Review of The Raging Ones by Krista and Becca Ritchie
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Review copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
DESCRIPTION
In a freezing world, where everyone knows the day they will die, three teens break all odds.
Franny Bluecastle, a tough city teen, dreams of dying in opulence, to see wealth she’s never known. Like the entire world, she believes it’s impossible to dodge a deathday.
Until the day she does.
Court Icecastle knows wealth. He also knows pain. Spending five years in Vorkter Prison, a fortress of ice and suffering, he dreams of life beyond the people that haunt him and the world that imprisoned him.
Mykal Kickfall fights for those he loves. The rugged Hinterlander shares a frustrating yet unbreakable connection with Court—which only grows more lawless and chaotic as their senses and emotions connect with Franny.
With the threat of people learning they’ve dodged their deathdays, they must flee their planet to survive. But to do so, all three will have to hide their shared bond as they vie for a highly sought after spot in the newest mission to space. Against thousands of people far smarter, who’ll live longer, and never fear death the way that they do.
REVIEW
The Raging Ones is addictive, jarring, witty and utterly FANTASTIC. This was my 70th book of the year and it is by far one of the best.
“You’re a hallucination.”
“Will you let your hallucinations carry you out of the cold? Will you let your hallucinations help you?”
First things first, if you read the book description and thought: “Ugh. Another love triangle.” Well, let me just tell you. Jokes on you. The dynamic between the three main characters is so deep, it transcends your typical love triangle trope. Don’t get me wrong, there is romance, there is angst, there is so. much. tension. And it is almost all GAY. Seriously, some of my favorite romances as of late have been 100% gay or even M/M/F and this book absolutely did not disappoint.
“You keep saying that you make my life dismal and bleak. But my world never felt as bright, as worthwhile and full, until I met you.”
On Franny, Court and Mykal’s frozen planet, everyone knows the day they will die. This is just the way life is. Those bound to die as children may be loved by their families but their worth isn’t given a spare glance. Those who live to thirty and beyond are afforded every luxury in the world. And those that will die as young adults tend to bury themselves in drugs, sex and lawlessness. Nobody can quicken their deathday. Nobody can dodge their deathday.
Except Franny, Court and Mykal have lived to see their deathdays come and go. Now they find themselves inexplicably linked – their senses, their emotions, they share a bond that can only be strengthened.
“I go still with him. His hurt is my hurt and my hurt is his hurt. There’s no way around that, and in this silent moment, we both concede.”
The Raging Ones is fast-paced, imaginative and had me floored on numerous occasions. With a mix of everything: fantasy, science fiction and romance – it will please readers of every genre.
The world painted by the authors is a bleak one. Crippled by a freezing environment, the people burn a mineral called casia for warmth, leaving the sky a constant shade of purple. Nobody has seen the sun in years. Nobody has seen the stars in years. But Court has a dream to do just that, but cannot do it without Mykal and Franny by his side.
“I accept that you’re the most complicated, cold boy I’ve ever known.”
This book literally went from giving me Six of Crows vibes to Illuminae vibes and left me reeling with thoughts of “How did the authors do this?” Court is an intricately complicated character, reminiscent of Kaz Brekker. Franny is nothing like your typical YA female lead – she is unabashedly blunt, but thoughtful and caring. Mykal is my cinnamon roll of the bunch, he is unselfish, funny and loves fiercely. Each of the main characters is self deprecating in their own way, but through their shared bond, they lend each other the strength and drive to do the impossible. Having passed their deathdays, their only option is to blend in with the upper echelons of society and Court teaches Franny and Mykal to do just that. However, they come to find that shaking their past isn’t as easy as fancy clothes and smooth talking. Suspicions arise and some will stop at nothing to discover their secrets.
“You’d sooner believe you’re dead that believe I’d help you?”
Yes.
AND THAT ENDING. I DID NOT see that coming. Not from a mile away and it blew me away.
I requested The Raging Ones on a whim, having never read anything by these authors and not knowing what I was getting myself into, past the super intriguing premise in the description. I will absolutely be reading more by these authors. I loved their writing style and cannot wait for the sequel to The Raging Ones! This a must read for fantasy and science fiction lovers alike!
Release Date: August 14th, 2018
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