Scrap (review), Emory Sharplin

 

Grimmic Chronicles:

Scrap (1)

By Emory Sharplin

Genre: Youth, Young Adult, Fantasy
Published May 2013
Pages: 350

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group

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Summary:  "On the brutal streets of Hellip, a village in the vast empire of the cruel King Ibis, you either become good at running from the king’s Blackcoats or you die.
This is the lesson that twelve-year-old Tucker Scrap, abandoned as an infant among the orphans of Hellip, learned early. Along with her friends Ash and Kally, Tucker spends her time keeping one step ahead of the unjust laws, stealing what she needs to survive, and pondering her own unknown origins—and those of the enchanted bracelet with which she was found.

Now, both Ash and Kally have vanished from the orphanage, perhaps headed for the faraway city where Ibis still rules. When a mysterious girl named Vivian arrives in Hellip with a strange invitation to Tucker, the leader of the orphans decides that this may be her opportunity to find her missing friends. But more than this: it may become an opportunity to recover her hidden inheritance, and to change the fate of an entire kingdom.

The introduction to a fantasy world rich with ancient magic, enigmatic gypsies, palace labyrinths, and deep woods haunted by strange and forbidding creatures, Emory Sharplin’s debut novel tells the story of Tucker Scrap: a bold, memorable heroine at the center of a centuries-old mystery, stepping into her destiny at last."

 

 

Review: This was a very well done book. A great debut novel from Emory Sharplin!

The story quickly drew me in with the hard life of young Tucker. A young girl/women of 12 years, who was left as a baby on the steps of a small town 'orphanage.' I say that lightly as there is no one that seems to be running it or adding the children and in fact children found to be orphans are hung when caught. Her life changes when a women named Vivian whisked her away, creating a fake identity for her.

This book does a great job painting the backround for Tucker. A fantastic job portraying her history, and often snarky personality. Smart, quick-witted and compassionate. I absolutely loved her character! Vivian seems to be well portrayed but is such a mystery through the entire book it is hard to peg her down.

The world that they live in is nicely portrayed. I can clearly see in my mind Tucker running from the guards, the maids trying to dress her for the first time, the run-down church/orphanage. It all had a very nice medieval setting and feel, with the slightest undercurrent of a fantasy element. That element grows stronger throughout the book in the form of alchemy.

And then there were riddles! I love riddles to this appealed to me heavily. Here is an example from the book: "I am the beginning of the end. I enclose eternity and time. I am within reason, but not though. What am I?”

Now my concern for this book. I did not realize that it was a series when I first got this. I was reading toward the end as the pace picks up, on edge wondering how the author is going to finish in such a short amount of space. Then I find out, this is book 1. My concern is that I can find no mention about book 2. No website/blog, no title, no hopeful release...I don't even know if it is being worked on yet. One, I hate long waits. by the time the next books come out, I am no longer looking for them. Two, so many authors drop out of series writing and never finish. This is even more so for new authors. So my rating is very generous in the hopes that there will soon be a book 2.

Overall, nicely done! If you like Tamora Pierce, be sure to check this out! Great for both young adult and adult alike!

I received this book from Netgalley. So I would like to thank them, the publisher at Greenleaf Book Group and Ms Emory Sharplin for this opportunity. This was given to me in return for an honest review. I actually like this enough to go buy the book one I am sure there is going to be a book two.