The Sign of One (Book #1) - Eugene Lambert [Review]

Book: The Sign of One

Author: Eugene Lambert

Published: 7th April 2016

Publisher: Egmont UK

Pages: 400
Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Going into this book, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I hadn't heard a lot about it, but it was advertised as a science-fiction type thriller, although I would say to me it reads more as a dystopian novel, but I'm okay with that.

The premise of the book was very interesting. As a twin myself (hi, Mel!), I found the narrative concerning the 'evil' twins to be intriguing and it was definitely what held my attention for the first part of the novel. These 'evil' twins are branded, separated and eventually executed as part of the Annual Peace Fair (ironic name, am I right?). But the big draw is that our main protagonist finds out he's one of these 'evil' twins - eghad!

The characters are definitely interesting. Kyle is a little naive, but strong-willed and you can really understand his sense of struggle as his world turns upside down and he is forced to question everything he has ever known. However, the crown Jewel of this novel is Sky, the female protagonist. Billed as a rebel pilot (reminds me of Rey from The Force Awakens) with a hidden agenda, she was definitely my favourite character in the book. So rare is it to find a strong female protagonist that I get super excited whenever one actually appears.

The writing throughout is suitably engaging, and I never found myself bored or flicking through pages, which has been known to happen before. The novel delves into deeper issues of prejudice and segregation, which allows for a thought-provoking read.

Despite a littering of typically dystopian themes, this is definitely more than just another YA dystopia/sci-fi read. Consider me suitably intrigued for the sequel.