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forgottenWhat: The Forgotten (The Lux Guardians #1) by Saruuh Kelsey

Who: N/A

When: 2013

How: A copy of this novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Good and goodness will prevail.

Honour and Horatia Frie are twins living in a world of wreck and ruin.

Forgotten London is a dismal place of containment, rationing, and a four-family-per-house regulation. Twenty five years ago the world was set ablaze when solar flares obliterated three quarters of the Earth’s population and wiped out whole continents in one blow. The flares brought with them The Sixteen Strains: agonizing and fatal diseases that plague each of the forty one zones of Forgotten London and the rest of the world. The only places that escaped fatal damage were two countries now known as The Cities – States and Bharat. The rest of the world – The Forgotten Lands – is contained within borders for the people’s protection against even deadlier Strains outside the barrier. But fifteen year old Honour thinks differently. He thinks that they’re kept inside the fence for other, more menacing reasons. He thinks that States are planning to kill them.

Branwell and Bennet Ravel are twins living in a world of danger and secrecy.

In Victorian London, years before the solar flares hit, the Ravels’ world has just been turned upside down. Their father, poisoned by something even genius Branwell can’t determine, has passed away. His dying words were unnerving orders to keep each other safe no matter the cost, and to hide everything he has ever invented. When one of his creations goes missing – a device named The Lux that can generate unlimited energy – the twins are shocked to discover that their very own government has stolen it and, according to their father’s journals, are planning to use it to create unfathomable explosions to destroy their world.

The Ravel twins will have to find and reclaim The Lux if they are to stop their world’s planned destruction, but when they’re transported to an unfamiliar, derelict world, the search for the device will become harder than ever. Honour and Horatia, against all odds, will have to find a way to stop States before the remainder of Earth is eradicated and their world is lost for good, or somehow get every single citizen of Forgotten London outside of the fence.

4cats2Honour and Horatia Frie are twins living in Forgotten London – all that is left of London following the solar flares that hit the earth twenty five years before. Life is hard, and the world is a dangerous place. States practically rules the world, and people are dying of The Sixteen Strains – and not living beyond age twenty.

Enter Branwell and Bennet Ravel. Living in 1878, many years before the solar flares of the future, these twins are devastated by the mysterious and suspicious death of their inventor father. When his invention, The Lux, goes missing, and plans are uncovered that could mean certain death for almost everyone on earth, the twins are determined to find their father’s invention – and stop the plans of those who have it.

How these two sets of twins are connected … you will have to read to find out!

The Forgotten is the first in a series; The Lux Guardians; and boy am I glad this is a series!

I loved the mix of magic, history, and dystopia – my three favourite things to read in a novel. I am also a fan of the layout of this book. First person (my favourite), and for practically all the characters in the book, to boot!

I loved the description of the characters; they all felt very real, and each character chapter was easily distinguished by their distinct thoughts, and feelings. I have three favourite characters, which is rare for me. I have a hard time picking between Honour, Yosiah, and Branwell – they are all protective, loving, and adorable boys.

Sometimes the description of places and people was lacking a little (the only reason why it is 3.9999 stars, and not four). I had some confusing moments regarding character’s physical demeanours, and sometimes even sexes.

But other than that, I enjoyed every minute of this book. The first sentence drew me in, and from there on in, I was in the world of The Forgotten. It was a teensy bit slow around the 100 page mark, but then it picks up again, and you are on the edge of your seat, wanting to know what is true, and what are lies, and what is going to happen.

Overall, I enjoyed Honour’s chapters the most. I loved his thoughts, and the way he thinks, and feels about things. Especially the last few chapters – they were my favourite of his. The way he loves his sister is very fierce, and admirable.

I seriously cannot wait for the second instalment of The Lux Guardians, and will be keeping my eye out for it.

© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: June 14, 2013 • By: Chiara

4 Responses to Review: The Forgotten by Saruuh Kelsey

  1. theairtwit says:

    I found the Lux Gaurdians Tumblr not very long ago and requested a copy, too, so I’m looking forward to receiving mine whenever it comes. I’m glad you enjoyed it! It makes me a little more excited to read the book (:

  2. Jackie B. says:

    I’m so glad you linked back to this post from your guest post by Saruuh Kelsey. It must feel like so much time has passed between then and now. I haven’t heard of this series before. Your review has really hooked me! Character development is key to my loving of a book. It sounds like this has PLENTY to chew on.

    • Chiara says:

      I don’t even want to read this review, haha! It does feel like SO long ago, and I was such a baby blogger back then. I hope you do end up reading this series! I absolutely love it :)

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