Title: Noble Conflict
Author: Malorie Blackman
ISBN: 9780385610421
As a
fan of Malorie Blackman, I know she has a skill for creating entire fictional
worlds, such as the fantastic ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series for example. This
book is based on a Totalarian world in which Guardians protect the Alliance
from the Insurgents who work for the Crusaders and attempt to attack the
Alliance. Kaspar is a new young Guardian, determined to fight for his country
and protect the people from the vicious terrorists. However in his role of
Guardianship he discovers things he had never realised, and begins to question
his own knowledge of the world he lives in and the system by which his life and
the lives of his entire country are run. He decides to try and find a pattern
to the movements and attacks made by the insurgents, some stealing information before
committing suicide while others are blowing up large areas of cities killing
innocent people and children. However as he becomes more involved his own
comrades and leaders appear more opposed to him, Kaspar feels he is in far too
deep.
However, with the help of
Mackensie, a young librarian full of sharp wit and bright ideas, he uncovers a
series of data which suggests the movements of the insurgents may not be as
simple and unorganised as they are made out to be. He is burning with
questions, none of which are answered by the High Councillor and or his
Guardian leader Voss. In fact the more he discovers, the more he is pushed
away. Then he discovers something he wished he never had. The Guardians use
stun-guns as the Alliance refuses to sink to the level of the Crusaders by
means of slaughter; therefore the Insurgents are checked for injuries then sent
to a holding station. Or so they had been told. Yet Kaspar finds thousands of
these people, shot by him and the other guardians, who should have recovered
unharmed, on life support and covered in scars in the supposedly abandoned
North Wing at the Guardian’s hospital. The confusion increases after meeting
Rhea, an insurgent who saves his life as after he meets her he begins to have
vivid dreams and he fears he may be able to experience her thoughts and
emotions. Kaspar struggles on his path to find the truth: is he on the side on
noble conflict?
Another
gripping action packed thriller from one of my favourite authors, Noble
Conflict uses an imaginary world to address issues which are very significant today
and have been throughout history. The horror of the Totalarian State seems so
distant to us, so impossible, but this book examines the idea of complete
manipulation and control of an entire society. It also includes elements of
romance, friendship and national belonging and examines the terrible
realisation of the truth as the entire world falls to pieces. As a character Kaspar
is likeable and obviously intelligent and therefore he displays how easily a
society can be controlled if the influence is so great that no one dares to
question what they have been told.
I would fully recommend this book!
8/10
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