Betsy Fulcherini
Wow… just wow.I got into fantasy probably the same way most kids of my generation did. Harry Potter. Of course I was lucky enough to have a big brother who introduced me to Star Wars and The Dark Crystal so that broadened an already geeky little girl past the grounds of Hogworts. Therefore I am always on the look out for new fantasy with pretty high standards set. This book did not disappoint. To the extent that once picked up, I could concentrate on very little else. Think… the Matrix meets Hunger games.
This book grabbed me from the first page and held me straight to the end. The characters have incredible depth, and despite the sci-fi /fantasy premise are completely relatable.
The locations created felt like something out of Tolkien being richly detailed but not over explained to the point of exhaustion.
Darrow, the hero of the piece, takes us on an emotional rollercoaster through this story, where his drive, ambition and wit will have you laughing out loud one minute then crying the next.
Set in the future, humanity has been divided into a class system and categorised by colour. For Darrow, a Red, food is scarce and life consists of hard labour and constant risks. When Darrow discovers everything he knows is a lie, he embarks on an undercover mission to infiltrate and bring down the top tier- the Golds.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough, but be warned, clear your schedule because once you start it, you’re tied in.
