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This novella is the start of what is right now a four novella series about brothers in a dystopian society trying to reconnect after years apart while attempting to change the world they live in. So much worldbuilding happens in such a short period of time in this book, but none of it is overwhelming. If anything, I want to know more about the start of the Crown, how the masks and fall gauntlet originally came to be, and how long it’s all been going on. Are there adults that remember a time before it? I have so many questions because it's a fascinating world. 

Everything in this novella is through Benji, the older brother’s eyes. The world, and how the government influences it, haven't gone over his head, but he knows there are only so many possible outcomes. His work on technology has made him what I imagine is one of the few to come to that realization. I hope that, in future novels, we continue to see that. Maybe we even see others recognize it in him through their POVS, like his brother Soren. 

A Must Read If You Like

🟩 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

🟩 The Technology in The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew

🟩 Strange Masks of All Kinds