The Crier Stone
“The Texas grid is a land flowing with milk, honey, and countless ways to die” in Lyndsey Lewellen’s exciting novel The Crier Stone, in which a girl works to save the corrupt city she escaped.
In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Juniper and her friends face the dangers of the Outer Grid, including grid beasts, angry whalers, and vicious, unpredictable storms, Weather Fluxes. To her dismay, Juniper learns that she must save the Plex that killed her parents. Armed with a mysterious stone pendant, her wits, and her faith, Juniper is exposed to the truths of the city, learning about conspiracies that go deeper than anticipated.
The narrative explores every angle of the disturbed society, from its seedy underground to what happens when rebellion is fueled by hatred and revenge. Vibrant settings and images, including the unforgiving desert of the Outer Grid and the bombastic fashions worn by the wealthiest Dome residents, make the story distinct and fascinating. Cultural and social elements are well fleshed out, including the trials and ceremonies of the Outer Grid whalers; the selfishness of Dome citizens; and Orange Pipe, the horrific corporation trying to legalize a dangerous drug. Rebellions form in response to such inequities.
As the book progresses, Juniper begins to question whether she should work for the Plex’s salvation. She wonders why God wants to save such a place, whose residents seem to deserve damnation instead. She is a complex heroine—though she’s kind, she feels so much rage over society’s flagrant disregard for other human beings. She makes mistakes and can be rash but is still thoughtful and wants to work for a better tomorrow.
In the thrilling dystopian novel The Crier Stone, a girl works to save her home and her people from internal destruction.
Reviewed by
Natalie Wollenzien
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