***Review*** Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde

Released : 14th January 2010

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Series :Yes #1

Format : Hardcover

Source :Bought

Buy at : Amazon - UK 

Rating: 5/5

Cover: 5/5 

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of Thursday Next—a brilliant new novel about a world where social order and destiny are dictated by the colors you can see

Part social satire, part romance, part revolutionary thriller, Shades of Grey tells of a battle against overwhelming odds. In a society where the ability to see the higher end of the color spectrum denotes a better social standing, Eddie Russet belongs to the low-level House of Red and can see his own color—but no other. The sky, the grass, and everything in between are all just shades of grey, and must be colorized by artificial means.

Eddie's world wasn't always like this. There's evidence of a never-discussed disaster and now, many years later, technology is poor, news sporadic, the notion of change abhorrent, and nighttime is terrifying: no one can see in the dark. Everyone abides by a bizarre regime of rules and regulations, a system of merits and demerits, where punishment can result in permanent expulsion.

Eddie, who works for the Color Control Agency, might well have lived out his rose-tinted life without a hitch. But that changes when he becomes smitten with Jane, a Grey Nightseer from the dark, unlit side of the village. She shows Eddie that all is not well with the world he thinks is just and good. Together, they engage in dangerous revolutionary talk.

Stunningly imaginative, very funny, tightly plotted, and with sly satirical digs at our own society, this novel is for those who loved Thursday Next but want to be transported somewhere equally wild, only darker; a world where the black and white of moral standpoints have been reduced to shades of grey.

 My review.

The story follows Eddie Russet who lives in a society that is dominated by the colour spectrum.  It is a world where everything is defined by colour. Your life is determined by what colour you can see, even down to what job you do,  who you marry and your status in life.. Every other colour is just shades of grey. There is a hierarchy and the pecking order is determined by which colour group you belong to.  Eddie belongs to the reds.  After a prank Eddie is sent to the Outer Fringes to survey the ratio of chairs to citizens.   He meets and falls for Jane Grey, who belongs to the lowest of the colour groups.  When mischievous Eddie starts to question the higher authority things start to move at a rapid pace.  A death and a cover up, mysterious things start to happen around Eddie.

This is the first ever book I have ever read by Jasper Fforde and I loved it!! A good blend of characters mixed in a colourful dystopian world – what more could a girl want....... well a hero of course!  I found this in Eddie Russet.  I fell in love with him from the start.  

This book is romantic and satirical but with a dark edge.  The world which Fforde creates is fantastical and rich in detail. What an imagination this author has. I had to read the book twice to take in all the detail.  It does take a few chapters to get your head around the colourful world which Fforde created.

Just writing this review makes me want to read this book again. It is definitely a keeper!!  I loved this book so much.

I eagerly await the next instalment in this series.  It’s not out yet, but I’m keeping my eyes peeled.

Cover: 5/5 – it is so in tune with the book, painting by numbers what a cool idea.  I feel like getting my crayons out and colouring it in.

Rating: 5/5 – I’m still raving about this book a year on.  Fantastic and ticked every box.

To see my post on the book signing with Jasper Fforde : Click Here