The First Day by Keelan Powell SFINCs3 Book Review
- Tabitha Tomala
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
This review is part of the Speculative Fiction Indie Novella Championship (SFINCS). SFINCS, pronounced “sphinx”. This is a yearly competition to recognize, honor, and celebrate the talent and creativity present in the indie community. It’s a sister competition to both SPFBO and SPSFC, and it highlights greatness in the novella format in all areas of speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror, etc.).
To see more information on my team TBR check out this post!
Blurb for The First Day
One moment, Perth was one of the most isolated cities on Earth.
The next moment, that spot of light at the edge of the world was all that was left.
All alone, how will the people of Perth confront their first day?
The First Day Book Review
The First Day is told through multiple POVs to highlight how various people have been impacted by the event. From firsthand encounters of watching loved ones turn into immobile see-through figures, to the cause of the event.
The science of the event is a key element of the story's understanding. Finn and Imai are the pivotal POVs to follow as they dive into the science of time particles. However, the science was a bit hard to understand. The new branch of science dedicated to chronion particles and the various color arrays needed a bit more page time.
Some of the POVs that stood out the most though were Circe and Leah. Their attempt at understanding what happened, and the dedication to stay together was a good hook for the story. There was also a boy named Alexander whose father was an abusive, neglectful man. The hope that the boy’s situation would improve was left hanging, as his storyline did not have a resolution. I would have loved to see more of what happened to him and gain a sense of closure, whether for good or bad.
The First Day has interesting premises, but it needed just a bit more added for details in key areas of the story. The characters have a lot of potential, and their personalities balance well with the plot of the story to show different emotional impacts.
To Purchase: Author's Website
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