Saturday, March 29, 2014

Review: Salvage by Alexandra Duncan

Salvage
Salvage by Alexandra Duncan 
Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean, in this thrilling, surprising, and thought-provoking debut novel that will appeal to fans of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, and The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Publishes in US: April 1st 2014 by Greenwillow
Genre: Harper Teen
Source: Sci Fi
Series? Not as I understand

Buy it: Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound Book Depository

Author stalk away: ~site Twitter, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.

 
    I wanted to read Salvage I'll admit, the cover caught my eye. Its pretty and the moon being so close to the water and the girl on the beach. I just want to know what it going on. Then I read the synopsis and saw a chance for the main character to totally stand up for women in general on the male dominated planet, and I also wanted to find out how she would fare with her escape. 
   Like me and most sci-fi all of the new words, concepts and world was a little overwhelming, but by Chapter 4 I was learning what everything meant and their slightly different word usage and style. I did like the world building even if it took me a while to really understand. They are on a spaceship and it sounds like something happened on the earth but they still long for it. The structure of their ships heirarchy was maddening, but I totally understand that our society used to be similar as well. Women do not have jobs as mechanics or pilots, instead their value comes from kitchens, livestock care, laundry and most importantly having babies. 
    I didn't connect right away with Ava but by chapter 3, I saw that she did have a spark to fight how things were, learning about the fixes and just the desire to learn more, since women don't learn to read or much math, she learned figuring on her own. We got to see pretty quickly what she was made of when she was set to be a bride for a ship that they hope to negotiate trade with, and she is caught in a compromising situation that broke my heart. Her brother all of the sudden won't talk to her, the Aethers, the other ship kicks her off, and she is going to be exiled. 
     As for the secondary characters I liked Soli and Luck, but wondered at the beginning why so much time was built building these relationships, but then I figured that is the catalyst for her needing to escape and being on Gyre. Then after she escapes, we meet Perpetue and Miyole. They are so accepting and Miyole is a precious, intelligent little girl. It gives Ava purpose, but also Miyole a role model and someone to help her along. 
     The part where they end up in Kalina and the Salts was pretty epic. The things that Ava never thought she would have to do and a strength even more than everything she'd already overcome and faced rises up in her and I really admired her and her willingness to do what needed to be done for her and Miyole. Also, how Ava discovers a kindness in strangers, really shows her that humanity can go both ways, they can do horrible things, but then also beautiful. 
     I am pleased with how the romance was threaded into the book and the resolution. I can't talk much about it, just like I can't talk much about where she ends up after Gyre because I def don't want to give out spoilers, but I saw tremendous character growth in her, as well as surprising twists to the story. 
     Despite the slow for me start, I ended up tearing through Salvage, connecting with Ava, loving the world set-up, as well as hoping for another book about Ava to release soon. But as I understand it is a standalone, so I think there is lots of potential with the great world building and character development that will be lost. 

Bottom Line: For me, took until Ch. 3-4 to get fully into the story then it carried me away.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Would you go deep space if you had the chance?
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31 comments:

  1. I'm glad you liked this book so much!! I plan on reading it some day. And to answer your question, I wouldn't. I get way too much anxiety as it is going to a new place that's less than twenty minutes away from my house, let alone go somewhere out of the planet! Though I know I need to branch out and go to more and further places, that's a lot further than I think I could handle. I also wouldn't like feeling confined to a spaceship. I think I would start to feel claustrophobic because you can't really just get up and explore outside whenever you feel like.

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    1. It is really hard to go to new places for me too. But my anxiety and issues are more with the new people.

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  2. I've been reading some pretty conflicting reviews about this book. But I'm glad you enjoyed it eventually. I'm a little wary though.

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    1. I am not a world building stickler so that may be where it differs.

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  3. First to answer your question - absolutely YES!! I was obsessed as a kid with shows like Star Trek.

    I am so confused, I do not know should I read this book or not. I saw so many bad reviews, but I like the whole idea of it and that is a standalone.

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    1. That would be fun to travel to spacem always wanted to walk on the moon

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  4. Good to know. I plan to read this one next week. Thanks!

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  5. Brandi , I am so glad I read your review. I read two poor ones in a row, and one really excellent one. I think I would like this and its going on my list!

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    1. I hadn't really read much about it but it was sent and glad I gave it thte chance.

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  6. I've been curious about this book. The cover is pretty cool and I'm glad you ended up enjoying the story even if it took you a few chapters to do :) Great review!

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  7. I am glad to hear the slow start turns out be a good thing. Sounds good to me. :)

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    1. You know me and slow starts, I almost put it down

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  8. I love sci-fi, Brandi, and Salvage sounds really good! I don't mind if my brain feels like it's going to burst when I learn about a new world and science I don't really understand, if the story is there, and there are interesting characters as well, I will be swept off my feet for sure. I'm adding this to my TBR, I am especially interested in what the female character can and will do.

    I don't think I'd ever sign up to go to space - I have it good right here on earth, thank you very much ;)

    I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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    1. Yes, I think that the characters and story is there, at least worked for me

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  9. I love sci-fi, but I was hesitating over this book. However, you convinced me. Great review!

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  10. Great review! It sounds like a great book! I'm definitely putting this on my to-be-read list. :)

    Cindy @ In This World of Books..

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  11. Oh gosh, this isn't for me, I'm just not the sci-fi girl. But I'd take the chance to go deep space, I just don't feel I'd survive long LOL

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    1. I don't know that I would survive that long either...
      I am not the biggest sci-fi but there are some that i fall for

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  12. Ok i DNF this one. I guess ill go back and try again.

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    1. I know some didn't like it or connect with charactrs

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  13. Sci Fi is a tough genre for me, and I think I would struggle with the world building at first, too. But hey, at least there is world building ;) I've read so many where the lack of world building just ruined the book. Glad you enjoyed this!

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  14. Ohhh sci.fi, I do want to read more of that

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  15. I really can't wait to get my hands on this book! Sci-Fi is my favorite genre so I'm sure I'll just love this! Great review! :-) Megan @ Books i View

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  16. Oh I think it's the first good review I see about this one so I'm glad you liked it. But I think I'll pass because of all the others...

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    1. I hear ya, I haven't actually seen many reviews yet, but haven't looked

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  17. I'm going to keep my eye on this one. I've heard good things and bad things, so I guess we'll see, but I am glad that YOU liked it ;)

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

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  18. I really want to read this one! It sounds really different and I like that it's a standalone, I really don't need more series going on right now. I'm glad you enjoyed it even with the slow start!

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  19. I am so happy this one was good. I got the physical ARC this week.

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  20. Unfortunately, I ended up really struggling with this one. In the beginning I really thought that I would end up digging this book. I just felt at a certain point it lost direction. So glad you ended up enjoying it!

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