The Island

Not too long ago, I was lucky enough to read and review Shadow of Time by Jen Minkman. I truly enjoyed that story, so when Jen contacted me about reviewing her new novella, The Island, I jumped at the chance. Not only do I love short stories, but this one fell under the dystopian genre, which also happens to be my favorite.

The Island starts with twins Luc and Leia reaching their tenth birthday, also the age where they leave home and move away to become dependent on themselves. They move to the manor, where all children live together until they come of age and get married. I immediately felt a pang of sadness for the twins, I couldn't imagine having to leave home so young and to navigate the world without help from adults.

Now if you are like me, you might notice the familiar names of the twins. When I read a book, I tend to stay away from reviews. I like to just read the synopsis and dive into it with as little information as possible. This helps keep things spoiler free and keeps my anticipation at a high level. So since I hadn't read any reviews, I had absolutely no idea about the Star Wars angle of this book. I was a little confused at first with the twins, but once other people started coming along with more character names, I started to worry.

You see, I live in a house full of Star Wars obsessed people. I never saw it growing up and only watched them eventually because my husband was always referencing them and I had no idea what he was talking about. Since meeting him fourteen years ago, I think I've seen each movie at least ten times. My daughter was a Star Wars expert before she was four and my son is just as bad. It isn't that they aren't good movies, I get it, but I'm basically just all Star War-ed out.

So naturally, I began to panic. I wasn't sure where this was going and I didn't think I had it in me to keep going. But I did, and I will never regret that decision. The story went far beyond what I had imagined and it all came to make perfect sense. In fact, I wanted more. I wanted to know everything I could about their past and their future. I would not be against this becoming a full length novel or even a series.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Island. It has everything I look for in a good story: sympathetic characters, a solid plot, mystery and even a little bit of a romance. And just look at that gorgeous cover! If you're like me and not much of a Star Wars fan, please don't let that deter you. I promise that everything will come together perfectly and you too will be wanting more.

I highly recommend The Island to everyone, especially if you love YA, dystopians and short stories.

I did not read any Synopsis, or Extracts before starting this book, but if I had I probably would not have read it in the first place. The Island nearly became my second DNF for the year because at 30% on my Kindle the book took a horrible turn in the plot. The Island starts off as a fairly normal dystopian except that children are not permitted to live with their parents they are sent off to live in a manor in the woods, where their leader follows from a book to teach the children how to live independently by relying on the force within themselves. Things start to go wrong when a fool (someone who lives on the other side of the island, who have different beliefs, Infiltrates the manor, and makes the main character question what her own belief system is. I really enjoyed most of this story, when I hit the turning point I had to push myself to keep reading because the religious book that they follow is infact a Star Wars book that they have based their whole culture on. Ahhhhh! I hate Star Wars. I kept reading because I remembered a documentary that was about one of the world wars in which a Aboriginal tribe witnessed a war plane landing, the soldiers provided the tribe with food before taking off again. For years this tribe worshiped this plane and soldiers as gods because that is all they knew. I figured that the rest of the story would be something like this because otherwise it would just be rubbish.

I really did not enjoy this story because of the Star Wars part of the plot although it was amusing. I think that it had a promising Storyline had it not involved starwars.

The Island was my second read by author Jen Minkman and though I absolutely loved her novel Shadow of Time and haven't stopped raving about it (I think I almost have Mr. Turning the Pages convinced enough to give it a try) I was still nervous about reading this one. I'm not a fan of novellas except for the rare one that I read and those occur maybe once or twice a year but I really should have known better because just like Shadow of Time I loved The Island.

Since this was such a short read I'm not going to mention any spoilers in the novel since I don't want to ruin the book for anyone but I will talk about the parts I enjoyed about The Island and what I didn't like so much.

The Island was a very unique dystopian read that was intriguing and thought provoking which I didn't expect from it at all. I went in hoping for a fun read (which it was) but didn't expected to find myself thinking about it so much but that seems to be a pattern with Jen's writing as I had the same reaction to Shadow of Time when I read it.

I thought the plot was very well thought out. Jen managed to entertain as well as make me thing about what she was writing about. The societies of the people especially Leia's people's beliefs was interesting and definitely unexpected and utterly surprising. I loved the uniqueness of the plot because it was so refreshing and complex despite the book's short length.

