SOME FINE DAY is a post-apocalyptic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ross has created a very scary world for SOME FINE DAY. Humans have moved underground after the surface began to be ravaged by hypercanes, these gigantic storms that rage uncontrolled across the face of the planet. It's a nice change from all of the zombie apocalypse stuff I've been reading and I think it has a nice touch of realism, though we're a ways away from it at this point. As you can imagine, life underground is quite regimented because of the limited resources. There are different city states, some of which cooperate and others that are more hostile. Despite the challenges, the human race has adapted and is trying to get make the best possible life out of the terrible situation they find themselves in.
Our heroine, Jansin, is a 16-year-old super agent in the making, on the cusp of graduation, when she learns that her family will be taking a vacation on the surface during a calm spell. It's a terrifying and exciting prospect because Jasnin's never felt the sun on her face, or breathed in fresh air, and Ross does a commendable job of showing us how these experiences affect Jasnin, even when she knows there's a high possibility of danger, either from the hypercanes or from the toads (part-human, part-amphibian creatures who developed on the surface). This vacation opens Jansin's eyes to the possibilities of life on the surface and to the realities of her own life (like her by-the-books not-very-interesting boyfriend Jack). And when she's taken hostage by a band of survivors, she's forced to learn a whole new way of living, one without the comforts or privileges of her underground life. And she's a better person for it. This is one of the things I loved about SOME FINE DAY. Jasnin has to confront the lies that the underground society has been built upon and she discovers a lot about herself in the process. There's nothing better than a story that knocks the hero(ine) down only to build him or her back up into a more fully realised and aware person and that's what we get with Jansin's journey: a true coming-of-age in the face of enormous odds, in which she needs to make hard decisions and face terrifying enemies.
One of the things that give SOME FINE DAY an epic feel is that Ross shows us all the different ways that people can react to crises and survival situations. There are people who take advantage and jockey for power, there are others who are bent on survival whatever the cost, still others who are determined to retain their humanity. There are moments of extreme brutality and unexpected kindness. All of these elements make Jasnin's world feel very real and progressively scarier as she delves deeper and deeper into the dark side of her world. I would definitely recommend SOME FINE DAY to anyone who likes strong storytelling and lots of character development. The book ends fairly abruptly and you'll definitely be left wanting more -- in the best way possible! SOME FINE DAY is a remarkable debut and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
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