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西元二二一六年，當文明崩解，陸地淹沒，身邊只剩一臺自大毀滅中存活下來的人工智慧電腦，你該如何從那些掌權者製造的混亂中，找到一條出路？
莉莉，漁村長大的孤兒，從海島人手中救回首相之女後，要如何逃過英格蘭及海島人的追緝？
賽夫，海島人老大之子，在重大戰役失去父親後，該帶領他的族人走向哪裡？
蕾克希，英格蘭首相之女，識破父親的計謀後，又能和莉莉一同邁向何處？
西元二二一六年的世界，會是什麼樣子？
兩百年後，全球暖化而造成的大洪水，淹沒了大部分的陸地，人們的生活範圍限於殘存的零星島嶼，而科技產物也被摧毀殆盡、成為遙遠的傳奇。而英國被洪水分為三大區塊：以捕魚為生的英格蘭人、試圖恢復科技的蘇格蘭人，以及凶殘的海上掠奪者——海島人。主角莉莉就是生活在這樣的世界裡。
莉莉，漁村長大的孤兒，從海島人手中救回首相之女後，要如何逃過英格蘭及海島人的追緝？
賽夫，海島人老大之子，在重大戰役失去父親後，該帶領他的族人走向哪裡？
蕾克希，英格蘭首相之女，識破父親的計謀後，又能和莉莉一同邁向何處？
西元二二一六年的世界，會是什麼樣子？
兩百年後，全球暖化而造成的大洪水，淹沒了大部分的陸地，人們的生活範圍限於殘存的零星島嶼，而科技產物也被摧毀殆盡、成為遙遠的傳奇。而英國被洪水分為三大區塊：以捕魚為生的英格蘭人、試圖恢復科技的蘇格蘭人，以及凶殘的海上掠奪者——海島人。主角莉莉就是生活在這樣的世界裡。
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Emily Diamand
9 books40 followersEmily Diamand found her way into authoring when her debut novel won the Times/Chicken House prize for children's fiction in 2008. Prior to that she had various jobs including environmental campaigner, organic farmer, surveyor of trees, brussels sprouts picker and pond digger.
Her first novel Flood Child (previously published as Reavers Ransom) was sold in eighteen languages, and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase award.
The US edition, Raiders Ransom, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2009 and the American Library Association's top 100 young adult fiction titles.
The sequel, Flood and Fire, was published in the UK in August 2010 and in the US and Germany in 2011.
Her new book Ways to See a Ghost was published in the UK in July 2013
Her first novel Flood Child (previously published as Reavers Ransom) was sold in eighteen languages, and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase award.
The US edition, Raiders Ransom, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2009 and the American Library Association's top 100 young adult fiction titles.
The sequel, Flood and Fire, was published in the UK in August 2010 and in the US and Germany in 2011.
Her new book Ways to See a Ghost was published in the UK in July 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 1, 2014
The second book in the series of two, this one didn't seem to have the same rhythm of the first book which kept me turning pages. The characters are likable and each has an interesting dialect that the reader intuitively learns through the books. Clever, subtle references to video games of the past and present were embedded in the action which is centered around an AI unit. Ending is well done.
July 8, 2015
Wonderful ending!! Flood and Fire was actually better than the first book "Flood Child". Emily Diamand at last introduced Andy which happened to be VERY frustrating, which was a good thing. Another adventure with Zeph and now joined by Lexy!
April 25, 2012
Verkligen lättläst och spännande mest hela tiden.
April 24, 2020
Due to the ongoing pandemic, I was unable to check this book out in the library. Luckily, online shopping is still possible, and I was able to acquire my second-hand copy. I couldn’t stop thinking about this book while I was reading Philip Reeve’s ‘Mortal Engines’ series. This is possibly because both novels are alike. Anyways, let us get on with the review!
What I liked about the book:
Fast-paced and full of adventure- A lot happens in this novel. The story is told from Lilly’s and Zeph’s alternating perspectives. Readers learn more about Zeph’s character development, following his ascension to Family Boss of Angel Isling. We also see Lilly and Lexy mature through their quest of returning to London and saving PSAI.
Clever references- There were a few references that allude to what we have in the present day. For instance, I like how the motorway M11 was referred to as Emelevun. When one considers how our ancestors might be thinking about us when uncovering parts of our past and mispronouncing it, it is also humorous. On a serious note, it also stresses the preservation of knowledge for future generations.
PSAI- By far, PSAI is my favourite character! Its grumpiness and sarcasm are delightful especially when what it talks about and refers to is something the audience would understand. It makes the reader feel like they are in a secret of some sort.
What I disliked about the book:
Zeph’s and Lilly’s colloquial speech- While their way of speech is part of their characterisation, like the prequel, I found it difficult to read at times. This is probably the main reason why PSAI became my favourite character- because it was easier for my brain to digest its dialogue. However, I also recognise that the use of colloquial speech may be a reference to the way of speech in different British counties.
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘Flood and Fire’. On the surface, it portrayed a quest that was driven by a trio of young adults, but on a deeper level, many themes were explored. For instance, superstitions that were believed by the raiders; what role intellectuals will play in the future and the destruction of humanity. ‘Flood and Fire’ is a fantastic sequel to ‘Flood Child’ and in some ways, is better than its prequel. Readers of science fiction or dystopian literature would enjoy this novel best and in times of quarantine, an adventure book is a great means of escapism.
What I liked about the book:
Fast-paced and full of adventure- A lot happens in this novel. The story is told from Lilly’s and Zeph’s alternating perspectives. Readers learn more about Zeph’s character development, following his ascension to Family Boss of Angel Isling. We also see Lilly and Lexy mature through their quest of returning to London and saving PSAI.
Clever references- There were a few references that allude to what we have in the present day. For instance, I like how the motorway M11 was referred to as Emelevun. When one considers how our ancestors might be thinking about us when uncovering parts of our past and mispronouncing it, it is also humorous. On a serious note, it also stresses the preservation of knowledge for future generations.
PSAI- By far, PSAI is my favourite character! Its grumpiness and sarcasm are delightful especially when what it talks about and refers to is something the audience would understand. It makes the reader feel like they are in a secret of some sort.
What I disliked about the book:
Zeph’s and Lilly’s colloquial speech- While their way of speech is part of their characterisation, like the prequel, I found it difficult to read at times. This is probably the main reason why PSAI became my favourite character- because it was easier for my brain to digest its dialogue. However, I also recognise that the use of colloquial speech may be a reference to the way of speech in different British counties.
Overall, I really enjoyed ‘Flood and Fire’. On the surface, it portrayed a quest that was driven by a trio of young adults, but on a deeper level, many themes were explored. For instance, superstitions that were believed by the raiders; what role intellectuals will play in the future and the destruction of humanity. ‘Flood and Fire’ is a fantastic sequel to ‘Flood Child’ and in some ways, is better than its prequel. Readers of science fiction or dystopian literature would enjoy this novel best and in times of quarantine, an adventure book is a great means of escapism.
May 30, 2021
Finishing my re-read of the duology, I did enjoy this one more. I personally like it better when the main characters are friends and working together, rather than against each other, and I enjoyed the interactions between Zeph, Lexy, and Lilly a lot, especially as they aren't so annoying in this one. The world is still very well built, and the pre-collapse references were still simultaneously chilling and amusing - Little Jeff being my favourite. I forgot how brutal the violence in this one was - definitely YA not middle-grade - but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing and made the story feel more real/gritty. All in all this is an interesting and very unique duology, and one that I would definitely recommend if you want something different and dystopian.
August 29, 2017
Thanks to interlibrary loan, I stopped waiting for the library to purchase this sequel to Raiders' Ransom. I didn't remember a lot of what had happened in the first book, but this reveals the main points without being too obvious. And the main plot of this one is fairly similar. But there are some new places and new characters, and a much more satisfying ending. The author says this was inspired by her environmental concerns, but the story goes well beyond that. The societies are well-developed, the characters face tough conflicts realistically, and the conclusion is hopeful without being preachy.
December 15, 2019
Lovely story and beautifully written. Read aloud to 12 yo who loved it.
January 5, 2020
Något som kan bli bättre?
- Ingenting, den var jättebra. 5/5 Stjärnor.
- Ingenting, den var jättebra. 5/5 Stjärnor.
June 27, 2014
http://thebedsidebooksblog.blogspot.c...
A little about the author
Emily Diamand lives in Yorkshire, England and found her way into authoring when her debut novel won the British Times/Chicken House prize for children's fiction in 2008. Prior to that she had various jobs including environmental campaigner, organic farmer, surveyor of trees, brussels sprouts picker and pond digger.
Her first novel Raiders Ransom has sold in eighteen languages, was shortlisted for the UK's Branford Boase award, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2009 and is one of the American Library Association's Best Young Adult Fiction novels for 2011.
Plot summery reviewed
"Flooded England, 2216 ... England has changed for ever: most of it is under water. Worse, bloodthirsty pirates prowl the shores, and when they kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter it looks like war. But out of this drowning world comes Lilly Melkun, a girl determined to put things right, with the help of a pirate boy - and an extraordinary treasure from the past, with the power to change the Future..."
