Citadel
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5.0 • 5 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In this luminous sci-fi debut, a nonverbal autistic woman refuses to crumble as she stands against a dogmatic society clinging to a centuries-long conflict built on lies.
Citadel is the only human city on the alien planet Edalide, ruled by the biweekly tides that bring both deadly danger and much-needed resources. But the drowning waters, constant threat of starvation, and eternal cold aren’t the most dangerous challenge. For the Flooded Forest is ruled by demons: monsters from Hell sent by their vengeful god as penance for their ancestors’ rebellion. To save their souls and return to their former glory, Citadel must kill every single one.
Or so they believe.
Olivia lost her lover to the demons almost a year ago. But during a scientific expedition, a chance encounter reveals that the demons are sentient—a startling revelation that would get Olivia executed if she revealed it.
Wracked with grief and driven by the burning need for answers, Olivia embarks on a dangerous journey into the Forest. There, she must face alien monsters, zealous warriors, and the demons of her own past. But change comes slowly, and always with a price …
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Alongi's entertaining debut matches familiar SF tropes with strong characters and fascinating worldbuilding. Four centuries after a colony ship crashed on the planet Edalide, the descendants of the survivors eke out an increasingly meager and cramped existence in their only city, Citadel. Outside Citadel's walls is the Flooded Forest, drowned by biweekly high tides and home to packs of vicious animals known as demons. Citadel's holy scripture states that demons kill any human they can catch and commands the settlers to kill every last demon in return. Olivia, the nonverbal autistic daughter of the captain of the city guards, goes to the forest on a mission to source desperately needed medicinal plants when she meets a demon face-to-face—and instead of attacking her, it brings her the plants she's seeking. Indeed, everything that Citadel has taught Olivia about demons is wrong, putting Olivia on the trail of a conspiracy that runs all the way to Citadel's revered founder and everything the city was built on. As the first in a series, Alongi's novel ably sets up a sequel, leaving plenty of exciting questions still to answer. Olivia makes a refreshing protagonist, and her youth will ensure this has crossover YA appeal. Readers who grew up on Cressida Cowell and Patricia C. Wrede will be especially delighted.
Customer Reviews
Amazing author
This book is amazing love it