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    Sapphique: Incarceron, Book 2
    Unavailable
    Sapphique: Incarceron, Book 2
    Unavailable
    Sapphique: Incarceron, Book 2
    Audiobook11 hours

    Sapphique: Incarceron, Book 2

    Written by Catherine Fisher

    Narrated by Kim Mai Guest

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The only one who escaped . . . And the one who could destroy them all.

    Incarceron, the living prison, has lost one of its inmates to the outside world: Finn's escaped, only to find that Outside is not at all what he expected. Used to the technologically advanced, if violently harsh, conditions of the prison, Finn is now forced to obey the rules of Protocol, which require all people to live without technology. To Finn, Outside is just a prison of another kind, especially when Claudia, the daughter of the prison's warden, declares Finn the lost heir to the throne. When another claimant emerges, both Finn's and Claudia's very lives hang on Finn convincing the Court of something that even he doesn't fully believe.

    Meanwhile, Finn's oathbrother Keiro and his friend Attia are still trapped inside Incarceron. They are searching for a magical glove, which legend says Sapphique used to escape. To find it, they must battle the prison itself, because Incarceron wants the glove too.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateDec 28, 2010
    ISBN9780307707123
    Unavailable
    Sapphique: Incarceron, Book 2
    Author

    Catherine Fisher

    Catherine Fisher's acclaimed works include Darkhenge, Snow-walker, and The Oracle Betrayed, which was a finalist for the Whitbread Children's Book Award. She lives in Newport, Wales.

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    Reviews for Sapphique

    3.5/5

    432 ratings52 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 4/5
      I read this so fast, but I was still entirely in love with the two main characters. I really still couldn't bring myself to care enough about the brother or the dog-slave girl, even though, as a team, they made so much more character-story cohesion. I have a want to know far more about the Warden.

      I felt the ending was a little more sudden (and fixes everything) too fast, but I loved how Finn showed he understood where the truth always was. And in that way I almost hope for there to be a third book.
    • 3/5
      This is the sequel to Incarceron and I enjoyed it. The book was a little predictable but the ending was interesting and I liked that. The characters seemed to take back stage to the plot in this one and I wish they could have a little more roundness. I am not sure if there is a third book coming out, the ending certainly left room for more of the story.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this sequel to Incarceron with its many layers of symbols and meaning and exquisite worldbuilding of multiple worlds. I found most of the protagonists to be unsympathetic characters, except for Jared, whom I liked a lot.
    • 4/5
      Another good story, leaves enough to the imagination to almost demand a sequel...
    • 5/5
      Sapphique by Catherine Fisher is the sequel to Incarceron. It opens in the aftermath of Finn escaping from the prison and the Warden escaping into it.Finn, who Claudia believes to be the missing crown prince, must now prove his identity, even as his memory remains spotty. To mix things up, another Giles appears, claiming to be the original. With the Queen taking his side, it's clear that civil war can't be far behind.Meanwhile things inside of the prison are getting more dangerous for everyone involved. The prison AI wants more from its existence and has decided the best way to achieve that is to escape its physical bounds. Doing, that, though puts both the prison and the Realm at risk.I'm breaking with the majority to say that Sapphique was more of a page turner for me than the original. Now that the big secret is out, namely what the prison is and where's it's located, there's more time to concentrate on how the worlds of the prison and Realm work (or don't).In the extra space left by the vacated mystery is filled with glimpses of the damage done by the war the necessitated the mandated Era. Things aren't much better on the outside than they are on the inside of the prison.Although Incarercon and Sapphique are more fantasy than science fiction, I think fans of Maria V. Snyder's Inside Out and Outside In will like these two.
    • 3/5
      Book #2 of Incarceron finds Finn has escaped the prison, leaving Keiro and Attia behind. As Finn and Claudia try to work out a way to rescue the two, and as Finn struggles with his identity (is he really the lost prince?), the Queen brings in another Prince to challenge Finn's claim to the throne.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed this book, and it was a good sequel. However, I didn't really feel like all of my questions were answered. There was definitely an effort to provide closure for the reader, but I wasn't satisfied. At all. Actually, I was still pretty confused when I finished reading.
    • 4/5
      A great sequel to Incarceron, which picks up where the previous novel left off and plunges the reader into the dual worlds of a cruel prison and a scheming court. Having escaped the prison, Finn now faces a challenge to his identity in the outside world while he labors with Claudia and Jared to help his remaining friends in Incarceron to escape. Great reading, especially the last few chapters.
    • 4/5
      In this sequel to Incarceron, Finn has escaped from the prison, leaving Keiro and Attia behind. With Claudia, Finn fights off a pretender to the throne, while Keiro and Attia, and the Warden try to prevent the prison from freeing itself and destroying the inside and the outside.
    • 2/5
      This was a lot less satisfying to read than the first book, Incarceron. No longer was there a brand new world to discover and new characters to get to know.
      Instead, we fall deep into confusion with a thinner plot line this time around.