The story unfolds with Thirteen-year-old Lily Melkun out fishing with her sea cat. Her village is attacked by savage, ruthless reavers. They raid and ravage her village. Her grandmother is killed and the prime Minister's daughter kidnapped. As a result of the attack and kidnapping her village is threatened with slavery, death and enrolment into the army. Determined to fix everything and restore peace, Lily sets sail with a mysterious ransom to pay the reavers for the return of the Prime Minister's daughter.
One of the Reavers is the second focus of the book, he is a young man called Zeph. He is in the midst of succeeding his father as leader. Zeph must deal with numerous challenges while learning to over take his father. Such as his bullying brother Roba, the threat war and that he's actually a good hearted guy under all that tough exterior. His path crosses with Lily's which leads to the biggest challenge of their lives.
Emily Diamond has created a world similarly like our own is structure but in society and development it lacks our modern touch. It's a good idea of what Britain could be like.
The world has a modern society that has fallen into a great collapse. Computers, technology and all things we take for granted are the stuff of myth and legends. The human we meet have all retreated to those we would find in the dark ages. Famine, strict Victorian rules, dictatorship, barbarism and superstition are abundant, where as mobile phones are unheard of and seen as `magical boxes'. The capital of London, is in Manchester United and the Prime Minister is living at Downing Street. We have all the right sort of information and but have all been mixed up by the ruination. It's a creative and original way of presenting a more realistic world and one that has plenty of merit.
The second book flood and fire, i have not had a chance to read it yet.
It's blurb describes it as...
"Flooded England, 2216 - Lilly Melkun has outwitted the bloodthirsty Reavers, who prowl the waters that cover most of England - and escaped to Cambridge. But Lilly is far from safe, because still in her keeping is PSAI, the last hand-held computer in existence - a now malfunctioning treasure from the past. Inside the jewel-like computer, is a sinister looking chip with an unknown purpose. Worse follows, when the professors of Cambridge plug it into an ancient mainframe computer setting in motion a fiery chain of events leading back to London. A false, anti-terrorist alert has been activated. Strange, out-of-control robots from a long-ago technological time, threaten to use 'maximum force' to control everything in their way. Once again, it's up to Lilly, Zeph and friends to save the world from burning."
My star rating is: three
Posted 11th September 2013 by suzanne gardenier
A little about the author
Emily Diamand lives in Yorkshire, England and found her way into authoring when her debut novel won the British Times/Chicken House prize for children's fiction in 2008. Prior to that she had various jobs including environmental campaigner, organic farmer, surveyor of trees, brussels sprouts picker and pond digger.
Her first novel Raiders Ransom has sold in eighteen languages, was shortlisted for the UK's Branford Boase award, was a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2009 and is one of the American Library Association's Best Young Adult Fiction novels for 2011.
Plot summery reviewed
"Flooded England, 2216 ... England has changed for ever: most of it is under water. Worse, bloodthirsty pirates prowl the shores, and when they kidnap the Prime Minister's daughter it looks like war. But out of this drowning world comes Lilly Melkun, a girl determined to put things right, with the help of a pirate boy - and an extraordinary treasure from the past, with the power to change the Future..."
The story unfolds with Thirteen-year-old Lily Melkun out fishing with her sea cat. Her village is attacked by savage, ruthless reavers. They raid and ravage her village. Her grandmother is killed and the prime Minister's daughter kidnapped. As a result of the attack and kidnapping her village is threatened with slavery, death and enrolment into the army. Determined to fix everything and restore peace, Lily sets sail with a mysterious ransom to pay the reavers for the return of the Prime Minister's daughter.
One of the Reavers is the second focus of the book, he is a young man called Zeph. He is in the midst of succeeding his father as leader. Zeph must deal with numerous challenges while learning to over take his father. Such as his bullying brother Roba, the threat war and that he's actually a good hearted guy under all that tough exterior. His path crosses with Lily's which leads to the biggest challenge of their lives.
Emily Diamond has created a world similarly like our own is structure but in society and development it lacks our modern touch. It's a good idea of what Britain could be like.
The world has a modern society that has fallen into a great collapse. Computers, technology and all things we take for granted are the stuff of myth and legends. The human we meet have all retreated to those we would find in the dark ages. Famine, strict Victorian rules, dictatorship, barbarism and superstition are abundant, where as mobile phones are unheard of and seen as `magical boxes'. The capital of London, is in Manchester United and the Prime Minister is living at Downing Street. We have all the right sort of information and but have all been mixed up by the ruination. It's a creative and original way of presenting a more realistic world and one that has plenty of merit.
The second book flood and fire, i have not had a chance to read it yet.
It's blurb describes it as...
