Reviewed by layawaydragon on
I fucking loved Orleans. It has everything I've wanted from a YA dystopian and does it so well.
1.) Characters are on point: Fen is a strong, determined young woman that I couldn't love more. The survivor mentality and struggle is perfect. The Tourist Daniel is well-done as well. I'm not so in love with him because my preferences lean away from the sheltered and naive. I loved reading both their POVs.
2.) The World-Building: believable, poignant, and love how it takes everything into consideration. From the virus, the setup, and the landscape but especially the outside world. Now, it doesn't give us information outside the US, which I know a lot complain about missing (including me) in the genre. However, it does include the quarantined Delta and the rest of the US. Too often only the disaster zone is dealt with leaving far too many questions and possibilities.
I love the why and how the tribes are set and work. Then there's the smuggling and danger that people deal with from others and the environment and just how people are surviving, all of which is done beautifully. The little tidbit of the bees dying off was brilliant and showed how much detail was put into. It really kicked it up a notch for me.
3.) The Science: I love the ideas behind the virus, blood type segregation, and the characterization of scientists. Far too often I've had to complain that scientists are portrayed, well, stupidly. It's usually flat-evil that makes no sense or science as religion. This has neither. There definitely are good and wrong scientists, both of which are done well. The curiosity, the purpose and reasoning that is so often lacking is readily found on both sides.
4.) The Plot: It sounds pretty standard: trying to survive in a dystopian world. Towing along a baby and a tourist spices it up a bit. Usually it's fighting the big bad government and such. What really makes it work and stand out is the setting though. I loved tagging along while they navigated Orleans.
5.) The Writing: I love the way it was written and described. I know a few people were complaining about the "tribe speak" but honestly, I find the complaints beyond personal preference stupid and often elitist. Of course, they knew English in New Orleans before the fall and they're still speaking it in Orleans. African American Vernacular English is a well established variety. The "tribe speak" of Orleans honestly isn't that different and it shouldn't be a trial to read. Not liking it is one thing, being a stupid snob is another. It's like not people (or at least most people) speak and write "proper" English in their day to day lives anyways. English is a living language, which is constantly evolving and changing both verbally and written. Plus, people everywhere have an accent when speaking. They just don't tend to notice their own, hearing it as the natural default and all outside their tribe as accented. I understand not being able to get into a book due to the language (for it's usually older English writing that gets me (and there are plenty who look down on me for that)) but let's not pretend it's anything other than your own issue.
6.) The Ending: The only issue I actually had with Orleans is the ending. At first, it was just the typical open cliffhanger ending that I haaaate. But I was so in love with everything else my immediate concern was "MUST GET NEXT BOOK!". Since I'm behind the times (which I actually like, no waiting!) I assumed this would be no problem. But lo and behold, there isn't one and the author states (paraphrasing) it's a stand alone and that while she won't say never, one isn't forthcoming for the foreseeable future. That's completely her right and everything, but fuuuuuck, does it suck. The ending is wide fucking open. There isn't closure or certainty about anything. at.all. The ONE fucking time I want a YA dystopian series and it's not happening. >:(
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 1 March, 2016: Finished reading
- 1 March, 2016: Reviewed