“I think most things begin to fracture without anyone realizing it’s even happening, a sort of splintered silence that gives way all at once under too much weight, and without warning.”
- Title: This Splintered Silence
- Author: Kayla Olson
- Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery
- Pages: 368 pages
- Publication date: November 13, 2018
- Publisher: HarperTeen
I knew I had to read The Splintered Silence since I met Kayla Olson at UNT last year. When I wrote about books that professional writers recommended and the differences between successful artists’ views, she was there! I put her book into my Goodreads and waited.
This Splintered Silence takes place in a time where Earth has several colonies living in space. The colonies depend on supplies from Earth, but they are functional and growing. A disease came off of one of the supply containers though and killed all the adults on board the Lusca. Eighty-five kids remain. Lindley and five others step up to take charge, but what happens when they found another dead body?
The story has some good twists between the shortening of supplies, the cause of the new deaths, and more. It follows the dead commander’s daughter, Lindley, as she tries to help her station the most she can. Lindley is a strong character, but she overthinks a good amount of her steps. Not everything she does is correct, which I like. Everyone, even the main character, can make mistakes.
I have two super major critiques that bothered me.
One – The beginning felt rushed. The reader gets thrown into the story, trying to grasp what is going on. It can seem a bit like someone is slamming on and off the brakes in a car. It’s not as smooth as the rest of the book, which could set some readers off.
Two (slight spoiler for this paragraph only) – Lindley’s interest grows between two separate characters. It started seeming like the classic YA triangle, but it…stops. Perhaps I missed something. I’m not usually one to complain about a lack of YA triangle, but if you’re going to introduce one, finish it. Even if the girl doesn’t pick either person, pick an ending.
Overall, this is a good book. If you like staying on the more science side of mysteries, you’ll love it. It has great tension throughout the whole book that crescendos all the way until the end. It’s a great quick read if you’re looking for one.
Score: 7.7/10
Average rating on Goodreads: 3.6/5
Robin LeeAnn 