Biodome Chronicles: Legacy, by Jesikah Sundin

I give this book 10 out of 10 acorns! I seriously LOVE so much about this book! Let me count the ways...

(1) The characters are realistic: They are all complex and they don't fit into molds. Sometimes I wanted them to be perfect (you know how you sometimes scream at characters "No, don't do that! Can't you tell that's a really stupid decision?!?!"), but the decisions these characters make fit with their histories and personalities and experiences. They don't do something just to make the book work out (you know how sometimes in a book, a character will do something totally out-of-character, just to further the plot? That doesn't happen in this book). The "villains" are also very well fleshed out and very realistic--you really get a feel for how and why they "tick."

(2) The world is well-thought out: I'm a big fantasy and science fiction reader. I love both genres, and this book has them both! Inside the biodome is very much like a medieval fantasy--indeed, they're Live Action Role Players that have been role playing for 20 years, and raised their kids to know no other reality! Outside of the biodome is the science-fiction. Writing sci-fi, especially sci-fi that takes place in the near-future, is really hard. Who hasn't read a scifi book written in the 70s and found the characters using big floppy disks or other outdated technology...or seen everyone flying in outerspace in the year 2000...when obviously we aren't doing that. Yet, Jesikah's world feels very real, sometimes disturbingly so in a dystopian way.

(3) There's permaculture! To make the biodome sustainable without any outside interventions or inputs, the people inside the biodome use permaculture. I really loved the thought exercise of how permaculture works in that kind of system. There's also some thought-provoking commentary about environmentalism. This book really got my imagination, as well as my philosophical brain, working!

(4) I very much love that there doesn't seem to be any occurrences, people, or things that occur SIMPLY to further the plot. Those kind of things drive me NUTS in a book. There's also no inconsistencies, that I can recall from my multople re-readings. I've read many a book series where, halfway through the series, the author seemingly forgets how old a character is, what their background is or what color their hair is, or how they're related to someone, or how a bit of technology works. The facts change, and your stuck there wondering which one is the right one.

(5) The book--and series--is quite the page turner. I will admit to  having totally abandoned all my permies moderator responsibilities when I got my books...and having deprived my self of sleep to read "one more chapter." (We all know how that goes, right? :D)

I can't say enough good things about this book and this series. It's like the author reached in my brain, saw my love of sci-fi, fantasy, permaculture, dystopian fiction, romance, realistic characters, and consistent writing and addictive plots, and took all those things and put them into a book. I'm pretty sure she somehow channeled me into Willow, because I could totally see myself doing and feeling as she did.

Paul Wheaton defines the acorn scale as 0-10 (link):

Zero acorns: "throw this book on the top of the wood pile"

Ten acorns: "You can have this book when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers"  

This book totally ears a 10 for me. You can have my copy when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to chat all things permaculture, geek culture, and futuristic sustainable communities. I'm sooooo excited!

And THANK YOU for this beautiful review. I am humbled by your kind words and recommendation. You honor me. *bows to you, My Lady*

I give this book 10 out of 10 acorns!

I just finished reading it, and this is why I liked the book:

1) The formatting/style is one of the first things i pick up on when reading a book, and I love how Jesikah uses formatting to tell the story. Every chapter begins with some quotes, either from real life or the world she has created, which help set the tone and theme for each chapter. This format of starting with quotes also primes the reader for what to be thinking about and looking out for in that chapter. I also like how the chapters are fairly short,because it makes the book great to pick up and put down throughout the day.

2) Characters. I really enjoyed the characters, how they interact, and the way in which they were used to tell the story. Almost all characters had equal strength in their influence and drive to direct the story, which is something I have not encountered much of before, but it really builds the world and story well.

3) World-building I love how the book is so well-thought out. I could tell when I was reading the book that the author has done her research; this is what makes some fictions books awesome! It's just so much more enjoyable when various aspects of the real world get remixed to create a new world and story. Jesikah used Mars Colony habitat experiments, LARPing, permaculture, recent advances in technology like drones and nanotechnology, and more. Then, beyond remixing reality, reasonable progress of technology and sustainable techniques were imagined for the future, which makes the story all the more engaging and believable.

4) Legal issues. This is kind of an extension of how much I liked the world-building. I really liked the legal questions that the author raises in the book, within the community under the dome, the dome and its community's standing in the outside world, the inheritance of the Legacy, and the company behind all of this. I enjoyed how all of these legal matters came up throughout the book and helped to drive the plot and build a sense of "what's next?".

Dave Burton wrote:I give this book 10 out of 10 acorns!

I just finished reading it, and this is why I liked the book:

1) The formatting/style is one of the first things i pick up on when reading a book, and I love how Jesikah uses formatting to tell the story. Every chapter begins with some quotes, either from real life or the world she has created, which help set the tone and theme for each chapter. This format of starting with quotes also primes the reader for what to be thinking about and looking out for in that chapter. I also like how the chapters are fairly short,because it makes the book great to pick up and put down throughout the day.

2) Characters. I really enjoyed the characters, how they interact, and the way in which they were used to tell the story. Almost all characters had equal strength in their influence and drive to direct the story, which is something I have not encountered much of before, but it really builds the world and story well.

3) World-building I love how the book is so well-thought out. I could tell when I was reading the book that the author has done her research; this is what makes some fictions books awesome! It's just so much more enjoyable when various aspects of the real world get remixed to create a new world and story. Jesikah used Mars Colony habitat experiments, LARPing, permaculture, recent advances in technology like drones and nanotechnology, and more. Then, beyond remixing reality, reasonable progress of technology and sustainable techniques were imagined for the future, which makes the story all the more engaging and believable.

4) Legal issues. This is kind of an extension of how much I liked the world-building. I really liked the legal questions that the author raises in the book, within the community under the dome, the dome and its community's standing in the outside world, the inheritance of the Legacy, and the company behind all of this. I enjoyed how all of these legal matters came up throughout the book and helped to drive the plot and build a sense of "what's next?".

OMGOODNESS! Dave, I am speechless :-O Thank you so much for this kind review. My apologies for not seeing your post sooner. I've been in an editing cave. But I'm thrilled you enjoyed my story and characters so <3 *grins*