The characters were realistic despite their odd circumstances and the societies they were born into they were still very normal though I did sense a bit of a Lord of the Flies mentality so perhaps my definition of normal is off. Leia was likeable and I really enjoyed her as a main character. Even though she had been born into such a strange way of life she still questioned things and I liked her refusal to except certain things that she learned as well as how strong of a character she became.

The other characters were good too though I did wish that there had been a wee bit more character development with the side characters. I wanted to see a little more emotion from some of the side characters and that is the one thing that was a drawback for me though it is one that I think can be looked past due to the quality of the plot and it wasn't as though they were one dimensional. It's more of a personal preference of mine to have a little more substance to characters I read about though I do understand that due to the length of the novella that things had to be pared down.

Overall, The Island was a very good read. It was fast paced, had a distinct air of adventure and discovery and I thought it was the perfect quick read that went by fast but still had quite a bit of substance. The writing was very good, characters were interesting and the plot was unique. I can honestly say that Jen Minkman is one of my favourite YA authors and I hope she continues writing because as longs as she does I'll be reading and buying her books.

I would highly recommend The Island to people who enjoy YA Dystopian novels that are looking for a quicker read that still packs a certain amount of punch and think this is the perfect story to immerse yourself in for the afternoon.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

The Island by Jen Minkman explores a world torn apart by germ warfare, bombs, and hatred. Instead of viewing it through the eyes of survivors as most Apocalyptic books do, Minkman takes a completely different approach. One hundred and fifty years into the future, an island settled by children is now the focus of another war between two different 'nations', the Fools and the Unbelievers. As an homage to writers and readers, Minkman's islanders steadfastly follow the religion of two books, one for the Fools and another for the Unbelievers. These books, however, and the absolutely unquestioning disposition of the Unbelievers eventually cause turmoil, not only for the Unbelievers themselves, but also for those who are unfortunate enough to come into contact with them.

The protagonist, Lea, attempts to follow the centuries old rules of Tattoo, her home, but something doesn't feel right to her. Maybe it's the sorrow on her mother's face as Lea and her twin brother, Luc, leave home at ten years old to raise themselves, as is tradition. Perhaps it's the cruelty of Sol, the leader of the children and the Manor. Maybe the absence of all books except for manuals and THE BOOK which Sol is in sole possession of feels off. Whatever keeps niggling in Lea's mind eventually sets her on a journey of discovery that will change the lives and ideals of every person on the Island, both Fools and Unbelievers alike.

The Island is an ages old story about the differences in people and our beliefs. Heaven and Hell, Yin and Yang, Man and Woman. There always seem to be two sides to the story but mankind is stubborn and too often refuses to approach the issue from the other perspective. Minkman portrays the adults in The Island as ineffectual while the children lead, rule, and eventually choose the high road. Unfortunately, this is too often the truth. Once innocence is lost, intolerance sets in and inevitably leads to cruelty. Minkman highlights this with numbers: ten years of age when children leave home, a sixteen-year-old girl saving the islanders, a twenty-one-year old killing others who are different, adults over twenty-one letting their children leave. Her implication that the older we get, the crueler we become sadly tells the story of humanity. Hopefully, this is one story and lesson that we can learn from.

This novella tells the story of Leia and her clan. She's fifteen and everything she knows is about to be blown away. She lives in a Mansion with other teenagers since they're ten years old. They have to live under the rules of Saul. Saul lies and only wants to keep his power over the people in the Mansion. Quickly, Leia and her friends decide to fight for their rights and for the truth. I can say I loved this short story a lot, and not only because I love the dystopian genre. I found all the characteristics of a dystopian genre. I mean there's the main character, forced to become an adult, then her world is turned upside down. And she has no choice but to fight for what's right. But at the same time, this novella is out of the ordinary. And here's the reasons why.

First I loved the story and how the plot is quickly developed through the pages. I know it's a novella and supposed to be efficient but because I'm not used to read novellas, it felt even better and stronger. It's one of the reasons why I recommend this book, it's a fast but intense read with actions and suspense. Also I enjoyed the mystery around what's behind the wall, who are the Fools ? What if they were different from what Leia is supposed to think ?
I found it was original, the setting of an Island, a small world with different beliefs and a different type of society. I've never seen or thought about that kind of World. Even if I'm not a fan of Star Wars, the few references was nice and fun. I loved this idea of an Island and all the things unknown around it. So I can claim it was new and refreshing compare to all the dystopia already out there.
Usually I talk about the characters and what I loved about them. But this time I simply have to say a few things.

