It’s the first YA book I’ve read in over a year and my
overall impression was that it was alright. It started off good with Imma and
her brother Nikko growing up and dreaming of becoming bullet catchers, people
who can deflect bullets with their hands. Nikko runs off to join them early on
and then vanishes from the face of the earth. Imma meets an old bullet catcher
and basically bullies him into teaching her. Nikko reappears and Imma has to
decide whose side she is on and what is right and wrong.
And I think that is what is good about this book. You have
two sides, the gunslingers and the bullet catchers. Both have their propaganda
that deems the other evil and in need of being wiped out. As the story
progresses you see that both sides have their redeeming features but are also
responsible for some pretty serious crimes.
Both Imma and Nikko have to come to terms with this and work
out which side they belong to. They have family loyalties, but at the end of
the day it is up to them. Mid way through this book I did get a bit bored –
Imma took a while to work things out and waiting for her to do wasn’t all that
entertaining. Having said that she did meet some other fun characters along the
way who build into that idea of what is perceived as right or wrong.
There’s also some gore in there. The gunslingers want to be
faster so they add some machinery into their hands and it is grim. I’m not one
for blood so that was a tough part for me. But it added a different take to the
Western setting of the book.
It’s a book that makes you think a little bit, but I would
have preferred it to be faster paced. What I did like that the main character
wasn’t the stereotypical tortured teenager. She was a lot more likable and
real.
As it’s so hot right now maybe you should read something
desert themed. Let me know how you get on if you do.
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