Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano ( The Chemical Garden #1 )

Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy #1
Links: Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 22nd 2011
Format: Hardback
Pages: 358
Summary from Goodreads:
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?

Thoughts:
This book, wow.  I just don't know where to start.  It was really creepy and strange events occured at times yet I couldn't get away from the book.  It was really captivating in a way that you just need to figure out what happens next.  I'm really glad I continued reading because even though there were some things that weirded me out, the full experience was really interesting.
Characters:
There were things I liked and disliked about each character.  In my opinion though, me disliking some traits of the characters was brilliant because that meant that I could relate to them because well, they weren't perfect.  Also, it meant that some events would feel much more realistic and was it like that?  Well, yeah.  I really enjoyed following this story line through the prospect of Rhine.  The world was truly amazing.  It was unique and really creative.  I could honestly somehow see this happening in the future. ._.  I hope not though.  As much as I enjoyed the world building, the things that happened in it were just... strange.
Romance:
The romance.  Let me just tell you, it's a love triangle but from the synopsis you probably already guessed that.  Don't worry though, the triangle is rather interesting.  DeStefano really pulls it off and I really liked both guys.  I couldn't choose between them, to be honest.  One was sweet and understanding yet the other was someone the main character felt comfortable around.  I honestly couldn't decide between both guys. ._. 
Ending:
The ending, oh goodness.  It was quite an ending.  The way the author ended was perfect.  It gives you the perfect view into the next novel but doesn't spoil anything.  I can't wait to read Fever! I can't wait to meet her brother! :D
Trailer:

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