Hundreds of years ago, a deadly plague swept through the land of Keldan, killing a third of the population, and dividing its people. Now the Scourge has returned to cause devastation once more. Ani Mells, a young river people girl, is shocked when she is taken captive by the Governor of Keldan’s Wardens, and forced to be tested for the disease. She is even more stunned when the test result is positive, and she is forced to go to the quarantine colony on Attic Island-where the sick are sent to live out the rest of their days doing hard labor. She soon discovers that not everything about the Scourge or the Colony is as it seems. Along with her friend Weevil, Ani begins to uncover the truth behind the colony and the Governor herself. But can she survive the Scourge and the Wardens long enough to expose the cruel plot and escape?
This book took me a grand total of about 5 hours to read. I whipped through it, and thoroughly enjoyed myself along the way. I was hooked by the third page. This was a very fun read. Initially, I must admit, I was skeptical, as the plot seemed a bit predictable. However I was very pleasantly surprised when I began reading, as it did not take the format I had expected. Additionally, there were numerous twists I never saw coming, especially towards the end! The characters have depth and I particularly appreciated the protagonist Ani. She isn’t just a flat character, and she isn’t whiny or unlikable; she’s understandable and has spunk. The bond between Ani and her best friend Weevil (another likable character with a sense of humor) is cute and believable, and even plays a role in the story. Another main character is Della, and I wish that she (along with a few other characters) had been developed more fully, as they felt lacking at times. The world itself and the backstory was satisfying, but I could have done with additional detail! The backstory and world didn’t do much for the plot, even though it could have. Essentially, my only critiques were that I wanted more! The moral of the story in essence is the importance and strength that lies in friendship. It’s not an in-your-face sort of a book that’s trying to push some life lesson; it’s just an enjoyable read with a nice theme about friendship.
To anyone searching for that good book, I would absolutely recommend this! It is a standalone novel so it won’t suck you into a drawn out series. It’s short and action packed! This is a solid read, and an original one too (not the same old magical-powers fictional read). I encourage readers to check this one out! It will snag you right away, and have your eyes glued to the pages! Have fun with this simple, but entirely entertaining novel; it won’t disappoint!
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