Because it's a novella, I was afraid that I couldn't appreciate completly the characters. But with The Island, it was so easy to love them. Thanks to a first person's narration, I could relate to the main character Leia. She is brave and smart but maybe a bit sensitive. Who wouldn't be when a boy you barely know makes fun of you and your clan ? Leia is the kind of character I love to discover, she has no idea of her beauty and how important she's becoming. She is humble and sincere, not afraid to tell the truth even when she should think twice before she speaks. The second characters are also important, like they all are a piece of her. There's the funny Mara, Andy who's brave and strong, and her twin brother Colin who seems a bit overwhelmed by everything that's happening. I can't wait to know more about all of them but I admit I have a thing for Walt. Too bad I can't talk to you about him because I don't want to spoil anything. I'm sure you will love him too !
To finish, I have to confess if I didn't 5 starred this book is a bit because I wanted more. I know it's a short story but, even if I loved the end, I was still hungry for more. So a few hours later, I started reading the sequel ! And I can already tell you it's as amazing as the first novella in The Island series ! Even the sequel is beyond my expectations.
I think I told you about pretty much everything you need to know about The Island. I truly believe you don't need to love the dystopia's genre or even the Star Wars' universe. It's well written and I promise you won't get bored at all. Like me, you will want and need more !
I hope you liked my little review and decided to buy and read The Island. The first two books of this series by Jen Minkman are available in paperback and on kindle. You can find out more about Jen with her blog and on Twitter. I will be lucky to ask her a few questions and I will review the sequel of The Island, The Waves soon.
Thank you and enjoy your read !

It used to be that when you turn 18 you are able to leave your house and home and are called adult.

Now the Great Book states that when you turn 10, you are considered as an adult and can fend for itself.

At least that's how Leia and Luc was raised to believe. And now living on an Island, learning to survive the hard way nothing else should matter in the world. Get smarter, survive, marry and have children. That's the basis and nothing will change that.

Except for that Wall.

And the Fools. Fools are ones that believe that someone in higher power will take care of them, and believe in dreams. What such fools they are!!!

But then something happened. Leia actually meets with a Fool. And now the real question is, are the Fools what Leia has heard all her life or is she the fool?

Another interesting Dystopia book with a little twist in the end. I thought I wasn't going to like this book for the start of the book took a little longer than I'm used to and there were a lot of Star Wars langauge with talk about "The Force" "the Force is from the inside not the outside" Leia and Luc (Luke) and the whole thing about somebody other than parents raised Leia and Luc to understand their "Force". But I think if you never have seen Star Wars you would think this was just another Dystopia book where the kids believe that a system that has been in the works for generations needs to change now!

I have recently become a big fan on dystopian novels, and I have only read a few so I was excited to read a different dystopian novel. I really enjoyed the idea of this story, futuristic but not space age-y.

This book moved really fast, but then again it was a novella, and they tend to move faster. This book could be drawn out to a full length novel though, just expand certain parts of the story. I would totally love to read that. But the idea in general is very good. I did get a bit confused when the whole star wars references came into play.I'm still not sure how I feel about that aspect of it. However, at the end, it does make a little bit more sense.

I guess I guess i just didn't like how fast the story moved. The story itself I did love, also wasn't a fan of the star wars thing, but it had a very good pot line and it made you connect with the characters and want to see hat happens to them. The cover was a big draw for me, I really liked the cover. If there is more with this series, I will totally be reading them!

Reviewed by Ashley @ Step Into Fiction

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from The Island.

I knew to expect Star Wars references, but I didn't expect the story itself to revolve around Star Wars. (Which actually isn't a bad thing.)

The Island is a quick read. It is short and enjoyable, but it does feel like something is missing and I think that is only because of its short length.

I love novellas, especially since I don't really have much time to read nowadays, but I was hoping for a bit more with The Island. The concept is definitely unique, and I absolutely loved that about The Island. (Seriously, if you're a Star Wars fan, I think you'll enjoy this novella.) But I would've liked to see the relationship between Leia and Walt develop a bit more, or even see what exactly happened to Leia's father, or her mother's reaction to the note.

If you're looking for a short read that you an easily devour, then I'd recommend The Island. And if you're a Star Wars fan, then I would definitely recommend checking this out. It is a unique dystopian tale that will leave readers wanting more.

