This was a great audiobook! Super job by all three narrators, especially the main one who also narrated [b:We Set the Dark on Fire|37868569|We Set the Dark on Fire (We Set the Dark on Fire, #1)|Tehlor Kay Mejia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528832670l/37868569._SX50_.jpg|54785162].

This is the best [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1447303603l/2767052._SX50_.jpg|2792775] read-alike I've read in a while. Nat reminded me strongly of Katniss -- taking care of her little sibling is her number one priority, she kicks ass, she's emotionally detached, it seems like everyone is out to get her, she's beautiful but not vain, she reluctantly takes on very powerful institutions. I could go on and on. Okay, one more: fish = careers.

If this becomes a series, I'll keep reading it.

( )

Having been a huge fan of the Mapmakers' trilogy, I was excited to see another title by this author. I read about 100 pages, and I still hadn't been drawn in, so I decided to DNF in favour of more compelling reads. I was disappointed by the lack of depth of the characters, and the plot felt tropey to me. The writing was not enough to keep me engaged without an immersive plot.

An intriguing entry in YA dystopian fiction. Imagine a world where everyone eventually loses the ability to feel emotions and the age of onset is steadily dropping. This is the reality of Natalia and her brother who came home less than a year ago to find their mother had blown her brains out in their apartment. Natalia couldn't feel the needed emotions that day, while Cal felt too much and it got worse when she couldn't help him process the trauma.
Now, Cal has been noticed by a huge corporation that thinks nothing of stealing children whose emotional ability extends past what is known as the age of waning. When he's effectively kidnapped by the company, Natalia must stretch her nearly dead emotional tendrils so she can rescue him. That involves avoiding groups of zombie-like young adults called 'fish' who kill and maim in an attempt to feel something, finding Cal's father, and enlisting the help of a few dependable friends. This leads to mayhem, multiple surprises and a very satisfying conclusion. ( )

In this dystopian world, children begin losing their ability to feel emotions at age ten. The economic dichotomy is wide and those affluent enough to afford it take synaffs, drugs that simulate emotions, both good and bad. Murderous thugs called Fish roam the cities wreaking havoc. Natalia, a hotel maid, and her 10 year old brother, Calvino, live alone, after their mother’s depression caused her to commit suicide. Cal is unique; at age 10 his emotions are growing stronger. Nat, having irritated several Fish by thwarting their attack on a fellow subway rider, now has a huge bounty on her head. In a separate occurrence, Nat irritated the wife of an important pharmaceutical executive, who takes revenge by having Cal ‘adopted’ by her husband’s company and subjecting him to a battery of tests. While Nat’s quest to get Cal back is aided by a small group of loyal friends, it is equally hampered by the bounty hungry Fish and the lack of a concrete plan to fight a huge corporation.

Grove, author of the Mapmakers Trilogy, presents an interesting premise and ably describes the personal and societal impact of an emotionless population. Her characters, especially Cal, are well fleshed out. There is enough action to satisfy action oriented readers. The action packed denouement fits with the story. ( )