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RYO Review: Astra by Naomi Foyle
A couple of weeks ago I won a copy of this novel from Worlds Without End. The nice things about book giveaways is that you tend to take a chance more easily on books that you wouldn’t have purchased or the release of which you most likely wouldn’t have noticed. This is one such book. Although the premise appealed to me I probably would have missed it without the giveaway. Naomi Foyle is a relatively new name in genre fiction. As far as I have been able to determine, this is her second published novel after Seoul Survivors (2013). Astra is the first novel in the Gaia Chronicles and it doesn’t appear to be related to Seoul Survivors. It set in a post apocalyptic world, with a generous helping of genetic engineering and social experiments mixed in. The premise and style of the novel are very interesting but I must admit that at times, the book tried my patience.
Growing up in Is-Land, seven year old Astra’s greatest wish is to do service in IMBOD, the agency that defends Is-Land’s borders against intruders an terrorists. To do that she needs her Security Shot, a serum that will make her more receptive to the training she will have to follow, more resistant to doubt and closer to the children she grows up with. One of her shelter mothers, Dr. Hokma Blesser, disagrees with Is-Land’s policies in this regards and fears that it will take away something of Astra’s intelligence and curiosity. To excel in science, she needs these qualities in tact. She offers Astra a choice to conspire to refuse the mandatory shot. Reluctantly Astra accepts.
Jo Fletcher Fridays: Astra by Naomi Foyle
It’s been a long time since we last did a Jo Fletcher Fridays contest so we’re really excited to have this one to kick off 2014. We have 5 autographed trade paperback copies of Naomi Foyle‘s latest book Astra, the first book in her new series The Gaia Chronicles. Astra is available for pre-order in the UK but hasn’t made it state-side yet so this is your chance to get it way early.
In case you’ve forgotten how to play this game, all you have to do is re-tweet this tweet or comment here in the blog to enter the contest. Do both and double your chances! It’s about as easy as we can make it. We’ll have a random drawing from our re-tweeter pool and announce the winners next Friday so tweet away and don’t forget to tell your friends.
Astra
by Naomi Foyle
Like every child in Is-Land, all Astra Ordott wants is to have her Security Shot, do her National Service and defend her Gaian homeland from Non-Lander ‘infiltrators’. But when one of her Shelter mothers, the formidable Dr. Hokma Blesser, tells her the shot will limit her chances of becoming a scientist and offers her an alternative, Astra agrees to her plan.
When the orphaned Lil arrives to share Astra’s home, Astra is torn between jealousy and fascination. Lil’s father taught her some alarming ideas about Is-Land and the world, but when she pushes Astra too far, the heartache that results goes far beyond the loss of a friend.
If she is to survive, Astra must learn to deal with devastating truths about Is-Land, Non-Land and the secret web of adult relationships that surrounds her.
What people said about Seoul Survivors:
“Naomi Foyle is well placed to bring the little-known complexities of Korea’s contemporary cultural scene to the foreground of her imaginative leap into our future.” – Mia Yun, author of House of the Winds
“Foyle is effective at building tension and creating villainy all the more sinister for its well-meaning smile.” – SFX magazine
“Impeccable plotting.” – Guardian
And if you’re taking part in this year’s Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge this could be a good fit for you. In fact, it could work for many of our 17 Roll-Your-Own Reading Challenges. Best of luck to you all.
