Arclight by Josin L. Mcquein
Electric Monkey, 2013. ISBN: 978140526394.
(Age: Teens) Science fiction. Humans have a natural fear of the dark
and the unknown, they like to live in the light, finding it safe and
comforting.
In a warped future the human race has been reduced from billions to
hundreds living in the safety of a compound known as the Arclight.
They fear the dark and sleep in the light, controlled by colours and
their every move tracked by tracer bracelets worn for their own
safety a small number survive. An alien race known as the Fade have
brought darkness to the world depicted having a human form and
gleaming eyes these are the creatures which hide in the depths of
every child's nightmare stealing the bodies of those foolish enough
to fall into the Grey. As the Dark and Grey expand, slowly and
inevitably encroaching on the Light, the people begin to hope. A
girl rescued from the Dark lives among them, her memory lost but she
lives, breathes and functions just as a human should. The girl,
Marina, feels lost and alone in the compound of her own people, told
that she remembers little as she was taken young. When the Fade
begin an assault on the Arclight, Marina's past begins to reveal
itself to her, bringing with it unimaginable chaos.
This is a sci-fi novel with a quaint mix of teenage drama and
conspiracy, written in first person and set in the microcosm of the
Arclight the novel portrays how lies feed lies until they finally
tangle together to reveal the truth. I would recommend this novel
for young adult readers with an interest in science fiction.
Kayla Gaskell (age eighteen)