At age 16, Rhine Ellery has four years to live. Thanks to a botched effort to create a perfect race, all females live to age 20 and males live to age 25. On the cusp of her 17th birthday, Rhine attempts to flee, but what she finds is a society spiraling out of control.
My thoughts:
I WANTED to like this book. I've heard so many people raving about it that I expected to love it, but instead, it just made me angry.
First off, I couldn't connect with Rhine. I thought she was selfish to want to run away rather than to fight to make things better. People depended on her, and watching her lie to Linden and plotting to leave her sister wives angered me.
Why was Gabriel better than Linden? Linden was intelligent and considerate and tender. Well, I guess I wouldn't really want to be married to a man who has two other wives, but somehow author Lauren DeStefano made it seem normal and natural. It didn't bother me in the least bit.
So I liked Linden and I thought he deserved a better chance than Rhine gave him. It broke my heart to think how hurt he would be to find her gone in the morning.
And I hated the idea of her sister-wife being left to the mercies of Rhine's father in law. Too naive, the youngest of Linden's bride wouldn't know how to stand up to the master of the house and protect herself and her baby.
Doggonit, Lauren DeStefano made me care!!! I wanted to see good things happen. I wanted to see true bonding between Rhine and her companions. I wanted her father-in-law to be stopped!
Instead, she got that selfish escape she wanted, and I'm not sure I want to read the next book.
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. lol Well, mostly. I enjoyed Wither, so I don't know how much yes. But I didn't like Gabriel at all and was so upset that she left with him and abandoned Linden. I haven't even picked up Fever yet because I'm still upset about it.
ReplyDeleteI liked the lyrical and sort of dreamy quality of life in the house and with her sister wives but now that she's out and with him, I don't know if it'll be the same story I liked.
Hmph! lol
I haven't read this one yet--or even heard about it. Glad to know I can pass over it.
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