Fantasy Muse: Wanderer's Escape (Wanderer's Odyssey)

Next book up on Fantasy Muse is a YA sci-fi book written by Simon Goodson titled Wanderer's Escape.

Front Cover

Synopsis

Jess was born a prisoner, grew up a prisoner and at sixteen knew he would die a prisoner. When his turn comes to try to break through the traps protecting a spaceship it seems his day to die has come. The ship, and others like it, have already claimed hundreds of prisoner's lives.

Instead he manages to avoid the traps and gain access to the ship with two other prisoners, beginning a frantic flight to freedom. Soon Jess finds himself loose in a brutal universe ruled by the Empire and riddled with pirates, slave traders and worse. Can Jess manage to learn the rules of the universe and the capabilities of the ship he has stolen in time to stay alive?

My Opinion

Normally I shy away from books that have the central character so young, as I usually get frustrated by their immature actions but I wanted to give this book a try.

I'm glad to say it wasn't as bad as I'd feared, not that I didn't get annoyed at times with the main character, but he grew on me.

The book follows Jess, a slave that had been imprisoned all his life and the opening chapter get's straight into the story of him escaping by flying away on an abandoned ship.

The story then follows Jess's mission to help other slaves. As plots go, I kinda liked this one. It was cliche at times, but there were twists that I didn't see coming that kept me on my toes.

Jess was surprisingly a character I liked. He was emotional and I did get tired of him crying all the time, but I had to keep reminding myself he was only sixteen. Credit has to go to the author in keeping in line with Jess's age. I've read books before where young characters were too immature/mature but Simon Goodson got the balance right with Jess.

The other characters didn't have the same depth as Jess, but that was partially down to the story being told from Jess's point of view as a first person narrative and the short length of the book.

Also due to the book being so short, the story flew by and connections between characters were made instantly. For example within one chapter of Jess meeting a girl, they were already in love with each other before the next one.

I liked the action scenes in the book and I did manage to follow them quite easily without stimulating too much brain cells. Which was nice as I usually get lost in sci-fi books that descend more into quantum physics than storytelling.

Conclusion

I did rather enjoy the Wandere's Escape, which is the first in a series. I think I will buy the sequel, but more out of curiosity than any burning desire to continue the story.

I'd wholeheartedly recommend the book to those who enjoy YA sci-fi books.