My Five Word TL/DR Review : Well, Blown Away Am I

So, I picked up this book and I admit my initial thoughts were, ‘really, why insects?’  I mean apart from the fact that I’m one of those raging wusses who wants to run screaming at the sight of an insect, is this a gimmick of some sort, write a story and replace all the characters with insects instead just to be different?  How very wrong I was.  This story is brilliant.  I was absolutely gripped virtually from the get-go, it’s stunningly unique, I loved the characters and the world building is impressive.

I’m tempted to say Bugs Life meets X-Men but that would give you too cosy a picture – and cosy isn’t a word you associate with this author.  Or YA for that matter – even though the MCs are still young(ish).  In a nutshell, there are some rather brutal scenes, or bloody – well, icky.  Don’t be fooled into thinking this is going to be baby unicorns and rainbows but at the same time don’t be put off by the author’s ‘grimdark’ reputation because you’ll miss out on a seriously good read.

The Ashkaro are insects – yes, they have human like attributes, they talk, they feel, have aspirations, fears, raise families, run businesses, but their behaviours are also largely governed by the fact that they are insects.  This is a matriarchal society, the females are much larger and stronger than the males, there is a queen, the females go out to war, etc. Also there is a caste like system which seems to be based on how bright and colourful is the insect’s carapace, the higher up in the system the more names you have, so the Queen has five names, whilst a lowly dull bodied Ashkaro might have only one.  This system is easily apparent as the story progresses.  We initially meet a three named female and from her perspective we discover much about the world – no info dumps though, the information is relayed as the story unfolds and feels like a natural part of the narrative.  Some of the Ashkaro develop a Talent, the scope for these Talents is vast and ranges between the skill to carve trinkets to the ability to make powerful suggestions.  It sounds great doesn’t it, you want one of those talents, you know you do.  Except, here’s the rub, Talents are considered dangerously addictive, they’re pleasurable to use and eventually lead to apathy, madness and ultimately death.  If an insect develops a Talent they become known as Corrupt and are immediately removed from their family and life – to who knows where – they don’t come back after all..

So, these insects basically live on floating islands,  As it happens, one of these islands is travelling ominously close to another one, war looms and it seems a plot is afoot to use Talented youngsters as spies or assassins.

There are some moments of genius in this as well as some fantastically emotive scenes that I can’t really discuss but which really give the author a chance to demonstrate that these are insects, they’re not human, and whilst they might share certain character traits they rely heavily on things that are completely alien to us – such as antennae.  I won’t say any more.

I can’t really tell you too much more but I can of course suggest that you read this book and I am using my very own powers of suggestion right now. Obi Lynn Kenobi “This is the book you’re looking for”.

The only downside – I would like the next book now please if it’s not too much to ask.

I received a copy, courtesy of the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars