn/Giles: I really do believe that he turned out to be the real prince, and if he hadn't fought when he was unsure he would be dead, and the prison would never have been opened. Just to prove you should never stop believing in yourself.

Jared: The fact that he turned into Sapphique was confusing, but he made the right choice when he decided to free the prisoners. I hope he keeps the peace between Incarceron and the outside.

Rix: This is my far my favourite character. He is probably crazy and more than a little full of himself, but all and all ridiculous.

Queen Sia: I was so happy when she died. Is that wrong? Probably but she had let power go to her head, or in this case her face :P


Moments to Remember:
♥Pg. 69
"'You've never been tempted?'
  'Maybe. But I'm crazy, not stupid.'"

♥Pg. 173
"'Any trouble, we're out of here. One Chain-gang is enough for a lifetime.'
 She nodded, and made to move past him, but he grabbed her and shoved her behind him. 'Watch my back. That's your job.'
 Attia smiled sweetly. 'And I love you too,' she whispered."

♥Pg. 253
"They had gagged him to keep him from talking to them. Obviously, they knew he was irresistible."

♥Pg. 339
"'Just how crazy are you, Rix? A lot, or not at all? Because I'm beginning to be very unsure.'
  He arched one eyebrow. 'I am the Dark Enchanter, Attia. I am unknowable.'"

♥Pg. 358
"'You're just as much a Prisoner here as we are. No difference.'
  The Warden stopped, just for a moment. Then he opened he door and let himself out. his back was rigid.
  Keiro laughed, softly.
  Rix nodded, approving. 'You tell him, Apprentice.'"

Thanks for reading,
Love,
Sidny xoxo

Book Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Title: Incarceron

Author: Catherine Fisher

Series: Incarceron (Book #1)

Pages: 442

Publisher: Dial Books

Year Published: 2007 (in Great Britain)

“Incarceron is a prison unlike any other. Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl name Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside- he father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return.

But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.”

My Rating: 5/5

This book has everything I look for in a fantasy world, and it has such a strong other world that a reader has no choice but to enter it. The setting in this book is key as we learn how the future is working in this Realm. It’s easy for me to imagine that with enough technology people would want to revert to easier times. And it’s a frightening future to imagine. A world where people are placed in a living prison is more frightening than one can imagine, but by reading Incarceron you come as close as possible. Without this imagination, this book wouldn’t have been anything. But thanks to Catherine Fisher’s mind it is an amazing alternate world.

THANK YOU CATHERINE FISHER FOR TRANSPORTING ME TO ANOTHER WORLD!

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny ♥♪♫

Spoiler: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

As usual I judged this book after reading only 50 of its 442 pages, but shortly after I was ranting and raving about how maddening and crazy this book was, I fell in love with it. The alternate world that Catherine Fisher transports the reader to is both frightening and unexpected. I thought that perhaps this book took place in the past and then just fast forwarded to the future but as you read you see that it is in the future but the Outsiders have reverted to an easier time. Easier for the rich that is and only more difficult for the poor. Through crimes and an unlikely live prison Incarceron makes you wonder if man is truly good at heart or a selfish being. It made me question humanity in all terms, future and present.

Characters:

Finn: We get to learn about Finn as a prisoner of Incarceron but slowly we learn that he has visions/memories that show him the outside world. Through out the book we try to figure out whether or not he really is from the outside or is just a messenger, even at the end we can’t be sure as we are told by the Warden that Incarceron recycles everything, even memories.

Claudia: I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I love a strong female character. Claudia certainly delivers. She may be afraid of her father and the queen but she knows what she wants, not only her duty and she doesn’t do what she’s told without looking within herself for her wants and needs. I think she will make a far better queen.

The Warden: I was shocked to find out that he had taken a baby from the prison, but when you think back to the days at the house, he is cool to her and seems uncaring as long as she does what she’s told. He is a plotter and I doubt he can be trusted.

Jared: I believed for a bit that he is Sapphique and the reason he has such bad health is because part of his is still chained in the prison, dying.

The Queen: I have read about many evil women, but none who have such odd eyes. Look up a passage about her eyes, and try to imagine them. It’s crazy, what comes to my mind at least.

Keiro: He is really scum. Arrogant and rude, I can’t understand why I like this character.

Gildas: I think at first he used Finn to escape but by the end he came to care for the boy as his own. A son he never truly had. I was incredibly mad that he died.

Attia: It is obvious that she has feelings for Finn. The way she fights for him could cause problems later on and perhaps she is the reason that The Warden took the key. So she couldn’t get back and ruin the new couple.

Moments to Remember:

♥Pg. 189

"Keiro nodded. 'So the Sapienti still have some magic after all.'

Breathless, the old man glared at him. 'I wish it worked on you.'"

♥Pg.230

" 'What about your friend? Doesn't she eat?'

'She's no friend of mine.'

'She came in behind you.'

He shrugged. 'Can't help being followed by girls. I mean, look at me.'"

Thanks for reading,

Love,

Sidny xoxo