For me this book has a placeholder rating until the next one comes out, as the hook to continue the series has us witness the main character backslide on their personal growth.
I love the factually based alternative history we get to explore in this book, the worldbuilding is done well without infodumping, the concepts are intriguing, and the overall "we must eat the rich because there's nothing else to eat" desperation vibe pervades throughout the book without shoving it in your face. Some aspects of this book fee very fairytale (single individual seeming chosen, group of unlikely backup, overpowered arch villain) which increases the feeling of "story retold" the alternative history already provided. While the characters occasionally act more proud or silly than they should... they're teens, and it shows.
Until the last 15 or so pages, I was set to give this book a very happy 4.5*. However, right at the end, what personal growth we had from the main character seems to disappear in the hook for book two, with an extra (insert long sigh here) because the cousins (who had no real growth or progression in the book) encourage her. I get why, as far as continuing the series goes but... (insert longer sigh)
TLDR: a great factually based alternative history, but one I cannot in good conscience recommend until I know how the series continues.
I love the factually based alternative history we get to explore in this book, the worldbuilding is done well without infodumping, the concepts are intriguing, and the overall "we must eat the rich because there's nothing else to eat" desperation vibe pervades throughout the book without shoving it in your face. Some aspects of this book fee very fairytale (single individual seeming chosen, group of unlikely backup, overpowered arch villain) which increases the feeling of "story retold" the alternative history already provided. While the characters occasionally act more proud or silly than they should... they're teens, and it shows.
Until the last 15 or so pages, I was set to give this book a very happy 4.5*. However, right at the end, what personal growth we had from the main character seems to disappear in the hook for book two, with an extra (insert long sigh here) because the cousins (who had no real growth or progression in the book) encourage her. I get why, as far as continuing the series goes but... (insert longer sigh)
TLDR: a great factually based alternative history, but one I cannot in good conscience recommend until I know how the series continues.