      There was almost nothing holding the plot together - it was one problem after another thrown at you. Of course the main goals were to get Keiro out and also to be crowned King. But those were lost in the mass of new information, subterfuge, and a strange scifi scenario where reality and faux-reality exists.

      I guess I like getting to know Keiro and Attia more - and they have quite the character. But you never really get to know the characters that well just because of that third person limited POV. It's rather frustrating that all we see are action and dialogue and less of what these characters think.

      The ending was... good. It wasn't bad, and that is miles above most scifi books. It was expected, but not bad at all.

      Two and a half stars rounded down because it was a good continuation of the first book, but not good enough for me to really like it. Recommended for those who read her first book, obviously.
    • 4/5
      In this sequel to Incarceron, Finn has escaped from the prison, leaving Keiro and Attia behind. With Claudia, Finn fights off a pretender to the throne, while Keiro and Attia, and the Warden try to prevent the prison from freeing itself and destroying the inside and the outside.
    • 4/5
      I might have enjoyed this book just a wee bit more than the first one. It was grittier than the first book. We learned more about the other characters of the world as the focus shifted a bit from Finn and Claudia. I liked the way the author decided to tell this story in two books and not drag it out to a trilogy (which is one of my pet peeves i.e. seeing authors make filler in a story just so they can make it into three books instead of telling a tight story with good characters in less books).
    • 4/5
      An excellent follow up to Incarceron.
    • 2/5
      I reviewed Incarceron a few weeks back and, although I didn't like it, I already had a copy of the ARC. Sapphique was not better than the first book in the series, but it was easier for me to get through, perhaps because I had much lower expectations. All of my problems with the first book still remain here.

      The characters, all of them, are pretty much entirely unlikeable. Jared, Claudia's tutor, is the character I most liked, but the reader has known since the beginning of book one that he has an incurable disease, distancing one's affection for him. Claudia is obnoxious, power-hungry and mistrusting. Finn alternates between being emo and arrogant. Keiro is as he has ever been. Attia never really seems to coalesce into a definite personality. And those are just the characters you are supposed to be rooting for.

      Romance is not to be found in Sapphique, even though the book ends with an engagement in place for two of them. Those two characters have absolutely no chemistry; in fact, the girl is clearly in love with someone else.

      If you liked Incarceron, I doubt you will be disappointed by Sapphique. Otherwise, don't bother.
    • 3/5
      I had trouble following all the scene changes. Too many things going on in too many places and points of view, just when I was getting sucked into one character's situation, bam, time to change.
    • 5/5
      Upon reading other reviews, I realized that this is one of the few books I've read with no likeable main characters. I mean, sure, fictional characters usually have flaws. But even if they're imperfect, you feel like you can trust them. In Sapphique, I'd rather not trust Claudia, Finn, Jared (a little), Keiro (especially), Attia, Rix, the Warden, the Steel Wolves, the Court, and of course Incarceron.

      Nevertheless, I was emotionally invested in the story and that world. I wished that Finn would be recognized as Prince Giles, and hoped that Claudia gets betrothed to him. I wanted Keiro and Attia to be reconciled with Finn and to see the stars. Even if I won't trust them, I cared for what happened to them.

      I would have just given it a 4/5, but the ending is beautiful, metaphorical and deep that it deserves a 5 from me.
    • 4/5
      this was an interesting sequel. idk. i liked it, it held my interest and it was fast paced. however it explained NOTHING. not what Era they were stuck in, of if the Prison was really that tiny cube, i need answers!
    • 4/5
      When I first read Incarceron, I loved the weird sci-fi dystopia Catherine Fisher had created, with the opulent Outside world, entrenched in the eighteenth-century and the dark, twisted world of Incarceron. I loved the characters, and I really enjoyed the story. Sapphique does what a great sequel ought to do—taking us deeper into the depths of Incarceron itself, and trying to uncover the treachery of Queen Sia.

      As with the first book, the Incarceron scenes are the best. I like the world that’s created in the Outside, but it feels at times only to put Claudia and Finn in fancy clothes. In book two, we get away from the main wings of Incarceron and closer to its outlying towns, and how radically dangerous it is. And while the first book had some great concepts of how Incarceron creates organic flesh with the halfmen, we finally get to see some really twisted creations. (that scene with the chain gang so creepy) I also love that we get more of the ‘culture’ of Incarceron, with the traveling show Attia and Rix travels with, not to mention, Rix’s mentioning of the various patchbook stories that the prisoners tell. (The one about Ishmael, who gets eaten by a large white rabbit, for example.)

      Keiro and Attia are my two favorite characters. In the first book, Attia felt like she was just along for the journey, but she really grows into her own in here. I love her unscrupulous nature, and how she manages to manipulate both Rix and Keiro not only to get what she wants, but to prove herself to them. And while a lot of her motivation revolves around Finn and seeing him again, I do like that Attia’s just as conflicted as Keiro about Finn’s reaction.

      KEIRO YOU BEAUTIFUL LITTLE BASTARD. I know I say that I don’t like douchebag characters, but then you get a character like Keiro, who can be a douchebag, but he manages to be a fantastic character and you see depth. For example, the fantastic moment when Keiro escapes the prison, takes ONE LOOK at Caspar and says “Hi. I want your coat. Give it to me.” OHMYGOD YES. Despite his constant brushing off Attia, and his admonishments that Finn has abandoned them both, I do get the sense that Keiro wants to do what’s right and that he does truly care about Finn and Attia. (Honestly, I just want stories about Keiro’s adventures after this book. Can I please get that? *puppy eyes*)

      Rix is a really interesting parallel to Jared, and I actually like Rix better, especially as a quasi-mentor figure. He’s ruthless and cunning, but I like that Rix really wants Attia around more, in an odd way. Again, a prequel story for Rix, plzkthx.

      With all that happens in Incarceron, the court scenes and what’s happening with Finn and Claudia could have felt lacking. There’s intriguing plot twists, but the “Another boy appears claiming to be the real Giles!” feels predictable. Which isn’t to say that it’s bad. It is expanding on a plot point from the first book—Jared’s doubt that Finn is really Giles—and taking through its progression. And what I like is that even Claudia expresses doubt not only about the imposter, but even questions Finn’s recollections. And while it’s teling that ‘Giles’ is an imposter, Fisher does explore Claudia’s motivations for insisting on Finn’s true identity. And personal theory time: Based on what the Warden tells Claudia at the end, I think that Finn is an almagation of Giles and Incarceron’s other prisoners, created as a failsafe. I think there’s parts of him that are Giles, but he’s his own person. This may just be my crazy theory, though.

      Claudia is still completely fantastic. She’s still committed to helping Finn, still intelligent and perceptive, even at the cost of losing her status and life. Even during her conflict of the “true” Giles, she’s still able to recognize how she’s being manipulated and figure out ways around it. (Like the whole purpose of the Queen’s masked ball—Claudia immediately realizes it’s a trap and figures out how to get herself and Finn out of there without raising suspicion.) I still like Jared, but I wasn’t really into his story in this volume. His illness always felt like a convenient plot point, and I wished that it would have either played a role in the plot or at least gotten an explanation aside from “He’s ill!” And the Sapphique encounter—I –what? I liked that Jared resolves Incarceron’s escape by pretending that he is Sapphique come back and that he takes on that persona to help the prisoners. But—meeting Sapphique. Was it a dream sequence? I wouldn’t be so confused if Jared didn’t have the line of “Sapphique is a part of me” and I thought that meant the glove and DID I MISS SOMETHING BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA.

      In the same vein, I still like Finn, but a lot of his character conflict feels predictable, especially with the pretender to the throne plot. I do love the detail the court expects Finn to be courtly and princely, despite being in Incarceron for years. Huzzah to detail. And I really love that Finn will do anything to get Attia and Keiro out before Claudia’s own plots—that and Finn calls out Claudia of just using him. It’s a nice touch to Finn’s character, and really shows how untrustworthy he can be.

      I do have a big issue with the overall plot. While I love that the protocol and the outside world are clearly based on eighteenth-century details (my headcanon puts it in an imitation of the French Court of Versailles—Queen Sia wears a shepardress costume, for crying out loud), they never really make it a clear allegory. Which wouldn’t be a problem if we didn’t get an encounter with the peasants as Claudia and Finn are escaping court. And again, wouldn’t be a problem if we got an exploration of those who have to live under an unfair system. The problem is the final lines

      And [Claudia] saw, faint and far, the candlepoints of flame in the cottages of the poor, the hovels where the Prison's wrath and fury had brought no change.

      "Those are stars too,” Finn said quietly.

      It’s a great ending, don’t get me wrong. And it does imply that that along with Keiro and Attia, Finn and Claudia will be able to survive the decimated world. BUT THE PEASANTS DON’T PLAY A ROLE IN ANY OF THIS. All the uprisings and secret societies are from members of the upper-class. There’s no talk whatsoever of what it means for the general population to survive the real world. I like the ending, and I do really like the book, but it doesn’t feel as weighty as it should be because we don’t have that exploration.

      But despite the faults, I do really love the Incarceron duology, and Sapphique does achieve the goal of wrapping up Finn and Claudia’s story. I still argue that this is one of the criminally underrated dystopic YA novels out there (despite having a movie option with a horrible choice for Finn) and I highly recommend both parts.
    • 5/5
      It's rare for a sequel to surpass the original but I loved Sapphique even more than Incarceron. It is definitely necessary to read Incarceron first, nothing in Sapphique will make sense if you don't. Sapphique takes us back to the prison where Attia and Keiro are both feeling betrayed at having been left behind in the prison. They struggle to find an alternate way out while wrestling with their opposing feelings about Finn having left them behind.Outside, the political intrigue in the Realm gets thicker as on the day when Finn is to be recognized as Prince Giles, the true heir of the Realm, another man steps forward to claim the title. There's a delicious back and forth through most of the story as the reader is pulled at once time towards believing Finn is indeed Giles only to be pushed a moment later towards believing he is not.The storylines collide towards the end of the book as both worlds begin to crumble. The finale comes to a crashing conclusion and while I felt satisfied in the ending, there is some wiggle room for extending the series.
    • 2/5
      The sequel to Incarceron was quite a let down. I felt she was trying to correct the mistake of the first book. We never should have had a glimpse outside the prison. The story would've been better served had we not known what was waiting outside for Finn.We did know so most of Sapphique was a repeat of the first book until the non-ending.
    • 4/5
      Finn may have escaped Incarceron, but Claudia's father the Warden is now trapped Inside somewhere in the vast reaches of the miniaturized prison. For Attia and Kiero, unable to pass through the Portal with Finn, the race is on to locate the legendary escapee Sapphique the nine-fingered's glove before Incarceron does. Outside, a rival contender for the throne has appeared. For Finn and Claudia survival may depend on Finn convincing everyone that he is truly the lost prince. As time ticks away, and reality both Inside and Outside begins to fracture. The red eyes of Incarceron are watching, its reach is long, and its madness is growing. Sacrifices must be made, but who will pay the price?There's no lack of intrigue and suspense here, and the plot is certainly twisty enough to keep predictability at bay - I just wish at least some of the characters were a bit more likable.
    • 5/5
      Finn has Escaped from Incarceron, but is now living in another prison. The gaudy clothes, the lights, the fake people who don’t really believe he’s Giles… Even Claudia seems to be doubting him. While he wants her to believe in his identity, he doesn’t even believe it himself. The fits still come, and he rants and rages about the smallest things. Jared is dying; the medication only helps for a while, and then the pain comes back - worse. The Queen is just as vicioius as before; even more so now. She has tricks and schemes up her sleeves – Finn knows it, even if no one else does. On the other side of reality, Attia and Keiro are still in the prison, fighting for their lives. But now there’s Rix involved, an insane man who believes he’s the Dark Enchanter. He is said to have possession of the Glove, Sapphique’s Glove, the Prison’s Glove. The Glove that can get them out of here. But how long can they follow Rix without being killed? And the Prison itself… It’s acting strangely. It seems to be pulling away, focusing hard… How can these two worlds connect? Will there be a new way to travel between the worlds, now that the keys have disappeared with the Warden? Can Finn remember his supposed past, and prove to everyone he is Giles? And will Attia and Keiro find the Door that freed Sapphique from the Prison? _____________________________ Oh. My goodness. Where to begin… I loved everything about this book. Literally, everything. I can’t think of one thing that I would even say was remotely uninteresting or slow or bad or confusing. Everything was perfect, set into place. That’s my one word description: perfect. Ridiculously so. Let me start with Jared. Oh, how I love him. I loved him in Incarceron, and my love grew in Sapphique. He is my favorite in every way: who he is, his part in the story, everything he says and does and the way he thinks about things. The way he feels for everyone around him, especially Claudia. Gosh. Claudia and Finn are another matter – both are feisty in their own manner, and yet both have the same vision against protocol for the kingdom. The way they interacted together was just wonderful. Their characters are absolutely complimentary for the purpose of the story. Even if you can’t picture them getting along well, Fisher makes it work in a way that is undeniably genius. You know that if they live through this war with the Queen, they will be great rulers together. One thing that I noticed in Sapphique that wasn’t very prominent in Incarceron was Caspar’s character: Idiot. Dunce. Total follower and complainer. Weak. Vulnerable. Pitiful. (All of these in a slightly…humorous manner.) While I knew he was some of these, his character was much more developed and delved into in Sapphique. And I liked what I saw. I laughed out loud at some of the things he said and did, and his character added so much more to the story. He was a useful tool, one that added depth and life to the story. And the writing… I mean – who writes like Catherine Fisher? She has the right phrases, the right dialogue, the right word choices. It’s all perfect, and it fits in a glorious, powerful pattern that creates an story that would, to anyone else, be hard to write. A lot of other reviewers talk about how hard it was to write a review for Incarceron…can you imagine how hard it would be to write the actual book? But Fisher has it down. Combine the writing with the story line, and you get something that you don’t see every day. These books are full of raw, penetrating power. Every sentence reflects this; and the story is real. When I read it, it came alive. I felt as though I lived there, that the Realm was real – that Incarceron really was alive. That it existed somewhere, and I was a part of it. The characters became my friends, and my enemies. Their struggles became mine. I fought alongside them. And on top of that…. (Yes, there’s even more!) Catherine Fisher is the QUEEN of twists and cliff-hangers. Wanna know how many I counted? Ok, nevermind, I lost count… But, if I’m being hoenst, there was at least one cliffhanger every chapter, and usually there was a twist, too. Fisher manages to build up a whole world in only a few pages, where what you believe about it is so certain and firm and you think it can never be changed – and then with one sentence, one word, you discover that you were completely and utterly wrong. Sound fascinating? I think yes. After this rollercoaster of a story, what did I think? What did I feel? What did I do? When it was over, I felt whole. It was incredibly perfect, how she finished off these powerful books. The climax surpassed even my highest expectations (which, because of my love for Incarceron, were really high). I had NO idea what she had planned for the end. I actually cried during the last 20 pages. I couldn’t believe what had happened, and it was so emotional (for me, as I was totally attached to the characters) and just wonderful. (And let’s just say…….Jared.) The last few pages just make your heart melt. I was very pleased. And I know I’ll read it again – I’ll probably read it many times. It’s one of those that you’ll never get enough of. At least, I know I won’t. Highly recommended, ages 15 to 100. (“B**ch” is repeated twice. Other than that, it’s only intense action and some violence that is something to look out for for younger readers.)
    • 4/5
      My Summary: It's been a few months since Finn escaped from Incarceron, and nothing has gone as planned. The whole Realm is still suspicious of him, and even Claudia is beginning to doubt that the boy she helped rescue isn't really the lost prince Giles, as it becomes apparent that Finn is even more miserable outside the prison than he was inside.As secret plots against Finn are discovered, Finn, Claudia, and Jared must struggle to prove that Finn is actually Giles and restore order to the crumbling Realm before it is too late.My Thoughts: This was an amazing novel, although I was a little disappointed by the lack of romance between the main characters. That being said, the rest of the novel was awesome.Catherine Fisher's writing is impeccable. She manages to weave the world of the Realm and Incarceron around you effortlessly, until you can imagine yourself right next to the characters as the story unfolds. I loved the flip between Attia and Claudia's points of view as well - it added so much dimension to the story and kept you on the edge of your seat. I also loved the development of the prison itself as a character, and the fact that nobody - even Finn - knew who the true prince was.Final Thoughts: I definitely recommend this series to people of all ages, especially if you love historical fiction and dystopians (because this happens to be both).
    • 5/5
      Literary Fantasy, excellent fiction---writing succinct and superb
    • 3/5
      I admit that I am disappointed in this book. I was hoping for something more but all I got was a repetitive book.First off the plot, its basically the same. In the first book they are trying to get out of Incarceron and in this one they are trying to get back in. I kept getting frustrated cause I wanted more to happen. All the characters fought the same. Love triangle began. And I had a hard time keeping focused cause of the repetitive story line.There were however, a few now elements in the book but it wasn't till the very end. Some new changes were made that at least perk up my interest and was able to finish the book. Also because of the new changes, I am anxious to see how it will effect the next book.As a fan of the first book, I am a little bummed that this book wasn't at all what I expected. I am hoping the next book with the new changes really grabs me. I still love the series, but I just needed something more.
    • 4/5
      I’d have to say this book was a much better improvement than Incarceron. There was more action, the pace was quicker, and the intrigue was turned up a little higher to get the plot rolling. The action did make the novel go quicker although I preferred reading more about Keiro and Attia than Claudia and Finn. Although I used to like Claudia before, she seemed to morph into some sort of selfish spoiled brat who didn’t care much except her own needs. Finn also turned into a mopey brat that cared only for Keiro (which makes sense, but it was borderline obsessive.)Despite the negative comments I see about Keiro (thoughout different websites reviewing Sapphique), I’d have to say he was my favorite character in this book. (Besides Jared). He had this undeniable charm and despite being a selfish, egotistical jerk, he wasn’t whiny and did not mope around like a twit. Although the majority of his actions were all to meet his own ends and he’s just as selfish as Claudia