Silver by Olivia Levez
3 stars
Out: Now
Silver is on Earth to send data about humans to see if it is viable for her homeship, Charybdis, to colonize. She must always remember 'To touch is agony. To feel is pain'. She inhabits the body of a young woman and must learn to pass as human. Silver is not prepared for how humans are and she is especially not prepared for Finch, the boy she starts to fall for. Who touches her and it doesn't hurt...
With the 1st person POV, we see the world through Silver's observant, studious, duty-bound, awestruck newcomer gaze. The weirdness of the situation is depicted very well. There is a quality of preciseness, a matter-of-fact demeanor to the descriptions, including little details that are befitting to the character. Ever so often there are sentences that are lyrical gems. I enjoyed the philosophical vibe.
We experience Silver's homeship and upbringing with the Before parts which were so interesting. The harshness of their expectations. The narrative shines with the antithesis of growing up with touching or intimacy being forbidden and then being flooded with the touchy-feely behavior of the humans. She is confused and awkward, very much in her head. We travel in her inner thoughts. The humor is inevitable. The warm and fuzzies too. Though so are the heart-wrenching, drama-induced, 'what to do now' parts.
Loneliness and the need for connection color the story. It is about discovering hope and joy and keeping them alive inside. About belonging.
The buildup of the story is gradual, maybe a little slow in parts. I wish that some of the scenes that have to do with the threat are less confusing and could have been brought about a little differently. As we get close to the finale there are instances where the storyline seems to stumble and I wish the author had gone a different way. The best part of the book was Silver learning how to be human. The final truth that is revealed makes so much sense and you know it couldn't have ended any other way.
An unexpected more than likely doomed romance that that teaches a spy from the stars the power of love with the world at stake.
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