"Flooded England, 2216 - Lilly Melkun has outwitted the bloodthirsty Reavers, who prowl the waters that cover most of England - and escaped to Cambridge. But Lilly is far from safe, because still in her keeping is PSAI, the last hand-held computer in existence - a now malfunctioning treasure from the past. Inside the jewel-like computer, is a sinister looking chip with an unknown purpose. Worse follows, when the professors of Cambridge plug it into an ancient mainframe computer setting in motion a fiery chain of events leading back to London. A false, anti-terrorist alert has been activated. Strange, out-of-control robots from a long-ago technological time, threaten to use 'maximum force' to control everything in their way. Once again, it's up to Lilly, Zeph and friends to save the world from burning."
My star rating is: three
Posted 11th September 2013 by suzanne gardenier
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2013
The Prime Minister’s daughter, Lexy, has been rescued from the raiders, but now Lilly must find a way to return the young girl home. There is no time to think of herself, and of the life she once could have had. All the fishergirl Lilly can do is try to stay one step ahead of all those after her, and the gaming computer—PSAI—she possess. Zeph, the raider boy who she became friends with, has his own problems. With his father’s death, the Angel Isling Family is in peril—from the inside and the out. Disagreements about the next Boss rage, while the other raiders want to do away with Angel Isling altogether. Zeph’s only chance to save his Family is to betray Lilly and Lexy. On top of all of this, in an attempt to charge PSAI, another computer is awakened, and this one is anything but friendly. With the fate of the world at stake, can Lexy and her friends step up to the task?
First off, that summary was really hard to write. So much is going on in this book, and this series has such a steep learning curve.
Speaking of learning curves, I would suggest reading this book right after the first. I have a pretty bad memory, but I read the first book only a month or so ago, so I thought I would be alright just picking this one up. Turns out, I was wrong. This book starts almost immediately after the first, and not very much is explained. Not that everything from the last book needs explained, but reminders as to who characters are and talking a little bit about what had transpired would have been nice, especially when it came to the Angel Isling Family.
Because of me not remembering much from the last book and this one having nothing to help me, it took me awhile to get into this book.
I also just don’t think I enjoyed this one as much as the last. If this had been the first book, I never would have picked up the sequel. I felt as if this book was all over the place. Sure, there was always a direction to the story, but it felt pretty messy. I think it’s this mess that lends to the ending not being as good as it could have been. With everything that was going on, there was no way to resolve it all. Maybe I’ve just been reading too many dystopia books lately, but I felt as if the society itself was broken, but that was hardly addressed at all, and just left for the future to fix, which we’re never going to get to see. Well, not unless another book is written, but I was so bored and frustrated with this one that I have no desire to read another.
Speaking of bored, even with everything that was going on, this book just dragged. It took forever for the story to move anywhere, and most of what was going on was either running away or sitting there in hiding. Lilly and Zeph were smart and I enjoyed their characters, but they also always needed rescued and weren’t ever able to actually do anything. Granted, PSAI couldn’t have done everything on his own, but…
I don’t know. I did like the very end. As sad as it was, it was also filled with hope for a better future. I know I said somewhere above that I had issues with the ending, and that is still true. I don’t know if this was the best ending for everything brought up in these two books, but I can’t deny that the last few pages were some of the best written in this whole book.
This book wasn’t completely awful, and I did enjoy it, the times something was actually happening. I really loved the characters, and I love how this book is able to immerse you into a whole new world, especially with the language/vocab used. I think it’s the story’s structure where the real issues lie.
First off, that summary was really hard to write. So much is going on in this book, and this series has such a steep learning curve.
Speaking of learning curves, I would suggest reading this book right after the first. I have a pretty bad memory, but I read the first book only a month or so ago, so I thought I would be alright just picking this one up. Turns out, I was wrong. This book starts almost immediately after the first, and not very much is explained. Not that everything from the last book needs explained, but reminders as to who characters are and talking a little bit about what had transpired would have been nice, especially when it came to the Angel Isling Family.
Because of me not remembering much from the last book and this one having nothing to help me, it took me awhile to get into this book.
I also just don’t think I enjoyed this one as much as the last. If this had been the first book, I never would have picked up the sequel. I felt as if this book was all over the place. Sure, there was always a direction to the story, but it felt pretty messy. I think it’s this mess that lends to the ending not being as good as it could have been. With everything that was going on, there was no way to resolve it all. Maybe I’ve just been reading too many dystopia books lately, but I felt as if the society itself was broken, but that was hardly addressed at all, and just left for the future to fix, which we’re never going to get to see. Well, not unless another book is written, but I was so bored and frustrated with this one that I have no desire to read another.
