Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

 Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth-112 pages

This is a futuristic, dystopian retelling of Antigone. The world is desolate (supposedly) except for one lone city. Women are compelled to give childbirth when at the proper age to proliferate the dwindling population. However, having kids naturally is frowned upon and undesirable. Antigone and her siblings Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneikes were conceived naturally and are, therefore, considered pariahs and to be without souls. People's souls (ichor) are extracted from their corpses and stored in the Archive to be selected from later for children. Antigone's and her siblings' parents are killed in a revolution/uprising and their uncle, Kreon, takes control of the city. He allows them into his home, but only out of self-preservation/common courtesy and not because of any attachment felt with them. Revolution is never far away in this post-apocalyptic city. When a terrible event happens, Antigone breaks the rules out of love. Will she be executed or given another punishment? I thought this book was an okay read, but far too short and not enough depth of character. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars. 

Arch-Conspiracy by Veronica Roth

 

Arch-Conspiracy by Veronica Roth, 126 p.

"Outside the last city on Earth, the planet is a wasteland. Without the Archive, where the genes of the dead are stored, humanity will end.

Passing into the Archive should be cause for celebration, but Antigone’s parents were murdered, leaving her father’s throne vacant. As her militant uncle Kreon rises to claim it, all Antigone feels is rage. When he welcomes her and her siblings into his mansion, Antigone sees it for what it really is: a gilded cage, where she is a captive as well as a guest. But her uncle will soon learn that no cage is unbreakable. And neither is he."--Goodreads blurb

""A city of seven districts:

Seven houses crumbing on a thieving street.

One's got no fire, one's got no heat.

One's got no water, one's got no meat."

This dystopian/scifi reimagining of the classic Antigone introduces us to a world of wastelands, the opportunity for immortality, yet somehow the potential end of humanity. When Antigone loses someone close to her, she conspires to follow through with his last request. But when that conspiracy goes sideways, others in her life conspire to keep her safe.

This impactful retelling of Antigone was a look into a future in which none of us would want to be. We got to hear the story unfold from several characters' viewpoints. Roth tried to do a lot in a very short story, and I'm not sure she was entirely successful. I wanted more. I wanted more fleshed out stories, more action, and more emotion. I like the basis of trying to explore women's rights and bodily autonomy, but it just felt rushed and incomplete. However, I'm glad to have read this new take on an old tale, and think I may go read some Sophocles now. This was a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 for me.