Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Title: Incarceron
Author: Catherine Fisher
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi/Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance, Suspense
Publish Date: February 8, 2011

Summary: Finn is a 17-year old prisoner of Incarceron. His memories begin and end there. He knows nothing about his heritage except for vague memories that tease at his mind. The teen is determined to escape the prison fashioned centuries ago as a solution to the chaos created by man. Now Incarceron is self-sustaining and self-perpetuating—prisoners are born there and they die there. Legend claims only one man has ever escaped, Sapphique, and Finn is determined to follow in his steps. Claudia, the warden's daughter, lives sequestered in a castle surrounded by servants. But she, too, longs for escape—from a father who frightens her and from betrothal to an insipid prince. Finn and Claudia each discover a crystal key and are amazed to find that they can communicate with each other. As their trust in one another builds, each pledges to help the other. The two stories emerge, intertwine and, by the end, unwind in startling twists that will astonish listeners.

Review: The prison has a mind of its own and changes to adapt to its own environment. Finn, a prisoner of Incarceron, has barely vague images in his mind he believes are his but not quite sure. Understand in Incarceron most inmates are born there, not "placed" there. Some born of the prison take on bits and pieces of other (dead) prisoners and pieces not taken on are replaced with metal (gross right?). Finn firmly believes he was not born of the prison. Finn finds a key with the help of a debutante. With this key he is able to communicate outside of Incarceron and his hopes spring to life with hope of escaping.
The wardons daughter, Claudia, also finds a key, the wardons key. She too is hoping to escape her own hell of marrying the queen's son, who is not the rightful heir to the thrown. The rightful heir died many years ago, mysteriously... or did he?
For a challenging read, pick up Incarceron and give it a shot. It can be difficult at times to follow but it comes together in the end. Picked up by Fox, this is slated to become a movie in 2013 staring Taylor Lautner (Jacob Black from The Twilight Saga).