Last week, my local librarian asked me to read a novel before she catalogued it—not unusual, I've tested books for her before. I've usually found them nothing too special, decent. I've enjoyed them, but I've not been intensely attached.
Maybe it's because I haven't done much book reading lately, or maybe it's the cliffhanger ending, but Kimberly Gould's Cargon, Honour & Privilege literally made me desperate to continue.
I think I scared my sister when, after finishing, I promptly shouted that it couldn't end that way, not there. It simply couldn't.
But it did, and I then preceded to do a preliminary search for a sequel—not likely, seeing as the novel is copyrighted 2011, and the book is said to be made on October 17 of this year. Despite that, I would eagerly welcome a sequel.
I devoured this book in what used to be my slowest time—about three hours for 202 pages. I'm out of practise (reading online will do that to you, it seems), but for those three hours, I was completely immersed in Cargon.
I usually don't read YA fiction, which is what I would classify this as, but I can't shout the praises loud enough. Maybe it's the amount of roses (LOVE IT) in the book, but I found the relationships, growth, and evolution utterly absorbing. I'm not one for sappy lovey-dovey stuff (ick), but the romance was so well done, I could actually laugh along with it.
As for the characters…Eve, the main character, was so easily accessible and true, that I found myself in her. (To be honest, I found myself in practically every character!) The people who were originally stiff were so three-dimensional by the end of the book—even halfway through it. The character I originally hated, but had an uncannily accurate prediction about, grew on me in the last ten pages or so. By the end, I wasn't completely disgusted by him—I didn't like him, but I could think of worse fates.
The game of Cargon…I still don't truly understand it, but I think it would be fascinating learn more about. I would be greatly interested in that….
So, all in all, this was fabulous, I strongly recommend it. (I'll be suggesting it for Book Club 2013!).
I have another book I'm going to nick from the Library soon and pre-read, too—that one looks a little more mainstream with the current teen novels today (geez, what's with the teen obsession?!), but still intriguing. I'm looking forward to telling y'all about it, too! (It even has a sequel, ready to read. ;) )
Wow! Thank you for the review! I hope you won't mind me sharing this post. The sequel is on the way! I promise! I'm really hoping to get it out before the end of the year, but that depends entirely on my publisher. I have a second, adult fiction novel, currently in their hands and Cargon: Duty and Sacrifice is with a pre-reader one last time before handing it over to the publisher as well.
ReplyDeleteYou aren't alone in screaming at the ending. My husband growled from the basement when he read it the first time. "You did not!" *blush* yes, I did. Thanks for reading and getting my book on the shelves. I'm so eager for it to be available to others.
I'm honoured that you actually read this! I'd love it if you'd share the post, that would be great! I remember when I was told about the sequel being in the works, I think I got weird looks for the kooky grin on my face. So glad to hear that it'll be with the publisher soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to watch for the adult novel when it comes, too.
Thanks for commenting on this!