Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
When Elita was twelve, she and other local children were ripped away from their families by an invading insectoid race known as the mantids. Twelve years later, she works as a slave for her captors, along with thousands of fellow human beings, in a hive where men are separated from women and humans are neither allowed to speak nor write.
As the daughter of a prophet, Elita has kept her father's teachings alive, and her believers hold out hope that the Chosen One will one day be called to the gates by Kamali, so that he or she may travel through five different worlds to gather the items needed to destroy their enslavers.
Their group, The Retribution Squad, has chosen Elita to be the one to make the journey when Kamali's light appears. Elita's beloved, Koen, risks his life to provide her with a weapon just in time, and then, Elita spots a brilliant light flashing from a nearby hillside.
Elita's journey through the five gates puts her faith, memories, and prejudices to the test. Through new allies, new knowledge, and a new understanding of their enemies, Elita gains hope for her quest. However, the alignment of the planets is almost over, signaling the impending close of the gates, and she must race against the clock to gather the crucial items she will need to save humanity.
An interesting take on humans versus aliens, I appreciated how the author gave us an entirely three dimensional "chosen one" who does not immediately have all the skills that she needs. This gives the reader a chance to learn and grow with the heroine as she advances on her journey.
When Elita was twelve, she and other local children were ripped away from their families by an invading insectoid race known as the mantids. Twelve years later, she works as a slave for her captors, along with thousands of fellow human beings, in a hive where men are separated from women and humans are neither allowed to speak nor write.
As the daughter of a prophet, Elita has kept her father's teachings alive, and her believers hold out hope that the Chosen One will one day be called to the gates by Kamali, so that he or she may travel through five different worlds to gather the items needed to destroy their enslavers.
Their group, The Retribution Squad, has chosen Elita to be the one to make the journey when Kamali's light appears. Elita's beloved, Koen, risks his life to provide her with a weapon just in time, and then, Elita spots a brilliant light flashing from a nearby hillside.
Elita's journey through the five gates puts her faith, memories, and prejudices to the test. Through new allies, new knowledge, and a new understanding of their enemies, Elita gains hope for her quest. However, the alignment of the planets is almost over, signaling the impending close of the gates, and she must race against the clock to gather the crucial items she will need to save humanity.
An interesting take on humans versus aliens, I appreciated how the author gave us an entirely three dimensional "chosen one" who does not immediately have all the skills that she needs. This gives the reader a chance to learn and grow with the heroine as she advances on her journey.
