03/21/11

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Posted In: Book Review


Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 356
Source: Arc from publisher
Interest: Debut Author
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Buy the Book: Amazon

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden’s genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden’s eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

Lauren DeStefano is an incredibly talented writer, and her debut novel, Wither, is sure to stand out among the throngs of dystopian novels filling the shelves YA shelves, with it’s unique and haunting premise and unforgettable characters.

Please do judge this book by its beautiful cover, because the pages inside are just as intriguing.

This is a perfect example of how I like my dystopian novels. DeStefano has created a vivid world one of the more disturbing world that I’ve encountered within the genre. (right up there with The Hunger Games.) Depicting one of the worst possible outcomes based from our advances in modern medicine…. that made the story even more unsettling…. could this be a snapshot of our future? Perhaps the fact that I would have been dead several years ago freaked me out even more. But there was something very addicting about this dismal setting.

Rhine was a very distinct character. I was absolutely captivated by her and her story within the first few pages. Yet, had I been reading about her in a different setting, I believe would have formed a very different opinion about her. I found her strong will and fierceness to be incredibly brave. Can you imagine living with the knowledge of your impending death… and knowing when it would happen? Can you imagine the person you would be? I know I wouldn’t be half the person that Rhine is. I think that is what impressed me so much about her.

And kudos to DeStefano for tackling some taboo subjects. I know that the presence of polygamy may detour certain readers from picking up this novel, but in this world that she’s created, I can’t imagine that wouldn’t be the norm…. or some form of it. That aspect of the novel was actually very riveting, in a disturbing kind of way. Dare I say I even felt some sort of sympathy for Linden… because I did.

An excellent addition to the genre and a marvelous debut. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment in The Chemical Garden Trilogy.

All content © The Story Siren 2007-2011

Related posts:

  1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
  2. My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
  3. Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson
  4. Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson
  5. Fallen by Lauren Kate
23
comments

23 Comments

  1. Lydia K
    3/21/2011

    I'm very tempted to read this now! And the cover is really pretty.
    :)

  2. Geek Girl
    3/21/2011

    I want this one so very badly.

    Great review!

    -geekgirl

  3. Gina @ My Precious
    3/21/2011

    Oh this one was such a fantastic book. I especially love how each time I picked it up I was lost in the words, instantly! Ibdont think youbshould be ashamed about having some sympathy for Linden. I did too, he was a product of the times. Now his father seemed truly evil.

  4. Ella Press
    3/21/2011

    @Gina: same here. I did feel bad for Linden at the end. I think his father was to blame.

  5. It's a Book Thing
    3/21/2011

    Been dying to get my hands on this thank you for getting me amped!

    Pop past the blog to say hi!

  6. A Backwards Story
    3/21/2011

    I agree with everything you said. And yes, the pages inside are just as good as that gorgeous cover. Wither lives up to its hype! It and Delirium are my two favorite Dystopians since The Hunger Games.

  7. BookChic
    3/21/2011

    I loved this book too! Great review!

  8. ~Vonnie
    3/21/2011

    I can not wait to get this book! I've already ordered it and it should be here soon!!

  9. Nicole
    3/21/2011

    Glad you loved this one as much as I did! <3 It is fantastic, isn't it!?

  10. Christina (Christinareadsya)
    3/21/2011

    Sounds wonderful :) . I've been hearing great things about this book for a while now and am expecting it in the mail soon.

    In addition to that beautiful cover, I also really adore the title of the series itself – the chemical garden? Awesome. And when authors tackle taboo subjects? Even better.

    Thanks for posting this review! You've made me even more pumped for it.

  11. Maia
    3/21/2011

    Sounds amazing!

  12. Liz
    3/21/2011

    I'm so excited for this one, I'll definitely be picking it up soon. Great review!

  13. E.J. Stevens
    3/21/2011

    Dying to read this. Wonderful review!
    xx,
    E.J.
    Paranormal Author E.J. Stevens
    From the Shadows

  14. GreenBeanTeenQueen
    3/21/2011

    I was addicted to this one too! I loved how it felt historical even if it was in the future. And I agree, I felt sympathy for Linden as well. I loved how the author blurred the lines and you never knew what exactly you wanted-should Rhine stay or should she try to escape? I can't wait to read more!!

  15. Jules
    3/21/2011

    This sounds good! Another one for the wishlist :)

  16. Jessica (Firefly Book Loft)
    3/21/2011

    I just finished this one and totally loved it. I seriously could not put it down.
    Can't wait for the second book now.

  17. Sinead Tygerlilly
    3/21/2011

    Ever since I saw this cover a LONG time ago I've been wanting to read it!!!! Now I want to read it even more!:)

  18. Beth S.
    3/21/2011

    Loved your review! I just reviewed this one this weekend and loved the book too.

    I agree that the book's cover is stunning, but I argued in my review that I worry these books with girls in frilly dresses are preventing guys from picking these books up and reading them. I think this book could've easily appealed to both genders just like The Hunger Games had they created a more neutral cover. It's definitely not AS gender neutral as The Hunger Games, but I think it could have appealed to both if they had packaged it differently.

  19. Natalie Aguirre
    3/21/2011

    This is already on my list to read. Thanks for the great review. It sounds really unique.

  20. June G
    3/22/2011

    I agree. Wither was an intriguing read and the writing quite beautiful. I can't wait for the next installment. Beth S. makes an interesting point about a gender neutral cover to get more guys reading. I do love the cover though :-)

  21. jedi145
    3/22/2011

    just got this today! Can't wait to read it

  22. Sandra Stiles
    3/22/2011

    I agree with you. This was one of my favorite books of the year. I can't wait to read her next book.

  23. deltay
    3/23/2011

    Awesome review – really looking forward to checking this one out!

    PS – "An excellent edition to the genre" – I think you mean "addition" ;)

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