REVIEW: Incarceron

[Laura Bychowski]

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is a futuristic, science fantasy novel about a massive, omniscient, omnipotent prison. The inmates of Incarceron have been left for hundreds of years inside a prison so large it has its own ecosystem. People die and are born inside the prison and many doubt that an “outside” even exists. Ironically, the world outside the prison is under the impression that it is a self-contained utopia, even though no one but the warden is allowed contact with it. Finn, member of the most threatening gang of thieves in the prison, is suspected to have been born from the prison when he arrived mysteriously at a young age with no memory. Claudia, the warden’s wily daughter, dreads her approaching wedding to the prince of their country as she is not entirely convinced that her original fiancée (the late prince of the former dynasty) had not been murdered by the queen. With the help of his oath-brother, the wise-man of the village, and a former slave, Finn abandons his tribe and embarks on a journey to find a way out of Incarceron. Simultaneously, Claudia is diving deeper and deeper into the treasonous plots and hidden secrets of her world. Through the powers of a mysterious key Claudia discovers Finn and dedicates herself to helping him find a way out.

The pace of the novel is relatively quick, but lulls at several points, and its 440 pages would only attract confident teen readers. Adults are not entirely removed from this novel. They are friends, guides, and enemies to the protagonists but exist much on the same level as the teenagers they supposedly have power over. They depend on the abilities of the teens as much as the teens depend on them, which indicates that the teens are coming into adulthood. The perspective of the novel is 3rd person, but rarely leaves the side of Claudia or Finn. The contrasting settings of the “free” aristocracy and the captives of Incarceron demonstrates the novel’s recognition of heros in different classes and cultures. The prevailing concerns of the protagonists are discovering identity and achieving recognition of their capabilities and powers. These concerns, among others, are important to teenagers as they make their transition into adulthood.

So, I didn’t know books had trailers. Thought I’d include it for fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMRFsTwwj_U&feature=related
And here is a more legitimate review on a blog that specifically reviews YAL!
http://www.yahighway.com/2010/05/incarceron-book-review.html

My opinion is mixed. It has a great premise, very compelling, and held my interest well in to the second hundred pages. The last couple hundred pages droned on, much like the show Lost, with a dull throbbing desire to hear the ending and have my dozens of questions explained. The characters were thankfully not stagnant, but they lacked a consistency in their personalities to distinguish them in a way that makes them comfortable or familiar. I would recommend it for ages 12 and up, for scenes of graphic violence. Depending on taste, anyone might enjoy this book for its fantasy, steam-punk, or dystopian elements. It’s a viable heir to the Harry Potter dynasty. I can’t see this novel being useful in the classroom, especially due to its length. It could be useful in a book club to discuss the uses and methods of the penal system.