Review: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

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've been waiting to read Incarceron for a while, and my hopes were VERY high. I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed.
This book isn't one of those breezy reads that you go through and forget. The story stays with you. Incarceron is told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of Finn and Claudia. At first I was more interested in Finn's chapters, because the idea of a living prison was so unique and mysterious, but toward the end Claudia's chapters were just as fascinating.
I thought I had the book's twist figured out at page fifty, and I was right for the most part, but then there were a few more turns at the end that left me completely dumbfounded. This isn't a book for everyone, but if you like it, you'll REALLY like it. There is a sequel to Incarceron already out in the UK, but it'll be out in the US soon... Hopefully.

The cover is fabulous, and one of my absolute favorites ever. It completely reflects the book, and it's shiny!

Recommended if you like The Keys to the Kingdom series, Eragon, Pendragon