Real Rating: 3.5 stars

I received an ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a fan of Star Wars, you'll love this book! I am not a Star Wars fan--gasp! I know--but this short little novella was still a great read. I gobbled it up in one day whilst tanning on the beach. What a perfect setting, I chose!

THE ISLAND is about a girl named Leia who is living in a manor house with all the other 10+ year old children. They are under a strict ruler who should have left the house years ago. After overhearing and seeing a situation she should not have been around, Leia commits a huge crime and stumbles across a Fool who has jumped over the wall. What the Fool tells Leia changes everything she thought she knew about her home. Now it's up to her to decide what she's going to do about it. Sit back and watch or take matters into her own hands?

I really enjoyed reading about Leia and the unfathomable rule where children are forced to leave the parents and go live on their own with the other children. I also enjoyed seeing Leia grow as a character. She started off completely naive, believing her home's crazy rules and The Book that they follow. As the events and truths in the story start to unravel, Leia realizes her mistake and is bound and determined to make things right. I found the plot to move a little too fast but I suppose that has to happen in a novella. There is so much information that is crucial to the story that I wish this had been a full length novel! I would've loved to read about the island's history more in detail. The climax of the story seemed to come and go within in a matter of pages. It didn't exactly live up to my expectations, sadly. Here again, this really makes me wish this was a full novel and could have been more developed. I'm not going to exactly tell you why Star Wars fans will like this but I will say that it added a great twist to the story and really made for an interesting plot.

THE ISLAND, while way too short in my opinion, is a well thought out dystopian novella with a unique back story that helps shape the framework of the society. Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike will enjoy this story about learning to trust and not trust, and what it means to be a family and a survivor.

It's very difficult to write a review about Jen Minkman's novella THE ISLAND without giving away its central plot device (and the very thing that makes it work). The narrator is 16-year-old Leia, who lives in a place called the "Manor" - along with everyone else from age 10-19. In Leia's world (which is an isolated island), all children leave home (a village called Newexter) at 10, move to the Manor, and then return to Newexter when they marry (which must happen by the time they're 19). Unfortunately, the Manor is run by a tyrannical bully named Saul, who delights in ordering everyone around, doling out punishments, and generally making everyone's life miserable. On the other side of this island is another community, separated from the Manor and Newexter by a high Wall, populated by so-called "Fools." The Fools don't believe in "the Force," and they seem to be waiting for some sort of messiah to come and save them (thus they are called "Fools"). When a strange man washes up on the beach near the Manor, things begin to fall apart for Saul, Leia, and everyone she knows. Suddenly, it's no longer clear whether the things they've been taught for generations actually make sense. Is the mysterious holy Book (which Saul keeps hidden from all eyes but his) really the word of ancient ancestors, or are the two figures pictured on the book's cover really fictional characters from a long-forgotten story?

THE ISLAND is a post-apocalyptic dystopian tale that reads like a parable. It's very brief - probably under a hundred pages - and therein lies its central problem. This could so easily have been a real novel, with fully developed characters, real suspense, and a satisfying conclusion. As it is, there's no time for character-building. The story is plot-driven, and I found myself zipping through the pages without giving much thought to who these people really were. Minkman gives us so little information beyond the bare bones of her fable that it's impossible to really know any of the characters as flesh-and-blood people. Leia, her brother Colin, and their friends are good guys; Saul and his brother Ben are bad guys. Walt, the so-called "Fool," isn't foolish. That's pretty much it.

As for the "central plot device" I mentioned at the outset, it's revealed in Chapter 6, at the 27% point. I must admit I got a kick out of it. Without giving anything specific away, I'll say it's a twist along the lines of what happens in "Planet of the Apes" (the original 1968 film version). The people living on Leia's island have a history that has been lost to them, and what they finally discover at the end of the story is definitely interesting - and even believable, in a bare-bones kind of way. But this would have been such a better story had it been fully developed.

As a long short story, THE ISLAND does work. And if you're a fan of a particular 1977 movie . . . well you'll get the same kick out of it that I did. There are a few problems with syntax (Minkman's native language is not English), but nothing that prevents an enjoyment of the story. Get the Kindle version, though - the paperback is way too expensive for such a brief story.

[Please note: I was provided a copy of this book for review; the opinions expressed here are my own.]