Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Sapphique, the follow up to Incarceron by Catherine Fisher, is a worthy finish to the series. As with the first novel in the pair, Sapphique is full of twists and turns and avoids being predictable at all. The characters from Incarceron are back and face new challenges, both inside the prison and out. New characters bring some fresh conflict to the story. Overall, an excellent read, makings this series one I will suggest to fans of other dystopian series such as The Hunger Games.


Summary: Finn has escaped the prison, Incarceron, with the help of Claudia, the Warden’s daughter. But Outside is not the paradise Finn had hoped for – now he is faced with proving that he is, indeed, Prince Giles. He is not the only one trying to make that claim – another young man has stepped forward; one who has all the right answers and knows things that Finn’s amnesia keeps secret from him. If Finn cannot prove that he is Giles, both he & Claudia face death.

Within the prison, Keiro and Attia continue fighting for their lives as they search for their own way out. Part of their plan involves finding a magical glove said to have belonged to Sapphique himself. But they are not the only ones who want the glove – the Prison itself also wants the glove, and the escape that it could offer. The Prison itself wishes to escape to Outside, which would mean certain death for the prisoners within.

These two major conflicts are woven together into the story and lead to a conclusion that surprised and pleased me. It was an excellent ending that was satisfying without being “too easy.”

Themes:
Loyalty
Choice
Freedom
Friendship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 7 & up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild