The story alternates between two protagonists—Finn, a teenage boy locked inside the prison called Incarceron; and Claudia, a teenage girl who lives Outside and is facing an imminent and unwelcomed arranged marriage. Incarceron is dark, deliciously detailed and offers an unassuming twist at the end. Lovers of books with dystopian societies must read Incarceron.
The Future or the Past
In this novel, the future resembles the past. Kings and queens rule. Treachery, treason and plots of deception dictate who earns a seat on the throne. But there are differences. Technology that we have yet to conceive today exists, but it is forbidden. People live under the rules of Protocol, which makes the use of any unapproved technology illegal.
Arranged Marriage
Claudia lives in this world. Through an arranged marriage, she will become Queen. But her engagement to the rightful future King, Giles, was cut short by his sudden and untimely death. However, there are rumors which state that Giles’ death was not an accident. Nor is it certain that he is, in fact, dead. According to these rumors, Giles’ stepmother, the current Queen, plotted Giles’ elimination to pave the way for her own son Caspar’s claim to the throne. Claudia does not want to marry Caspar. He is foolish and would make a terrible king. But refusal is not an option.
The Warden of Incarceron
Claudia’s father is the Warden of Incarceron, an inconceivably vast prison that was originally built as an experiment. Its whereabouts is known only to her father. Claudia wishes she could live inside Incarceron, away from her duties as the future Queen. People Outside believe it to be a sort of paradise.
One day, Claudia sneaks into her father’s office and steals a strange crystal key from his work desk. She and her ill tutor, Jared, examine it using his infinite amount of illegal technology. It’s with this key that they make a truly amazing discovery, a discovery that allows them to communicate with people inside Incarceron.
Inside Prison Walls
Meanwhile, Finn has been locked in Incarceron for as long as he can remember. But his memory doesn’t extend beyond a few years. Known as the starseer, Finn is burdened by physically painful flashes of Outside. Could he be seeing his life before entering the prison? A life with stars and birthday cakes. A place that is not dark and vile and made of metal forests. He, a Sapient named Gildas, a girl named Attia and his oathbrother Keiro (whose loyalty is questionable) embark on a journey to find the Outside. No one but the legendary Sapphique has ever escaped, but they are determined to follow in his footsteps. Armed with a crystal key, which allows them to speak to Claudia and keeps them hidden from the prison’s ever-watchful eyes, the four search for a way out.
Sources:
- Catherine Fisher. Incarceron. Penguin (Firebird), 2007 | ISBN 9780142418529
Nicole Skutelnik - Nicole is an avid reader and lover of books, particular teen and young-adult fiction. At an early age, she decided to turn her passion ...
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