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Sapphique
(Incarceron #2)
by
Finn has escaped Incarceron only to find that he must defend his right to the throne from another challenger. His life and Claudia's hang on Finn convincing the Court that he is the lost prince, even though he has his own doubts about being the true heir.
...more
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Hardcover, 462 pages
Published
December 28th 2010
by Dial
(first published September 18th 2008)
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When rereading an old fave doesn't go to plan and you actually end up disappointed! :(
"He'd never wept in a cell with his mind torn away, never laid awake at night hearing the screams of children. He's not me. He's never been taunted by the prison."
I loved Incarceron, I thought it was clever, and I found the plot engaging and addicting. I couldn't wait to jump into book 2.
********SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ INCARCERON!!!!!*************
Claudia and Finn are outside, attempting to reinstat ...more
"He'd never wept in a cell with his mind torn away, never laid awake at night hearing the screams of children. He's not me. He's never been taunted by the prison."
I loved Incarceron, I thought it was clever, and I found the plot engaging and addicting. I couldn't wait to jump into book 2.
********SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN'T READ INCARCERON!!!!!*************
Claudia and Finn are outside, attempting to reinstat ...more

I give this about a B/B- - somewhere in between "Pretty good" and "Very nice".
This book was pretty good. I think I enjoyed it more than Incarceron, pretty much because I was familiar enough with the basic storyline and didn’t have to spend so much time figuring everything out. The pacing was pretty good, but the last 100 pages really, REALLY dragged…and it got to the point where I came dangerously close to not caring anymore…that’s not usually a good sign.
And yet…
I don’t want to make it sound ...more
This book was pretty good. I think I enjoyed it more than Incarceron, pretty much because I was familiar enough with the basic storyline and didn’t have to spend so much time figuring everything out. The pacing was pretty good, but the last 100 pages really, REALLY dragged…and it got to the point where I came dangerously close to not caring anymore…that’s not usually a good sign.
And yet…
I don’t want to make it sound ...more

Feb 01, 2011
Jessica
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
favorites,
ya,
fantasy,
sci-fi,
dark-and-creepy,
theres-a-prince-yall,
fierce-ladies,
dystopian,
reviewed-books,
pretty-prose
I swear that people simply must not get this series (I say “series” hopefully, because for right now it looks like there will only be the two books). I don’t mean that in some kind of pretentious, exclusive way, it’s just my only rationalization for why both books are only thisclose to being 4 stars. Are the wrong people reading them? Are people going in with certain, um, expectations and not feeling that they’re met? Do people just not want to do any real thinking?
I really need to stop sounding ...more

Sometimes when I'm sitting on the couch at night reading, loopy with exhaustion, I look over at my cats and start thinking about how weird it is that they're sentient beings who have feelings and communicate in ways that I will never understand. Then I pass out with my book on my face. But if you are like me and have a hard enough time grasping animal consciousness, then you will probably also have a hard time taking seriously the idea that a prison is not only a sentient being but wants to buil
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Mar 16, 2010
Heather
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya,
my-scifi-pics
I was so interested to read the follow-up to Incarceron that I ordered the UK version of Sapphique so I wouldn't have to wait until December to find out what happened to Finn and Claudia (and c'mon, having a UK edition is pretty cool, too).
MILD SPOILERS:
In Fisher's sequel, Finn's been sprung out of one prison and into another -- as future king of the Realm, he's trapped in all the usual politicking. He still can't remember his past life as Prince Giles, and he's plagued by memories (Keiro, trap ...more
MILD SPOILERS:
In Fisher's sequel, Finn's been sprung out of one prison and into another -- as future king of the Realm, he's trapped in all the usual politicking. He still can't remember his past life as Prince Giles, and he's plagued by memories (Keiro, trap ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I gave the first book in this series a bit of a light ride, because I was intrigued by the ideas, and thank goodness, it was something different in a mass of fantasy books that were decidedly running together. So although there were things left unexplained, relationships that seemed strained, I hoped those would be delved into in greater depth in later volumes, and let it pass. Unfortunately, the second book doesn't resolve any of the problems, and seems to be the end of the series, so, where am
...more

I try to express only my most honest opinion in a spoiler-free way. Unfortunately, there is still always a risk of slight spoilers despite my best efforts. If you feel something in my review is a spoiler please let me know. Thank you.
So I don't feel this book was really any better than the first. It sums everything up, which is always nice, but in the end, I feel this whole series was decent but not exactly good. I'm glad I finished it though. I went with the audio for this book and I'm glad I d ...more
So I don't feel this book was really any better than the first. It sums everything up, which is always nice, but in the end, I feel this whole series was decent but not exactly good. I'm glad I finished it though. I went with the audio for this book and I'm glad I d ...more

