A book review: Child of Etherclaw
Title of the book: Child of Etherclaw
Author: Matty Roberts
Publisher: Twilight Fox LLC
(Expected) Publication Date: 2nd of August 2022
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopian
Why I picked up this book:
Sci-fi is one of those genres that is hit and miss for me. As soon as it gets too technologically advanced my brain just checks out. It’s not for lack of trying – I studied law and IT after all – but it’s just one of those topics I can’t hold in my brain.
However, so long as the world is believable and not too intense when it comes to the internal logic read, what are the minutia of the space station’s engine, I can be hooked quite easily as was proven by Rattle Man. Deciding to ride the wave while it lasts it made sense to jump right into another Science Fiction ARC and Child of Etherclaw immediately stood out.
In fact, it was one very specific description that the author themselves used, that hooked me in: ‘Weird kids and found family’. I suppose when you foster you become part of the ‘found families’ club, so sign me up!
About the author:
Matty Roberts began their career in journalism where they earned an Emmy and had the privilege of working on several other award-winning projects.
They hold an MS from Johns Hopkins University and are now an engineer in renewable energy in Denver, Colorado where they live with their wonderful partner, two extraordinary kids, and the best doggie ever.
In addition to writing, engineering, and parenting, Matty is a vegan enby nerd who is in love with this world and will forever be doing all they can to make it a better place. And they may be known to occasionally play in a punk band here or there.
Synopsis:
The bonds of family go well beyond blood.
But can those bonds hold when the blood itself carries a devastating secret?
Fenlee’s opal necklace had always radiated a certain warmth since her mother’s death. But now, at sixteen, her world begins to unravel as the stone sparks to life, revealing itself to be an otherworldly artefact of untold power.
Between her mechatronics studies at the academy and scavenging expeditions beneath the sprawling city of New Cascadia, Fenlee and her adopted brother, Elliot, try to decipher the mysteries of her necklace and its link to events in Fenlee’s past.
But they’re not alone in their search.
Strange undercity dwellers offer cryptic warnings, drones track their movements, and deadly corporate agents lurk in the shadows. When tragedy rips Fenlee’s family apart, she must learn to use the artefact’s power to save those who are deeply precious to her. But nothing can prepare her for the dark truths that she will uncover on that journey…
“Lee,” Elliot mumbled. “I’m not who you think I am.”
Review of the book:
I hadn’t had a difficult review in a little while now but that is exactly what Child of Etherclaw was for me. Especially because I can almost feel how personal this book is to the Author. I suspect Fenlee’s experiences in no small part are based on the authors’. Naturally, that is true for lots of books but it did give me pause here. It feels rawer, more exposed which is certainly commendable. So when you have a book that is so personal, that is neither bad nor good, where do you go? As I said - difficult.
Starting with a big positive – without trying to give too much away – I certainly did not see the big plot twist coming. It is hard to strike a balance as an author, between twists coming completely out of the blue and twists being predictable from a mile away. You don’t want your readers to be left reeling, feeling as if there was no rhyme and reason to what just happened. Equally, you don’t want your readers to know too much and get bored with what is inevitably about to come. In Child of Etherclaw, Roberts struck that delicate balance quite elegantly. Looking back there were clues and hints as to what was to come, but never was it blatantly obvious.
Sadly with the big reveal came another change that I struggled with. As soon as we started seeing the world through the eyes of Elliot, as well as Fenlee’s, their personalities seemed to blend together. In my eyes, up until that point they had been two very distinct people with different responses to emotional stimuli. After the big reveal that no longer seemed to be the case, with Elliot taking on more of Fenlee’s approach to problem-solving. While it wasn’t enough to take the joy out of reading, it was noticeable.
Another point for me was the use of language. I am fully aware this is 100% down to personal preference and most definitely not a mark of quality, one way or another, however, the writing style felt almost staccato. Personally, I am more drawn to long, flowery sentences, as is quite clearly demonstrated in this section alone. Whereas Roberts employs a more to-the-point type of storytelling.
Aside from the above though, the story was well constructed. Pleasant pacing that kept me at the edge of my seat without being exhausting. An interesting cast of characters who all brought something different to the table, with the aforementioned exception. A believable world with a mysterious past you can’t help but want to learn more about. Underdogs fighting for their own survival, and much much more. I for one am interested to see where the second instalment will be taking us!
What are your thoughts? Have you been looking forward to the author’s debut with bated breath? Can’t you wait to get your hands on a copy? Have I robbed you of your excitement with my review? Let me know in the comment section below and, until then - just one more page!