The Touchstone Trilogy by Andrea K. Höst
Series: Touchstone #1-3
Rating: ★★★★★
(Fun fact, I was on Goodreads searching for a new book, and I read a review for another book called "Stray." I'm pretty sure it involved werewolves, so I was uber confused when I started this series, but it was the happiest mistake I ever made)
This is truly a review of the entire series, because if you buy and read this book, I have little doubt you will be reading all three (and also, I read all these on top of one another and am not sure where one ends and the next begins). I honestly don't enjoy sic-fi novels, so this really crept up on me.
Things I loved about this book... Where to begin?
Beautiful world building. Höst has layers of intricate detail interwoven in her tale and drags you into her world so subtly and slowly that you don't realize the shift. I've actually considered the possibilities of wormholes to habitable planets where humans might have wandered in my spare time before I realize where my thoughts are, and that it's all hogwash (physics-wise), so I'm left to sit wistfully in a windowsill in my apartment mouthing "Part of your world" to Höst wherever she might be (and Rowling if I'm being honest).
This series felt very real. Every event that occurred, the sci-fi technology 21st century Cass discovered, the Taren government's reaction to and treatment of every situation, people's treatment of Cass, the portrayal of Taren media, even how doctors and medical treatments are handled—it was all very authentic feeling, and somehow right.
Our heroine doesn't have all the answers (which is awesome), and she isn't granted some magical friend/guardian that appears to explain "everything-Cass-needs-to-know-but-actually-the-reader-just-needs-to-know" to her. Friendships take time, and these characters act super rationally. You get to discover this new world with her, rather than have facts dumped on you in one alarming sit-down of "this-is-who-we-are-and-our-world's-history-and-our-political-hierarchy-etc.-etc." with Cass.
I also loved the beginning of this book (it was super cool). There was "Survivor Cass" fending for herself with the incredibly vague knowledge of bushwhacking that the average 21st century teenager WOULD have. (did i mention the realistic-ness?)
Another thing I enjoyed was Cass's ability to have attractive male friends without developing romantic feelings towards them! What?! NO SHE MUST LOVE ALL THE BOYS AND—FALSE. No she doesn't have to, and she doesn't in this series. I could cry.
Yes. Apparently those books still do exist in the world.
And the love story that is in this book, is wonderful. Very sweet and well done, Höst, you've kidnapped my heart in the form of the most freaking wonderful love interest in the world. He's not perfect either! Just like real people aren't!
He also jumps straight in once he makes the decision to be with her, and I love that! Nothing is worse than an indecisive, overly-conflicted, constantly-regretful love interest. NOTHING. Höst is upfront with his flaws, and paints him consistently without any dramatic, unexplained mood swings or secrets that you can sometimes find in these kinds of novels.
There's also a plethora of other relationships. She has friends in almost every squad and has different levels of intimacy/dynamics with those she is close to. The dramatic "bully-esque" people that tend to show up in every story are dealt with rationally, and Cass doesn't spend her entire time being tortured or standing up to sed bullies. The main storyline is THE MAIN STORYLINE. It's wonderful to experience it through Cass—things outside of her and outside of her control are more than serious and dramatic enough that there doesn't need to be much unrealistic-irrationally-angry-with-you-even-though-I'm-a-grown-ass-adult melodrama.
I loved the format. I think we can all agree that there are a lot of "journal-writing" novels out there, and not all of them very well done. Even those I enjoy, I sometimes treat with incredulity because the conversations and events are recorded in avid detail for the sake of the story, and I have trouble accurately remembering a conversation from an hour ago. This wasn't a problem here, as the interface (you will find out what this is later) gives a liable alternative and allows for in-depth analysis and accurate recording.
Basically, Höst did an amazing job. Has she written any other books yet? If so, gimme!