review

I was really excited to receive a copy of The Dysasters, mostly because I enjoy comic-esques stories in the vein of Cloak & Dagger and The Flash. Plus, I’ve read a number of books by P.C Cast in the past that I’ve loved. This book has certainly checked all the boxes for me: Evil mad scientists. Elemental abilities. Diverse representation among characters.

Key points: POV alternates between Foster/Tate and the “Core Four”. The Dysasters is a young adult fantasy with elements of science fiction. Though not many, the book contains comic illustrations of the characters and certain scenes. Tornados. Epic chase scenes. Lots of swearing to sate your inner sailor. Not one, BUT TWO romantic sublots.

The Dysaster kicks off with Foster and her stepmom Cora on the run. They arrive in a small town on a mission to find another human with powers like Foster’s. This turns out to be Tate. But after year on the run, their pursuers — known as “the Core Four” — catch up and after a devastating incident that leaves Foster reeling, she and Tate must flee together in order to survive.

In the beginning, the plot struggled to capture my attention. It was’t bad; it was just slow, despite the book opening in the middle of the action, and I found the comic drawings to be a bit distracting. But Ari! How on earth can you say we’re dropping In Medias Res but the plot is slow? I know. It sounds like a contradiction, but I guess for me it was the unevenly distributed pockets of exposition (backstory/infodumping) that made the plot sag. BUT, I absolutely loved the natural (or rather, unnatural) disasters that amped up the stakes. From epic chases to massive tornados, to constant confrontation between the heroes and villains, I honestly wouldn’t know where else P.C Cast and Kristin Cast were supposed to put all the background information.

Although the character emsemble is not my favorite to date, I found myself enjoying Foster’s tough girl act. She’s rough around the edges, sarcastic, and stubborn, but deep down, there’s a kernel of vulnerability that spoke to me. Tate struck me as the typical small town footballer: a sweet, next-door kind a boy who takes his time enjoying the good stuff. My biggest issue with Tate (other than the constant “bitch” thrown at Foster) really doesn’t have anything to do with him; I like bad boys, plain and simple, so Tate’s a little too sweet for me. Foster and Tate are the air elementals of this story.

But it’s clear he and Foster are opposites, and therefore drawn to eachother. And when they do meet, their full abilities are unleased. As cheesy as it might be, I love stories in which it’s hinted that two characters (Foster/Tate) are connected in a way that’s out of this world. Althoug Tate and Foster are not my favorite pairing, there’s something to be admired about two opposite characters trying to make their relationship work (even if it’s barely friendship at best). I love to push and pull between these two, and feel it’s one of the BEST aspects of the whole story.

Then you’ve got Charlott and Bastien (That chemistry, baby!), the water elementals. I was torn between Foster/Tate and Bastien/Charlotte for most of the book. These romantic pairings are SO different from each other, so I don’t think I can judge based on that. However, I LOVE both Charlotte and Bastien.

conclusion

Though it was’t an all-consuming young adult fantasy, it’s a bold and creative attempt to mix comics with traditional storytelling. The comic drawings, simple plot, and info-dumping did not work for me, BUT I loved most of the characters (Foster/Cora/Bastien/Charlotte), the fast-packed action, the sudden twists, and the elemental abilities. I love how we get a peek at what it’s like for teens to develop powers right as they’re on the verge of adulthood. That loss of childhood and gain of independence is definitely a rough transition. And though it reads more on the younger end of YA (closer to 14 than 17, in my opinion), it’s a great story for readers who don’t like the heaviness of many YA fantasies. It offers a few laughs, a whisper of hope, a reminder that though the wind threatens to change everything in the blink of an eye….it will pass.

verdict

[rating-report]

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

#1 New York Times & #1 USA Today bestselling author P.C. Cast was born in the Midwest, and, after her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Booksellers’ Best, and many, many more. Ms. Cast is an experienced teacher and talented speaker who lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses.

Kristin Cast is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today bestselling author who teams with her mother to write the wildly successful House of Night series. She has editorial credits, a thriving t-shirt line, and a passion for all things paranormal. When away from her writing desk, Kristin loves going on adventures with her friends, family, and significant other, playing with her dogs (Grace Kelly and Hobbs the Tiny Dragon), and is currently obsessed with her baby.

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