Speaking of bored, even with everything that was going on, this book just dragged. It took forever for the story to move anywhere, and most of what was going on was either running away or sitting there in hiding. Lilly and Zeph were smart and I enjoyed their characters, but they also always needed rescued and weren’t ever able to actually do anything. Granted, PSAI couldn’t have done everything on his own, but…
I don’t know. I did like the very end. As sad as it was, it was also filled with hope for a better future. I know I said somewhere above that I had issues with the ending, and that is still true. I don’t know if this was the best ending for everything brought up in these two books, but I can’t deny that the last few pages were some of the best written in this whole book.
This book wasn’t completely awful, and I did enjoy it, the times something was actually happening. I really loved the characters, and I love how this book is able to immerse you into a whole new world, especially with the language/vocab used. I think it’s the story’s structure where the real issues lie.
October 3, 2016
It was...just ok. Nearly stopped reading it but figured I would finish. It is a bit confusing being the second in the series (haven't read the first). It actually reminded me of Northern Lights, set in a Flood Ravaged England after the Collapse. So Dystopian, with a heart. Readable, good for 10-15 year olds.
February 24, 2017
I'm glad I kept on reading, halfway through I really had to push myself but I enjoyed the ending.
February 28, 2013
For the rest of this review plus more please visit my blog :)
Whoa! Well that certainly was an action-packed ride. I have to say that I can see why I misplaced it as the book took a hundred or so pages to get going. There’s no point in me pointing out that the spelling is diabolical as it’s spelt how Lilly says it. That did irritate for a while I will admit but I managed to get past it. Once I got into the story I found it so much easier to read and I loved how it didn’t let up for one moment.
Lilly – Lilly’s the main character. I like Lilly; I love how brave she is though I’d have liked to see some sadness when she thought of her Granny. She has some great ideas and has adapted well to the situations she’s been thrown into.
Lexy – Alexandra is the daughter of the Primeminister of the final ten counties. She’s with Lilly because she got kidnapped in book 1and Lilly is trying to get her home. Lexy has developed into her own person and can see the flaws in the way her father runs England.
Zeph – Zephaniah Untamed is the new boss of Angel Isling after the death of his father but it’s not going too well for him. After making a deal with the Reaver council he has to decide whether to sell out his Family or his friends. I couldn’t keep up with Zeph in this one and that made it hard to judge him. I do think he did the right thing in the end though.
Overall this is an action-packed ride. It packs plenty of danger, decisions and sheer awesomeness in 457 pages. If you don’t mind waiting for the story to find its feet and the fact that nearly everything is spelt slightly wrong then this is the perfect book for you! I’m glad that I won it because it’s the sort of thing I read anyway!
Whoa! Well that certainly was an action-packed ride. I have to say that I can see why I misplaced it as the book took a hundred or so pages to get going. There’s no point in me pointing out that the spelling is diabolical as it’s spelt how Lilly says it. That did irritate for a while I will admit but I managed to get past it. Once I got into the story I found it so much easier to read and I loved how it didn’t let up for one moment.
Lilly – Lilly’s the main character. I like Lilly; I love how brave she is though I’d have liked to see some sadness when she thought of her Granny. She has some great ideas and has adapted well to the situations she’s been thrown into.
Lexy – Alexandra is the daughter of the Primeminister of the final ten counties. She’s with Lilly because she got kidnapped in book 1and Lilly is trying to get her home. Lexy has developed into her own person and can see the flaws in the way her father runs England.
Zeph – Zephaniah Untamed is the new boss of Angel Isling after the death of his father but it’s not going too well for him. After making a deal with the Reaver council he has to decide whether to sell out his Family or his friends. I couldn’t keep up with Zeph in this one and that made it hard to judge him. I do think he did the right thing in the end though.
Overall this is an action-packed ride. It packs plenty of danger, decisions and sheer awesomeness in 457 pages. If you don’t mind waiting for the story to find its feet and the fact that nearly everything is spelt slightly wrong then this is the perfect book for you! I’m glad that I won it because it’s the sort of thing I read anyway!
September 30, 2011
Ages 10-14. Sequel to Raider's Ransom. If you haven't read the first book (which I haven't), it takes a while to figure out what's happening and who the characters are, and being written in fractured British English slang doesn't help. Eventually we learn that this is a post-technology future world, where the British Isles are flooded and society has broken into the English and the Families, raiders who want to rid Lunden of the oppressive English. The story alternates between Lily, an orphan who is keeping Lexie, the kidnapped Prime Minister's daughter, safe, and Zeph, the new Angel Isling "boss" of his Family, who struggles to assert authority over his minions. Lily and Zeph have a history which is only briefly hinted at. Lily is in possession of the only working computer in the world, and many people would like to get their hands on it. Only Lily can activate it--she shares the DNA of the original owner, a rock star who commissioned it for gaming decades ago. She and Lexy get it to Cambridge, where a technology historian inserts it into an old docking station to charge it--and wakes up a military computer in Lunden which is more threatening than the English and the Families combined. Lily is the only one who might be able to stop it, but she has to get past everyone who would kill her to get the gaming computer and/or Lexie, including Zeph. If you can get past the annoying aspects--the vernacular, the mysterious goings-on of the past, the dizzying number of characters to keep track of--you might find it a rousing adventure story.
