Tribes - Carmen Webster Buxton

Title: Tribes
Author: Carmen Webster Buxton
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

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I have previously read two books by Carmen Webster Buxton and loved them both so I was really looking forward to picking up "Tribes". The story follows a young man named Hob who was abandoned as a baby to grow up as a slave with no hope of freedom. This because on the world of Mariposa various tribes dominate the political and cultural scene to the point that any boy born without a father and therefore without a tribe to welcome him has no rights and will usually become enslaved.

However, Hob manages to escape one day and is rescued from the desert by a woman named Jahnse whose family disagrees with slavery and therefore invites him to take refuge at her father's house. Hob begins to see what a normal life would be like and soon becomes friends with Jahnsi and her family who try to think up a way to ensure that Hob can keep his freedom.

His ex-owner however has not given up the hunt and is determined to find him at all costs. Things get even more complex when a woman from off-world arrives to hunt down a specific child that was abandoned at birth. So when she identifies Hob as a potential candidate a race begins as both try to find him and ensure that the future they have planned for him comes to pass.

I found this book to be a fun and easy read with a brilliant narrative that feels so natural and draws the reader in. I was hooked from the beginning and the plot moved at a comfortable pace that kept you wanting more but didn't leave you behind. In addition, I loved the world and society that has been created, the various tribal structures, roles and regulations were quite simply fascinating to follow.

The real power though behind this novel are the characters, each one has a distinct and individual personality that fits in perfectly with the story. Hob in particular is very easy to like and the reader is really made to feel for the mistreatment he has suffered. I couldn't help but enjoy sharing his journey through the novel with him and hope that his future would offer him something wonderful.

Overall, this was another thoroughly enjoyable novel from Buxton that I would happily recommend to anyone who enjoys reading. The characters are well crafted, the world and society are fascinating and the plot itself is entertaining. Even if you don't normally read Science Fiction you should probably give this book a try as the engaging characters and interesting society are the real driving force behind the story even if it is a Science Fiction setting.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge