The aliens and the relationship between the novel's three races is also well done, particularly the Zelo, the initial invaders of Earth. These moments in particular feel like they could belong to almost anywhere that has seen conflict, and adds a level of reality to everything the characters face. Everything feels very real, so that while we see the diplomacy of an Earth suddenly finding itself part of a galactic community, we also see the struggle for daily survival on the streets of Belfast. In movies and other books, we tend to only see the invasion itself and if the post-invasion period is addressed at all, then it is only to show how it allowed human technology to advance. This is something we rarely see in scifi. Where the novel truly shines is in its depictions of post-war life. While Zebedee does a great job at world building and presenting us with the mechanics of a post-invasion Earth as a whole, the novel never loses track of its local perspective. Irish native myself (despite an English accent so posh I constantly sound like I'm asking for a cup of tea), it is really cool to see this little country, with its fascinating cultural character, get some attention that is outside of its turbulent history. The characters are well realised and portrayed in a way that really captures the character of N. However, all is not as it seems at the prison and John must try to survive and get word to the outside world of the truth behind the virus. After unwittingly releasing a virus that nearly wipes out one of the invading alien races, John is found guilty of xenocide and sentenced to jail at Inish Carraig, an alien-run prison on what was once Rathlin Island. Ireland after an alien invasion, Inish Carraig follows John Dray, a teenager in the ruins of Belfast.

Just this second finished reading Inish Carraig by Jo Zebedee, and I had to quickly rattle out my thoughts on it.