[#23] Book Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither 

(The Chemical Garden #1)

by Lauren DeStefano

Synopsis

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?

Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Review

Wither... Hell, why did I try to delay reading this book? This is a wonderful book, and I feel sorry that I didn't read it the moment I got my hands on it. Here's the summary of this review: if you love YA dystopians, then this book is absolutely made for you. I wish I could just end this review that way because for real, that's all, read it and find out for yourselves, but hey, I have so much to say, and this book kept me from reading my midterm reviewers, so bear with my rants. *lol*

The premise of this book was awesome, kind of reminded me of Shatter Me's. Anyway, I already mentioned that I didn't read this book right away, it practically been on my shelf for months. I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. The synopsis was to be blame for that, aside from giving a creepy impression, it had a scific sound which I really didn't like. And the brother thing was not something to be excited about. So what happens to the old saying 'don't judge a book by its cover'? Now it's more like 'Don't just a book by its synopsis' *lol* (ok, i know, that's weird and nerdy xp)

The plot was truly unique so it’s no question that I was captivated by it. A lifespan of 20 and 25 was really distressing. How can one suppose to enjoy life or rather how can one be able to know what life is? Marriage and pregnancy at 13? Polygamous rich men-boys? Psycho father-in-law? And stupid genetics? Yeah, it's all a perfect mix *lol* Love it all!

Rhine's character was something I liked about this book. I love how she's not letting the circumstances ruin her and get hold of her life. Loved that she kept on fighting and absolute about her goal which is to reach her brother. Her relationship with Linden and Gabriel was both confusing, but 'hey, that's the reason I (we) love reading YAs, right?'.  

I really though that Linden was the villain in this book but it turns out to be the opposite, and I really don't know what to think of him. It sucks that he's so innocent and ignorant. 

Jenna and Cecily, perfect sister wives. Thinking of them makes polygamous marriage a little not so bad. 

So overall, it's really a nice read. And I really like how it ended, like it was saying "This is only the beginning."

How much I love it?

4.0 Hearts

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats

#009

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

ღSeries Specialღ

(Part 5)

❧ Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

❧ My Rating : 4.5 Hearts

❧ Date Read : November 2012

❧ Heroes of Olympus... I rated the latter series with Percy Jackson a full 5.0 hearts, because there's not a single moment that I felt bored and I don't know - maybe not so excited. I loved the first one better than this current series. Please don't misunderstand, the Heroes of Olympus was one of my best reads ever, but I just can't help but compare it to the latter one. It's awesome and wonderful, I just loved the previous so much - I'm a loyal type, that's just how it was.

So maybe if I'll just let go of the comparing part, this series would be rated 5.0. I love Percy, and the first installment kept me waiting for so long for him to appear. I told you, I'm loyal. Still on Team Camp Half Blood, never gonna change even if Camp Jupiter turns to be so awesome.

Setting apart being a loyalist of PJ... I welcomed the new characters and mix ups. It's great to have new POV's to keep record on. Jason, Leo, Hazel, Piper, Frank, Reyna, Octavian and the other side of the gods was a total package to love. It had been an exciting read to remember.

The Son of Neptune. At last, my Percy's back to being on the spot! Loved that even he forgot everything, Annabeth was exempted. Romantic - very. Hazel and Frank's history and capabilities was both interesting and awesome.

Mark of Athena. Every time I hear this title, the first thing that comes to mind was the cliffhanger. Why?! Why does it have to end that way? When they finally met and things were starting to make sense, why? Well, at least, they fell together; I guess there wouldn't be a satyr chaperon to follow them around in tartarus.

I know most of you already had read this, so you probably know too how hard the wait for House of Hades (next installment) to finally come. It's on October 8. Going to read it as soon as I can get my hands on it. Urg! Can't wait!

Saturday Recollection [Short Reviews]

Books I Skipped Reviewing

Weekend treats

#007

These were just a short review of the books that I skipped for some reasons. I decided to post some once every weekend until it's all up. Enjoy! ^^

ღSeries Specialღ

(Part 3)

❧ Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

❧ My Rating : 5.0 Hearts

❧ Date Read : October 2012

❧ Percy Jackson, who doesn't know him?! So, these books was one of the most unexpected books I've had read. I read it because one of my classmates keeps on bugging me to read it, and it's free so I say why not. Even tried to delay it until it's the last thing on my shelf. Can't blame myself for doing so because for real, the synopsis was not much to be excited about. *Don't judge a book by its cover* Hell, yeah!

I didn't really expect to like it but as I continue to read, I just found myself lost on the pages. Can't find my way back and totally not planning to.

Days after being able to finish it, I found out that this series is on 'Children book' Shelving. There's a little inside jokes, my mind can't get over with about that fact. I fell for a children book! And I'm proud of it because it's PJ. So much for trying to act older on my first year in college.

Okay, for the record, the series is mythology themed with a mix of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, really cute/sweet romance, humor, friendship, family and I really think that I can go on forever. Just fill the spots.

The plot was amazing! I can blame that on the writing of Riordan for he seems to make simple events more interesting and intriguing than usual. Enjoyable and lovable too, for he woke up my kid's heart, all exciting and jumpy.

The characters. So who doesn't love Percy, Annabeth and Grover? And I have to admit that Mr. D was really amusing if not annoying. Percy and Annabeth cute love is one of the best thing that I long to happen and it finally did in the third book (not sure). "You drool on your sleep," one of the first thing that she said to him. LOL.

To sum these up, everything about the book was just amazing. The characters were great. The humor was hilarious. The adventure and dilemmas were all fun, brainy and exciting. The mythology theme was brilliant. You know I could really go on forever here =)

Anyway, just want to note that the movie version sucks. Nothing correctly interpreted. And the casting, PJ was about 12 on the lightning thief but he's like 16 or more in the movie. Annabeth was not even blonde! What's with all of that? So.. Yeah, I suggest that we just focus on the book (and the book alone).

This series is awesome! So if you haven't read it, I'm telling you now that you are missing a lot!

[#15] Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite

  (The Selection #2)

by Kiera Cass

Synopsis

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Review

The Elite… This series definitely gave life to the girlish part of me that hadn’t been roused for a really long time. I loved it!

I rated The Selection with perfect five while I rated this one four because I think that the first one’s much better. I rate a series according to its development from the first one. While The Elite definitely roused me, The Selection gave me sparks and all.

I also like the blue cover more that the red one. Though, I really approved of both covers for they sort of described the characters too. In the first book, America was innocent and confused which gave blue aura (blue:calm). The second one with America being stronger and a little fiercer gave red aura. That’s just the way I view things though.

Charaters. I still think that Aspen was a jeck. No competition for the prince then. Maxon, he still has that charming, manly and really lovable self. I was a little shock with his revelation on what was happening with him and his dad. I understand the weigh of his responsibilities and his every action. His womanizing, I don’t even want to talk about that (you got the idea, right?). America, loved her so much. I liked her character now more than the other one. She was stronger and more that ready to stand up for the things and persons that needed her. I admired those qualities of her. Maxon and her lovelife had been a little blur with all that happened but I still have my bet on him.

Events. There’s less focus on love thing on this book than the other one. The rebels were really disturbing. The palace was not much of desirable place now with all that happened and issues with the royal family. The events shifted with the characters. It’s great how Cass had done it all.

Overall, I can’t wait to get my hands on the next series, and it has its official title now! The One. I loved this book and I’m sure that I will love it too. Another thumbs up for Cass =D

How much I loved it?

4.0 Hearts