I'm a little unsure how I feel about this book. I did enjoy some parts, especially the steam punk element. But a lot of it had me feeling very meh. I still did enjoy the concept and the twists and turns that kept me guessing just like with the first book. But the ending left me feeling very unsatisfied. In a way I feel like instead of wrapping up the series, this book left me with more questions than it answered.
...more

This was one of the most amazing books I have read in a long time. Let me start by saying that Fisher is a true wordsmith. Her prose is always lyrical and just so so lovely. It's been a long time since I've read such quotable and enjoyable writing.
The plot moved much more quickly in this book than it did in the first, and I was grateful for that. At the same time, there were parts with no real plot, but not one of these scenes felt unnecessary or boring or out of place. Each of them contributed ...more
The plot moved much more quickly in this book than it did in the first, and I was grateful for that. At the same time, there were parts with no real plot, but not one of these scenes felt unnecessary or boring or out of place. Each of them contributed ...more

So yeah - I gave up. This book was a complete let down after how amazing the first book Incarceron was. But sadly my copy was due back at the library and considering I hadn't picked it back up in over a week and a half I figured I would rather spend my time reading books I am still interested in.
This book's worst problem (just as in the first book) was characterization. All of the characters were like cardboard cutouts. They told you a story but I didn't get any feeling from it. Not to mention F ...more
This book's worst problem (just as in the first book) was characterization. All of the characters were like cardboard cutouts. They told you a story but I didn't get any feeling from it. Not to mention F ...more

Nov 29, 2011
Mel (Epic Reading)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own-print
I found this series, starting with Incarceron to have so many great themes. There are English and psych papers abound to be written on this series.
It's mysterious, dark, sweet and bittersweet all at the same time.
If you came away not liking this series then I'd say you likely missed out on the point:
A prison can be made up of so many things. It doesn't necessarily have to have walls nor an exit.
...more
It's mysterious, dark, sweet and bittersweet all at the same time.
If you came away not liking this series then I'd say you likely missed out on the point:
A prison can be made up of so many things. It doesn't necessarily have to have walls nor an exit.
...more

Mar 26, 2010
Sarah
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone who liked Incarceron
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I reviewed Incarceron a few weeks back and, although I didn't like it, I already had a copy of the ARC. Sapphique was not better than the first book in the series, but it was easier for me to get through, perhaps because I had much lower expectations. All of my problems with the first book still remain here.
The characters, all of them, are pretty much entirely unlikeable. Jared, Claudia's tutor, is the character I most liked, but the reader has known since the beginning of book one that he has a ...more
The characters, all of them, are pretty much entirely unlikeable. Jared, Claudia's tutor, is the character I most liked, but the reader has known since the beginning of book one that he has a ...more

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, but it was hard for me to get into the story in the beginning. But once when I got into the story, I couldn't stop reading.
Keiro was my top character again, his personality and his atitudes were the best part of the book. I have to congratulate Catherine for getting him out of the prison. But Attia could've stayed in the prison, because I dislike her a lot.
The whole perfect world everyone was living in started falling apart, and I liked that. We final ...more
Keiro was my top character again, his personality and his atitudes were the best part of the book. I have to congratulate Catherine for getting him out of the prison. But Attia could've stayed in the prison, because I dislike her a lot.
The whole perfect world everyone was living in started falling apart, and I liked that. We final ...more

After the revelation of what Incarceron was at the end of Book 1, I was eager and curious to read this book. Unfortunately, like so many 'end of the series' books, this one leaves quite a few questions unanswered. I accepted that at the end of Incarceron, there would be questions, but I hoped that this volume would answer them.
Alas. There's still plenty of plot holes/unexplained things that left this world somewhat murky.
Don't get me wrong - I applaud the creativity of the premise of this story, ...more
Alas. There's still plenty of plot holes/unexplained things that left this world somewhat murky.
Don't get me wrong - I applaud the creativity of the premise of this story, ...more

Feb 08, 2010
Krista (Miura Haruma-san, I will always miss you)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
This just wasn't as good as the first.
I liked how Keiro and Attia were still trapped in the prison, so we weren't cut off from its awesomeness entirely, but somehow it didn't feel as interesting in this one. The character of Rix was pretty annoying and he thorougly grossed me out. I did like how Keiro and Attia stayed together, even though he claimed not to like her, you can tell he does.
What annoyed me was the lack of character development. Keiro, Attia, Claudia, and Finn all stay exactly the ...more
I liked how Keiro and Attia were still trapped in the prison, so we weren't cut off from its awesomeness entirely, but somehow it didn't feel as interesting in this one. The character of Rix was pretty annoying and he thorougly grossed me out. I did like how Keiro and Attia stayed together, even though he claimed not to like her, you can tell he does.
What annoyed me was the lack of character development. Keiro, Attia, Claudia, and Finn all stay exactly the ...more

