Arch-Conspirator

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Arch-Conspirator is a compact but sophisticated novella that takes the general framework of Antigone and brings forth an in-depth exploration into hard questions and tough choices in an unsettling futuristic world. Some of the details about how reproduction works here seemed a little murky, but it didn’t affect my comprehension of the overall story. The dystopian world and the multiple points of view were fascinating and enjoyable additions to the original tale. Veronica Roth was a new author for me, but I found myself really enjoying her writing style – the storytelling and dialogue felt refreshing and with purpose, not a word was wasted. Roth has written an entirely different story with “Conspirator”, but it still managed to engage and entertain.

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth: Book Review Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth: Book Review

So when Kreon told us we were welcome to live in his house, I knew what the consequences would be: he would let Polyneikes and Eteocles and Ismene and me live, but we would do so at his pleasure.Every person still living is a gift, every viable womb precious, but women no longer have children naturally. I enjoyed some of the themes that were being brought up – this cycle of revenge and wondering if we can truly change – which feels very Greek Mythology. I really enjoyed this retelling of it, and I definitely related a lot more to this version of her than the original (from what I can remember about her at least).

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth - Utopia State of Mind Review: Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth - Utopia State of Mind

The rest of the story could be more straightforward, but the amount of information is too much for a tiny novella-length story. With their uncle Kreon, now the ruler, looking to consolidate power and squash all attempts at rebellion, it’s only a matter of time until Antigone herself is caught at the center of the resulting devastation. On another note, I was pleased to see that Roth’s writing has evolved, especially considering the last book I read by her was Allegiant, which wasn’t my favorite novel. The siblings are easy to relate to and cheer for, and the brushed-over battle scenes focus on the emotional wreckage, instead of the gory details. After the death of her brothers, Antigone is desperate and her final act of revolt leads her uncle to banish her, in lieu of execution.A thrilling, profoundly moving science fiction retelling of the Greek tragedy Antigone filled with inevitable doom, heart-break and one final act of courage. Perhaps it wasn’t because we were family—perhaps it was because we were children of Oedipus, warped though we were by our genes. Given how short this is, it's a little light in places but in a sea of mythical re-writings which fail to pay any sort of homage to the original source(s), this uses the myth to explore its politics in different ways without losing the shape of the original story.

Arch-Conspirator - Veronica Roth - The Book Dutchesses Review | Arch-Conspirator - Veronica Roth - The Book Dutchesses

Not gonna lie, I probably should’ve been paying more attention in high school when my Lit class did Antigone, but hey, apparently enough got through. If you're looking for a fairly accurate retelling of Antigone but set in a sci-fi world, I think you'd really enjoy Arch-Conspirator. There some great quotes and I liked Kreon thru other’s eyes but for a short story, not much was explained. But it’s dystopian, post-apocalyptic world where common people are labeled based on their genes, there are some similarities, and fans of “ Divergent” won’t be completely lost. And in using all these POVs you get an awful lot of anguish and emotion from all angles, which makes this an emotional rollercoaster.There’s heartbreak on every page from enforced pregnancies to unwanted betrothals, its typical of the Greek way of storytelling. BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.