INSIDE OUT (by:Maria V. Snyder) REVIEW

Synopsis:
Keep Your Head Down. Don't Get Noticed. Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. One of thousands who work in the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. The Trava family who rules our world from their spacious Upper levels wants us to be docile and obedient, like sheep. To insure we behave, they send the Pop Cops to police us.

So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that

Until a lower level prophet claims a Gateway to Outside exists. And guess who he wants to steal into the Upper levels to get the proof? You’re right. Me. I alone know every single duct, pipe, corridor, shortcut, hole and ladder of Inside. It’s suicide plain and simple. But guess who can’t let a challenge like that go unanswered? Right again. Me. dangerous--the only neck at risk is my own.

Review:
"Disclaimer: I lend caution to any prospective readers of this particular Maria V. Snyder book because it is insanely addictive and criminally exciting. Though what's the purpose of offering you a review if the purpose were to deter you from reading rather than convince you. Well, I decided to remain honest and offer you a disclaimer before being swept up by my review and having the same happen to a greater degree when reading the book."

In the past, Maria V. Snyder has evidently become one of the most trusted novelists in the trade. With other writers, there are always certain novels in their repertoire of works that pales in great comparison to their best novel. Certainly, Maria V. Snyder's best novel continues to be "Poison Study," in terms of expert plotting and character analysis. Though she always undoubtedly writes novels that maintain the same degree of excellence. Truthfully, there were several trouble spots in "Storm Glass," and "Fire Study." Even though they were ameliorated through improving other spots that allowed for readers to overlook these errors.

"Inside Out," unlike Maria V. Snyder's preceding novels cannot rightfully be compared in style or mechanics to any of the Study or Glass Novels. Because the style of writing and plot elements deviate greatly from any of her past works. With this, I applaud Maria V. Snyder for allowing her novels to evolve and take up a new shape. Similarly to Opal's glass, she weaves an innovative shape and imbues it with an entirely different feel. Different from the Study or Glass novels, the omnipresent ambiance of "Inside Out," is a feeling of being confined. Furthermore, there's a sense of impending danger that the reader senses in the form of irreducible anxiety. We've seen this tactfully represented in many of the action scenes in Maria's other series. Yet, in this story, this mood's manipulated and extended to last the duration of the novel. Being an aspiring writer with two novels in the works, I find the maintenance of this mood to be a very difficult feat to master. For Maria V. Snyder to be able to have this alacrity earns my highest respect.

In terms of character, Maria V. Snyder again introdouces us to a cast of characters with identifiable personalities. With our adrenaline already bursting at the seams, we begin to intensely nervous due to developing deep feelings for the characters involved in her stories. From the onset, the readers can imprint themselves in the body of Trella and fast process of empathising ups the ante of our excitment or dread to reach the resolution of the story.

Whether unconsciously or consciously, Maria V. Snyder developed the structure of the story to mirror Trella's own internal struggle. Being introverted and naturally detached from the world, her psyche would defintely be represented by a network of various air ducts. Deftly, Maria V. Snyder has the surface story reflect Trella's own personal struggle of earning a sense of reality by forging friendships with others besides herself. I begin to suspect Maria V. Snyder may be aware of the metaphors of the physical elements of her stories. Take for example, the myriad of comparisons drawn between Opal and various tools and forces prominent in the story. Perhaps, this first novel exists as her journey to improve her outer world and the second novel involves seeking out more truths about herself by delving deep into herself. More than likely, these extrapolations are wrong though I suspect that the next entry in the series could very well involve the equivalent of this same story concept.

In conclusion, I wholeheartdly reccomend this book. Additionally, I strongly urge male readers to attempt to read this book as every single one of Maria V. Snyder's are action adventure stories at their core with sprinklings of romance to increase the believability factor of this story. And for those who reside in Pennslyvania, New Jersey, Delaware, or elsewhere; please consider attending the "Inside Out Release Party," at the Borders Express at the Exton, PA mall. (Frighteningly, you run a high risk of happening into me dressed in Valek's infamous green tights.. NOT!)More information can be found at Maria V. Snyder's website. This information will appear immediatley when clicking upon the tab on the side bar entitled "Appearences." And thanks to Maria V. Snyder and Harlequin for charitably offering me a copy of this book!! Even if my review comes a little after the release date of the book.