Next Level Roller Derby

Skid Kids by Michael Franz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have complicated and possibly overly critical feelings about this one. Firstly, it was an arc read, forwarded my way because I love the Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. All things considered, I’d say that’s probably a good market to reach out to. You won’t find the same depth of character and plot, but it’s also nowhere near the same investment, so those factors have their place.

There’s a lot to love here. It’s certainly action-packed, and the pace holds steady. The editor in me also appreciated the work that must’ve gone into the various drafts. I liked the balance between the bigger picture and the smaller stakes at play. It had a real Quidditch match versus Voldemort battle tension, which I enjoy. (This is where the roller derby element comes in, as mutants participate in a brutal game to win their freedom.) Again, nowhere near the same investment, but you can decide for yourself whether this is something that interests you or not. Personally, I like the occasional fantasy or sci-fi work that doesn’t require years of reading, rereading and waiting. Not always, but there aren’t many standalones in these genres, so arguably there is a need.

I found the writing itself to be quite balanced. There are different characters coming in at various times, helping to build the tension, and you don’t lose sight of the protagonists, though I might’ve preferred more depth for the protagonists and their perspectives.

Which, I guess, brings me to what I didn’t like. The world building felt a little incomplete at times. There were instances where current, nearly outdated, technology was being used as the main and only technology available rather than technology more in keeping with the world up to that point. There were also a couple of contradictions and plot holes that made it difficult for me to suspend disbelief and continue on the journey alongside the characters. Which, I suppose, brings me to my biggest issue with the book: lazy writing. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of work has clearly gone into this, and I genuinely feel like I could’ve loved it if it had been developed fully, but there were a few instances that lost me completely. There are points at which characters rather blatantly snap their personalities in half in order to move the plot along faster. They didn’t stay true to the narrative and that diminished the experience for me. There’s no way I’m going to believe that Zander, with his back story, and understandable trust issues, would happily hop into a bin full of trash because ‘he didn’t know why, but he just trusted the man’ who’d told him to ‘get in’. And, unfortunately, this is but one of many examples wherein things seem too easy. There’s hardship, for sure, but politically and psychologically the work needs … well … work.

Final Thoughts
It’s a decent story, and I can appreciate the morals and motives despite the sense that most aspects of the characters and plot need a bit more development. I’m glad I got to read it.

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