Mini Review: The Bridge by Jane Higgins

The Bridge Southside Novels Book One
Written by Jane Higgins
Dystopian, War
Published August 1st 2011
344 Pages
Add to Goodreads
★★★★
The City is divided. The bridges gated. In Southside, the hostiles live in squalor and desperation, waiting for a chance to overrun the residents of Cityside.

Nik is still in high school but is destined for a great career with the Internal Security and Intelligence Services, the brains behind the war. But when ISIS comes recruiting, everyone is shocked when he isn't chosen. There must be an explanation, but no one will talk about it. Then the school is bombed and the hostiles take the bridges. Buildings are burning, kids are dead, and the hostiles have kidnapped Sol. Now ISIS is hunting for Nik.

But Nik is on the run, with Sol's sister Fyffe and ISIS hot on their trail. They cross the bridge in search of Sol, and Nik finds answers to questions he had never dared to ask.
Nikolai Stais lives in a world of civil unrest but has been sheltered from the conflict, until the Breken target his school on the Cityside of the bridge. Orphaned at a young age, Nik is expected to be recruited by the Internal Security and Intelligence Services come Victory Day. But when Nik is bypassed by the organisation all students work towards joining, eight year old Sol is taken by the Breken and Sol's sister Fyffe and Nik embark on a journey over the bridge to Southside to bring him home.

They've always been taught that the Breken are a barbaric and brutal society, hell bent on destroying their way of life. Posing as a Breken soldier, Nik discovers that there is more to the Breken that what they've been lead to believe. A broken society that fights for peace, for the right to an education for their children and to abolish segregation between the wealthy and those who struggle to survive.

Nik is on the verge of finding Sol and heading home when his real identity is discovered, leaving even the Breken themselves reeling. He is more than the orphan he assumed he was, and in a world where loyalties will be tested and new alliances formed, Nik just may be the deciding factor in bringing peace to both sides of the city.

Kelly's Thoughts

It's no secret that I absolutely adore the dystopian genre as a whole, the oppression, the revolutions and characters that rise against adversity to save the world. Every so often a book comes along that breaks the typical mould that readers expect, The Bridge is that book. More political than pure dystopian, Nik's world is divided by two classes at war, his own in which children are trained to become elite soldiers with ISIS and the war hungry and barbaric Breken who live over the bridges, or so he is lead to believe.

I loved it. It was beautifully written and incredibly engaging. Although I couldn't connect to any of the characters on a personal level, the world building was brilliant. The unrest between both societies is intense, but the political conflict brewing between the Breken adds another layer to the hostile world Nik is left to navigate. If you're looking for a new name in dystopian that isn't weighed down by an awkward romance or teen angst, The Bridge is pure entertainment.

19 comments

  1. YAY to dystopian novels! Hmm.. the lack of connection to the characters makes me cringe, I do like the sound of the world building plot - I might look into it now, thank you for putting this under my radar now. Great review! :)

    Benish | Feminist Reflections

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    1. Thanks Benish. It really is a fantastic read, despite not being able to connect to any of the characters, I'm hoping those relationships will develop in the follow up, which I'll be starting soon.

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  2. It's been a while since I last read a dystopian novel. It's not my favorite genre but I'm lucky to have read good ones, so far. Taking note of this one and I might pick it up when I need my dystopian dose. :)

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    1. I've noticed my tastes are starting to change, and I'm heading more towards mild fantasy now, which I'm loving. But dystopian is always my first choice. I've read so, so many and this one was just brilliant Joy. Hopefully you get around to grabbing a copy.

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  3. Oh, I never heard of this book.. Since characters are a huge factor for me, I'll think about it if I'm going to give this a go. I'll definitely check it out on GR though since I really need more dystopia novels on my TBR.Great review, Kelly! :D

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    1. We ALL need more dystopians Paula. I hope you can grab a copy soon, can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  4. Thanks for sharing - I'm glad you liked the book, though it would be nice if you could connect to the characters a bit more. That's always something I love in most books.

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    1. I was so immersed and drawn into both communities on either side of the bridge and their politics, that I loved it anyway Lauren. It's been one of the few books where the characters haven't interest me, but the world building more than made up for it, so much that I barely noticed.

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  5. I love dystopia but i'm extremely picky with the genre. As much as I love reading complex characters I can sacrifice that a bit if the world building is explored and epic. Great review!

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    1. Me too Lily. I think with dystopians, the world building should be first and foremost, because if you're immersed within their world, chances are by the second book, you'll start to bond with the characters as well.

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  6. Hm, this sounds like a very interesting novel. It reminds me a little bit of what's going on right now, which is even a little scary. But I'll have to look it up!

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    1. You're exactly right Heather, I think that might be why dystopian is still pretty popular. Where once oppression, conflict and revolutions were pretty far removed from our world, they seem to be almost mimicking what we're seeing at the moment aren't they.

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  7. I miss good dystopia novels, all the ones I read always end up the same, maybe I'll plck this one up! Brilliant and decisive review :)
    Naomi @The Perks Of Being A Bookworm

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    1. Thanks Naomi. There aren't too many really unique ones left, but I loved how this was more about the internal politics, rather than just the typical conflict and revolution.

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  8. Oooh, I'm interested in reading about that world-building! Too bad for the characters though, it's always better when you relate to them... Great review nonetheless!!

    You're reading The Girl at Midnight??? yay!!! I loved that one!! Can't wait to know what you think about it!!

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    1. The world building more than makes up for it though Lola. The characters are all great, but not all that rememberable.

      The Girl at Midnight is absolutely lovely so far, really enjoying it.

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  9. I don't think we can find a dystopian book that you won't enjoy Kelly (except for maybe The Giver, sad face).

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    1. Oh no Jeann, I still enjoyed The Giver, just not the open ending. I've read hundreds of dystopians by now and I think the few that I didn't enjoy can be counted on one hand. I am getting a little tired of them and branching out into fantasy now, but this one was too incredible not to continue on with the series.

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  10. I'm glad you liked this one, Kelly! I had been eyeing it off for a while, because I liked the sound of it, but when I finally got around to reading it - I LOVED IT. It was such a refreshing dystopian that actually focussed on the unrest of the society rather than the romance between two characters (even though the slight romance in this was gorgeous).

    I can't wait to see what you think of HAVOC. I think it stood up really well next to this one :D

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