Sunday, August 1, 2010

In My Mailbox (33): Razorland, Ann Aguirre

This meme is hosted by The Story Siren.

A special surprise from the States this week...


Ann Aguirre's first YA novel, Razorland. Of course I started reading it straight away, got hooked, and then realised it isn't going to be released until next January! Razorland is a little slow to start but now that I'm about 80 pages in I'm finding it pretty darn thrilling. Freaky things slather about in the dark, and did I mention it's post-apocalyptic?

From Goodreads:

In Deuce’s world, individuals become adults—and earn the right to a name—only if they survive their first fifteen years. By this point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups: breeders, builders, or hunters. As the names imply, each group has definite roles to play for the survival of the group.

As a Huntress, Deuce’s purpose is clear—to roam the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading the ferocious humanoids known as Freaks. This has been the status quo for as far back as anyone can remember; this is, the elders tell everyone, the way it has to be. With the introduction of Fade, a male hunter a couple of years older than Deuce, who had been adopted into her enclave a few years earlier, she becomes aware of the hidden realities of the Orwellian society in which she was born. Deviation from the norm is punished quickly and harshly.

As Deuce’s perception of her world shifts, guided by her complex partnership with Fade, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival in the tunnels. The Freaks, considered dangerous only due to their sheer numbers and ferocious appetite, have long been held as incapable of any level of thought. And yet, as Fade and Deuce encounter them in the tunnels while in a reconnaissance mission to the nearest enclave, the creatures’ behavior is evidently cunning, and therefore more dangerous. It is evident that the danger is imminent, and yet Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known.

This girl Deuce can kick some serious ass, and she wields a motherfrakking CLUB. No kidding, a club! Too much awesome.

Razorland is available from Feiwel and Friends January 2010.

10 comments:

  1. It sounds really good! I love the cover too. :)

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  2. The story sounds awesome but I can't say I like that cover. The guy looks a little too boy-band for me.

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  3. Yeah, the cover is pretty inaccurate (Deuce has six scars, not three!) but it signals "I'm dystopian" and "ass-kicking within!" pretty well, so it does its job. And the boy and girl are, of course, far prettier than they are described in the novel. Boy-band he is not. (His name is Fade. I has a crush.)

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  4. I WoW this book! looks great. i really want it!! lol

    Happy Reading!

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  5. Dang I didn't know this was coming out! i love Ann Aguirre (and obviously need to pay more attention!)

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  6. The cover on this is so engrossing. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

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  7. This sounds awesome alright. Not super keen on the cover - liking the dystopian feel but not the depiction of the characters especially - but I'm pretty sure I'll read this one at some point. Kick ass female characters are my favourite kind.

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  8. It sounds really good. I hope you enjoy it. Happy reading!

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  9. I'll be reviewing this as part of dystopian August! So cool you got a copy!

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  10. I has a crush, too, and I haven't even started reading... OMG, SO jealous. I hope it's wonderful.

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