sami's Reviews > Petrified

I received a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaway.

I really did not expect that I'd like this book so much. At first I thought mixing robots, trolls, and aliens in one book was hard to pull off, but the author managed to execute the concept amazingly well! The medieval + sci-fi genre was unique and the storyline was refreshing, not to mention the absence of romance. I am not exaggerating when I say that this has to be one of the most fascinating books that I've read.

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Anyway, let's talk about the characters. Gunhild, the female protagonist, was really likable. She isn't one of the usual overpowered (with no apparent reason), air-headed female protagonists in YA novels. She developed from being the stubborn, reckless soldier into a careful but clever one who also considers other people's well-being, not just her own desires. I like how she was really understanding of the situation when the general was explaining why he wouldn't promote her to sergeant. She was open-minded and reasonable, she worked even harder for her goal instead of complaining much further. (Her personality was really admirable, she instantly became my 3rd favorite female protagonist; 1st and 2nd being Katniss Everdeen and Magpie Windwitch, respectively).

So in order to get promoted, Gunhild was sent on a mission to scout the Troll Island because one of the trolls there stole the amethyst crown from the palace. She was to spy on the trolls and observe their way of living, their hideouts, and such.

Incidentally, the second protagonist Kirabo, an alien from planet Aberash with blue skin and purple eyes (so majestic), accidentally arrives on Earth through his spaceship due to his mistake of entering the wrong coordinates. He landed on troll island and there he met Gunhild. Since he's an alien, he speaks a different language from humans so he gets help from his PA robot, RJ, who translates Kirabo and Gunhild's conversations for them to understand each other. RJ is just a robot, he isn't capable of feeling and showing emotions, yet he is programmed to say and act things that are appropriate for certain situations. Kirabo also programmed him to be witty and a little sarcastic, so that he wouldn't be too boring as a companion. I found these characteristics of RJ to be cute and three-dimensional, because of course, he's expected to be monotonous and superficial, being a robot and all. RJ turned out to be absolutely lovable, another pleasant surprise from the author.

So, Kirabo and Gunhild realized that they could be of use to each other. Gunhild found Kirabo's technology and RJ useful, and Kirabo needed Gunhild's help to find sade, some kind of fuel for his spaceship so that he could go back home. And that is where their adventure begins...

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Kirabo, Gunhild, and RJ's team was unusual, but fun. Their adventure was enthralling, and it certainly would pull any reader into it. The only 'downside' that I found in this book is that it was too short (having only 170 pages), but I guess it could be a good thing- it's better to have a short but satisfying and fun-packed story than to have a long, dragged-out one. Yet reaching the end of this book made me crave for more ; ; I found it kind of hard to part with Petrified, but I am happy with the story's ending. This is definitely worth the read! I look forward to more creative stories from the author.