Published by: Philomel, June 18th 2013
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia
Pages: 384
Format: Ebook
Source: Bought
Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.
Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.
Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.
Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.
Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.
Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.
Proxy is a fast paced science fiction thriller with twists and turns abound and a (hallelujah) diverse cast of characters.
I liked a lot of things about Proxy. I liked the diversity of characters, how Alex London so spectacularly made his characters people, and didn't fall into the monotony of perpetuating the same old stereotypes. Syd's skin colour and sexuality is not made a big deal of - it's part of him, but it's not his personality and it's not his story. I loved that and I loved Syd.
I especially loved Knox, the little shit that he is, but let's just not go there ... ever.
((What the hell was that ending? *squints at Alex London for a full hour* What was that?))
Marie was pretty great too and I liked her motives ad beliefs and complexities. Looking forward to learning more about her in Guardian.
The plot, the pace, and the worldbuilding (oh, the worldbuilding!) were all pretty miraculous. Not gonna lie when I heard this book was about a) a character of colour and b) a gay guy, I assumed most of the plot would revolve around that character being pigeonholed or vicitimised because of said traits (made a slave because he's black, institutionalised because he's gay, etc). But what I got was a fully developed futuristic dystopic world, a fucked up ruling system, social classes, inequality that had little to do with race or sexuality, shit hitting the fan, a rich party boy thrown into the real world, and a rebellion that was equal parts 'whoa cool' and 'what the ever-loving fuck?'
Basically, read this book right now.
I liked a lot of things about Proxy. I liked the diversity of characters, how Alex London so spectacularly made his characters people, and didn't fall into the monotony of perpetuating the same old stereotypes. Syd's skin colour and sexuality is not made a big deal of - it's part of him, but it's not his personality and it's not his story. I loved that and I loved Syd.
I especially loved Knox, the little shit that he is, but let's just not go there ... ever.
((What the hell was that ending? *squints at Alex London for a full hour* What was that?))
Marie was pretty great too and I liked her motives ad beliefs and complexities. Looking forward to learning more about her in Guardian.
The plot, the pace, and the worldbuilding (oh, the worldbuilding!) were all pretty miraculous. Not gonna lie when I heard this book was about a) a character of colour and b) a gay guy, I assumed most of the plot would revolve around that character being pigeonholed or vicitimised because of said traits (made a slave because he's black, institutionalised because he's gay, etc). But what I got was a fully developed futuristic dystopic world, a fucked up ruling system, social classes, inequality that had little to do with race or sexuality, shit hitting the fan, a rich party boy thrown into the real world, and a rebellion that was equal parts 'whoa cool' and 'what the ever-loving fuck?'
Basically, read this book right now.
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
"(hallelujah) diverse cast of characters." YESS.
ReplyDelete"What the hell was that ending? *squints at Alex London for a full hour* What was that?" I KNOW, RIGHT? I loved Proxy, but that ending... *sobs forever*
Great review!
Btw, don't forget to link-up your LGBT Month posts (so other can find them more easily)
http://nijiclovers.blogspot.com/2014/04/lgbt-month-week-3-link-up-giveaways-and.html