Reviewed by GinaPublished Date: March 22nd, 2011
Finished Date: August 21st, 2011
Blurb: Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive. A dystopian fantasy series starter with wings.
Review: Wowww... This book was just breathtaking! It captured me from the beginning and i couldn't put it down for a second! Such a beautiful Debut Novel from such a talented author. Lauren's style of writing is beautiful. The way she describes scenes is magnificent be it the gardens of Linden's house or the dark and eerie parts that are haunting. I feel like i am there with Rhine, feeling everything she feels, noticing everything she notices.
The concept of this book was brilliant. The idea of females dying at 20 and males dying at 25 because of a genetic flaw was so interesting to read about. The charcter of Rhine was great to read about and i felt like i truly knew her and understood what she was going through; being taken away from her only family member -her twin brother- and forced into a marriage with three other girls.
All of the characters in this book were carefully thought out and i liked them all, the exception being Vaughn who i did not like. Cecily was bubbly and fun being only 13 years old and she was excited to be living that kind of life. Jenna resented Linden for taking her away from her sisters who were killed by the gatherers. And Linden...I felt sorry for him when Rose died and i could understand him, wanting the best for his wives.
When Jenna became ill I felt sorry for her because she was supposed to have a year left and i think in the second book we might find out what went wrong. But my best guess is that Vaughn did something to her that made her death happen quicker.
As the book progressed towards it's ending i could feel myself waiting for the moment that Rhine and Gabriel (one of the attendants at the house) would break free from that house. And i was so happy when they kissed and that now they are together. And when they finally did break free i breathed a sigh of relief. I love that there is hope at the end and that Lauren uses the lighthouse again (the first to show the way out) to tell us that they are unsure of where their freedom will take them.
Overall this book was magnificent and i enjoyed every word of it! I haven't read a lot of Dystopian novels before but i am starting to enjoy them a lot and of the ones i have read, this goes right to the top of the list.
The description was beautiful in this book and i especially loved the part about the hologram in the pool. And that when Rhine went to the bottom of the pretend ocean floor she felt the bottom of the pool. It showed that everything is fake and there is no escaping that fact, no matter how many illusions there are.
Lauren DeStefano is an amazing author and i look forward to her next installment in the Chemical Garden Trilogy :) This book recieves a whopping 10/10 5 stars!! :D
To produce as many children as possible before dying. After her parents are killed in a lab explosion, sixteen-year-old Rhine is abducted and forced to marry Governor Linden, who is twenty-years-old and approaching his twilight years. Rhine is a beauty with very unusual eyes. It's because of her eyes, and her likeness to another girl named Rose, that she is chosen as a bride. However, when she arrives at the house she realizes that she is only one of three new wives and that a fourth is on her deathbed.
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