Title: Wither
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Pages: 358
Release: March 22nd, 2011
Synopsis:
(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?
My Thoughts:
I saw Wither in stores for several months and I read the
synopsis and stared at the cover but I wasn’t ever quite convinced it was
something I would like. I heard so many great things through Goodreads and
other blogs that I finally decided to try it. I must say, it is possibly one of
the greatest books I have read this year.
Wither captivated me right off with the world it was set
in. The mansion, where most of the book takes place is like a beautiful
wonderland in itself. I got lost in imagining the rich landscapes, the endless
blue pool, and the interiors that Rhine fell captive to. Although the main
character was forced to stay there; I am embarrassed to say I found it
enchanting in a creepy, mysterious way.
Another thing I loved about the book was the characters.
I related so much to the protagonist, Rhine. I was so easily able to understand
her feelings and relate to her. Then there is her sister wives: Jenna and
Cecily. Jenna was a great character, but I really enjoyed Cecily. She annoyed
me at times, but I also really felt for her because she was so young and naïve;
she never stood a chance of having a normal childhood. As for the guys, I know
I shouldn’t like the husband, Linden, but I really felt him pulling on my
heartstrings at times and often I felt like he didn’t know any better. Oh, and
finally the servant Gabriel was a very sweet character, but oddly enough, not
the most memorable for me. I really can’t remember the last time I was so in
love with this many characters in one book.
It was exactly the kind of book that I can get excited
about and I loved the way there was tension building through the entire thing
and it paid off so well in the end. Now I just need to run to the store and buy
Fever!
In Short:
Rating: 5/5
Purchase or Check Out?: Purchase
Would I read it again?: YES!
I did not like this book as much as you did, but I did think it was good. I'm so glad I'm not the only who's falling for Linden! Gabriel, not so much, but Linden? YES! Loved your review!
ReplyDeleteI freaking LOVE this series! I loved the sister-wives aspect, because it's so unique in YA (as it probably should be; not a lot of teenage brides nowadays!)
ReplyDeleteI am so, so glad you finally picked it up! I was hesitant like you, because I didn't like the idea of dying so young, but oh my lanta, I am so glad I did end up reading it. LOVE. :)
Great review! I'm so glad someone else felt the same way I did about Linden, Cecily and Gabriel. Especially, Linden, I felt like I was the only one! Your review is messing with my head by making me want to read it again. :) Although, I am in the middle of Fever right now, so I'm not going to. Btw, so far I'm liking Fever more than Wither... which is I think is a plus, especially when you're excited for the sequel.
ReplyDeleteGreat review and I heard the sequel is just as awesome. Btw, I've given you a blog award. Visit here to see it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of mixed reviews about this one, so I haven't been able to decide if I should add it to me to-read list or not. After reading your review, I'm thinking I might as well give it a chance haha.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm a new follower here, nice to meet you! Your blog design is very cute by the way. :)
I still haven't read Wither even though everyone says SUCH good things about it. I even have two copies of it but it doesn't appeal to me at all. You make me excited to read it though because of your review! Rhine seems like a fantastic heroine. :)
ReplyDelete