I received a free e-copy of The Universe Builders in exchange for my honest review.
It's not often I find a book that grabs me like The Universe Builders did. I found myself reading this every chance I could get, and cursing the things that kept me from reading, sleep be damned. A witty young adult novel, with a fantasy, sci-fi theme. I'll admit that it was the cover that first drew me to this book, so when the author offered an e-book in exchange for my review I jumped at the chance.
I was captivated right from the start, having felt a Terry Pratchett/Douglas Adams vibe about the story. Bernie, a young god who had just finished god school, graduating as a universe builder, the toughest and most sort after occupation a god could want. I'm a sucker for an underdog, and Bernie certainly was that, with his personal cloud full of chaos and hi-jinx, it's a wonder he ever graduated at all. But Bernie was determined, he worked hard at keeping his chaotic cloud under control and managed to scrape through.
Landing his dream job right out of school, Bernie was both delighted and relieved, that was until he was placed next to his school bully, Billy. Billy and Bernie had a troubled history, Billy, ever the bully had targeted Bernie early on, just around the time Bernie's award winning father divorced his mother leaving the latter to raise Bernie on her own, which also meant moving into the 'bad' neighbourhood. On one of these occasions Billy took things too far while heckling a young goddess called Susie. Bernie, or more to the point, Bernie's cloud, had had enough and fought back, leaving Billy deeply scarred.
From that day on Bernie tried to settle everything peacefully. This softness meant Bernie was always trying to find options to avoid wiping out any of his creations. Bernie didn't want them to die, whether from old age, disease or disaster. It was this softness that almost saw Bernie miss out on his dream job, but ever in his debt, and quite infatuated, Susie convinced her boss to hire Bernie on probation, to see what he could do.
I enjoyed the writing style, switching between third person narration to first person for Bernie's diary entries, or from Billy's perspective. Fairly evenly paced throughout, the tempo made it an easy and enjoyable read, suited to the target audience.
Bernie's triumph over adversity is something we all love to read, and I think the idea that bullies will always be caught out in the end is a great moral to pass onto youth. Even in those times when we don't think the authority figures care, it shows that the truth has a way of finding its way to the surface.
I gave The Universe Builders Bernie and the Putty 5 stars, and have been trying to convince my kids that they would really enjoy this book too, even though Mum loves it. I am looking forward to the sequel.
The Universe Builders can be purchased through the website. The publisher, Argon Press, only ships to the US, so if you're in the market for a hard-copy the book can also be purchased through other online retailers, also linked at that page.
It's not just me who loves this story, LeBel's story has won many awards over the last year or so
GRAND PRIZE – Writer’s Digest – 2015
FINALIST – Stargazer Award – 2015
FINALIST – Beverly Hills Book Awards – 2015
GOLD – eLit Book Awards – 2015
FINALIST – Next Generation Indie Awards – 2015
WINNER – San Francisco Book Festival – 2015
FINALIST – International Book Awards – 2015
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