Christian Schoon

Right off the bat I think I should make it clear that while exciting things do happen in this book, this is largely a day to day accounting of what its like to be a novice exoveterinarian (exovet). Zenn is an engaging, if sometimes a bit too clinical, main character who grew up around practical people living in a harsh environment. While she worries about what's going on with her, those are secondary to the very real problems she's facing each day.

This sort of narrative tact can be frustrating at first. As a reader we can see a larger picture than the characters so when something happens that's obviously much more serious than the characters are giving it credit for, it can get irritating.

This happened a lot to me, especially in the beginning. Otha, Zenn's Uncle (and only actual family present), dismisses everything Zenn says to the point where Zenn wonders if she is just going crazy. Its not to say he doesn't make logical points, but the logical points serve no purpose. We know that Zenn is experiencing something 'supernatural'. We know that Zenn is not to be blamed for the mistakes occurring. There's no belief of tension at all.

Schoon is not subtle. Whether because Zenn is naturally paranoid or clumsy writing, who's at fault for almost everything is apparent pretty quickly and the motivation behind it clicks about half way through. This again leads to a sort of simmering frustration as everyone tiptoes around the obvious. The world is fascinating--its very 'wild west'/frontier oriented, but the cloister and its wild aliens make it interesting.

I liked Fane quite a bit. Yes he was a jerk, but its not like Zenn was making many friends with her attitude (which given her environment its a wonder she can talk to anyone at all). I loved Hamish--I look forward to seeing more of his 'independent thinking'. Schoon is careful to keep romance a very small part of this novel. Zenn doesn't really understand it and at any rate is too busy wondering if she's gone insane or if she'll fail her three tests.

Overall this was an interesting if uneven read for me. I'm hoping that in the next book, since Zenn won't have her exams to worry about, the book will be less concerned with the everyday minutiae and focused on Zenn's search for answers.
… (més)

Goodreads Synopsis: Zenn Scarlett’s novice year of exoveterinarian training on Mars isn’t quite going to plan…

After barely surviving a plot to destroy her school and its menagerie of alien patients, could things at the Ciscan cloister get any worse? Yes. Yes they could: Zenn’s absent father Warra Scarlett has suddenly ceased all communication with her. Desperate to learn what’s become of him, Zenn stows away aboard the Helen of Troy, a starliner powered by one of the immense, dimension-jumping beasts known as Indra.

With her is Liam Tucker, a towner boy who is either very fond of her, very dangerous to her, or both. On the verge of learning the truth about her dad, Zenn’s quest suddenly catapults her and Liam thousands of light years beyond known space, and into the dark heart of a monstrous conspiracy. Braving a gauntlet of lethal environments and unearthly life forms, her courage and exovet skills will now be tested as never before.

With the fate of entire worlds hanging in the balance, Zenn is racing headlong into trouble… again.

My Review: An exciting adventure through a spaceship, with a novice vet from mars, Zenn Scarlett, and her friends through a race against the clock to save everyone, everywhere. Sounds good, right? It was great, but honestly I think it would have been better if I would have found out that it was the second book in the series Zenn Scarlett, before I started reading it. That’s my own fault though. It’s a great story, I love all the alien and new earth life forms the author has come up with, they’re really interesting, and I haven’t read anything like it before. I’ve really been into books about space and aliens lately, and this was a great fit with that. I never would have been able to come up with the creatures in this book, and that’s just awesome. It was written well enough that even though I started in the second I didn’t feel too left out, aside from wondering what happened in the first book to lead the characters there. I got confused a few times while I was reading it, however, both from the words I couldn’t pronounce, and because I didn’t read the first book, but aside from that it was a great read and I’d recommend it. Thanks for reading!

(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)… (més)

I am sure a lot of people are like me and wanted to be a Veterinarian when they grew up or they dreamed of what it is like in space, they wanted a cat-like "talking" best-friend/pet... (okay, maybe not that last part.) I know that I would have wanted to BE Zenn when I was much younger. I am going to analyze my feelings in separate sections for this one, much like my review for Angelfall. As with anything there are some faults, but I was able to overlook them and love this book completely.

My expectations for this one were pretty high, as with any pretty cover I pick up. I hadn't expected it to move me as much as it did. At times, I will admit, it felt a little disjointed in Zenn's overall story. I would have liked a lot more background. I would absolutely love a prequel or a side-story. Maybe include some new creatures, Zenn's relationship with her parents, more Haymish, and MORE KATIE. Seriously. I loved Katie.

Katie was the ultimate character for me. She is a rikkaset, a cat-like creature that can speak and turn invisible by her light-reflecting fur. I am a cat lover. Probably like most cat lovers, I wish mine could talk. Katie is deaf, but knows sign language. She saved the day, as all cat-like creatures do.

The first few chapters feel incredibly long. There is so much detail. From the description of the color of the dust to all of her surroundings there is a lot to visualize. Zenn turns out to be incredibly observant and intelligent. In Zenn's world we meet giant beasts and alien insect beings that have language translators around their necks in order to communicate with others. This is where Hamish comes in. Schoon does a brilliant job at mastering social classes and humanity's curse to judge others by their appearance. Zenn doesn't conform to anyone else's views about different lifeforms and befriends Hamish by teaching him and helping him survive outside of his element. By the end of the first few chapters you really get a feel for Zenn's character. At times it can be a bit descriptive, but I enjoyed the uniqueness.

We are told near the beginning that Zenn's mother went missing and is assumed dead after being swallowed by one of the largest animals in the galaxy... But the story keeps you guessing. We see Zenn's feelings about her parents relationship before the accident happens, and her father's behavior afterwards-which is understandable. Zenn's determination to keep everyone out is also understandable, she tries to maintain her focus on her career as an exovet.

Liam is the "love interest". He is nice, and a bit mysterious.The romance doesn't happen until the very end... well sort of... Just the way I like it in young adult novels!

There are tons of elements to this book. In Zenn's eagerness to become an exovet she must go through rigorous training and take multiple tests in order to safely take care of animals on her own. We are introduced to many characters and witness Zenn learn life lessons... the hard way... to discover her true feelings about friendship, and ultimately what it is like to be a unique person and to have such a specific goal at a young age.

This was my first science-fiction novel...(!) I thought the world Zenn lived in was wonderful. Zenn, herself was inspiring. She defended herself and her beliefs on numerous occasions. I hope more people get to read this book, especially teens who are interested in living in outer space.… (més)