The Tomb by S. A. Bodeen - OPTIONAL

The Tomb by S. A. Bodeen, 249 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2018. $18

Language: PG: (7 swear, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (some descriptions of mummifying a person and doctor related surgeries); Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Kiva knows only her life in ancient Alexandria.  She goes to school, helps her mom, and is apprenticing to become a doctor.  When Seth shows up at school, Kiva is surprised to see him. Seth was her best friend but when his mom died, he left school and she hasn’t seen him since then.  Kiva wishes things could be different. When there is a major earthquake and Seth is killed, Kiva’s mother tells her that she has been chosen as Seth’s companion as he moves into the Underworld.  When Kiva wakes, everything is different. Seth finds her and tells her they aren’t in the Underworld and everything she believes about her life in Alexandria is false. The truth is she has been living in virtual reality and they are actually on a ship that left Earth long before they were born.  They have never even been to Earth.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book.  It’s a quick, easy read, and I like science fiction.  There are ships, possible space pirates, a mystery, virtual reality, and a great cover.  The ending, however, wasn’t quite a cliffhanger but it sure felt like the story hadn’t ended.  There were too many new people and situations introduced in the last 20 pages, and too many holes throughout to give it a satisfying ending.  I’d sure like to see a sequel to clear up those loose threads and give it a stronger ending.

Reviewer: RB