Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

During the summer, I read a very well-written fantasy book called Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. The two main characters in this book are Finn and Claudia. These kids live in two parallel worlds and yet are able to communicate with each other through a mysterious crystal key. Incarceron is a prison that was created by people long ago so that the world could have a place to keep prisoners. The prison was intended to be a paradise, but it ended up turning into more like the opposite, and the inhabitants live in an imperfect world. Many literary devices are used in this book. One device Fisher used was ambiguity for the ending. Her use of this device was effective because it left me wondering if the characters had succeeded in their journey or not. Another device the author used was descriptive settings. Fisher described Incarceron as being alive, which made me think of the prison as a thinking, breathing, character. This helped me to better understand the character’s feelings, and I was able to visualize the prison and Claudia’s mansion in great detail.

The main characters, Finn and Claudia, both have conflicts brewing around them. On the one hand, Finn is trying to escape Incarceron. Meanwhile Claudia is trying to help him escape, and at the same time, get out of an arranged marriage with a horrible man. Neither of these problems are easily solved because in Finn’s case, Incarceron is almost too smart to be escaped from. Yet in Claudia’s case, her father will not let her get anywhere near the prison, or out of her soon-to-come marriage. Fisher (the author) makes it seem like these problems will never be solved, and leaves the characters during dark times. But in the end, she turns the plot around and has a happy ending.

Although this book seems like the average fantasy book, it actually has a deeper meaning. Each character’s unique traits help to bring out the underlying meaning for the reader. The deeper understanding also helps the reader to figure out the main point of the book. But not only do the characters help bring the message out, but the message also helps bring the characters' most significant traits out. The overall message of the book is even if you’re extremely determined to accomplish something, stay true to your friends and family. Both characters had to make the decision of either getting what they really desired, or sacrificing everything for their friends. Read this suspenseful book to find out the choice they made.