Tanyana is among the highest ranking in her far-future society—a skilled pionner, able to use a mixture of ritual and innate talent to manipulate the particles that hold all matter together. But an accident brings her life crashing down around her ears. She is cast down amongst the lowest of the low, little more than a garbage collector.
Who did this to her, and for what sinister purpose? Her quest to find out will take her to parts of the city she never knew existed, and open the door to a world she could never have imagined.
“A fabulous debut. Glorious and grim cityscapes, kick-ass characters, and a deepening mystery at its heart.” —Trent Jamieson
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"This book was simply amazing! But, at times where there are still some confusing parts. In fact, this book is quite hard to understand. This book is about Tanyana Vladha, a girl in a far-future society. She is able to move and talk to these particles called "pions" that can create beautiful things. She was the strongest architect and among the highest ranking pion-benders able to bend these pions. She used pions to make all sorts of unique things. You see, in her city, everything is made out of pions. Pions create light, pions create color so everything looked beautiful, pions create water and everything else. But one day, as she was building a 800 ft statue, unusual red pions attacked her. Knocked her down, which led her to bruises, cuts, stitches and scars in the hospital. But, the sad thing is, because of that horrible accident, she couldn't see or talk to anymore pions, so she was cast to the lowest rank in her city, little more than a debris collector. But, she was told that if she was the best at pion-bending, then she was also the best at debris collecting. She was given a suit of silver bands literally stitched on to her wrists, ankles, neck and waist. They will never come off her. Little did she know what is installed for her. She encounters new adventures as she learns how to use her suit. She can use it to find debris, weapons and even to coat herself in a silver suit, kinda like the Silver Surfer. But, one of her team members, Lad, a mental boy who was able to talk to debris and he can hear them, which makes him able to find debris in seconds. Later, Tanyana was able to do that too. But, how does Lad do that? How does Tanyana do that? How did Tanyana came here? Who did this to her? Why was she the targeted person to become a collector? She searches for an answer. So what's the theme for this book? I believe it's: Never give up and never stop searching for what you are looking for. I think that's the theme because Tanyana never gave up on being a debris collector, even though she didn't like it. Instead of being sulky about it, she learns how to be one and learn what to do. She also never gave up and never stop searching on what she needed to find out about debris, herself, Lad, about her city, and also about the people who targeted on her and made her like this. She wants to know why, so she finds the answer. And she did."
— Faith (4 out of 5 stars)
" An interesting take on magical systems. The beginning was quite slow, but I was hooked by the end. Unfortunately, the book left a lot unfinished. "
— Tracey, 2/13/2014" I was very impressed and look forward to the next book. An original world with interesting mechanic's and politics. I highly recommend this. "
— Tom, 2/12/2014" Although this had a number of things that are not on my completely don't-touch-with-a-tenfoot-bargepole list but do tend me to be somewhat disinclined towards a narrative (I really have less and less patience with first person stroppy alpha female narrators when there are no other significant women characters and the various supporting ones are largely weak, bitchy, or rivalrous, while all plot-important interactions are with male characters; and the initial plot set-up I found a bit been there done that) I did carry on reading and it did at least pick up and set questions one wanted to have answered (even if one felt that she was implausibily unsuspicious of the rather creepy guy, who was covered in flashing lights spelling out that he had some dodgy agenda going on). I might even consider reading the sequel. "
— Lesley, 2/11/2014" On page 110. Had to return to the library. "
— Katherine, 1/15/2014" A fun read. Reminded me of Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. Will look for the sequels. "
— Kris, 12/28/2013" I love this story, so different, unique! "
— Gamedoll, 12/24/2013" I loved this - got sucked straight in and enjoyed it the whole way through. I'll be reviewing the second book in the trilogy for COSMOS and I can't wait. "
— Rivqa, 5/18/2013" Promising start to a new sf series. Interesting characters - dialogue could use some work - but a good pace to the narrative with a few twists to the story line. "
— Chele, 4/24/2013" This will appeal to steampunk fans. I was very unsure that I would like this, but it came very highly recommended on several lists and it ends up reading very quickly. Good world-building, too. "
— Kathyred, 12/16/2012" Okay book but hard to follow at times and I couldn't really get into it. "
— Ayla, 12/12/2011Kate Rudd, actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator, has appeared in several independent films and shorts, as well as in multiple episodes of the television show Perks. As an audiobook narrator she has been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration.