Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...

Wow.

Can I just say wow?

I LOVED this book. I thought it was brilliantly written with intriguing characters. From the very first chapter, I didn't want to put this book down. It took me about a week to get through it-- but that's not because it has a slow storyline. It's just such a great, new, different concept-- a prison with a mind of its own. I wanted to process it all and make sure I didn't miss anything vital. And trust me. EVERYTHING is vital. Some parts were (I think) purposely predictable although there were quite a few things that I could never have guessed. I just... loved this book. If you like fantasy and you are sick-to-death of werewolves and vampires, this is the book for you.

I can't wait to read book two, Sapphique. It's sitting on my dresser begging to be picked up! :)

(Wow.)