Title: Children of Icarus
Author: Caighlan Smith
Publication: August 1, 2016
Publisher: Switch Press
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Pages: 312
SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
It is Clara who is desperate to enter the labyrinth and it is Clara who is bright, strong, and fearless enough to take on any challenge. It is no surprise when she is chosen. But so is the girl who has always lived in her shadow. Together they enter. Within minutes, they are torn apart forever. Now the girl who has never left the city walls must fight to survive in a living nightmare, where one false turn with who to trust means a certain dead end.”
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**
First off the cover of this book and the description drew me in. I have always loved Greek Mythology and I thought that this book was right up my alley. The only thing that made me a bit tentative was the suspense/thriller aspect. I have never ever been good at those kinds of things. Horror movies…NOPE…..Scary books…NOPE…..It was a big deal when I watched The Birds by Alfred Hitchcock in High School. Unfortunately I watched it before a tennis match by Lake Michigan and there were tons of seagulls. FYI: I never should’ve watched it. My fears were put to rest once I started reading. It is more of an “oh my gosh what is happening next” than a “no don’t open that door” book.
The story begins with an unnamed girl riding an elevator up with Clara to the 23rd floor. (Slight spoiler alert: Don’t get attached to Clara). Clara is excited and waiting for the name draw for the children to become angels. She had prayed to Icarus every day, multiple times a day, that her name gets chosen. The unnamed girl is the complete opposite. She prays that her name doesn’t get drawn. She doesn’t want to go into the labyrinth and become an Icarii. On the day of the name draw, Claire is so excited she takes a ribbon out of her hair and does her friend’s hair in braids just like her. Both she and Clara get their names drawn. Clara couldn’t be more excited. While the other one is not happy. She wonders if she could run away and hide. Would they notice that she was missing for Fallen Day? Immediately after being put into the labyrinth, they get attacked. The only survivors are Felix, Kyle and her. They get rescued by a group of kids that are survivors of the previous Fallen Days. Their time in the labyrinth ranges from 1-6 years. This makes her very uncomfortable. Will she ever get out? They take them back to Fates, which is what they call their home base. The first night there she dreams of Clara and calls her name out. This leads them to think her name is Clara. She has been scared mute and doesn’t correct them. Both out of fright and the fact that she likes keeping her friend “alive” in her name.
I LOVED this book. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because she needlessly killed off an adorable (in my mind’s eye) 8-year-old girl and because the story ended super, super suddenly. If the author writes a second one I will be delighted to upgrade it to a 5. The book is trotting right along, keeping me up way too late reading, and then BOOM it is over. I thought she could have gone on for a few more chapters and ended on a better note. The author writes the book so that it gives you all the right feels. Indignation when she is humiliated. I cried tears when the little girl, Gina, died. Shock when her friend Clara dies. “Awww poor thing” when she finds out a secret about her friend in Fates. With that being said I hope that she writes an second installment and turns it into a series. If she does I will be the first in line and possibly even pre-order it so it shows up the day it comes out in my Kindle!
Pick up a copy of “Children of Icarus” now that it’s out. Copies are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as local bookstores. Also add “Children of Icarus” on Goodreads to your To Reads list and leave feedback for the author when you are done. You can also check out the author Caighlan Smith on her website HERE!
