Crudrat

I loved the story, but oh my gosh was it poorly proofread. Or not at all. I'm talking three misspellings in a page sometimes. Considering this was a re-release, I'm not even sure what to think. The wrong file uploaded to the Kindle edition or something? (I'm really starting to think it is, cause there's a sample at the end of my copy of a related book to come, and it starts with "change this to that" and stuff...)<br /><br />But anyway, I loved the story well enough, and it has that peculiar tone that authors who don't normally write scifi put in their scifi books. That's good and it's refreshing, because they don't go for the typical tropes or settings in scifi. That said, this was a YA dystopia, and some things were fairly typical for one, some didn't even make sense and seemed to be there only to fit the theme of the evil dystopian society, to check a box. But even that said, it did not take away from the enjoyment. I devoured this in a day and a half and it was time well spent. I also kind of wish it had a sequel.

This is a great YA story set in the far future, in space, and tells the story of Maura, a twelve-year-old girl who lives on a space station where everyone and everything is controlled by implants -- and the children who for some reason reject this implant are summarily rejected from society, regardless of their family's status. They become Cyphers, non-citizens, without any rights or support. Their only recourse is to become crudrats, a dangerous, slave-like life with a very short life expectancy (and, of course, vital to the function of the space station). And if they survive this cruel and dangerous existence, by developing skills and talents that few others have, they will live long enough to grow too big for the work, getting thrown out from the only thing they are permitted to do. This is what happens to Maura at the start of the book, leaving her two options: starve to death or get "spaced" for using precious air that should be saved for her betters. And then she spies something very interesting: a captured alien creature on the station, and decides to save it. <br />I listened to the full-cast audio version of the book, which is engaging and a lot of fun, though a bit amateurish in parts, not always doing total justice to the text. The characters are interesting and the would-building is good, but leaving you wanting to know more. I liked that the protagonist lacks the entitled "poor me" attitude of so many YA protags, even though she is faced with very hard, and often unfair, challenges.The ending feels like a setup for further stories.

That was a fun YA scifi story. It certainly left me wanting more without the need for cliff hanger or next-book tricks.

The universe expanded fast.<br />Crudat keeps a great pace, ever answer creates more questions making you race till the end. <br />Starting from small and cramped to the roofless possibilities of endless space, Gail has built a world from the inside out and then goes beyond. You don’t need a Cypher to see the hints to an underlying mythology that will tie the universes and characters together as the series continues.<br /><br />This one is looking forward to experiencing Maura’s journey again as a full cast audio book when it’s released in April.<br />

Maura is an outcast, working as a cleaner on the space station ducts until she gets to big for that. Within a week she is kicked out, rescues and alien and travels to a new world…<br /><br />Why I started this book: Needed a fun book this month, as I traveling has limited my reading time.<br /><br />Why I finished it: Very compelling and exciting story… with the opportunity for more. Nothing listed yet, but I will have to keep my eye out for more Maura adventures.

Great book. The story is good, world building is good, and I enjoyed the characters. I thought the Killki mayor was unfair in her treatment of Maura, even if she was portrayed as being fair, but it seems like she was honourable in her own way. I don't particularly like some of the judgement and high-handedness, but that is part of the story. <br />I did like the scope of the story, Maura finding her way in this new society. I'm very much looking forward to a sequel!

4.5 stars for this fun, strange, addicting little read. Crudrat is a unique experience and I loved it. It glories in its oddity, it’s strangeness and I can’t fault it for that ??, I enjoyed the world building, the characters and their own discoveries along the way. I wasn’t sure what I would get out of a book named Crudrat, but it was sheer enjoyment :)

I did not think it will be as good as it was. I really liked this one. the 1st half was trying to understand terminology once you have that down really enjoyable

The audio is lots of fun and the world building is interesting and very well done. The characters are also interesting and my only issue is I felt it ends without a real resolution.

Delightful. Would love to read a sequel. And now I want a pet murmel.