Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

I was looking forward to this book from reading the description. It
sounded really cool. Also, one of my commenters said they liked it.
Well...I didn't. I continued reading this book through to the end only
for the sake of reviewing it.

First off, most of the chapters
ended at weird places in the dialogue. I felt that the chapter wasn't
really finished before it started the next.

Secondly, the
philosophy of the book I definitely didn't agree with. I understand that
it's fantasy and not reality, but some aspects of the book were
pertaining to current events. The author insinuated that neither prayer
or creationism belongs in the school, and that it was a shame that Jesus
Christ was replacing Santa Claus as the symbol for Christmas (Jesus is
the meaning for Christmas, hence the CHRIST in Christmas). I'm trying
really hard not to go into a political/religious spiel in this post, but
the point I want to make is that Kizer was insulting my religion in
places throughout the book, and I was offended. I am definitely not saying that I agree with some of
the things the Nocti pastor was saying and doing. But I feel that if a
person (young adult or adult) were reading this book and they have never
stepped into a church, they would most likely not after reading this
book. Perimo was made into a manipulative, awful person, and readers
might think that is what all pastors are like. They're not.

Thirdly,
I didn't get involved in the characters' lives. This was mostly because
I didn't understand them, especially Tens. He was a very complex
character, going from one emotion to the next in rapid fire. I couldn't
understand why he was angry and spouting off at Meridian, and toward the
end of the book he was happy and calm. Usually when I read a book, I
can understand the characters and empathize with them. In Meridian, I couldn't.

Fourthly,
the Fenestra history part of the book was very confusing, especially
when Kizer packs it all into small conversations.

However,
despite the negatives, I felt that the plot was interesting and that's
why I'm giving Meridian two
stars.