We've all heard this before. Don't make assumptions based on appearances, things aren't always what they seem, yadda yadda yadda...but I'd be lying if I said that the cover isn't what drew me to this book.
The throwback submarine! The adorable deep sea explorer! The bubbles! It all tickled my fancy and made me smile. The inside description won me over all the more, and by the time I had scanned my card I had already decided to forgo my plans of watching Inception that evening to get started on this book.
When I did, I was isntantly transported to an alternate universe where people live alongside steam-powered automatons, three-eyed dinosaurs, sophisticated winged lizards, and magic-working "worldsingers", among numerous other fantastical things. None of these species seems quite capable of coexisting peacefully with one another, or with the government, and there is strong distrust between not only nations but individuals also. Amelia Harsh takes the role of the protagonist in this steampunk tale as a professor consumed with proving the existence of Camlantis, a long-lost society written off as myth by most of the educated class. There is no solid evidence to suggest its reality, though its legend stands permanent enough: a nation devoid of war, famine, poverty, or crime; a nation bettered by its rulers and perfected by its people. Harsh is sure of its existence and has made it her life's work to unearth the remains of this city, though the intellectual elite and her colleagues at the university write her off as amusing, at best, and borderline delusional and insane, at worst.
Her life changes course when she receives funding from the richest man in Jackals, her home nation, to captain a submarine to where the submerged ruins of Camlantis supposedly lie. Despite the fact that this man is, in her mind, to blame for her father's suicide in years prior, the temptation is too great and she accepts his offer, choosing to venture into unknown territory in hopes of at last finding her beloved lost city and gaining the credibility amongst her peers that she so longs for.
The story had me riveted from the very first page, and while the terminology takes a bit of getting used to, ("Jiggers! By the Circle, damson, you call this jinn?" = "Shit! My god, woman, you call this a drink?!"), and the various races are tricky to sort out at first, the key characters and plotlines rise above these slight encumbrances to draw the reader in and encourage them to stay for the ride. Patience is rewarded with a rollercoaster of narrow escapes and dangerous encounters, of blood-frenzied predators and back-stabbing saboteurs; on this ship, there can be no trust. With a crew composed of convicts and a jungle filled with savages, safety is non-existent as they charge towards assured fame and fortune which looks increasingly like death.
The narrative is told in third person, switching between characters and locations numerous times throughout the book. Hunt develops each one of his creations in a masterful manner that leaves the reader ambiguously affectionate towards them, feeling for them while still irked by their flaws. This book contains no heroes, only creatures with good intentions but despicable means or with reprehensible intentions but a kind disposition. It is impossible to completely like or dislike any single character and while feverishly racing towards the final pages, you'll still be unsure of what outcome you hope to occur. When this end is eventually reached after nearly 600 pages, it is as bittersweet as the rest of the book, leaving Amelia redeemed as she had hoped but having lost enormously in the process.
Hunt has produced a highly entertaining story combining both magic, machines, and morals, a fantasy adventure masking a between-the-lines lesson on society and the price v. value of peace. If you can keep up with the rapid pace of this book and stay clear as to what is going on, which, I'll admit, takes a bit of work, there is a wonderful tale to be discovered and the adventure of a lifetime on which to embark. Bitingly humorous, infinitely imaginative, and heart-racing to the end, The Kingdom Beyond the Waves leaves nothing to be desired except perhaps a sequel, (which, coincidentally, there is. Hunt actually has four stand-alone books in this Jackelian universe to date, of which TKBtW is the second). Pure adventure and fun with an underlying lesson on the duality of goodness, The Kingdom Beyond the Waves is a thrill ride for the mind and most definitely more than just a pretty cover. 8/10
3 comments:
That book looks so interesting!!! If you ask me, from what I just read I don't think that cover does it justice at all! It seems a little complicated due to the language it uses, but I see that wasn't much of a problem for you =P I enjoyed reading this a lot, thanks! All I can say is you've inspired me to read a good book...something other than those novels they give us at school. =P
PS- This is sort of random, but what are you planning on studying? Your book reviews are amazing!!!
I love your passion for literature Taylor! This will be yet another one of your book recommendations I go in search of (after The Hunger Games!). In fact, you've inspired me to finish Life Without Ed tonight just so I can take a trip to the library tomorrow...thanks : )
You're amazing : )
I did the same thing, pick the book up because it looked great in the shop window! If you haven't read the other Jackelian books, you really should. They only get better, more imaginative, and the storytelling is even more amazing!
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