About the Book
-
Author:
- C.L. Lauder
Cover Story: Spacey
BFF Charms: Big Sister, With Benefits
Talky Talk: Glossary Needed
Factor: Series Starter
Anti-Bonus Factor: Oppressors
Relationship Status: Curious
Cover Story: Spacey
This cover reminds me of dystopian/sci-fi YA books of old. Which is fitting, because this book reminds me of them, too.
The Deal:
On the planet of Aurora Saura, there are three dominant species. The Aurora Saurans are, for all intents and purposes, humans. They find themselves living under the thumbs of the Rhemans—a species that consists of consciousnesses who need human bodies to act as hosts—and the Tarrohar—a parasitic, squid-like species who also need human hosts to ferry them around and speak for them. Some Rhemans use hosts who are willing, but others take their hosts by force.
Kyjta, an Aurora Sauran, thinks they’re all equally bad. Until the night a Rheman, in the body of a young man Kyjta knows, saves her and a young girl from being captured. But when the young girl is taken, Kyjta will do whatever it takes to get her back, even getting captured herself. She doesn’t realize that their Rheman protector feels the same way.
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Kyjta is a brash, brazen young woman with a lot of confidence but slightly less common sense. She’s easily swayed by the adults in her life, and doesn’t have a great grasp on what it means to investigate things to make sure that what she’s being told is the truth. She can rush to judgment, and to action, and both of those things get her in trouble, frequently. I liked her a lot, but she definitely needs someone in her life who can help her find the truth—and the right way to go about things.
Kranik, Kyjta’s Rheman protector, might be borrowing someone’s body, but his mind is his own. And that mind is a kind, hopeful, moral person who realizes that his species isn’t exactly good. He wants to do what’s right, though, and he knows that his time is limited, so he’ll do what he can to make his efforts count. He’s a pretty swoony consciousness, even when you take into consideration that he borrows bodies (thankfully, with their consent). Is the whole idea of dating someone who is “riding” someone else’s body a bit ick? Sure, but when said someone’s as conscientious as Kranik, it would be hard to resist the temptation.
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Kyjta hates Kranik at first, both because he’s a Rheman and also because the body he’s in is someone who she has a history with. It must be doubly awkward for her, then, to start feeling feelings toward him. He’s smitten from the start, however, thanks in part to a reason that’s not explained until the end of the story. It’s a bit too instalove for my tastes, but emotions do run hot when you’re fighting for your life. (Or so I’ve read.)
Talky Talk: Glossary Needed
I have to applaud Lauder for her creativity and imagination; The Quelling is a book featuring unique terms and names that help the sci-fi feel. But those alien terms make the book hard to get into; the context clues or descriptions frequently do little to help one’s understanding.
The Rheman is wrapping Merrick’s finger when, for some reason, I rattle off my farm skills: I can milk yakkats, tend alzogs, reap gossif, and the list goes on. You’d think I wanted a job.
The Rheman stares at me, its mouth a little ajar. I guess I’ve stupefied it with my eagerness. Disgusted with myself, I drop my jade fruit into the mortar and take my aggression out with the pestle.
Additionally, the beginning third of the book is riddled with secrets. Everyone and their mother has a secret, or a story to tell that has to come piece by piece, rather than all at once. One or two I would have been on board with, but so much about Kyjta’s life is “difficult” or “a story for another time” and it comes across as annoying rather than intriguing.
Ed note: I pulled this quote from an advanced review copy. The final text might be different.
Factor: Series Starter
The Quelling is the first in a trilogy. I didn’t realize this until I was more than halfway through the book, even though it says so right on the cover. (I’m so observant.) On the one hand, a trilogy. On the other, my curiosity to see how everything unfolds is certainly piqued, especially after the surprise at the end of the book.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Oppressors
Being an Aurora Sauran must really suck. Oppressed by two alien species, both of whom have ways of keeping you compliant that are nearly impossible to overcome. From a purely logical standpoint, I appreciate the way the Rhemans and Tarrohars work together to keep the Aurora Saurans down. But I’m not Spock, and oppression is terrible, so I’ll be glad when they eventually (as one might assume) rise up and the jerks get what’s coming to them.
Relationship Status: Curious
You felt familiar Book, reminding me of the sci-fi YAs that have come before. That’s not a bad thing—I liked them for a reason—but was there enough freshness to our time together to make me want to come back for more? I’m just not sure.
Literary Matchmaking
Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave also features humans under the thumb of aliens who take over people’s bodies.
The second book in Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s Illuminae Files, Gemina, introduces an evil alien parasite into the series.
Stephenie Meyer’s The Host is a third example of a sci-fi book with parasitic aliens who turn out to be OK folks, sometimes.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from River Grove Books, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. The Quelling is available now.
