(Incarceron is a prison like no other, it gives life, it deals death and it watches all)

Heard of Incarceron? No? Then you’re missing out on a great book! If you’re a person who likes reading science fiction or things on advanced technology, mystery, action and adventure then “Incarceron” written by Catherine Fisher is just the book specifically designed for you!

Incarceron is an artificial intelligence that was built on an artificial world during a time of advanced technology. Incarceron was originally meant to be a utopian paradise on an artificial world giving free education, health care and protection to those who decided to enter, however due to people who insulted Incarceron, its intelligence was corrupted which led to changing the utopian paradise into a massive prison with no escape, unless you possessed the crystal key. The Incarceron known in the book now is a prison like no other, as it preserves life and deals death at a time of its choosing. It is also known that Incarceron watches all due to the mysterious cameras following the prisoners.

Finn is the protagonist along with Claudia; they both seek to escape Incarceron along with the rest of the prisoners. Finn is a cell born child that claims to be from the outside; sometimes he has seizures and visions of a young boy who is living in a distance place. Finn believes that these are vision of how he once lived. Claudia is the second protagonist, a young girl who is living in the realm as another prisoner. It’s known that Claudia is exasperated with the secrecy of the Warden of Incarceron, which is her father. Claudia became so fed up with her father that she broke into his office and found something of great value that could lead the prisoners to escape Incarceron.

I personally enjoyed “Incarceron” because of its detailed techniques of writing, which really creates the scene of the characters Finn and Claudia along with the rest of the prisoners…

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about science fiction, advanced technology, action, mystery or adventure and are above the age of thirteen as the book does detail some scenes, which may be too mature for younger readers.

Altogether, I rate this book 4 out of 5 because I was thoroughly connected with the story, however there were a few too many characters to follow along with their stories in “Incarceron” which occasionally made the story confusing.  Altogether, this is a fantastic book that you should consider reading in the near future.            – Josh, grade 9

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“Who can chart the vastness of their own imprisonment, its halls and its chasms? Only a man who has tasted the sweet nectar of freedom can define his prison… ”

Does this sound like the book that you will become entrapped in? If so, this is the book for you.

The world of Incarceron is a dull and poisonous place that is run by an artificial intelligence. It houses all of the world’s criminals where they are to be trained and reprogrammed to by good, honest and just members of society.

Fin is just one of the prisoners in this god-forsaken place. The warden’s daughter, Claudia, is “imprisoned” for she is just a tool for her father to gain more and more power. The story follows these two poor souls as they go through the same thing but in different way. There are all kind of things that happen in Incarceron, most of which are not very nice and this is the perilous journey that Fin has to go through to escape his imprisonment. The main characters in the story are Fin and Claudia.

I myself didn’t enjoy the book because it took too long to pick up the pace and the lack of detail made it hard for me to picture it in my head which took me off the story a bit. I would recommend this book to teens to adults who would be interested in a sci-fi fantasy book. This book is good for the people that would like it. Personally I would rate “Incarceron” 2 out of 5 Stars.

William Year 9

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‘Incarceron’ will captivate you and make you forget everything else happening in your life with its gripping storyline and plot progression.

‘Incarceron’ is a fantasy, fiction novel about a guy named Fin who doesn’t remember anything of his past. To make matters worse he is trapped in a prison country called “Incarceron” without the slightest clue as to who he is and why he is in the prison. As a result of losing his memories he cannot remember if he was supposed to do anything and because of the fact he had no direction other than to find out who he is. He struggles to find out why he is there, and what he has done to deserve to be trapped in the prison. Many obstacles lie in his path of both redemption and of discovery. Fin meets many interesting characters on the way and he learns so much, as well as how he should approach different situations within the Incarceron community and what the others have done to end up in the same situation as he is in.

Personally I like the book because of its themes, and because of the character’s struggles between what is right and what is wrong, as he discovers who he is and why he is. This book is meant for teenagers because it gives the feeling of entrapment, which is a general feeling most teenagers begin to feel. It also gives the sense of having no direction which is another feeling teenagers have. I recommend this book to teenagers around the ages of 15-17 because that is the part of their lives where they would feel they have the most in common with the themes of this book. I’d rate the book ‘Incarceron’ 3.5 out of 5 stars. Luke F, Year 9

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A prison shrouded in mystery. A prison of incomprehensible size trapping those inside, with no chance of escape. A prison, which lives. Incarceron is this prison, which the warden’s daughter distrusts and an inmate by the name of Finn is held within.

Finn resides within the dark damp prison sewers, surviving with the bare minimum in the company of criminals. Claudia is living outside the prison with her father, the warden of Incarceron. This is because the governing power enforces a law keeping a 17^th century setting to prevent the dangers associated with change.

Finn had no idea who he is or who he was. He awoke shuddering violently, drenched in sweat within a closed room until he was let out to the vastness of Incarceron. For… what? He doesn’t know. He only knows how he must escape Incarceron. Claudia might as well be an inmate the same as Finn. She feels so trapped by an arranged marriage, lies, mystery, rules and regulations. She is positive her father is holding information back from her regarding the happenings inside Incarceron. Claudia is determined to find out about and escape the life she doesn’t want.

Finn finds himself raiding a group of people only to find that a person who falls for the trap knows what a mysterious tattoo Finn has on his wrist might mean. As the surroundings explode with combat and fighting, Finn struggles to save his ticket to answers. As the group floods back to their hiding place where they are compromised with the destructive powers of the prison, Finn drags the woman down with him. He must then somehow keep custody of her against the group’s will. Meanwhile, Claudia is set on exposing the mysteries of Incarceron and her father. After faking the persona of a lovely well mannered little girl, abiding the strict etiquette of a forced 17^th century life, she breaks the law in search of proof her father is not who he seems to be and that there is more to Incarceron than concrete walls and rusted iron.

I loved this novel as the mysterious and unpredictable aspects in the book keep you thinking about the story the whole way through the day. The untold strange and weird happenings inside Incarceron perplex the reader and force them to keep reading and uncover the secrets in Finn’s, the warden’s and Incarceron’s backstory. As the story progresses following Finn and Claudia, you can imagine yourself in their positions and you start to feel the detailed, accurately generated emotions written.

I would recommend the novel to a mature teenage demographic that is comfortable reading a story involving a 17^th century setting and those who love mystery. The book follows through with a relatively high vocabulary needed and describes in detail the setting of a 17^th century era which would require a knowledge of what these times are like. With these aspects in mind, the average age of those who would enjoy the book will increase to be around the 14-19 year old range.

Wesley N. – Year 9