This was an entertaining fantasy read that I ultimately had mixed feelings about. Krescent Dune is a 17-year-old who’s been on her own ever since her parents blew up a mine. Not only is she saddled with their debts, but she’s hated by everyone because her parents killed so many people. She survives only by working in the pits, battling fierce monsters – until her boss sends her as a bodyguard on an excursion to rescue some people who have been lost in the mines.
It’s an atmospheric read, taking place mostly underground in dark caverns and underground lakes. The party is attacked by killer scorpions, and worse. I enjoyed the world Berwah created, and the backstory of the main character. But one thing that detracted a little is I felt like I had seen many of these things before, in movies like Fellowship of the Ring. Just when the exploration party thinks they’re safe, something jumps out of a dark crevice or murky pond. It’s campy and foreboding, but definitely has been done before.
Another distraction was the characters seemed a little juvenile to me. I understand this is young adult fiction – but even so, both the romantic story and another character’s hatred of Kress seemed immature given the setting of the book. These are hard-as-nails characters who are fighting for their lives and oppressed by their leaders at every turn. Think Hunger Games, but with more angst.
The world-building was interesting and I appreciated the detail given to the class distinctions (the Landers own everything and the Renters either work in the mines, fight in the pits, or get stuck in a work camp for debtors. I also appreciated Krescent’s character growth during this journey, as she comes to terms with what her parents did.
Their journey is full of twists and turns and scary flying beasts. Kress never knows which characters will betray her (though one “surprise” was pretty obvious). But the last part of the book lost me a bit, things happened too quickly and the writing felt one-dimensional.
Most of the book is a fast-paced action/adventure read, and if you’re looking for YA that’s reminiscent of Hunger Games, you’ll like this one. But I can’t recommend it for anyone who isn’t a teen (and there are lots of YA books I recommend for all ages). If the cover is drawing you in, I suggest Mira Grant’s Into the Drowning Deep instead, or Tricia Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King.
Note: I received an advanced review copy of this book by NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks Fire. This book was published January 9, 2024