January 23, 2013
Zugegeben: Ich habe sehr lange gebraucht um dieses Buch zu beenden. Als ich es mir damals in England kaufte, hatte ich gerade das erste Buch gelesen und wollte nun unbedingt das zweite noch bevor es auf Deutsch erschien lesen. Wahrscheinlich lag es an meiner mangelnden Erfahrung auf englisch zu lesen, aber ziemlich schnell nachdem ich angefangen hatte, legt ich das Buch weg. Der umgangssprachliche Schreibstil war ziemlich schwierig zu lesen und die Handlung zog sich für mein Empfinden ziemlich. Ich brauchte zwei weitere Anläufe um das Buch zu beenden, aber die letzten hundertfünfzig Seiten flogen überraschend schnell dahin. Die Geschichte nahm mehr Fahrt auf und auch wenn schon gut zwanzig Seiten vor dem Schluss das große Finale endete muss ich sagen, dass die Autorin keine halben Sachen macht. Das hat mir sehr gefallen. Ohne ein kitschiges 'Happily Ever After' zu produzieren führte sie zum Ende hin alle Fäden zusammen und ließ mich als Leser mit einem sehr zufriedenen Gefühl zurück.
Ein Wort zu den Charakteren noch: ich fand es wirklich gewaltig wie diese drei Hauptcharaktere sich über diese beiden Bücher verändert haben. Sie sind in sich gewachsen, zum Beispiel Lexy: am Anfang war sie eine verängstigte kleine Prinzessin. Am Ende ein starkes Junges Mädchen, dass seine Meinung vertritt.
'Flood & Fire' ist wirklich eine außerordentliche Geschichte in einem Zukunftsszenario welches einfach, aber eindrucksvoll ist.
Ein Wort zu den Charakteren noch: ich fand es wirklich gewaltig wie diese drei Hauptcharaktere sich über diese beiden Bücher verändert haben. Sie sind in sich gewachsen, zum Beispiel Lexy: am Anfang war sie eine verängstigte kleine Prinzessin. Am Ende ein starkes Junges Mädchen, dass seine Meinung vertritt.
'Flood & Fire' ist wirklich eine außerordentliche Geschichte in einem Zukunftsszenario welches einfach, aber eindrucksvoll ist.
March 30, 2014
Very satisfying conclusion to "Raider's Ransom." Both Lilly and Zeph must rethink what family, loyalty and values means. Well-done.
In addition, a plot pause that should be a requirement in YA dystopian lit but often isn't there - I'd liken it to Shakespeare's comic relief technique in his tragedies. Finally, at one point, both Lilly and Lexy find refuge - the scene that is described, although short, gives the reader a small mental break - a breath before plunging into the next flight from danger. Excellent pacing there.
The NSR computer voice is spot on pompous- "The National Security Response Is Covert," as PSAI correctly sums up later on..."Why Did The NSR Speak This Way?...Really, a most tedious construction..." I love it when one computer dises another...
Not only is the plot twisting and the characters three-dimensional, but the writing can also be quite lovely.
"A curlew curves through the sky, its cry bubbling over the marshes. "The spirits is singing for our losses," says Ims quietly. "They're gonna be busy" (13).
"Ormsy Island, where the winds guard the Norwich waters, where it's safe meeting for all the Families. Where there ain't nothing but sand, gray-grass dunes, and the driftwood gallery, sea-bleached into old bones. And the spikes. Sticking outta the wet-sand below the tide, bones and fish-eaten corpses chained on."
In addition, a plot pause that should be a requirement in YA dystopian lit but often isn't there - I'd liken it to Shakespeare's comic relief technique in his tragedies. Finally, at one point, both Lilly and Lexy find refuge - the scene that is described, although short, gives the reader a small mental break - a breath before plunging into the next flight from danger. Excellent pacing there.
The NSR computer voice is spot on pompous- "The National Security Response Is Covert," as PSAI correctly sums up later on..."Why Did The NSR Speak This Way?...Really, a most tedious construction..." I love it when one computer dises another...
Not only is the plot twisting and the characters three-dimensional, but the writing can also be quite lovely.
