Release Date: September 23, 2014
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: Survival Colony Nine, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website
In a future world of dust and ruin, fourteen-year-old Querry Genn struggles to recover the lost memory that might save the human race.
Querry is a member of Survival Colony Nine, one of the small, roving groups of people who outlived the wars and environmental catastrophes that destroyed the old world. The commander of Survival Colony Nine is his father, Laman Genn, who runs the camp with an iron will. He has to–because heat, dust, and starvation aren't the only threats in this ruined world.
There are also the Skaldi.
Monsters with the ability to infect and mimic human hosts, the Skaldi appeared on the planet shortly after the wars of destruction. No one knows where they came from or what they are. But if they're not stopped, it might mean the end of humanity.
Six months ago, Querry had an encounter with the Skaldi–and now he can't remember anything that happened before then. If he can recall his past, he might be able to find the key to defeat the Skaldi.
If he can't, he's their next victim.
Querry is a member of Survival Colony Nine, one of the small, roving groups of people who outlived the wars and environmental catastrophes that destroyed the old world. The commander of Survival Colony Nine is his father, Laman Genn, who runs the camp with an iron will. He has to–because heat, dust, and starvation aren't the only threats in this ruined world.
There are also the Skaldi.
Monsters with the ability to infect and mimic human hosts, the Skaldi appeared on the planet shortly after the wars of destruction. No one knows where they came from or what they are. But if they're not stopped, it might mean the end of humanity.
Six months ago, Querry had an encounter with the Skaldi–and now he can't remember anything that happened before then. If he can recall his past, he might be able to find the key to defeat the Skaldi.
If he can't, he's their next victim.
I received Survival Colony 9 back in September. I’d actually started it then, but for reasons I don’t remember, I stopped. I never made it past the first chapter unfortunately. And now? I finished it in one setting. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book about dystopian survival in the wilderness, and that too with a male protagonist. I couldn’t but help picturing The Scorch Trials while reading this book–I haven’t read James Dashner’s books, but after seeing the trailer, I kept imagining a similar desert setting with broken-down cities in Survival Colony 9. Anyway, this one was definitely filled with twists of all kinds and builds up to a fantastic ending that’s filled with secrets, revelations, kick-ass action, and sacrifice.
As I mentioned before, it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA book with a male main character. The last one I read would probably have to be Grasshopper Jungle, and I read that at the beginning of the year. We definitely need more male protagonists in YA. Anyway, Querry’s character was pretty interesting from the start because of the fact he couldn’t remember anything beyond the past six months. I knew the twist was going to be juicy, and I was not disappointed. There’s quite a few different characters in this colony, most notably Querry’s father Laman. While he seemed quite harsh from time to time I have to say I was totally on his side even other member’s the colony disagreed with his ideas.
The Skaldi! Creepy, creepy, creepy creatures. I don’t know why but for some reason I kept imagining a creature that looked like the offspring of the aliens from Alien vs. Predator and those giant worm creatures with the scary rows of teeth. I honestly don’t remember what the Skaldi are supposed to look like (and I’m sure it’s absolutely NOT what I imagined), but they take over human bodies by crawling into them *shudder* so they’re pretty much unlike any creature found in YA that I’ve read so far. The next book is called Scavenger of Souls so there’s much more of these creepy–I literally just shuddered involuntarily just thinking about them–creatures coming up.
An action-packed novel that will have readers sitting on the edge of their seats, gripping the covers, and flipping pages like mad, Survival Colony 9 was a fantastic opening to a strange and broken world that Josua David Bellin has introduced. I look forward to more books in this series–hopefully there’s more than one sequel!–and even though it’s probably going to give me nightmares, I look forward to reading more about Querry and the rest of the colony, and *shudders once again* the Skaldi.
If you like this, try...
- Revolution 19 by Gregg Rosenblum ● Goodreads
- Gone by Michael Grant ● Goodreads
I want to read this book somehow :) I love action-packed stories and I think this one would be one of those awesome books filled with so much action and intensity! Querry sounds like an interesting character. I'm a little curious about him when you mentioned him in this review. I'll definitely check this one out! Thanks for the awesome review!
ReplyDeleteJillian @ Jilian's Books
Sounds creepy and action packed
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really really interesting! I've had a longing for this kind of dystopian survival books for a long time now and it would be fantastic to read it from a male perspective (and yes, you are right, more male voices in the YA demographic with be awesome). It kind of reminds me of Mad Max somehow ^^
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato