Book Review of the 'Australia' trilogy by JP Smythe

Having heard Mrs Osafo expound on the 'Australia' trilogy during every Year Seven activity for the past 3 years, I thought it was time I read it for myself and I am so glad I did!

Way Down Dark

This is the first book in the trilogy where we are introduced to Chan who lives in a spaceship which has been in orbit for generations, ostensibly searching for a new planet to settle on. However, Australia has now descended into anarchy with gangs running various sections of the ships and danger round every corner. When Chan’s mother dies, the teenager has to step up and become more ruthless to survive. The story is definitely violent in places but there are lots of characters that you really care about and want to survive. There are also two massive twists in the narrative towards the end of the book which I certainly didn’t see coming.

Long Dark Dusk
The second in the trilogy is a good novel in its own right. Many trilogies do not deliver on the second book - the first novel is great and the third ties things up nicely but the second can often just feel like a filler or a bridge. This is definitely not one of these! I can’t say more for fear of giving away spoilers, but Chan continues to fight to fulfil the promises she made in the first book and the setting is so cleverly described that I can picture the whole world in technicolour in my imagination.

Dark Made Dawn
The third book in the trilogy brings the story to a very satisfying conclusion which again does not always happen with trilogies. Chan is still trying to fulfil her promises despite treachery lurking round every corner and her character has grown and matured. Violence still abounds but it is not gratuitous and its effect upon the characters is carefully explored which is really interesting.

I would thoroughly recommend this series and the author JP Smythe, having met him when he visited BGS and read some of his other books.  Thanks to Mrs O for endorsing him!

Mrs Godden