layawaydragon
Written on Nov 15, 2016
+Liked Evie & Co., all flawed realistic people
+Evie’s voice & narrative felt authentic with her personality, childhood & After
+Unique Angel/Vamp/Fae type race
+Brings up issues rarely dealt with in YA Apocalypse
+Love the descriptions and made plenty of quote highlights
The Bad & The Other
-Was frustrated Evie didn’t ask more questions earlier because I WANNA KNOW and now I must wait for the next one
- Some pieces stuck out as a bit odd.
Plastic Wings is the first part of Evie’s life and several years after the apocalypse. Her narrative voice feels so authentic. There’s no grand explanations and info dumps. She’s sheltered growing up and protected most of the time by others and her own disassociation with the crumbling world around her.
Evie is not perfect and even if you like her, you’ll probably disagree with at least some of her decisions. I know I did, and hindsight is a painful teacher. However, she does mature and finally chooses a path towards the end that gives her direction, purpose, and answers to be revealed in the next installment.
I love the world building with the tidbits of the before world and afterwards with the Dark Angels. Most people just call them monsters, and I’m surprised there isn’t more superstitions among the survivors or groupies or converts on what they are and why this is happening. Especially given their vampiric tendencies, wings, and fire.
There are moments that stuck out and make me wonder as well. For instance, if universal education eliminated accents then how come Evie runs into several middle-aged adults with them? How long as Universal Education been around, if so? Were there pockets of resistance and people clinging to their heritage? Hmmm…This is where Evie’s authenticity causes problems because she only notes the abnormal to her, not the status quo.
Also, if there’s any white people that are clueless and want a peak into what reading white as default is like for POC, Plastic Wings is a great example of the physical depictions. Every human defaults as POC while Dark Angels make them do a double take being so pale. There’s plenty of descriptions on Dark Angel’s unusual skin, but human skin coloring is only remarked upon if something is wrong, like a wound. And still, no goddamn food descriptions on either side. **Applause**
The plot revolves around Evie growing up after her world as crumbed and it’s mostly people struggling to survive for the majority of the book. There’s family and leadership problems, she starts her first relationship, and mostly plods along with the rest of them.
However, it never felt slow or dull. I was completely wrapped up with Evie and her world. I liked getting to know her and all the players involved. She’s unique in her world given her sympathies and compassion, but that’s hardly unique for this type of paranormal war tale. There’s thousands, hundreds of thousands and maybe even more, of books with white girls being the same odd ball, so I’d think hard about complaining in regards to Evie.
Romance does play a part in Plastic Wings. Evie’s first relationship is unassuming. It’s only dating, the grounded every day kind that’s remarkable for being first and not much else. I like how even though she hides, distracts herself and he’s there day to day, it’s about her and doesn’t take the focus off the bigger picture.
FYI: while there are trigger warnings for this book, stalkers and control freaks are not romanticized. And no love triangle to speak of.
Her later second relationship is where it gets interesting and the electroshocks of love come into play. They’re adorable and I love their banter. I only wish she didn’t relish so much the happiness and grilled for some answers because I need them.
This is where her obliviousness and denial finally started to bug me. Her eyes are painfully opened, consequences reign high, and she comes out the other side as mature, determined, and focuses. Still a teen, still with problems and flaws, but damn if she isn't about to fuck shit up once she gets her bearings. I can't wait.
Again, unique for her world but not the genre. So, more thinking and introspection please, reviewers.
That relationship does end up dominating the end of the book but it works for the characters, the plot, and the world building. I really can’t wait to see what happens next. I have faith in Evie, her path, and choices.
If you’re looking for action, Evie isn’t a part of any until the end. This is all about set up so far and the human connection. Same can be said of romance and there’s no steam scenes whatsoever.
But, if you want a POC centered apocalyptic tale with different paranormal beings, Plastic Wings is perfect. The beginning reminds me of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (and several others TBH) while the ending has A Court of Thorns and Roses feeling without the problematic bullshit.