Incarceron by Catherine Fisher **Review**

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Series: Incarceron #1
Pages: 464
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Release date: 3rd May 2007
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones

Goodreads synopsis:
Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book; when I read the synopsis, I thought the premise for the novel was interesting, but when I discovered that it was sold as a Children's book (in the 9-12 age range), I admit that I didn't hold much hope for it gripping an adult reader - thankfully I was wrong. I am surprised however that this novel is categorised as a 9-12, and feel that perhaps it would be more at home in the teenage fiction section.

Incarceron is a novel that grips its reader from the very beginning - we are thrown straight into action from the very first page, simultaneously being introduced to one of the two protagonists, Finn, and the world he has to fight to survive in. The reader is immediately asking questions of the novel and in this is immediately gripped.
I particularly enjoyed the alternation between Finn's narrative and Claudia's, providing not only a wonderful contrast between their two different worlds, but also allowing the reader to see both sides of the story of Incarceron, before the narratives finally meet as the two characters begin to make contact from their separate worlds.
Although parts of the novel were predictable to an adult reader, there was still enough to keep an older reader interested in the story, and to leave an interest in reading the next book in the series. Definitely one I will be recommending to other readers, and a book I will also be passing on to my 12-year-old brother to enjoy!