Chameleon Moon
Quick take:
Over this month, I read Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver. For me, it was more about the characters, despite the impending doom of their city falling into blazing pits and the necessity to stop it. The book has a few flaws, but is still a recommended read. 4/5
Setting:
Chameleon Moon takes place in an dystopian city called Parole, U.S.A. After people gained new and bizarre powers thanks to the wonderland drug, the unthinkable happened. Parole now sits above a pool of fire, solely collapsing as it's quarantined from the rest of the world. Gangs fight over what water is left and the ever present Eye in the Skye assures people that no one can escape.
Characters:
There are so many! Seriously! I'm going to stick with the central four.
Regan- Humanoid in shape, but has a reptilian appearance and memory wipe. Like the reader, the horrors of Parole are new to him as well. I found his anxiety to be relatable.
Evelyn- She's a singer at Emerald Bar and protector of the weak when not on stage. I enjoyed her caring attitude, her family dynamic, and her determination.
Danae- She's retired from her old job and has the power to make and create machines that come to life. She's my favorite. Despite the description, I kept picturing Edna Mode from The Incredibles. I related to her PTSD. I enjoyed the relationship that she has with
Rose and their son.
Rose- She has plant related abilities and has legs built for her by Danae. I enjoyed her compassion for people and desire to help others.
What it did good:
-Diverse representation with gender, sexual orientation, race, mental illness, physical disabilities
-Marginalized groups survive a dystopia
-You become invested in the characters
-World building
What could be improved:
-All the characters can make it difficult to keep track at the beginning
-Some of the dialogue felt forced
-If there were fewer characters to focus on, they could be more developed.
Last thoughts:
For the longest time I've been wanting to read about a MOGAI character who's book wasn't centered around specific MOGAI struggles, coming out, transphobia, etc. While this book does address transphobia, it's not the central story. Their identities are important, but so is their story.