might be, there’s just something charming about Keiro that’s likable. I thought he was an excellent character despite his ‘supporting’ status. Finn may seem central to the plot, but he doesn’t shine as much as Keiro does. There are different points of view in the story, unlike Incarceron where it switched from Claudia to Finn. Now, there a different points of view but this time it switches settings. (From being inside Incarceron, to being outside of it). It’s not so bad, although some readers may find it a bit confusing, and the flow of the plot does get bumpy once in a while. The ending of the book was interesting and does leave a lot of room for another installment. I wouldn’t mind a trilogy, as the story has taken a turn for the more exciting. I’d actually like to know what happens to Keiro next as he looks like he could be a catalyst for something big. It was a great ending to the duology (although it looks like there might be a third?) and worth the read. The action helps the plot carry forward and makes the reading go faster. Some might be daunted by the task of reading another ‘chunky’ book. However with the fast pace, the action, and the bits of intrigue, reading this shouldn’t take long at all.
    • 3/5
      A sequal to Incarceron. Is Finn the real prince Giles? Will the portal ever be fixed? Is the warden lost in Incarceron forever/ Will Attia and Kiero ever get to the outside? All questions you are left with at the end of Incarceron and that continue to be questioned throughout the whole book.A good sequal that answered many questions but i was left wanting more. There were some slow sections with Finn and Claudia that just seemed to be repeated constantly. I did enjoy the story and maintain its something fun but not great.  
    • 3/5
      Saphique is sadly a jumbled mess of story and ideas and characters that is rarely clear and never seems to go anywhere concrete. It feels as if Fisher didn't quite know what story she wanted to tell here, what characters were most important, or how her technology actually works. What came off as engaging mystery and delightful uncertainty in the first book is now starting to feel sloppy. Incarceron feels vague and inconsistent. What can it actually do? How does it work? Why does it have a heartbeat? The characters' motivations feel sloppy and half-hearted. Finn's disengagement, Claudia's vague meanderings around court, Kiero's aimless anger, even Jared's research doesn't ever cohere into anything meaningful. In many places, they don't even feel like characters. I finished this book quickly not so much because I was desperate to know what happened as because I was desperate to be done and move onto something else. It makes me sad - Incarceron and the Era are fantastic, amazing, wildly original premises. There is a lot to be done here. The idea of stagnating change could be powerful. But Fisher never takes it anywhere, and it's not even clear whether we're supposed to believe that the world would be better off without Protocol (after all, apparently the /moon itself/ is damaged) or how it affects things broadly. I really wish this series were better than it is.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book more than the first. It had lots of high and lows that kept you intrigued throughout the book.I would have loved more of a love twist with Claudia and Finn but I really like how Finn evolved into a stong king through this book.
    • 5/5
      Sapphique was a spectacular ending to Incarceron. Although I'm so sad this series is done, the ending was just great. Their was action, excitement, and THANK GOD the writer didn't drown this book in romance. I mean, I'm not against love or anything, but too much teenage hormones would have taken away from the story.So this glorious adventure continues with Claudia and Finn, who has escaped from Incarceron and is now trying to adjust to life as a prince. Easier said than done. Claudia is dying to get Sia off the throne, Finn to be king, searching for her father, the warden in Incarceron and of course, finding the prison to release Keiro and Attia. Finn is haunted by memories of his old life, trying to assure himself he is king when he honestly has no memories of his past and dying to find Keiro. Meanwhile, Keiro and Attia might know a way of escape...but so does the prison. And Jared fights against the disease that will eventually kill him, so can he help the prisoners escape before that time comes?Well, first things first, what I love about this series is that everything started off as a mystery and even though it wrapped up pretty nicely, there were still some things left up to the imagination. There was not one moment when I wasn't dying with excitement and wanting more.Although Claudia got really annoying at times and I honetly just wanted to smack her around, I pretty much liked everybody. Yes, even Keiro. He may be vain and selfish and uncaring, but that's just the way he is. If you lived in a sadistic plague-ridden prison and had to survive by stealing and even killing, then yes, its understandable. At least to me. And you know, he does care for his friends, he just shows it in strange ways. I bet if I lived in a prison like that, I'd do the same thing for survival, especially if I'd never been outside. Seriously, he is my favorite character. I liked Attia so much more in this book than the other for some reason. Her and Keiro were very cute together...and Finn was just precious.Basically I loved this book. Catherine Fisher really knows how to keep you on your toes and the mystery of Sapphique really left me amazed. I can't wait to read more of her books. :)Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars