Review of Kerry Wilkinson's Reckoning
Release Date: July 1st, 2014
Synopsis as found on Amazon.com:
One girl. One chance. One destiny.
In the village of Martindale, hundreds of miles north of the new English capital of Windsor, sixteen-year-old Silver Blackthorne takes the Reckoning. This coming-of- age test not only decides her place in society – Elite, Member, Inter or Trog – but also determines that Silver is to become an Offering for King Victor.
But these are uncertain times and no one really knows what happens to the teenagers who disappear into Windsor Castle. Is being an Offering the privilege everyone assumes it to be, or do the walls of the castle have something to hide? Trapped in a maze of ancient corridors, Silver finds herself in a warped world of suspicion where it is difficult to know who to trust and who to fear. The one thing Silver does know is that she must find a way out . . . The heart-stopping first book in a new trilogy by UK author Kerry Wilkinson, Reckoning is the story of one girl's determination to escape the whims of a cruel king, and what she must do to survive against all odds.
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Set in a Dystopian United Kingdom, Reckoning is the first book in the proposed Trilogy of Silver Blackthorne. Following the life of Silver, we see a future England that has been rebuilt after a war over oil that ended 25 years ago. All children must take the Reckoning on the 1st of July in their 16th year to find out how they can better serve their society. There are 4 levels that you can be categorized in: Elite, Member, Intermediate, & Trog. Elite being the best & highest paid with the best jobs and Trogs end up with the most menial jobs that no one else wants.
In this future England, the country has been split in to four parts: North, South, East, & West. From the Reckoning, 30 Children are selected to become Offerings to the King. This is thought to be a great honor, but what the Offering entails, no one knows. Once someone has been selected, they are never heard from again. Each of the 4 Realms must offer 2 boy & 2 girl Elites, 1 boy & 1 girl Member, 1 Member from each Realm (alternating boys & girls each year), & 2 Trogs total (each year alternates as well). Once a child is selected, the remaining family is showered with money & food.
On Silver's Reckoning day, she is categorized as Member & later chosen to be an Offering. While her town is cheering for her, her family is weeping that they will never see her again. She may know it is a great honor to be chosen, but she only wants to live the life she has always known.
The only transportation in this future England is train, because their is no longer any oil left, there are no other vehicles. All Offerings are picked up one by one from their respective Realms and arrive to the King's castle on the same day. They will quickly learn that the happy & honorable King they thought they were being sent to serve is nothing like what they were led to believe. The Offerings would end up being play toys for a greedy tyrant, being used & thrown away 1 by 1.
This story started out reminding me of some of my favorites, including The Selection, The Jewel, & even shades of Hunger Games, but went on to be completely different than I thought it would. There was a lot Suspense in parts, but there were many times when I knew what was going to happen next. I enjoyed it as a whole, but I wished we learned more about the King, Minister Prime, or multiple other character's stories. There was a lot of character development for Silver, but I would have enjoyed the development of a few other characters.
I will definitely be checking out the sequel to see how the story progresses.
In the village of Martindale, hundreds of miles north of the new English capital of Windsor, sixteen-year-old Silver Blackthorne takes the Reckoning. This coming-of- age test not only decides her place in society – Elite, Member, Inter or Trog – but also determines that Silver is to become an Offering for King Victor.
But these are uncertain times and no one really knows what happens to the teenagers who disappear into Windsor Castle. Is being an Offering the privilege everyone assumes it to be, or do the walls of the castle have something to hide? Trapped in a maze of ancient corridors, Silver finds herself in a warped world of suspicion where it is difficult to know who to trust and who to fear. The one thing Silver does know is that she must find a way out . . . The heart-stopping first book in a new trilogy by UK author Kerry Wilkinson, Reckoning is the story of one girl's determination to escape the whims of a cruel king, and what she must do to survive against all odds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Set in a Dystopian United Kingdom, Reckoning is the first book in the proposed Trilogy of Silver Blackthorne. Following the life of Silver, we see a future England that has been rebuilt after a war over oil that ended 25 years ago. All children must take the Reckoning on the 1st of July in their 16th year to find out how they can better serve their society. There are 4 levels that you can be categorized in: Elite, Member, Intermediate, & Trog. Elite being the best & highest paid with the best jobs and Trogs end up with the most menial jobs that no one else wants.
In this future England, the country has been split in to four parts: North, South, East, & West. From the Reckoning, 30 Children are selected to become Offerings to the King. This is thought to be a great honor, but what the Offering entails, no one knows. Once someone has been selected, they are never heard from again. Each of the 4 Realms must offer 2 boy & 2 girl Elites, 1 boy & 1 girl Member, 1 Member from each Realm (alternating boys & girls each year), & 2 Trogs total (each year alternates as well). Once a child is selected, the remaining family is showered with money & food.
On Silver's Reckoning day, she is categorized as Member & later chosen to be an Offering. While her town is cheering for her, her family is weeping that they will never see her again. She may know it is a great honor to be chosen, but she only wants to live the life she has always known.
The only transportation in this future England is train, because their is no longer any oil left, there are no other vehicles. All Offerings are picked up one by one from their respective Realms and arrive to the King's castle on the same day. They will quickly learn that the happy & honorable King they thought they were being sent to serve is nothing like what they were led to believe. The Offerings would end up being play toys for a greedy tyrant, being used & thrown away 1 by 1.
This story started out reminding me of some of my favorites, including The Selection, The Jewel, & even shades of Hunger Games, but went on to be completely different than I thought it would. There was a lot Suspense in parts, but there were many times when I knew what was going to happen next. I enjoyed it as a whole, but I wished we learned more about the King, Minister Prime, or multiple other character's stories. There was a lot of character development for Silver, but I would have enjoyed the development of a few other characters.
I will definitely be checking out the sequel to see how the story progresses.
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