My Review of Impervious by Heather Letto

Ah, now it's time for #FridayReads. My review of Heather's book Impervious.

I read and reviewed this book a while ago (cheating, I know, but I can't win any prizes anyways. As a reminder, if you're doing the 15 week challenge, you have to read and review fifteen new books). I really, really wanted to read it again and see if it read differently for me a second time around but life and comic-book conventions got in the way. So here is my review for Impervious, and Heather, you get an IOU for a reread.




This story had a lot going for it: an interesting take on the dystopian society, a very well unraveled story, and a protagonist that was likable. But unfortunately, the execution of the story left a lot to be desired.

The story features a protagonist named Fran, who is an Unaccountable, a child that drifts throughout the vents of the underground city and is, well - unaccounted for. Some years ago, nuclear winter forced the residents of this small city into this heavily fortified, but technologically advanced bubble. And, of course, it became a tightly-controlled dystopia where residents only live until the age of 40.

As the story unravels, it becomes apparent that the government is intentionally poisoning their residents, most probably to keep them in line. Fran escapes to find the world more like spring than winter. Until she goes back, intending to tell the residents the truth.

On paper, the story should have been top-notch, but the execution is why it only gets three stars. There was a lot of "telling" in this story, and a few plot devices that seemed to make everything work just a little too well for the protagonist. I could have done without the side love story between Fran and Pete, as it didn't add anything to the story that couldn't have been accomplished as friends.

The chapters were too short for my liking and, as I said, full of "telling" instead of action. We seemed to move from rebel to captured to the ranch to the outside without sufficient time spent in any place, and sufficient drama built or roadblocks to get in the way. I found myself wanting "more" during the book. At times, the voice became a bit too juvenile for my tastes - even for a young adult novel, and it was jarring.

For a debut novel, it was okay, and I do think the author has some good ideas. I think that fans of plucky teenage girls fighting against "the man" will enjoy this story, and - even with the execution issues - I would recommend this book to my teenaged friends.

Buy Impervious (The Ascension Series Book 1) on Amazon