I love reading books of which I have heard nothing. It adds an element of surprise that can’t be beaten. No reviews to sway my opinion, no friends telling me to (or not to) read. It’s a clean slate. I’ve been on a bit of a sci-fi kick lately, so the synopsis called to me and I was excited to dig in. Alien planet, advanced technology, malfunctioning society. YES PLEASE!

With the first chapter, I was all Ooh! The second chapter I was all Huh? I keep feeling like I was missing something. Was this the second book in the series and I didn’t know it? I did catch on though, and MAN! It’s such a fun read! With the lack of facts at the beginning, I kind of hit the ground running, but once I got my feet under myself and had some of the fundamentals figured out, I really enjoyed the ride! It’s not a long story, and was non-stop excitement and intrigue.

The characters are solid and interesting with their own individual quirks. In some cases, though, I felt as though the quirks were almost too obvious, as though the author were trying to make their voices distinct from each other. Granted, it certainly makes the conversations more clear, as I can more easily tell who’s talking.

Pendomus is classified as being YA, and I love how Andrews manages to keep it within that category, while still allowing her characters to speak freely. She uses the word “phug”, instead of its more vulgar (and frowned upon) alternative. The intent is still crystal clear, while it keeps parents perfectly happy. Well played!

The book’s downfall, in my opinion, is that I am probably going to have to wait a long time for the sequel. I am worried that in the meantime, I will forget about Pendomus and my excitement over the series. If I had had the sequel in my hands, I would have jumped into it right away. My hope is that someone will remind me about the sequel. Can I sign up for an alarm that goes off when the next book is published?

I won't deny that it was the synopsis that drew me to Pendomus in the first place. It had a decidedly sci fi feel to it, and I was intrigued by the fact that it revolved around humans who had colonized another planet. While it took a bit for me to fall in line with the characters and their story, Pendomus did impress me. It's a different read, and that alone kept me reading on.

I wasn't expecting Pendomus to be told in two different points of view. Runa is the main character, and narrates most of the chapters, but Traeton narrates as well. I liked Runa straight off. Her passion for nature spoke to me. I was excited to see where it would take her. Then Traeton came into the picture, and I fell in love. Sweet and helpful, he was the perfect yin to Runa's yang. Although I thought their relationship moved a little too quickly, they absolutely work well together.

In all honesty, it was the plot that initially lost me. Things started moving quickly, and I found myself floundering for the first few chapters. Instead of building up Runa's home, and Traeton's life, Pendomus throws you straight into the fray. It took me a while to find my bearings, to start to uncover why Runa was against Helix, and to understand why Traeton would want to live separate from the others. It is an odd start, but it all converged into an interesting story. Being set on a different planet allows the characters to have their own societal norms and their own mythology. Once I found my footing, I enjoyed it all.

I'd say that readers of both Fantasy and Science Fiction will find a lot to enjoy in Pendomus. As long as you're willing to take the beginning with a grain of salt and keep reading on, you'll find a solid story between these pages. The copy I read had a few grammatical issues, but it was an advanced copy. The author informed me that the finished copy is great! Add this to your reading list if you're looking for something to whisk you away to a brand new place.

I received Pendomus in return for an honest review as part of the tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.  Runa lives on the planet Pendomus in a Helix complex where she lives with her mother and brother. She hasn’t gotten her professional placement so she’s had time to fall in love with the forest. When she at last gets the call for her placement she’s shocked to learn that she’s been giving the job of cremator. Furious she heads out into the snow but is attacked by a morph when it looks like the end she’s saved by a blue haired stranger who takes her back to him place.

Runa learns that there is more outside the helix than just snow. Growing up inside the Helix complex everything has been provided to them via the government their every move monitored by scans. They don’t even speak anymore they use the elink to communicate. As Runa heals from her attack, she is befriended by Traeton the blue haired guy who saved her life and lives outside the helix. She learns that there is more going on outside the complex. With Traeton’s help she will attempt to uncover the secrets risking her life to learn the truth.

The book is written from the point of view of Runa a girl who grew up in the Helix but has always been different with pale blonde hair and amber eyes. We also have Traeton’s perspective his life outside the helix and when he saves Runa their lives are forever intertwined.  At first I wasn't sure how I felt about these two but as the story progressed they grew on me.

I was instantly enchanted by the concept for Pendomus. I’m a huge fan of the sci fi concept so of course this one was a must when I saw the tour invite. I like the concept for Pendomus it’s unique and captivates the imagination. Plus with a cover like that how can you not be curious. I found the characters easy to connect with after getting to know them. I liked that the author has giving us each perspective I think it helps keep the story flowing. I think the author did an amazing job of creating a world unlike any other with interesting characters. I was instantly drawn into the story; I actually finished it in one afternoon. It’s a fast paced story that is filled with twist and turns that keep you guessing till the end. I really enjoyed the first book and look forward to seeing what happens in the next one.