ONE FOR SORROW, TWO FOR DEATH. In the Barrenlands of Wrath, no one dies of old age. Kyle is used to its harsh laws, but the cold-blooded separation of identical twins and execution of the 'evil twists' at the Annual Peace Fair shocks him. When Kyle himself is betrayed, he flees for his life with the reluctant help of Sky, a rebel pilot with a hidden agenda. As the hunt intensifies, Kyle soon realises that he is no ordinary runaway, although he has no idea why. Fighting to learn the hideous truth, their reluctant, conflicted partnership will either save them - or kill them. ✱ Pages: 400 (paperback) ✱ Publication date: 7 April 2016 ✱ Series: The Sign of One #1 ✱ Provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ✱ Amazon UK | Amazon US

I was really intrigued by this one as soon as I saw the cover - but I'm always a bit hesitant when it comes to reading books I haven't seen anyone else blog about. Turns out I had no reason for hesitation whatsoever. (Also, that cover is really appropriate to this story.)

This was more interesting to me than a lot of thrillers I've read, maybe because like a lot of YA fiction, it has that way of making a quick emotional connection to characters, and then the story starts moving and never stops. Another explanation? It's sci-fi which does also have a habit of making a book addictive because there's a whole new world to explore.

Kyle and Sky

Raised in the Barrenlands where the laws are harsh and the living even worse, Kyle's world changes irrevocably the day he first attends a Peace Fair. At the start of the story, when we first meet Kyle, he's kind of a scaredy-cat. He doesn't want to stand up against bullies, he doesn't want to think about what things really mean. The way he changes over the story, the courage he finds in himself, is wonderful to witness.

Sky is brash, stubborn, and prone to using people to get what she wants, according to some descriptions. Behind it all is a girl who lost her sister. She's interesting: guarded, as well as usually pretty hesitant to share her plans or motivations.

The Problem with Identical Twins...

As if living in the Barrenlands wasn't bad enough, if a person has the misfortune of being an identical twin, their life is bound to be a lot worse than the others' in their miserable community. Identical twins 'idents' are thought of as bad omens: once they are old enough, they are separated. One of them is evil, a 'twist,'  and headed for a hanging. the other branded a 'pureblood' and allowed to live. It's a horrifying, brutal thing to witness - the branding, the hanging - but it's part of the entertainment of the annual Peace Fair.

The Plot

Full of quick twists, the Sign of One is pretty much unputdownable. An intriguing story that moves at a relentless pace and doesn't spare you the slightly gory details, it also offers you mystery, intrigue, and adventure! I'm really curious to find out how the story - and the fight- continue, and how our characters are faring after the ending.

This was an intense read! The Sign of One adds a slight YA twist to the sci-fi thriller, and does it well.

 

What do you think - are you going to give this sci-fi adventure a go? Do you have any sci-fi recommendations for me? I'm kind of a sci-fi noob...

Click to add on Goodreads. Although time travel is outlawed in the 2400's, Stassi works as a Runner for the Syndicate, who procure items from the past to those with the wealth and connections to make requests. Excited about their new assignment (Paris, 1925), Stassi and her partner Gaige make elaborate plans to find and copy a specific manuscript. But this mission seems much more dangerous than it should be. History isn't playing out as it is meant to, and Stassi and Gaige are going to have to decide what they are willing to do to ensure their own future existing as it should.

History lessons I had in school are not something I dwell on very much, but I do have a clear memory of hearing about Hitler burning books in 1934. Having loved books ferociously since I learned to read, the idea horrified me almost to the same extent as the way some people were treated in those times. I'd like to think that in some instinctive way I felt how catastrophic a lack of books, and the kind of censorship required to actually burn them, would be for our world.

Even if you haven't read this book you've probably come across it: Guy Montag is a fireman whose job it is to start fires - to burn books, because they are a source of unhappiness. Bradbury has important things to say about conformity and media in our society, and this books just a very intense look at how Montag's life suddenly changes in this post-literate future.

If you haven't read it, you might want to put off reading this review, because I admit I get pretty thoughtful about the society described in the book. You've been warned! :)