Book Review: Pendomus

Media Type: Ebook
Title: Pendomus
   *Series: Pendomus Chronicles #1
Author: Carissa Andrews
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 10, 2013
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
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Content Screening: Mild Violence

HDB Rating: 3 Keys to My Heart


Recommended to: Readers who enjoy stories filled with action and adventure.


Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon

Humanity has colonized on the tidally locked planet Pendomus.

Residing between extreme heat and frigid cold is the complex known as the Helix. Within lies a highly sophisticated society functioning solely on humans fulfilling their life’s purpose as determined by their natural aptitudes and daily brain scans.

Seventeen-year-old Runa Cophem has found her calling studying the ancient trees nearby and anxiously awaits a professional placement which will allow her to continue her work.

Runa’s life takes an unforeseen turn when she’s brutally attacked and left for dead in those woods. Rescued by a stranger with blue hair, she’s immersed into a surprising way humanity has survived without the Helix. Fueled by a yearning to understand and an attraction she didn’t even know was possible, Runa tries to make a new life for herself. Yet, there’s much she doesn’t know about herself, about the planet, and the forces controlling her from afar.

What she needs are some answers.

I won’t deny that it was the synopsis that drew me to Pendomus in the first place. It had a decidedly sci fi feel to it, and I was intrigued by the fact that it revolved around humans who had colonized another planet. While it took a bit for me to fall in line with the characters and their story, Pendomus did impress me. It’s a different read, and that alone kept me reading on.

I wasn’t expecting Pendomus to be told in two different points of view. Runa is the main character, and narrates most of the chapters, but Traeton narrates as well. I liked Runa straight off. Her passion for nature spoke to me. I was excited to see where it would take her. Then Traeton came into the picture, and I fell in love. Sweet and helpful, he was the perfect yin to Runa’s yang. Although I thought their relationship moved a little too quickly, they absolutely work well together.

In all honesty, it was the plot that initially lost me. Things started moving quickly, and I found myself floundering for the first few chapters. Instead of building up Runa’s home, and Traeton’s life, Pendomus throws you straight into the fray. It took me a while to find my bearings, to start to uncover why Runa was against Helix, and to understand why Traeton would want to live separate from the others. It is an odd start, but it all converged into an interesting story. Being set on a different planet allows the characters to have their own societal norms and their own mythology. Once I found my footing, I enjoyed it all.

I’d say that readers of both Fantasy and Science Fiction will find a lot to enjoy in Pendomus. As long as you’re willing to take the beginning with a grain of salt and keep reading on, you’ll find a solid story between these pages. The copy I read had a few grammatical issues, but it was an advanced copy. The author informed me that the finished copy is great! Add this to your reading list if you’re looking for something to whisk you away to a brand new place.

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.