As soon as I started reading Heather Terrell's Relic, the first tome in the Books of Eva series, I was sucked in. I could instantly picture myself in the harsh light, utter silence and bitter cold of the glistening blue and white arctic landscape. Watching the lone figure of Eamon battling the ice, climbing the frozen wall then meeting his death provided a heart-stopping moment, especially as there is something sinister going on behind the tragic loss of this young life.
Enter Eva, Eamon's sister who has taken the place - or rather the destiny - of her brother. In this frigid township, a group of young men - and now, for the first time in centuries, a young woman - will take part in The Testing, a series of death-defying challenges beyond The Ring and The Borderlands, out in the arctic wastelands. It takes place every year to find the new leaders of the Aerie and every year, some of the finest young Gallants lose their life.
The atmosphere seems almost medieval and the men - or the Gallants, as they are known - and the Maidens have very old-fashioned, traditional roles assigned to them. The book is in fact set in the future though, 250 years from now, when almost the entire world population has been destroyed by a flood of biblical proportions and the people of New North, the sole survivors, have decided to turn their backs on technology as the root of all evil and ultimately mankind's downfall.
Eva challenges many of the traditions and stereotypes, while respecting the rules of the Lex which regulate every aspect of their lives, ultimately uncovering information that throws everything that she has ever believed in into serious doubt. It's the ultimate coming of age novel and I can't wait to see how things develop in the future episodes. I loved it as a grown-up, but it is published by Soho Teen and would appeal to younger readers too.
star rating : 5/5
- Hardcover: 277 pages
- Publisher: Soho Teen (29 Oct 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1616951966
- ISBN-13: 978-1616951962
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.5 x 3 cm
RRP : £6.99
Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book in order to write an honest review.
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