"A curlew curves through the sky, its cry bubbling over the marshes. "The spirits is singing for our losses," says Ims quietly. "They're gonna be busy" (13).
"Ormsy Island, where the winds guard the Norwich waters, where it's safe meeting for all the Families. Where there ain't nothing but sand, gray-grass dunes, and the driftwood gallery, sea-bleached into old bones. And the spikes. Sticking outta the wet-sand below the tide, bones and fish-eaten corpses chained on."
September 23, 2012
Flood and Fire by Emily Diamand continues the adventures of Lilly, Lexy, Zeph and PSAI. Lexy still hasn't been returned to her Prime Minister father and PSAI is in desperate need of repairs after having been tossed into the water. Zeph, meanwhile finds himself the head of the Raiders.
For me, the best parts of the book were those that centered on Lilly, Lexy and PSAI. PSAI's knowledge of the time before the flood give the best hints of what has happened and how things have changed.
With this book, I found myself wanting Google Maps open and possibly the London A to Z guide. Flood and Fire is more dependent on knowledge of present day locations than Raiders' Ransom is.
Flood and Fire like Raiders' Ransom has alternating points of view between Lilly and Zeph. In the first book I mentioned being confused at first by this swapping. This time, though, the story is mostly told by Lilly. The half dozen times that Zeph takes over the story telling aren't really needed and feel more like padding than actual plot progression.
For me, the best parts of the book were those that centered on Lilly, Lexy and PSAI. PSAI's knowledge of the time before the flood give the best hints of what has happened and how things have changed.
With this book, I found myself wanting Google Maps open and possibly the London A to Z guide. Flood and Fire is more dependent on knowledge of present day locations than Raiders' Ransom is.
Flood and Fire like Raiders' Ransom has alternating points of view between Lilly and Zeph. In the first book I mentioned being confused at first by this swapping. This time, though, the story is mostly told by Lilly. The half dozen times that Zeph takes over the story telling aren't really needed and feel more like padding than actual plot progression.
July 6, 2011
In the sequel to Raiders' Ransom, Lilly, Lexie, and Cat have escaped from the raiders and somehow survived a battle in the waters that surround twenty-third century England. They still have what may be the only computer in existence, and Lilly knows that the computer is running out of power. They head to Cambridge and then to Scotland where scholars may be able to help them, but they are being tracked by Lilly's friend Zeph who is now the leader of one group of raiders who must find the computer or be killed. The story is told in alternating chapters with the voices of Lilly and Zeph being distinct and lively. Even the computer, affectionately called PSAI, has a personality. As in the previous title, global warming and melting ice caps have raised the water level so much that there are only ten counties left in England and even London is awash. This title predicts a future where technology is feared, and brute force is admired. Could it be ours?
November 2, 2011
This book is the sequel to the book Raiders Ransome and in this book Lilly has to, once again, reture the prime ministers daugter to the prime minister but this time the setting takes place in London and they have to stop the war between the raiders and the military.But this time she's not alone!With her is the last computeever, the prime ministers daghter, a raider boy, a scottish historian and a friend from book one.Also this time the stakes are higher than before.If she doesn't stop this war in time Londons' streets are going to run with blood.
I picked this book up because the first book was really cool and I wanted to know what would happend to Lilly and Cat.
I finished this book because, even though it was really, really boring, it was also kind of interesting.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes science-fiction and not that much action because this book is located int he future and there isn't alot of action.
I picked this book up because the first book was really cool and I wanted to know what would happend to Lilly and Cat.
I finished this book because, even though it was really, really boring, it was also kind of interesting.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes science-fiction and not that much action because this book is located int he future and there isn't alot of action.
July 11, 2016
great conclusion to this story. I really liked how lilly and zeph ended up in this book. I enjoyed the fact that they both have strong personalities and their characters really shine through in this story. I liked the conflict and the tension of the book.
I also loved how nothing is black and white in this book and how Lilly and Zeph have to figure this out. Zeph especially has really hard choices to make and he really comes into his own when he figures out how to balance his honor against what he should do in order to save his family and his friends. Lilly likes everything to be black and white and her growth isn't quite as dramatic as Zeph's. But she is still a very good character that shows how you can come to the realization that sometimes you have to make hard decisions in life and sometimes you might not like what other people have to do, but you can still like that person.
I also loved how nothing is black and white in this book and how Lilly and Zeph have to figure this out. Zeph especially has really hard choices to make and he really comes into his own when he figures out how to balance his honor against what he should do in order to save his family and his friends. Lilly likes everything to be black and white and her growth isn't quite as dramatic as Zeph's. But she is still a very good character that shows how you can come to the realization that sometimes you have to make hard decisions in life and sometimes you might not like what other people have to do, but you can still like that person.
