Dove Arising by Karen Bao ARC Review

Dove Arising (Dove Chronicles #1)

 Quick Stats

 Author: Karen Bao

 Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Year: 2015

Genre(s): Sci-fi, Young Adult, Dystopian

# of Pages: 336
Source: Library, to review 

Summary (Via Goodreads)

 Phaet Theta has lived her whole life in a colony on the Moon. She’s barely spoken since her father died in an accident nine years ago. She cultivates the plants in Greenhouse 22, lets her best friend talk for her, and stays off the government’s radar.

Then her mother is arrested.

The only way to save her younger siblings from the degrading Shelter is by enlisting in the Militia, the faceless army that polices the Lunar bases and protects them from attacks by desperate Earth-dwellers. Training is brutal, but it’s where Phaet forms an uneasy but meaningful alliance with the preternaturally accomplished Wes, a fellow outsider.

Rank high, save her siblings, free her mom:  that’s the plan. Until Phaet’s logically ordered world begins to crumble...

Suspenseful, intelligent, and hauntingly prescient, Dove Arising stands on the shoulders of our greatest tales of the future to tell a story that is all too relevant today.

 Review

* I received this book as an uncorrected advanced reader copy from my local library to review, so it may be different from the final copy

To start, Karen Bao effortlessly integrated the science portion of sci-fi and created characters who were well developed and complex. When reading the novel, you can really tell Phaet loves the sciences (as do I) and some of us will be able to connect with her quiet nature as well. What was unique about Phaet was her poetic way of describing the world around her in the book, which really made you appreciate each word she said. I also really enjoyed seeing her grow and change from delicate to a force to be reckoned with throughout the novel. What I didn't really like about Phaet was how she avoided her problems, to the point where you just want to shake her and say "Face your problems!!" 

Relationship wise, her relationship with Umbriel versus her relationship with Wes were very different which allowed me, as a reader, to see different aspects of Phaet's character. In terms of romance, it was very subtle, so it would have been nice to see her relationships blossom into something more (maybe in the second book?).The supporting characters, such as her mother Mira and antagonists such as Jupiter were well crafted too. The diversity of the characters was a major plus as well!

As for the setting, it's unlike any other dystopian or sci-fi novel I've read, which made this novel an interesting read. The world that Phaet lives in is meticulous and orderly, however there's something below the surface just waiting to break out (I'll let you find out for yourself!). The world building done by Karen Bao was excellent because it was as if I could visualize all the different aspects of their lunar planet and their day to day lives.

The plot itself was slow at first but then quickly began to pick up speed when Phaet enlisted in the militia. Being the youngest person there she definitely faced some challenges. What really hooked me in was what happened after her militia training (I'll let you find out!). This book did in fact make me cry but by the end I did have some hope for what lay ahead for Phaet and absolutely cannot wait to see what happens in the second book! I'm super psyched!!

In addition I haven't read many recent sci-fi novels where it's set on the moon while the Earth is still habitable, which made for an interesting dynamic. In addition, the use of the Greek alphabet to denote last names and the space inspired first names were a nice touch as well.

Also can we just appreciate the fact that Karen Bao has a Pinterest board with how she envisioned the characters ( I saw them similarly as well!) Her awesome Pinterest board about Dove Arising!!!

The Final Verdict

I'm giving Dove Rising a 4/5 because of its excellent world building, relatable characters, and plot development. On top of that, this book can easily be connected to what is happening in our world today in terms of corruption, police brutality and human rights, which are all too real both in the book and outside the book. Overall, this novel was an excellent read and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves sci-fi novels! I can't wait for this book to be released and for the second novel to  come out!