"Incarceron" Book Review

"Only the man who has known freedom

Can define his prison"

Sonja Milekovic

Title: Incarceron

By: Catherine Fisher

Genre: science-fiction, adventure, romance

            Incarceron is a book that takes place in a futuristic world where time has stopped and technological advancements have been prohibited; while simultaneously occurring in a prison that is alive, a prison called Incarceron. The heroine Claudia, who is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trying to help Finn, a prisoner to escape. Claudia must help Finn and his friends escape Incarceron before Claudia’s impending marriage to Caspar; the prince. If Finn escapes, he could help Claudia escape her marriage. What none of them realize is that Incarceron is more that what it seems and neither will escape their prison without courage, intelligence and the bravery to stand against everything they believe in. Catherine Fisher uses both Finn and Claudia’s perspectives to tell this story about courage, freedom, prisons, power and love.

            Incarceron is an extremely interesting book that analyses society, power and the courage to fight for what you believe in. I liked that it was written in a 3^rd person omniscient; so you can read about Claudia’s thoughts while getting just as much insight about other characters, like Finn. Being interested in societies and how they function made it easy to connect to the ideas of the book. However, at the start, it was difficult to immerse myself in the book because of the slow pace. It was immensely interesting to read about this world where technology is forbidden yet still used, where society is ruled by a monarchy and power is fought for at any cost.

            People who enjoy reading adventure and science-fiction novels should definitely read this book. Its insights on the inner workings of a society constricted to laws that forbid technology or anything not from that specific Era. I recommend reading this book in bed, while you have plenty of time because this book really makes you think about a miasma of situations and how you would react if you were put in such a position. Incarceron is best read when you have time and love a gripping novel that you have to read in three days.