Join us for this tour from August 2 to August 22, 2022!
Book Details:
Book Title: CHILD OF ETHERCLAW by Matty Roberts
Category: Young Adult Fiction (13-18+), 348 pages
Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Publisher: Twilight Fox LLC
Release date: August 2, 2022
Formats Available for Review: print (softback) (USA and Canada)
and ebook (EPUB and PDF)
Tour dates: August 2 to August 22, 2022
Content Rating: PG-13 PG-13 for some profanity and mild violence.
Book Description:
The bonds of family go well beyond blood.
But can those bonds hold when the blood itself carries a devastating
secret?
Fenlee's opal necklace had always radiated a certain warmth since her
mother's death. But now, at sixteen, her world begins to unravel as the
stone sparks to life, revealing itself to be an otherworldly artifact of
untold power.
Between her mechatronics studies at the academy and scavenging expeditions
beneath the sprawling city of New Cascadia, Fenlee and her adopted brother,
Elliot, try to decipher the mysteries of her necklace and its link to events
in Fenlee's past.
But they're not alone in their search.
Strange undercity dwellers offer cryptic warnings, drones track their
movements, and deadly corporate agents lurk in the shadows. When tragedy
rips Fenlee's family apart, she must learn to use the artifact's power to
save those who are deeply precious to her. But nothing can prepare her for
the dark truths that she will uncover on that journey…
“Lee,” Elliot mumbled. “I'm not who you think I am.”
BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON
B&N ~ Indiebound
Bookshop.org ~ Tattered Cover
add to goodreads
AMAZON
B&N ~ Indiebound
Bookshop.org ~ Tattered Cover
add to goodreads
My Review
Child of Etherclaw is a delightful dystopian novel (yes, I said delightful; I'm a sucker for good dystopian writing) set about 200 years in the future. New Cascadia is the backdrop for this new world, and Fenlee is our protagonist. She's a sixteen year old girl, and her adopted brother Elliot is her only companion. Her mother is dead, and her father is off-planet for work. Fenlee is obsessed with mechatronics and is eager to do whatever it takes to prove she's better than the other students at the academy. She's determined to nab a spot at Norfayne Labs so she can help lift herself and her brother out of the low tier and into a better life. Hence why the book opens with her and Elliot scavenging in the undercity of New Cascadia. But scavenging is dangerous for many reasons, and Fenlee, unfortunately, discovers that the hard way. Not only is she trapped and having to give up her leg (prosthetic), but she and Elliot have to contend with the drones searching for illegal activity happening in the undercity. Fearing they'll be caught and/or killed, Fenlee and Elliot are surprised to discover two strange people--a woman and a little boy--have come to their rescue. What's even more strange is what the woman tells Fenlee about her necklace. It's this interaction that sets off the rest of the story, and boy, is it a good one.
I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging right off the bat, and I found myself sucked right in, eagerly flipping pages to see what might happen next and how it would all end. I can't say I was disappointed. It was just so good.
The world-building is really done well. You feel as though you could be living in New Cascadia right there alongside Fenlee and Elliot. It's easy to imagine this new world, with its strange Void Pillars and abandoned undercity patrolled by drones.
As for the characters, I thought Fenlee was well-written. She's a likeable character, and it's not hard to want to root her for to uncover the truth. She comes across as a typical big sister sometimes, but you can tell she loves Elliot. She's also a very strong character--maybe not physically, but for sure mentally strong. She has to be, since there are people in power who come for her, wanting the power of her necklace for their own purposes. And they're very threatening.
Plot-wise, this is a fast-paced, fun read with a couple of twists thrown in (one of which I never expected). Even though a couple of spots may be a little slow at times, that in no way detracts from the rest of the story. I would have finished the book much faster if real life hadn't gotten in the way sometimes. It's that good.
Overall, if you're looking for a wonderfully written, engaging, and exciting sci-fi/fantasy read with a few twists to throw you off, definitely give Child of Etherclaw a go.
4.5 stars!
Child of Etherclaw is a delightful dystopian novel (yes, I said delightful; I'm a sucker for good dystopian writing) set about 200 years in the future. New Cascadia is the backdrop for this new world, and Fenlee is our protagonist. She's a sixteen year old girl, and her adopted brother Elliot is her only companion. Her mother is dead, and her father is off-planet for work. Fenlee is obsessed with mechatronics and is eager to do whatever it takes to prove she's better than the other students at the academy. She's determined to nab a spot at Norfayne Labs so she can help lift herself and her brother out of the low tier and into a better life. Hence why the book opens with her and Elliot scavenging in the undercity of New Cascadia. But scavenging is dangerous for many reasons, and Fenlee, unfortunately, discovers that the hard way. Not only is she trapped and having to give up her leg (prosthetic), but she and Elliot have to contend with the drones searching for illegal activity happening in the undercity. Fearing they'll be caught and/or killed, Fenlee and Elliot are surprised to discover two strange people--a woman and a little boy--have come to their rescue. What's even more strange is what the woman tells Fenlee about her necklace. It's this interaction that sets off the rest of the story, and boy, is it a good one.
I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging right off the bat, and I found myself sucked right in, eagerly flipping pages to see what might happen next and how it would all end. I can't say I was disappointed. It was just so good.
The world-building is really done well. You feel as though you could be living in New Cascadia right there alongside Fenlee and Elliot. It's easy to imagine this new world, with its strange Void Pillars and abandoned undercity patrolled by drones.
As for the characters, I thought Fenlee was well-written. She's a likeable character, and it's not hard to want to root her for to uncover the truth. She comes across as a typical big sister sometimes, but you can tell she loves Elliot. She's also a very strong character--maybe not physically, but for sure mentally strong. She has to be, since there are people in power who come for her, wanting the power of her necklace for their own purposes. And they're very threatening.
Plot-wise, this is a fast-paced, fun read with a couple of twists thrown in (one of which I never expected). Even though a couple of spots may be a little slow at times, that in no way detracts from the rest of the story. I would have finished the book much faster if real life hadn't gotten in the way sometimes. It's that good.
Overall, if you're looking for a wonderfully written, engaging, and exciting sci-fi/fantasy read with a few twists to throw you off, definitely give Child of Etherclaw a go.
4.5 stars!
Meet the Author:
Matty Roberts began their career in journalism where they earned an Emmy
and had the privilege of working on several other award-winning projects.
They hold an MS from Johns Hopkins University and are now an engineer in
renewable energy in Denver, Colorado where they live with their wonderful
partner, two extraordinary kids, and the best doggie ever. In addition to
writing, engineering, and parenting, Matty is a vegan enby nerd who is in
love with this world and will forever be doing all they can to make it a
better place. And they may be known to occasionally play in a punk band
here or there.
Tour Schedule:
Aug 5 - Sadie's Spotlight
- book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Aug 17 - 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS
- book spotlight / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway:
CHILD OF ETHERCLAW by Matty Roberts Book Tour Giveaway
Really nice cover and excerpt, looking forward to reading this!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very interesting
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your delightful review of Child of Etherclaw, I love the cover art and synopsis and as a huge fan of the dystopian genre myself, I am truly looking forward to reading this story
ReplyDeleteChild of Etherclaw sounds like a great book for my nieces and nephews to enjoy, thanks for sharing it with me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jazzy, for sharing your review!
Have a spectacular weekend!
Sounds like an amazing book! Very intriguing! Can’t wait to read it! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading this.
ReplyDelete