This month I am going to recommend another young adult fantasy contained in a two book set - INCARCERON and SAPPHIQUE by Catherine Fisher. In these stories, we follow the efforts of three prisoners held captive in a prison as large as an entire world to find a way out. Only one man has ever escaped, and he has become a legend to the prison populace. On the outside of the prison, the daughter of the Warden - who tends to the prison and its population - attempts to discover the secret of Incarcero
...more

I still don't love these books. I think the story line is very interesting but the characters just aren't "something" enough - there is no one to really hate or love or pull for, so i don't have the connection. I also don't think there is enough back story. Why are they in this artificial time and what was the war about? It is mentioned but no real details.
...more

I had such high hopes for this book. I had mixed feelings after reading Incarceron and thought maybe one needed to read the conclusion of this series in order to really get it. So, I special ordered Sapphique from the UK, since it won't be published in the US for another few months. What a huge let down this installment was!! This book made me feel like I must be some kind of idiot, because I just didn't get it! I am usually very quick to pick up on what's happening in the plots of books. I stil
...more

4.5 stars, I must say.
Okay, so... I'm still in shock... I'm still trying to figure this all out...
Well, I'm not going to write a review about this book, because I barely remember anything, since it took so long for me to finish it. However, if I were to write something, I would say something like this...
First of all, WHAT AN AMAZING (although not exactly satisfying) ENDING! Incredible! Since that moment when "the truth about the both worlds was revealed", I just loved this book! It showed so ma ...more
Okay, so... I'm still in shock... I'm still trying to figure this all out...
Well, I'm not going to write a review about this book, because I barely remember anything, since it took so long for me to finish it. However, if I were to write something, I would say something like this...
First of all, WHAT AN AMAZING (although not exactly satisfying) ENDING! Incredible! Since that moment when "the truth about the both worlds was revealed", I just loved this book! It showed so ma ...more

Well...that was quite a ride. After 3 bathroom breaks, 2 snacks, 300 breaths, 10 pages and 7,504 catnaps, I have devoured a quite delicious wonder called "Sapphique" The things I liked about it...hm. Well, lets see. There's the steam-punk element, the dystopian drama, the royal intrigue, and the drool-worthy futuristic gadgets that is the pipe dream of any good CIA agent on the planet....or under it. ;P
What I didn't like about it.... do you really want to spoil the good feeling of a good book w ...more
What I didn't like about it.... do you really want to spoil the good feeling of a good book w ...more

Jun 29, 2010
Laura
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mt-bookpile-2010,
old-reads
I loved Incarceron, and perhaps had too high hopes for Sapphique... it's a good sequel, but not a great sequel. Part of that may have been my hope that it would be more like Fire was to Graceling than an addition to the original story - there's no reason for me to have thought that just wishing.
Anyway, Sapphique picks up shortly after Finn Escapes to Outside, with Claudia and Jared trying to figure out how to work the Portal and Sia trying to prove that Finn is not Prince Giles; Inside, Keiko an ...more
Anyway, Sapphique picks up shortly after Finn Escapes to Outside, with Claudia and Jared trying to figure out how to work the Portal and Sia trying to prove that Finn is not Prince Giles; Inside, Keiko an ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Whoa. I wish this series was a trilogy instead of a duology, but *sigh* I guess I shall have to make do with these two books. Just, seriously...wow. I loved it. This book ramps up from where Incarceron left off, with just as much intrigue, twisting plot, and phenomenal characters. And then, oh, that ending! Wow. Took me a few times of "Wait...what???" to get it, but when I did, I had this stupid grin and a feeling of something close to dizziness. What a plot twist!
So yes, I am most absolutely i ...more
So yes, I am most absolutely i ...more

Nov 27, 2019
Devin Willson
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance-free,
read-2019
A very solid sequel. I enjoyed it a lot and I grew to like some of the characters even more than i did in the first one.
Like Keiro.
He's great.
The ending tho... i didn't dislike it... but it was... really strange? idk what to think o.O
overall a solid 4/5 and just as good as, if not a bit better than, the first book. ...more
Like Keiro.
He's great.
The ending tho... i didn't dislike it... but it was... really strange? idk what to think o.O
overall a solid 4/5 and just as good as, if not a bit better than, the first book. ...more

