Reckoning

Along with part two among the top books regarding my reading speed. Although I have always been a fast reader, this book brought me to a new level.A fascinating dystopian world, filled with very realistic characters, a great and very entertaining read.

As a life-long fantasy fan I was interested in reading Kerry Wilkinson’s first venture into this genre.The story starts with Silver on the day of the reckoning so that you are immediately drawn into the event. The story moves quickly as the reckoning takes place, while flashbacks fill you in on Silver, her life and the land she lives in. Although targeted for young adults I found the plot caught my imagination and held my attention throughout.I was a little concerned at first that this story showed a marked similarity to The Hunger Games but my fears were soon dispelled as the reckoning itself and the events afterwards are very different.Silver is an easy character to empathise with. She is intelligent and in some ways emotionally strong yet physically vulnerable to the circumstances surrounding those who have been chosen.Kerry has managed an eclectic mix of locations and society, past and present, with modern technology and fantasy in a believably real setting. It was quite unnerving to read a story based in the Britain I know but in a future that is sadly almost conceivable.This book had me tense and anxious following Silver’s life after the reckoning and after a gripping ending left me longing for the next book to see what follows.A definite 'must read' for adults young and old.

The Story-Silver Blackthorn is sixteen years old and lives in the village of Martindale, north of London. In this future story, anyone over the age of 16 can take the Reckoning, a test that determines your standing in society. Silver is not worried, she knows she'll score well, but what she is not expecting is to be chosen as one of the king's Offerings.Offerings are never heard from again, but villages consider it an honor to have a child chosen and will receive extra food rations. Silver takes her place among the 16 other kids and soon finds out that being an Offering is often a one way deal.The king is crazy, taking pleasure in torture and death. The 16 Offerings every year face his random mood swings and killer pleasures. Usually only a few make it to the next year, but even then, you are stuck in the castle, forced to live an egg-shell life. Silver is determined to escape and let everyone outside the castle know the truth, but any slip up means death.My Thoughts-I found this book interesting and enjoyed Silver's trials and plans. She is tough, which is the only reason she can survive. Others have tried to escape before her, but they all died. Even so, she is determined, knowing that it will not just save her life, but the lives of future offerings.The cruelty of the king is stark and cringe worthy. I'd recommend the book for older readers. I'm always amazed by authors that are able to work such terror into their books, but still leave them as exciting reads.There is one part of the story where I grew confused and couldn't later tell if Silver had been betrayed or if it was part of her plan. The author writes it as one way and then flips. Even so, I enjoyed the story. I'm not sure what he has planned for the additional books in the trilogy, but I'd like to check them out. 4 stars!

I don't usually read this type of fiction, but as a big fan of the Jessica detective series, I wanted to give it a try. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and will eagerly await the second book next year. Once the story got going, the pace was rapid and the events exciting. The world within the castle was a fascinating one - a mix of medieval and futuristic. Silver as the main character was feisty, but believable. I was disappointed in the beginning of the book as it had too many similarities with the Hunger Games - young girl living in poor village far from the capital; she roams her area, discovering things which others don't dare; she has a male friend (potential love interest). There is a coming of age ceremony where it is decided what category of citizen the young people should become (echoes of Harry Potter's sorting hat here also). Then Silver is chosen as an 'Offering' so has to take a train to the King's castle where there is a big banquet. Once this part was over, the novel starts to develop its own world, and it turns into a very good, often frightening story! The writing style flowed easily, I stayed up late to finish the novel - a good sign indeed!

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book to review. I'd not really read much into it but I'd pre ordered my copy so it was definately a book I wanted to read. I've followed Kerry for a while now with his Jessica books ( they're amazing!)THIS IS NOTHING LIKE JESS!The first few pages I was thrown, nothing made sense, I stopped, went back to beginning and read again. I carried on reading, begrudgingly stopping to take my children to school....It is exceedingly well written. It's not about UK as we know it BUT there's hints at modern life that we know. ( the old phones at the lake, the watches they wear ) the more you read the more captured you become. You are almost walking alongside Silver. She hides, you feel yourself hold your breath as if you'll be caught if you're heard. Silver is like Jess, a very strong woman carachter, I love strong women! Silver copes with a lot. She is loving, caring and has a great sense of right and wrong. Her head is completely thrown when she realises what she's believed and been told all her life was very very different from the harsh reality. She doesn't back down abd give in, no, she's a fighter! She strives to correct what people mistakenly think is the truth.I won't give spoilers, I'm not that kind of woman.When you finish the book it's clearly not the end, there's more and you desperately want book 2 to start on the next page.Then you start thinking and evaluating what you've read, for me it made me a little scared, not like ghosts under the bed scared, in a what if that was here scared. It's so well written it could be here and now.I've likened this book to a Simpson's episode if you will. Young adults and older children like this book and understand it, adults reading it love it and understand it BUT like a Simpson's episode adults will get a deeper meaning from the book. ( I did anyway.) That takes some amazing writing skills.Brilliant book and Kerry surprised me by writing such a different style of book than I'm used to yet I was caught up in it far more than I'd expected. thank you Kerry.