My Thoughts on the Novel, Ascent of Angels…

I enjoyed this book. I really did. The worldbuilding was excellent, the premise was believable, and the characters were well-fleshed out. I enjoyed it so much that I added the next novel in the series to my TBR.

This dystopian story takes place on the Exsta, a large ring-shaped colony spaceship that was separated from the fleet that left Earth and was heading towards habitable planets. The ship is divided into habitats, where humans, the balconeros (the haves), and the Gen Pop (the have-nots), work in the habitats' appropriate climate and terrain.

Raphael, the god-king, and the Choir of Higher Angels govern all habitats of the Exsta, always giving advantages to the balconeros.

Simon, the main character, a farm boy from the agricultural habitat, is arrested for discovering a government secret. He is sentenced to compete in the Ascent of Angels, a televised seven-round, last-team-standing competition between the best of each habitat and the Fallen, the criminals and lowlifes of which Simon is now a part.

More secrets and corruption are to be uncovered by Simon, as his Fallen team wins each round despite the harsh disadvantages (they receive body mods after succeeding in each round, but they receive no training or explanations of how they work).

I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction. Since the main character is also a teenager, I would classify this novel in the Young Adult category, and suggest it to that appropriate audience. I’ll most likely acquire the three-book set for my classroom library.