Feb 02, 2013
Whisper
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Careful readers, who read to embrace every nuance of every word.
A five star rating? It deserves far more.
Sapphique has seen the stars. Outside, they shine perfect and bright on the Realm. Far away, Incarceron hungers for them, and its Prisoners know stars only as red pinpricks in the dark that watch with malevolent knowing.
Five stars, Goodreads says?
I think not.
The story of Sapphique, of Claudia and Finn, Jared Saipiens and the Steel Wolves -- The riveting account of Keiro and Attia, and Rix the Dark Enchanter and his Art Magicke -- The unfolding of John Arl ...more
Sapphique has seen the stars. Outside, they shine perfect and bright on the Realm. Far away, Incarceron hungers for them, and its Prisoners know stars only as red pinpricks in the dark that watch with malevolent knowing.
Five stars, Goodreads says?
I think not.
The story of Sapphique, of Claudia and Finn, Jared Saipiens and the Steel Wolves -- The riveting account of Keiro and Attia, and Rix the Dark Enchanter and his Art Magicke -- The unfolding of John Arl ...more

I wanted to wait until I'd read both Incarceron and Sapphique before I wrote my review. While each book stands on its own, I had to see where the story went (after finishing Incarceron) and how I felt about it.
Let me preface this by saying I didn't not like the book. If Goodreads allowed half stars for rating, I would've rated both as 2.5s. Personally, I thought Catherine Fisher was quite innovative in creating a Matrix-steam-punk-YA mash-up: in some future time, because of all the wars and rebe ...more
Let me preface this by saying I didn't not like the book. If Goodreads allowed half stars for rating, I would've rated both as 2.5s. Personally, I thought Catherine Fisher was quite innovative in creating a Matrix-steam-punk-YA mash-up: in some future time, because of all the wars and rebe ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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Were you disappointed with the point that nobody 'ended up together' in Sapphique? Which pair do you support and why? | 19 | 228 | Jan 02, 2019 09:44PM | |
bugs | 1 | 7 | Dec 04, 2016 05:44AM | |
Jared... at the end? And is Sapphique... | 3 | 40 | Mar 05, 2015 02:57PM | |
Attia and Keiro? | 6 | 70 | Jan 10, 2015 12:34AM | |
so sapphique was.....? | 3 | 44 | Oct 05, 2014 08:38PM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. MG steampunk? NYTimes recent bestseller? [s] | 6 | 41 | May 28, 2014 08:27PM |
Catherine Fisher was born in Newport, Wales. She graduated from the University of Wales with a degree in English and a fascination for myth and history. She has worked in education and archaeology and as a lecturer in creative writing at the University of Glamorgan. She is a Fellow of the Welsh Academy.
Catherine is an acclaimed poet and novelist, regularly lecturing and giving readings to groups o ...more
Catherine is an acclaimed poet and novelist, regularly lecturing and giving readings to groups o ...more
Other books in the series
Incarceron
(2 books)
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“Once Incarceron became a dragon, and a Prisoner crawled into his lair. They made a wager. They would ask each other riddles, and the one who could not answer would lose. It it was the man, he would give his life. The Prison offered a secret way of Escape. But even as the man agreed, he felt its hidden laughter.
They played for a year and a day. The lights stayed dark. The dead were not removed. Food was not provided. The Prison ignored the cries of its inmates.
Sapphique was the man. He had one riddle left. He said, "What is the Key that unlocks the heart?"
For a day Incarceron thought. For two days. For three. Then it said, "If I ever knew the answer, I have forgotten it."
--Sapphique in the Tunnels of Madness”
—
33 likes
They played for a year and a day. The lights stayed dark. The dead were not removed. Food was not provided. The Prison ignored the cries of its inmates.
Sapphique was the man. He had one riddle left. He said, "What is the Key that unlocks the heart?"
For a day Incarceron thought. For two days. For three. Then it said, "If I ever knew the answer, I have forgotten it."
--Sapphique in the Tunnels of Madness”
“The Stars.
Jared slept beneath them, uneasy in the rustling leaves.
From the battlements Finn gazed up at them, seeing the impossible distances between galaxies and nebulae, and thinking they were not as wide as the distances between people.
In the study Claudia sensed them, in the sparks and crackles on the screen.
In the prison, Attia dreamt of them, She sat curled on the hard chair, Rix repacking his hidden pockets obsessively with coins and glass discs and hidden handkerchiefs.
A single spark flickered deep in the coin Keiro spun and caught, spun and caught.”
—
31 likes
More quotes…
Jared slept beneath them, uneasy in the rustling leaves.
From the battlements Finn gazed up at them, seeing the impossible distances between galaxies and nebulae, and thinking they were not as wide as the distances between people.
In the study Claudia sensed them, in the sparks and crackles on the screen.
In the prison, Attia dreamt of them, She sat curled on the hard chair, Rix repacking his hidden pockets obsessively with coins and glass discs and hidden handkerchiefs.
A single spark flickered deep in the coin Keiro spun and caught, spun and caught.”