Published by: Strange Chemistry, May 7th 2013
Genre: YA, Science fiction
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
When you're studying to be exoveterinarian specializing in exotic, alien life forms, school... is a different kind of animal.
Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she's learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn’s all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she's feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn't enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she's started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can't deny what she's feeling.
Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what's happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she's actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients... or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year....
When you're studying to be exoveterinarian specializing in exotic, alien life forms, school... is a different kind of animal.
Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she's learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn’s all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she's feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn't enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she's started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can't deny what she's feeling.
Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what's happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she's actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients... or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year....
If you'd have told me, before going into this book, I'd have encountered a cloister of alien vets I'd have said you were lying. And then screamed in excitement. Of course I could have told myself this, had I read the blurb. But I didn't. All I needed to see was the word exovet and I was sold.
But a cloister of exovets! A cloister! This is literally everything I never knew I wanted. Zenn Scarlett is by far the most imaginative science fiction novel I have read, and I fell in love with it so hard and fast. The world building is without fault, and without conforming to the stereotypical Martian colony I keep reading about, which made this book fascinating. Not to mention the array of alien species - much wonder!
Zenn is a strong main character, determined and impulsive, she gets herself into all manner of bad situations, and always manages to fix the problems she's caused. But what really made this novel amazing, for me, was the treatment and inclusion of alien characters. Katie is my all time favourite. I love how, without verbally speaking, she's intelligent and has a personality, instead of being a character-less supporting alien character, as I have found in other, lesser novels. Hamish is also a fascinating character and a real breakthrough for me. I never would have thought I'd empathise and come to adore an insect, given they scare the ever-loving crap out of me, not to mention an eight foot insect.
Zenn Scarlett was a wonderful shock of a book. I wanted it to be amazing and groundbreaking and it was everything I'd hoped. A YA sci fi that doesn't dull down the science for the obviously dumb teenagers (You wanna talk about how irritating and insulting it is when that happens? Because I've been insulted far too many times to recall), a cast of characters as different as they come, and a story so unique you'll fly through the book as quick as I did (a day and a half!!) Highly recommend.
But a cloister of exovets! A cloister! This is literally everything I never knew I wanted. Zenn Scarlett is by far the most imaginative science fiction novel I have read, and I fell in love with it so hard and fast. The world building is without fault, and without conforming to the stereotypical Martian colony I keep reading about, which made this book fascinating. Not to mention the array of alien species - much wonder!
Zenn is a strong main character, determined and impulsive, she gets herself into all manner of bad situations, and always manages to fix the problems she's caused. But what really made this novel amazing, for me, was the treatment and inclusion of alien characters. Katie is my all time favourite. I love how, without verbally speaking, she's intelligent and has a personality, instead of being a character-less supporting alien character, as I have found in other, lesser novels. Hamish is also a fascinating character and a real breakthrough for me. I never would have thought I'd empathise and come to adore an insect, given they scare the ever-loving crap out of me, not to mention an eight foot insect.
Zenn Scarlett was a wonderful shock of a book. I wanted it to be amazing and groundbreaking and it was everything I'd hoped. A YA sci fi that doesn't dull down the science for the obviously dumb teenagers (You wanna talk about how irritating and insulting it is when that happens? Because I've been insulted far too many times to recall), a cast of characters as different as they come, and a story so unique you'll fly through the book as quick as I did (a day and a half!!) Highly recommend.
Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆
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