February 23, 2011
Flood and Fire is a cross between the Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Flies and Terminator.
A curious combination but it somehow works.
I can appreciate how clever the book is but somehow this slowed my reading and clouded my enjoyment. Emily Diamand gives the characters believable voices and her view of the futuristic UK is a realistic one.
There is also a strong moral tone to this book which may be valuable to it's target audience.
At 40, I think I was too old to really appreciate it. I've passed it on to my 14 year old half-brother to get his opinion and will post his review when he's finished.
A curious combination but it somehow works.
I can appreciate how clever the book is but somehow this slowed my reading and clouded my enjoyment. Emily Diamand gives the characters believable voices and her view of the futuristic UK is a realistic one.
There is also a strong moral tone to this book which may be valuable to it's target audience.
At 40, I think I was too old to really appreciate it. I've passed it on to my 14 year old half-brother to get his opinion and will post his review when he's finished.
April 6, 2012
Loved this fabulous sequel to Raiders' Ransom. I listened to the first book (twice!) and loved the narration, so I was going to wait to see if this one was released on audio. But I couldn't wait any longer, so I got a print copy. And it was just as much fun to read as the first was to listen to. Plus, it was fun to see the way things were spelled in a future day when they didn't have the same meaning, like "Temz" (Thames) or the "Emaleven" (M11 motorway.) Clever. Ms. Diamand does a brilliant job with plot and characters. The story ties up fairly neatly, but I would certainly welcome future books about Lilly, Lexy, Zeph, Cat, PSAI, and the rest. This series is highly recommended.
February 21, 2012
I like that I know "what happened next" with this story but this book was clunky and hard to get into when the first one was like eating candy. Two girls and a cat are traveling in a future world where they are in possession of the last working computer in the world. Meanwhile, the son of an important raider is both trying to capture them and protect them at the same time. The dialect and changing point of view made this tedious to read. I won't be looking for the third book in this series and that saddens me.
November 8, 2011
It's the sequel of a book I started reading because my husband took it out of the library. It deals with a post-apocalyptic world where the government is run by a tyrant and is fighting the raiders, a type of pirate with a union. In the middle is Lilly, the primary user for a genetically linked super gaming system called PSAI. She is a fisherperson who is forced to make her living on the seas with a gifted seacat.
The sequel deals with Lilly and Lexi finding a place for PSAI. It's good. It was interesting. I liked it. That's it.
The sequel deals with Lilly and Lexi finding a place for PSAI. It's good. It was interesting. I liked it. That's it.
September 30, 2015
This story follows several characters through a very distant future version of England, which is almost completely submerged in water. First it follows Lilly Melkun, a fisher girl who only wants to be with her love as a captain. Then it goes to Zeph, the son of the leader of one of the raider families. Then his clan takes something important from Lilly's village, leaving them with a very unhappy prime minister. Now Lilly must go out to negotiate the return of this item with the raider's. If she fails it could mean the death of everyone in her village, and her love.
April 16, 2012
I really enjoyed the first book, Raiders Ransom, but I found myself not excited to read this at night. I am not sure it is because it had been a while since reading the first one, I was looking forward to reading another book I have been waiting to come out, or if this book just did not live up to the expectation. If you have nothing else to read and like dystopian piracy, then give it a shot. Its not bad, it just isn't great.
September 18, 2011
Sequel to RAIDERS' RANSOM and just as good, this takes Lilly, Lexy, Zeph and totally fab AI PSAI through the fens to Cambridge, and then on to war-torn London in search of a second megacomputer from the bad old days, and a fulfilling ending for all. The AI is even more pompous and funny than in the opener, and the author really sets up some hard choices for her characters....so kudos to her.
November 30, 2011
An action-packed sequel to Raider's Ransom. I really liked how the characters ended up. Not everything is a happy ending, but such is life. Will there be another one showing how Zeph, Lilly and Lexy along with their assorted friends revive London and possibly bring peace among the surviving nations? If so that would be awesome! If not, I guess will live with it.
August 14, 2012
Okay idea. Failed execution. I was bored and skim read quite a lot of the back half. I wouldn't have missed anything by not reading this book. Mention of prostitution. Some violence. Nothing special. Nothing bad. The characters were bland and blah. The writing was sub par. The only "person" I liked was the computer, ?PSA?, I think. Not recommended.
September 24, 2012
I really wanted to like this one as much as I loved the first one, but it left me a bit unsatisfied. Things were wrapped up a bit too neatly; characters were resolved a bit too conveniently--of course, they grew and developed, which is more than I can say for some authors, but it didn't give me a really feeling of resolution. I was sad.
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